Fly, buy, and ride into Jackson, WY?

I turn 40 in July and am buying my first "off the showroom floor" bike this coming year. It hit me yesterday that maybe I could fly from Houston, TX, into Jackson, WY to buy the bike, spend a couple of days riding around Yellowstone/Wind River putting the first 5-600 miles on the bike, get the first service done where I bought it, and then ride it back to Houston.

I've mapped my ride around Yellowstone, but I don't know where to begin planning the ride from Jackson to Houston. It would be pavement only since I'm getting an FJ-09, but I'd love to take the scenic route back, including riding as much of the twisties that the Rockies has to offer.

Ideally, I would fly into Jackson on a Wednesday, spend Thursday and Friday riding Yellowstone, get the service done on Saturday, then leave out for Houston on Sunday. That would give me Sunday to Sunday to get back in time for work on the following Monday.

As for the timeframe, I was thinking late May(?). I want to be there when the roads are open, but before the tourists start piling in.

I guess I'm asking: Is this is a feasible trip, are dealers amenable to fly and rides, is there a time I should go other than late May, any routes I should focus on or avoid?

Lots of questions I know. Thanks for the help!

Yellowstone can be snowed in that time of year. By June 15th or so it is a differrent story. I would highly recommend riding Chief Joseph Highway and Beartooth Highway. Both located just NE of Yellowstone. Most tourists arrive about then so beware of on-lookers driving stupid.

So the window of post-snow, pre-tourist is a small one, egads. I've never been to Yellowstone, so would you say that this an idea worth pursuing? How's the riding up there? As a frame of reference, I grew up on the BRP. I'm living in Houston now and miss riding great roads.

Speed limits are low in Yellowstone and Grand Tetons (you should check out both), so ideal for the break in period. The mountains around there would be pretty nice riding too. If you have to set a date well ahead of time, I would recommend June. If you are flexible, the dealer would probably be willing to get the bike in May, and hang onto it if weather was snowy. A dealer is amenable to any scenario in which you give them money for a motorcycle.

In Jackson, they have a cool restaurant called The Gun Barrel Steak & Game House.

Question: Does Texas have any restrictions on registering new out of state bikes? California does, so you might want to ask your motor vehicles department just to be sure.

If I were you, I would go through western/central Colorado on the way home. There is a guy on here called unaweep who lives in that area, and has posted some amazing pictures. You might want to PM him to ask about roads, though I think he spends most of his time on dirt.

Thanks for the tips HCH. I don't believe Texas has any such laws for motorcycles (I'm 100% positive they don't for vehicles), but I will double check just to be sure.

I'm not necessarily pressed to set a date, though I was thinking late may/early June. That is mostly due to me wanting to hurry up and have the bike, but I was also trying to take the Texas heat into consideration as well.

Not ideal for your eagerness, but Sept is a great time to see the area you're considering. The kids are back in school, and traffic count is down. There are a lot of empty nesters, but still the count is down. The roads are open, the weather great, and if you take my following suggestion, you'll see amazing colors over the landscape.

I departed Jackson, WY for MO by going west to Park City UT. The ride southwest out of Jackson towards ID along the snake river was amazing in beauty. One of the best I've ridden for make-you-go-ah scenes. From there slog through barren land of WY to the Interstate that takes you to Park City. The shades of purple and pink all over the hillsides is indescribable. I don't know what plants were turning colors, but "Wow."
From there, head south again to enter CO on I-70, were you'll want to find your way south into CO enjoying the great roads there.

Fly and buys are a great way to see the country, and any dealer worthwhile will help make it happen smooth.

Most of the tourists in campers and tour buses stay on the main roads and only see "the top" sights. Fantastic riding and viewing in the whole region. Grab a couple of DeLorme atlas' and drool over them for a while. We found lots to see and do in the areas surrounding the parks.

Yeah, up from Yellowstone to and through Glacier really is as scenic as the US has to offer. Going to Sun Highway not over-rated. Bit chilly, rainy, and windy.

So many places to stay. Local dealer might offer good suggestions as to local riding.

I think you have a great idea.

Great idea IMHO. Beartooth Pass is one of my favorite roads in the USA and usually doesn't open until Memorial Day Weekend so I'd plan my trip with that in mind. Here's a shot of me last June


From a riding perspective only, the riding in Yellowstone is not amazing. The scenery and wildlife, though, IS AMAZING. Nothing like riding a motorcycle by a 2000 lb buffalo bull 10' away.

Great bike you're getting. I test rode an FZ09 a couple weeks ago and that ride has me lusting after the FJ09.

600 mile service interval.

Yellowstone is gargantuan.

Really study over the map, and do your homework. That is the best way to really get the best out of her.
Those 600 miles will go by quick.

I recommend Norris Camp ground.
Try to pull up to other bikers and strike up a conversation, and ask to camp with them at night.

Like other posts before mine;
May will be a little early as far as snow..even early June might be problematic.
North part of Yellowstone is the best IMHO, less tourists, more wildlife.
Beartooth, Chief Joseph hwys are 'must rides' (Beartooth goes up to 11K...snow can be a problem there anytime of the year).
Another road I wouldn't miss is Wyoming 14a from Lovell to Sheridan. The 14/16 from Sheridan to Gillett is a good road also.
Are you going through So. Dakota? - Ride the Keyhole road in Custer State Park.

Click on the link and hit 'page down' about 8 times and there is a video of some buffalo walking around my bike. Good times!
http://2mbstonestravels.blogspot.com/2013/09/fifty-day-1.html

1st things 1st!11 call that dealer-the one in the town where you'll buy and fly. fly and ride/drive is very common but deals vary-that seems a natural to me-find the deal? Are you new to buying? then sort the routes and various other particulars.
I'd start with finding my best deal & ensure the MC will be there when you pulling this off?
The Texas DMV part is posted online as will the selling dealer know their states end & the dealer can assist if your new to those considerations. Your local license plate clerk might help too? That's the easy part. Having money & time are the hard part for most people.

I think you are putting too much emphasis on the 600 mile service. It's generally a look over and an oil change. I bought a goldwing in North Carolina and had the first service around 1000 miles when it was convenient on the way back to CA.
I also think that flights into Seattle would be cheaper than Jackson, so I would fly and buy in Seattle, ride to either Missoula or Boise for my oil change, then blow with the wind for as long as I could until I had to return to Houston.
Once you are past the Rockies slab it home.

That's certainly food for thought. I had not considered that route, thanks for the input.

2mstone: Unfortunately, I don't think SD is on the radar timewise.

I'm interested to know why you want to do a fly-drive deal?
Are bikes significantly cheaper in Wyoming??
Surely Texas DMV are aware of this type of thing & will still want their pound of flesh???
Anyway, good luck with the trip, & if you were going to do it both ways
(Texas to Yellowstone & back) l'd consider tagging along (if l was welcome)

Also, yes, Yellowstone is worth going to see, it's like stepping back in time, truly majestic!!!
(but so are the Rockies in Colorado, all of Utah & Monument Valley)

Yellowstone is huge, and if you can avoid a holiday you will only have to deal tourists when you check out the major sights. I have been out there twice, the place is as large as a lot of states, don't let looking at a map fool you. Jackson is a bit of a tourist trap, and spendy, but fun. I have been out there twice, and have not found a bad campground, I prefer the campgounds in the Teton's the views of the mountains are amazing. If you want to do a cabin Island park Idaho has lots of options, puts you on the north west corner of the park. Hotels in the area are pricey, but if you want a nice ride try one in Victor id the pass back into WY will be fun on a bike. I would take as much time out there as you can and if camping move around to different parts of the parks and spend time there and move on to the next area when your done. It takes 3 to 4 hours to cross the park with the low speed limits and traffic. But parking will be easy on the bike, they have put a lot of motorcycle only parking in at all the stops.
As for the bike you may also want to buy in Montana and ride south into the park plane tickets to the major hubs in Montana can be had for a fraction of the ones to Jackson.

No sales tax in Montana too. I don't know how Texas deals with out of state purchases but at least you won't have to mess around with a bill of lading or any other malarkey to avoid paying sales tax in another state.

I heard that you open up a Post Office box for mailing purposes & keep it for a set amount of time to get away with not paying taxes.............

Texas will get their tax money, regardless of where you buy. Go for the deal on the combo of bike,location, air tic logic thrown in! MC prices will vary enough to cover the air tic in many cases.

You'd be limiting your window to the week before Memorial Day weekend.

The park is just getting opened up, but the crowds are not there yet.

Last time I did this, I was leaving the park for Jackson on Friday. No southbound traffic, but lots of oncoming northbound traffic.

Also, temps were near freezing at night and 60s mid-day. 30 to 40 degrees temp change from low to high while we were there.

We had a great trip, though. We didn't camp, but stayed at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge.

This was taken on that trip, just south of the south entrance to the park. I had my 2003 F650GS Dakar with me on this trip. The date was May 21:

Here's a route that picks up some really good roads on the way back to Houston:

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