I've always wanted to go on a long ride. Never been more than a couple hundred miles until I went to Yosemite/Reno awhile back and I got the bug now. The bike is ready and if I'm gonna do this I should do it while the bike is still kinda new.
I plan to go about June 12 and take about 6 days to go the approx' 2,000 miles. I've never done this so I'm not sure if I'm doing it right but I plan to break it up into roughly 300 mile days. I like to get off and look around too. For every hour riding I'll have an hour to hike around or whatever. So I shouldn't be rushing it too much. I need to take some breaks anyway as the stock bars (even with the Genmar kit) are still hard on the hands. I'll stay in motels and will only take what fits in my backpack.
I've done parts of this route when camping over the years and always wanted to do it on a bike. From just north of L.A. I'll go up through Death Valley/Beatty Nev, and head northeast to Cedar City, Utah. Fairly vacant roads between them.
From CC I'll ride the 14 through Cedar Breaks and to Bryce Canyon, Cedars and Aspens along the way. Then up the 89 to the 12. The 12 is really something. Through the Grand Staicase of the Escalante and the Burr Trail up to Torrey and Capitol Reef. Then south down the Trail of the Ancients(95)and take a hike at Natural Bridges National Monument and on to Mexican Hat and the San Juan River. Then through Monument Valley (remember the old John Wayne movies?) and back up to Page, Az, over the Colorado and Lake Powell. Finally, go through Zion and back up to CC and head home.
I hope it happens. I'm watching the weather and trying to find out about road conditions. Because the 14 and 12 involve 3 passes that are approx' 10,000 ft, I want to know if there's any snow. I want to go but I'm not riding through snow/icy stuff.
Just wanted to share my plans. I'd also like to know if anyone here knows a good site for checking road conditions/weather, I'd really appreciate it. I've tried the Utah DOT site and I can't find what I'm looking for. I did just e-mail them about the higher passes and hope for good news. This route can be very hot in the summer with thunderstorms too so I'm trying to go just before that starts up.

* Last updated by: KAK on 5/28/2010 @ 7:34 PM *

The CHP's website will probably give the information you need for CA roads. I have been told they are very accurate. Have friends that uise it for the conditions between Sacramento and Carson City NV.

I have made a cross country trip once on a sport bike. CBR900RR to be exact. Was an interesting experience. Only way I would do it now is on a "wing or something similar. I took the scenic way going to Tx from CA. Mostly on Hwy 50. Ran interstate coming back. Took almost 3 days less in time coming back.

Ron

Thanks for the reply.
Yeah, I know a sport bike isn't the most comfortable way to go. I'll probably end up changing the bars because they're hard on the hands but for now I'll just go with what I got. If things go as planned I should have plenty of time off the bike too.
Still not sure what I'm getting into. The mind wants to go but the body isn't as sure. Even if it ends up less than I expected I can still sit back when I'm really old and say I did it. My biggest concern is the weather. I don't care much about temp's but if I can avoid snow and rain then I'm good.

Well, I'll be taking off on Monday afternoon. Weather looks really good except for some breezy conditions which aren't supposed to last long. Still kind of half excited and half nervous about the whole thing.
I should have some pics to share when I get back. Take care and ride safe.

* Last updated by: KAK on 6/13/2010 @ 11:58 PM *