Where do you get the most enjoyment riding?

[GoSlo]

I was reading a thread on this website and it brought up an interesting point....

What different areas of the country do you prefer to ride in for the views/riding experiences.

There are no right or wrong answers, but thought it would be fun to see what others think is great riding or not so much fun. I'm sure we all enjoy the different experiences in different areas of the country, but which one is your favorite? I'll go first.

In 2007, I was lucky enough to go on the HOG Posse Run, where we crossed the country twice. Got a lot of miles (over 8,000) in a lot of different terrain and views all across the country. When we finished the ride, my thoughts were this:

• A forest is a forest no matter which way you look at it. You can't see much more than 10 feet off the road (very claustrophobic to me), so there's not much of a view unless you get above the trees and can look down on things, and those times do provide breathtaking views.

• Lakes are lakes and offer somewhat different views depending on your direction.

• Corn fields are corn fields no matter how many different directions you look at them from.

• But the mountains give you completely different riding experience / view for every possible direction you go through them. Am I biased about this? Probably, but that's also why I live out here in the Rockies.

• Deserts and plains offer a different experience that can be boring, but definitely has it's own type of beauty. It always amazes me just how much open space there is out here in the west.

 

[Ozarkryder]

Everyone has their favorite. I lived in Minnesota, some nice riding roads along the rivers, always will be a lake nearby, there are rolling plains where you can see rain coming 4 hours away and roads through forests. I like forested areas for riding. Grew up in a forested area and can always find interesting scenery. In contrast, I have a friend that grew up[ in the Las Vegas area, and he can't see what there is to be seen in the woods and just loves the desert. To me, the desert is full of a whole lot of not much. I am originally a Yooper, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a beautiful area with 4 seasons (Winter, June, July and August.) but riding time is short.
I now live in the Ozarks, a lot of twisty roads, that go up and down in addition to being curvy. Lots to look at from forests to open areas, and I have never put the bikes or trike away for the winter. We have the seasons here, but last year our toy run was a short sleeve event on the 1st Sunday of December. Nice long riding year and I still get Fall and Spring, a long summer and a winter that has occasional snow, but next week may be in the 60° - 70° range and the snow is gone.

 

[clint44]

I've been in 45 states so I could name a bunch of favorite roads but here's just a few of them,off the top of my head:

The Three Sisters in the Texas Hill Country is definitely my favorite here in this state. http://www.hillcountrycruising.com/the3s.html

In Oklahoma,the Talimena Scenic Drive is a 54 mile rollercoaster. Actually,about half of this road is in Arkansas. At one time,the Porsche Registry listed it as one of the Ten Best Roads in America. It's definitely a rush! http://www.talimenascenicdrive.com/

In Colorado,Highway 160 from Walsenburg to Durango and from there,US 550 to Silverton. US 550 from Silverton to Ouray on the Million Dollar Highway is one of the Top Five motorcycling roads in America,IMHO.

On the TN/NC border,US Highway 129 aka Deals Gap aka The Dragon features 318 curves in just 11 miles. Nuff said.

I could probably write a book about all the great roads I've ridden in this country. After I retire at the end of this year,I plan to show as many as I can to my wife,Sherry. We both have a heckuva long bucket list.

 

[Steve on 3]

i am not picky. give me an 80* day and the wife behind me, maybe a few friends we ride with and we are happy.

 

[dirtdobber]

I live on a mountain and many more close by so i like the hills and curvy roads. As long as it isn't on the interstate I'm good.

 

[Recall]

Hills and curves wherever they can be found. Coastal Highway in CA comes to mind. Too many great roads to mention. Smoky Mountains are always a treat! I have done a lot of them on two wheels, it is now time to runs as many as possible on three.

 

[Gorilla]

I too have been most of the lower 48. That being said I really look forward to my twice a year rides up to northern Ga. The hills and the forests are comparable to anywhere.

 

[desertclassic]

I love the Enchanted Circle in the Taos, NM area. I also love East TN area and WV. When I live in AK it was dirt bikes, snowmobiles, boats and bush planes. Jim

 

[DK Custom Products]

I'm happy when I'm riding...anywhere.

Happier if there is no traffic.

Happier still if there are sweepers or twistys, throw in elevation changes, and it makes it even better.

There are so many thousands and thousands of miles like that in North America.

Mary says her favorite roads are Beartooth Pass, Needles Highway, lots of the roads in the Ozarks and in East TN. I think a lot of that is the views/scenery...but, they all are pretty twisty too.

I probably enjoy riding the most when Mary is with me, there's no traffic, on a curvy road, with no schedule to be anywhere, and we can just take an interesting turn when we see one.

Kevin

 

[RickDeVon]

Southeastern United States of America...the roads are unforgettable ...

 

[KeithsBMW]

Smoky Mountains, that's why I moved here when I retired.ThumbUp

 

[GARYD]

I like everything east of the Mississippi river and most of the Midwest. You can keep all the rocks and sand - mountains bore me, sand bores me and looong straight flat roads bore me, but they're like Sturgis, you have experience them once. Then forget them.

As Patrick Henry said "Give me trees or give me death" or something like that. Just kidding.

 

[GoSlo]

I like everything east of the Mississippi river and most of the Midwest. You can keep all the rocks and sand - mountains bore me, sand bores me and looong straight flat roads bore me, but they're like Sturgis, you have experience them once. Then forget them.

As Patrick Henry said "Give me trees or give me death" or something like that. Just kidding.

Great answer!!:clapping: That's more what I was looking for as far as a response. What do you like to ride & why, and/or what don't you like to ride & why. There's no question we all love to ride and will ride anywhere anytime, but I'd bet everyone has a preference.

 

[frostbite51]

There'll be a million people riding my favorite spots next week. And I won't be one of them.

Sturgis is right down the road from me, but I don't do crowds. I like early spring, late fall. One April I did the whole Iron Mt. road and saw only one car. And fall foilage really lights up the hills.

For variety I'll run over Bear Tooth.

 

[GARYD]

Great answer!!:clapping: That's more what I was looking for as far as a response. What do you like to ride & why, and/or what don't you like to ride & why. There's no question we all love to ride and will ride anywhere anytime, but I'd bet everyone has a preference.

The Dragon once in a while
Skyline drive/BRP/Cherohala Skyway each year coming back from Rolling Thunder.
Just about any road in Arkansas especially the Pig Trail and Mt. Nebo.
Land Between the Lakes.
All the "Rustic Roads" in Wisc.
A few roads around the Galina, Il. area
Basically any non highway road - anywhere!

 

[zbear]

Other than the stretch of Rte. 66 between Bullhead City and Kingman, I would have to say the 16 mile stretch between work and home. I just love getting on trike or bike and pull out of the parking lot and head home.

 

[Motorcycle Mike]

Love the mountains but enjoy most all roads as long as I can get out of traffic and have the wife tucked in behind me.

 

[rhino 2]

My favorite ride and done often is along the upper Delaware River.., NJ' PA' NY'. Tri State Border. Coming back from Narrowsberg NY.. Rt 97... Then alongside the river though the Hawks Nest just north of Port Jervis NY... Hard to believe something so wild and natural can be that close to NYC..ThumbUpThumbUp

 

[irmagoo]

Southeastern United States of America...the roads are unforgettable ...

rick you live in a great area I visit it every year - stay @ pine mountain rv park
great area to ride!!
I live in central il here I like riding rt. 26 along il. river 2 lane roadThumbUp
life is good where ever you get ride I would have to say!!
magoo

 

[ray6576]

Favorite rides

My wife and I retired and moved to the Upstate in South Carolina. We have access to Western NC, Eastern TN, and the roads in the Upstate and we love it. For example we do a lunch ride to Maggie Valley and there are at least 3 different ways to get there.