Plan to Tour the 4 corners of the USA

[asp125]

We did that in '13, sort of .. we had our Spyder in our RV toy hauler.

Some places we rode / visited and liked.

Shenandoah NP & Skyline Drive
BRP, Cherohala Skyway, The Dragon, NC28 etc
The motorcycle museum at Barber Motorsports Park, Leeds Al. There's a Spyder displayed in there.
Revival custom motorcycle show in Austin, during MotoGP in April
Superstition Mountains, east of PHX/Scottsdale area
SoCal: pretty much anywhere east of LA/SD in the mountains. Mulholland, Angeles Crest, over to Palm Springs
PCH north of Santa Barbara, once out of the LA mess
Monterey to SFO, Skyline Drive as well as along the coast
Oregon Coast, Columbia Gorge
Olympic Peninsula in Wa,
Glacier NP
Yellowstone NP
ID and western Montana: Lolo Pass, Beartooth Pass
RT12 in Utah (actually most of southwest Utah from St George east to Moab)
Western CO including million dollar hwy, CO141, Grand Mesa, east to the continental divide
Northern NM: Sandia Crest in ABQ, up towards Santa Fe, Los Alamos, The Enchanted Circle up near Taos
Black Hills of SD

 

[ARtraveler]

All good advice above.

There is a lot of information on the internet concerning the "trip." Suggestions about weather are right on.

Keep us informed as to how your trip develops. The US if full of fantastic scenery and hopefully you will get to take some of the best in while on your trip. :yes::yes:

 

[Blade]

4 Corner Tour of the USA

If you plan on taking the shortest route possible you should be able to complete the trip in a couple of weeks. I've done a lot of cross country trips and i usually try to plan my gas stops when travelling in the less populated areas. Even on the Interstates there are places where you could run out if you haven't planned well.

If you start your trip in late April and head south then west you should have good weather and avoid the heat of the summer.

Are serious in a couple of weeks; I have ridden in a car like that but not on a motorcycle. I also plan to stay a few days in some locations to sightsee.

I want to thank all the folks who have offered some good advice for the trip I do appreciate you. If you see a Black and Red Spyder with Virginia Tags Please wave and I will surely wave back. I Hope I see some other spyders on the road. One Last question- How much clothing should I take?

Thanks again.

Blade

 

[jtpollock]

Are serious in a couple of weeks; I have ridden in a car like that but not on a motorcycle. I also plan to stay a few days in some locations to sightsee.

I want to thank all the folks who have offered some good advice for the trip I do appreciate you. If you see a Black and Red Spyder with Virginia Tags Please wave and I will surely wave back. I Hope I see some other spyders on the road. One Last question- How much clothing should I take?

Thanks again.

Blade

Make it interesting and do it as a saddle sore you should be able to do 1000 miles a day :roflblack:. Hope you have a very enjoyable ride meet some nice people along the way most of all be safe :clap: jtpollock.

 

[Bob Denman]

How long are you planning for this trip? Your talking in the neighborhood of 8,500 miles.

Patti,
I bet that you, Karyl, and Ann could knock this trip out in about 10 days or less...
:bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:

 

[PrairieSpyder]

Patti,
I bet that you, Karyl, and Ann could knock this trip out in about 10 days or less...
:bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:

Ann and Karyl could. I like shorter days. I did calculate I would do it in a month. So 3-4 months should be cake!

 

[MRH]

I've been to all 4 and you will have a great lifetime ride. May would be a good time to start and head south, My wife and I try to take the secondary roads, better fuel stops for the bikes and yourself, When you get to Oregon PM us and you have a place to stay. another thing to look into is The Motorcycle Travel Network, kind of like a motorcycle B&B save you money and you meet some great folks that ride. Think about a cargo trailer for a trip of that scope.

So there you are in my local stomping grounds! I didn't think to mention that there is a great bit of riding in the Angeles National Forrest (Newcombs is more or less dead center). If you have the time, doing these roads in one direction or the other is an amazing bit of riding, and one I may well do tomorrow!

http://www.mapquest.com/directions/...4.352091,-117.894662/A5;34.357858,-117.634031

Check to make sure the 2 is open all the way to Wrightwood. I recommend the Grizzly Bear Cafe there, and you can call them and ask if the 2 is open (they should know). Stop at Newcombs as well, it's about ten miles after you turn on to the 2.

 

[asp125]

...One Last question- How much clothing should I take?

Thanks again.

Blade

That kind of trip cries out for a good touring suit or overpants combo. You can wear everything from t-shirts and shorts to sweaters and long johns underneath. Plus it will be pretty water resistant.

However.. if you already have m/c gear, pack 5 day's worth of clothing, because you can always use the laundry at hotels and truck stops. Socks and underwear can always be thrown out and replaced by cheap 6 packs from Wally World etc. along the way.

Compression bags or dry bags are great for stuffing clothes into. Wrinkle free clothing is always a good idea.

 

[BamaJohn]

trip planning

I am hoping to complete the trip in 3-4 months. Is it doable, what do you think?
I have been studying an Atlas. I was to go the shortest distance if possible. I was wondering if I would hit some snow but I don't want to travel during the hottest time of the year. Thanks for your comments. I will definitely change my time tablet to Mid-April or May to start. If you think of anything else please feel free to PM me. I will be under going this venture alone. I am a little concern about fuel stations. I have a GPS and it should help out their but I am still getting a feel for my fuel consumption in my RTS.

I did a 6000 mile trip from Alabama to the Canadian Rockies last June in 3 weeks. For my liking, that was too quick to allow much time at all for smelling the roses. But I want to warn you of sensory-overload...there are so many beautiful places/scenes in this great country, that you must guard against it becoming commonplace. When you catch yourself saying "another pretty view", stop and soak your feet in a mountain stream or write in your journal (you ARE keeping a journal, aren't you?)
Ride safe and keep smiling...it makes people wonder what you know that they don't!

jb

 

[PrairieSpyder]

That kind of trip cries out for a good touring suit or overpants combo. You can wear everything from t-shirts and shorts to sweaters and long johns underneath. Plus it will be pretty water resistant.

However.. if you already have m/c gear, pack 5 day's worth of clothing, because you can always use the laundry at hotels and truck stops. Socks and underwear can always be thrown out and replaced by cheap 6 packs from Wally World etc. along the way.

Compression bags or dry bags are great for stuffing clothes into. Wrinkle free clothing is always a good idea.

+1 on the touring gear. I finally got some and wear the pants & jacket daily. Just have to change underwear and t-shirt. I only pack 1 pair of jeans and one pair of shorts to wear while I'm at a place to stay at a few days. I also agree about limiting the numbers of undergarments you need to pack. Pack as many pairs of socks as you need between your planned laundry interval.

Are you taking a trailer? If so, you can carry more stuff. Are you going to be camping? or hotels?

 

[ARtraveler]

With the talk above about what to pack along...I just had an idea. Select from your "oldie but goodie" group. The stuff you are thinking about replacing. Wear them and dispose of them as you go. No washing, no bringing back, etc. :dontknow:

 

[gypsy_100]

With the talk above about what to pack along...I just had an idea. Select from your "oldie but goodie" group. The stuff you are thinking about replacing. Wear them and dispose of them as you go. No washing, no bringing back, etc. :dontknow:

When we rode the Trans Siberian RR across the Soviet Union (does anyone remember the USSR?) in 1981, we met a fellow American (retired Air Force) who did just that while traveling around the world. He pointed out an added benefit -- as you discard stuff, you gain space for local purchases and souvenirs. We've never done it while motorcycle touring but for "conventional" traveling we've done it to a very limited extent, not like he was doing it. Like most things, it has its place.

What we've done more commonly on motorcycle trips is ship stuff home. If encountering various climates, after you're out of one region, say the cold weather, ship the bulky cold-weather gear home and make your daily packing much easier. And gain room for whatever.

 

[PatriotRider]

I'm in New Orleans and know I-10 from Pensacola, FL to Lafayette, LA very very well. I'm available for advice plus would love to meet you and ride along for part of the trip in my neck of the woods.

Hit me up...

 

[Blade]

4 Corner Trip Planning Stage

Thanks again to all who responses. I don't have a trailer and I don't have a touring suite but since you mentioned it I will look into getting one. All of your recommendations are going into my planning trip notebook. Thanks to you folks responses, I will rethink my time on the road to complete in a month and half. I am also checking some of the routes that have been recommended.

Blade

 

[TXrider]

:clap:Have an amazing trip - A couple girl friends and I will be tackling the same trip In June-July.....starting in south Texas and heading to FL - circumnavigating to end in Santa Fe, NM for our yearly Convention.
We'll be checking for your posts to see how you fair - God speed~:2excited:

 

[asp125]

A month and a half is pretty ambitious, or a lot of superslab. Be sure to stay in a nice place a while - to see the sights as well as to recharge. Bear in mind some of our national parks in the northern states don't open until late spring (Glacier, Yellowstone) due to lingering snows. I understand though, if you are time limited and have to keep to a schedule.

On our trip we wanted to see a lot of stuff during the summer, so it was go-go-go - ended up suffering from travel burnout. We decided to take a more leisurely pace after a few months, and it worked out for the better. We got to enjoy local hospitality, ride some really good twisties, and meet/stay with friends.

 

[MisterP]

....One Last question- How much clothing should I take?

Thanks again.

Blade

The key is layers. Being able to add or remove layers will keep you comfortable. Also invest in waterproof gloves and boots. And use thin glove liners. Warm and dry hands and feet will help your comfort level. Take clothing for three days, and use synthetics that can be washed in your room and will dry overnight. Make room for liquids on your Spyder, you want to stay hydrated.