Eastern Maui loop on harley

motogon · 11-16-2011, 11:15 AM

Wanted to do this ride on bike for while, but couldn't fine any non-harley bike in rentals on Maui. Even consider to do this ride on scooter, but local guys explained me that could be too adventurous and can cost me a lot. Sooo ... I decided to rent HD. It's going to be adventure! Here is the bike

Here is map of my ride. I started from Kihei -> Paia -> Haiku -> Hana -> Kula -> Makawao -> Paia and then return to Kihei. Overall around 150 miles and around 1000 curves. Road include famous Hana Hwy.

I left Kihei around 10am. Stopped few times on way to Hana to drain some liquids and take few pictures.

Arrived to Hana around 12:30.

Exiting Hana I got most expensive gas in US - $5.59 gallon of premium

Much less cars on road after Hana, which is good.

Road still very scenic.

Road conditions became more interesting ... but not for Harley

Fork was constantly bottoming with loud metal clunks and same for rear shocks. Later I found out that was not worst road for sportster. Worst was ahead - asphalt made of patches only for at least 10 miles! I didn't hear motor because of suspension constant clunks.

I was very happy (especially my hands and ass) when I eventually reached flat pavement.

In about hour I made to Kula, where was pretty cool (was considering to stop and put liner to jacket) I guess because of 3500 feet over see level.

From there you can see Kihei, but there is no straight road from Kula to Kihei.

Rest of trip was uneventful: from Kula went to Makawao town and then to Paia by Baldwin ave.. Had lunch at Paia Fish Market (must do for every surfer and windsurfer). Visited my windsurfing buddies at Kanaha beach.

and by 4:30pm was home at Kihei.
I would love to ride this road again but on more appropriate bike.

zeusrock1 · 11-16-2011, 12:36 PM

Hey Andrew! Beautiful Pictures, looks like a great ride

My old sportster used to bottom out a lot, I know the feeling

DurtKlod · 11-16-2011, 12:46 PM

That must have been a blast. Gotta love that pothole paved stretch. I've always wondered why they didn't put a connector road down to Makena beach. There is actually a road that connects but it must be private because they keep it locked off at both ends. Gotta control the tourists one way or another. So next trip, you'll be doing Haleakala and the loop around the other end of the island right?

poolman · 11-16-2011, 01:09 PM

Great pictures and it looks like a fun ride. I did the road to Hana in a Jeep in 1979, but I don't think it was paved back then. Thanks for posting!

motogon · 11-16-2011, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DurtKlod

So next trip, you'll be doing Haleakala and the loop around the other end of the island right?

If will be more windless and flat sea days (I'm on surfing/windsurfing trip) I may do that on this trip. I been all over of island before on car on my previous trips.

newride · 11-16-2011, 01:51 PM

looks great! did a tour around Kauai on a harley and all round Oahu on my Suzuki. Maui is next!

bobw · 11-16-2011, 02:23 PM

Great scenery! You needed to use the switch that magically converts the bike for off road work like the Sporty used in "Then Came Bronson"

Cheers

Rinty · 11-16-2011, 03:01 PM

That would be fun to ride on a Sporty, but you need to have your head on a swivel in the twisty section west of Kipahulu.

If I had a place on Maui, I don't think I'd want anything much bigger than about a 450.

ADK · 11-16-2011, 03:04 PM

No dual sports for rent, eh? Sounds like a business oportunity.

Speedo66 · 11-16-2011, 04:27 PM

I did that same loop last Feb. in a rental car. Amazing how the climate goes from tropical rain forest on one side to desert on the other.

How'd you like those thousand one lane blind corners and bridges?

Rinty · 11-17-2011, 08:22 AM

Quote:

I did that same loop...in a rental car...Speedo66

Just a note to others who may be planning to rent in Maui this winter: driving in part of this loop, and in certain other parts of the island, is prohibited in some car rental contracts. My car rental guys said nothing to me when I picked the car up; but I found it later in the contract (and who reads these contracts, except me, anyway?

). It turns out my wife and I had been exploring in a couple of "no go" zones.

sandgroper · 11-18-2011, 05:29 AM

Nice pictures and story, thank you. My wife's grandparents lived in Keanae with a small taro plot, you would have gone past the house.
Ed

11-16-2011, 11:15 AM	#1
motogon ^OP Like wind Joined: Mar 2005 Location: Philly, PA Oddometer: 965	Eastern Maui loop on harley Wanted to do this ride on bike for while, but couldn't fine any non-harley bike in rentals on Maui. Even consider to do this ride on scooter, but local guys explained me that could be too adventurous and can cost me a lot. Sooo ... I decided to rent HD. It's going to be adventure! Here is the bike Here is map of my ride. I started from Kihei -> Paia -> Haiku -> Hana -> Kula -> Makawao -> Paia and then return to Kihei. Overall around 150 miles and around 1000 curves. Road include famous Hana Hwy. I left Kihei around 10am. Stopped few times on way to Hana to drain some liquids and take few pictures. Arrived to Hana around 12:30. Exiting Hana I got most expensive gas in US - $5.59 gallon of premium Much less cars on road after Hana, which is good. Road still very scenic. Road conditions became more interesting ... but not for Harley Fork was constantly bottoming with loud metal clunks and same for rear shocks. Later I found out that was not worst road for sportster. Worst was ahead - asphalt made of patches only for at least 10 miles! I didn't hear motor because of suspension constant clunks. I was very happy (especially my hands and ass) when I eventually reached flat pavement. In about hour I made to Kula, where was pretty cool (was considering to stop and put liner to jacket) I guess because of 3500 feet over see level. From there you can see Kihei, but there is no straight road from Kula to Kihei. Rest of trip was uneventful: from Kula went to Makawao town and then to Paia by Baldwin ave.. Had lunch at Paia Fish Market (must do for every surfer and windsurfer). Visited my windsurfing buddies at Kanaha beach. and by 4:30pm was home at Kihei. I would love to ride this road again but on more appropriate bike. __________________ Andrew

11-16-2011, 12:36 PM	#2
zeusrock1 Adventurer Joined: Jun 2009 Location: New Egypt, NJ Oddometer: 22	Hey Andrew! Beautiful Pictures, looks like a great ride My old sportster used to bottom out a lot, I know the feeling __________________ Jeff 2009 KLR650

11-16-2011, 12:46 PM	#3
DurtKlod Studly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2011 Location: Phoenix, AZ Oddometer: 704	That must have been a blast. Gotta love that pothole paved stretch. I've always wondered why they didn't put a connector road down to Makena beach. There is actually a road that connects but it must be private because they keep it locked off at both ends. Gotta control the tourists one way or another. So next trip, you'll be doing Haleakala and the loop around the other end of the island right? __________________ 2011 Kawasaki KLR650 It may be a fat cow of a KLR, but it thinks it's a mountain goat!

11-16-2011, 01:09 PM	#4
poolman Gnarly Poolside Adv. Joined: Feb 2010 Location: Darnestown, MD Oddometer: 413	Great pictures and it looks like a fun ride. I did the road to Hana in a Jeep in 1979, but I don't think it was paved back then. Thanks for posting! __________________ ~~~~~~ poolman Sacred Valley of the Incas Costa Rica Solo

11-16-2011, 01:51 PM	#6
newride Studly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2008 Location: South Shore of MA Oddometer: 668	looks great! did a tour around Kauai on a harley and all round Oahu on my Suzuki. Maui is next! __________________ 1975 BMW R90/6 2006 DR 650 My moto blog: http://jbloggie1.blogspot.com/

11-16-2011, 02:23 PM	#7
bobw Harden the phuck up Joined: Nov 2006 Location: God's country, Western North Carolina Oddometer: 662	Great scenery! You needed to use the switch that magically converts the bike for off road work like the Sporty used in "Then Came Bronson" Cheers

11-16-2011, 03:01 PM	#8
Rinty Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2011 Location: Calgary, Alberta Oddometer: 419	That would be fun to ride on a Sporty, but you need to have your head on a swivel in the twisty section west of Kipahulu. If I had a place on Maui, I don't think I'd want anything much bigger than about a 450.

11-16-2011, 03:04 PM	#9
ADK Beastly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2005 Oddometer: 7,759	No dual sports for rent, eh? Sounds like a business oportunity.

11-16-2011, 04:27 PM	#10
Speedo66 Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2010 Location: Now Fairfield Co, CT Oddometer: 4,594	I did that same loop last Feb. in a rental car. Amazing how the climate goes from tropical rain forest on one side to desert on the other. How'd you like those thousand one lane blind corners and bridges? __________________ '01 Kawasaki W650 '05 Yamaha XT225

11-18-2011, 05:29 AM	#12
sandgroper Beastly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2003 Location: Wanneroo, Western Australia Oddometer: 4,258	Nice pictures and story, thank you. My wife's grandparents lived in Keanae with a small taro plot, you would have gone past the house. Ed

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