I was able to fit most of the info in the title! Date: July and August, 2014 I've been on a couple thousand mile tours, but never 10,000.
I have a couple of old airheads that would be more suited, but this Honda is new and exciting for me.
Looks like a great ride, and that Honda is no slouch. Have you considered doing the northern leg first in August, then the southern portion in September, or are your dates firm?
Well I have to go north again to get home so I don't want to leave that to September. I think I can handle heat better than cold. No heated grips/clothing with this bike and its low output electrical. My tires will get me about half way. Any recommendations for a shop along my route for economic and competent tire installation?
Windscreen? I may as well drive my car! (Joke) I tried a windscreen and it was either too tall or too short because it caused more helmet wind buffeting and noise than without. After reading more about Colorado and Utah, my route may be farther north than the red line in my map shows.
Yes to Colorado and Utah. Did many a shorter journey on a similar bike back in the 70's, never let me down. Can't beat simple technology. Looks like you're mostly taking the interstates, reason for it? State highways are so much more interesting.
Very cool bike! looks like a great trip. You are smart to divert just west of Chicago. The farm fields are much more interesting riding then the city.
Actually my goal is to never get on an interstate. The red line on the map is just a general idea of my route, which is not planned out, I'll just follow my front wheel.
Chaparral Racing in San Bernardino, CA will have one of the largest selections and lowest prices. Open 6 days a week.
Thank you for that. I'll file away that info. Here's another pic of my bike packed for a 2 day 500 mile trip that I make several times a summer to visit my parents in another town. Almost like a beautiful sunset over a still lake. :)
I did a similar trip this past summer on my Kawasaki Vulcan 500 (Cape Cod to Lake Tahoe and back). My route westbound went a bit north of your rough draft route. I stopped in Carson City, NV for bike service at Michael's Cycle Works, 2680 S Carson St, Carson City, NV 89701 (775) 883-6111. Good experience there, they fit me in w/o any appointment, provided coffee and those little muffins you often find at a cheap motel breakfast bar, and then washed and polished the bike after, good guys. On the eastbound leg rather than dip south around Chicago we went straight across Lake Michigan on the SS Badger Ferry. It runs from Manitiwoc, WI to Ludington, MI, you might want to see how that might work for your route planning.
I agree with xRR take the ferry or go north through the UP. Anything within 2 hr of Chicago is a waste of gas / time IMO. I would also agree that utah over NM would be a good way to point the front wheel.
If you go Little Rock to OKC then you will have avoided the respite from all the surrounding flat land in the center of the country, or the Ozark Mountains.
Heading south on my great circle tour of the US, is this the best scenic route? Is the speed limit too restricting? Is there a better route heading south through this area? (I am avoiding interstates like the plague.)
Great trip and great selection of bike. I did a similar trip on my Harley a few years ago. 9000 miles in 3 1/2 weeks. We did big mileage days for the first few and last few days on the theory we can easily ride places within 4 or 5 days of home so don't need to dwadle on those. Had a great time. Scenic Byways are many times great options for non-highway roads in just about every state. And, they usually call them that for a reason. Go here for more info. In the West, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, South Dakota, Colorado and Utah have some great riding. The first 5 states look for mountains, Utah look for the National Parks. In the East try to get to Kentucky, Tennesee and the Western parts of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina - very pretty. I really enjoyed Skyline and Blueridge Parkways. Not busy and beautiful. Plan for a couple of days. Ride the Tail of the Dragon if you can get there during a weekday. You will have a blast.