Toronto - Key West - Dallas

[cdnsabrev45]

How long should I allocate for this trip? Is 2 weeks enough or should I plan on 3? Bike is a 2000 VFR 800, will probably have a nice seat + luggage by the time I leave. Should I go the givi route or get some pelicans, or soft kriega's? Would March be a good month to do this or?

This is the general idea, the only roads that are for sure are marked from E to J:

https://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=to...,13,14&t=m&z=7

[acejones]

I think you would be happier planning three weeks and not being as rushed. Florida is deceptively big. You are going to be competing with a lot of Spring Breakers in March from Daytona on south.

[cdnsabrev45]

Originally Posted by acejones

I think you would be happier planning three weeks and not being as rushed. Florida is deceptively big. You are going to be competing with a lot of Spring Breakers in March from Daytona on south.

Would March be too early as far as leaving from this far north?

[eightangrybears]

Here in New Orleans it doesn't even fully warm up until the end of April. We ride year round down here but that's probably not the case anywhere north of Arkansas...Dress warm and watch for ice!

[eightangrybears]

you'd also be doing yourself a disservice by driving the coast from florida to New Orleans...it sucks. I promise you. Just straight roads with no view of the ocean. You'd be better off heading up into the middle of alabama and mississippi. They are surprisingly beautiful with amazing roads and no one around for miles...I used to go around both and just power through them on the highway on my way to and from Atlanta but I wouldn't think about doing that again now that I know what I was missing!

[cdnsabrev45]

Ah ok will alter the route a bit. So march would be too early? Was hoping to get to bike week :(

[Sjoerd Bakker]

It all depends on the type of weather you have from TO down to TN
If you have weather like in March 2012 you could be laughing.
On the other hand going down for bike week I have seen I 75 with snowy weather in Ohio and as a
skating rink south of London KENTUCKY to past theRarity Mtn summit in TN .It all depends on the day you pick to set out. No amount of long range planning is of any use.I knowfrom experience ,just this week I manged to ride the bike out of Ontario,but
had to use 3 days just to reach Atlanta because of wanting to
avoid night cold and chance of road icing on the Cumberland
Plateau climb .
In March once you are over the hump and in Knoxville you should
be good to Key west and after that Dallas too will be good to go but you
can still get dismally cold and heavy rain in th southern states .
Spring weather and flowers work their way northward during the
weeks of March, again all depends on the area .it WILL be more
springlike than in Ontario.
Coming back to the northern states you still may run into winter weather
In late March. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr💨😨
As for route selection , your choice if you want to hug the coast and see
bazillions of beach properties ,hotels and shell shops or experience the quiet
and low volume fast moving traffic of the state and county highways.
Sure it is flat ..... this is FLORIDA!!!
You can do the ride in two weeks but thenyoucanforgetabout
Bike Week or hanging out much anyplace

[cdnsabrev45]

Originally Posted by Sjoerd Bakker

It all depends on the type of weather you have from TO down to TN
If you have weather like in March 2012 you could be laughing.
On the other hand going down for bike week I have seen I 75 with snowy weather in Ohio and as a
skating rink south of London KENTUCKY to past theRarity Mtn summit in TN .It all depends on the day you pick to set out. No amount of long range planning is of any use.I knowfrom experience ,just this week I manged to ride the bike out of Ontario,but
had to use 3 days just to reach Atlanta because of wanting to
avoid night cold and chance of road icing on the Cumberland
Plateau climb .
In March once you are over the hump and in Knoxville you should
be good to Key west and after that Dallas too will be good to go but you
can still get dismally cold and heavy rain in th southern states .
Spring weather and flowers work their way northward during the
weeks of March, again all depends on the area .it WILL be more
springlike than in Ontario.
Coming back to the northern states you still may run into winter weather
In late March. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr����
As for route selection , your choice if you want to hug the coast and see
bazillions of beach properties ,hotels and shell shops or experience the quiet
and low volume fast moving traffic of the state and county highways.
Sure it is flat ..... this is FLORIDA!!!
You can do the ride in two weeks but thenyoucanforgetabout
Bike Week or hanging out much anyplace

What about something like this, in April? You make a very good point about March, not looking like the best idea.

https://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=to...a=9,15&t=m&z=7

Edit: March is not even an option now:
http://www.grahamstar.com/articles/2...0449359649.txt

[acejones]

Yeah April will be better, especially now.

[Jamie Z]

Originally Posted by cdnsabrev45

What about something like this, in April? You make a very good point about March, not looking like the best idea.

https://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=to...a=9,15&t=m&z=7

If you plan to come through Memphis, as this map suggests, and then ride up alongside the Mississippi river a piece, I can offer a route suggestion.

Jamie

[cdnsabrev45]

Originally Posted by Jamie Z

If you plan to come through Memphis, as this map suggests, and then ride up alongside the Mississippi river a piece, I can offer a route suggestion.

Jamie

That sounds good. Please do, feel free to make mods to the route and repost the link.

Sent from my SH-02E using Tapatalk 2

[cdnsabrev45]

Forgot to mention that I need storage, which would be a better option, Nelson Riggs or Kriega? Need saddle + tail + tank bags.