Topic: The 15 Best Motorcycle Roads in America (Read 8089 times)

GregKhougaz · « **on:** June 10, 2016, 11:48:18 AM »

Let the debate resume!

According to about.com, here are The 15 Best Motorcycle Roads in America.

Lucky to have ridden 8 of the 15 and 4 of the top 5.

What do you say?

coloradotom · « **Reply #1 on:** June 10, 2016, 02:21:04 PM »

Most of these are 'pretty' roads but not what I'd rank as the best 'motorcycle roads'. Natchez Trace south of Tupelo is awful, 129 is filled w/cops and squids, CA1 is too crowded, Blue Ridge is signed way too low.

I'd add Chief Joseph to Beartooth, drop Natchez entirely and replace that with US191 from AZ to MT, swap Iron Mountain for the Dragons Tail or Cherahola since they're next to each other. Put w/TX FM170 on there instead of the Blue Ridge mostly because the speed limits out east are way too low. And I'd move Lolo higher up on that list.

FlaHeatWave · « **Reply #2 on:** June 10, 2016, 06:08:47 PM »

Done 8 of them, 6 of the top 7...

This is one of the few, if not the only, "MC best of list" that i have seen that doesn't include the Pig Trail, Hwy 23 in NW Arkansas?

Grizzly · « **Reply #3 on:** June 10, 2016, 07:21:17 PM »

I'm lucky to have ridden 11 of those 15, but I don't necessarily agree with their choice for Top 15.

VT 100 or CA 4 over Ebbetts Pass, just to name two that missed their list.

Boatman · « **Reply #4 on:** June 10, 2016, 07:38:14 PM »

#14 in Ohio is a joke. Saw a list 2 years ago with #14 in northeast Ohio so we rode it and it is a TOTAL WASTE of TIME. What a friggin joke. (oops I already said that).

It is not even the best in the state of Ohio (thank goodness) and somehow it made the top 14 in the country.

I have been blessed to ride 5 of the top 7.. I do believe Beartooth along with Chief Joseph highway are incredible.

Canadian rockies between Banff and Jasper are top notch for beauty.

FLH91 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 10, 2016, 07:43:23 PM »

We've done the top 12.....

JCZ · « **Reply #6 on:** June 10, 2016, 08:05:37 PM »

Quote from: Grizzly on June 10, 2016, 07:21:17 PM

I'm lucky to have ridden 11 of those 15, but I don't necessarily agree with their choice for Top 15.

VT 100 or CA 4 over Ebbetts Pass, just to name two that missed their list.

I was wondering why Ebbetts Pass, Sonora Pass and Carson Pass aren't on there. Nor Cal has some of the most beautiful roads in this country......google images of those three.

DesertHOG · « **Reply #7 on:** June 10, 2016, 08:21:12 PM »

So I have ridden only a few of these roads. So I have lots yet to discovery. I think you have to decide on a definition of what makes a good "motorcycle road". Is it twisties? Is it scenery? Does density of traffic fit into the mix?

Just done riding 36 and 299 in Shasta-Trinity area. I consider them nice motorcycle roads.
Going to the Sun Road in Glacier is scenic and majestic but not a motorcycle road in my mind.
Dragon? Well again perspective, I'll go with a top 15 road.

In New Mexico we have Highway 64 that goes from Cimarron, NM to Bloomfield, NM. Not really tight twisties but big sweepers with great scenery. I'd put it on the list.

Trapperdog · « **Reply #8 on:** June 10, 2016, 10:41:23 PM »

Yea, it's all about perspective. Some roads I like because they're twisty, some because of the scenery, maybe others because there's no traffic or law enforcement. Some I like on one of our bikes, but not the others and vice versa. I like long straight deserted desert roads on a cold winter morning, not so much in summer and any straight desert road at night. I have friends that don't street ride at all and think the best pavement to ride is the race track.
Sometimes the best road is the one that gets you to a loved one.

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #9 on:** June 10, 2016, 11:23:34 PM »

Quote from: Trapperdog on June 10, 2016, 10:41:23 PM

Sometimes the best road is the one that gets you to a loved one.

Oftentimes, the best road is the one I happen to be on.

coloradotom · « **Reply #10 on:** June 11, 2016, 11:30:28 AM »

My qualifications for a good road are:

Twisties
No traffic
High speed

Chief Joseph in WY met all three. It's signed 65mph, even through the switchbacks. You could probably never get a speeding ticket on that road and there is no one on it.

TX FM170 also met all three. It's signed at various speeds from 75 to 45 but in 60 miles we saw one car.

Lolo might meet all three but I did that one at 7am and at that time it was empty, but it looks like it can get busy during the day. But that 'winding road next 99 miles' sign at the top is a fun pic.

I also really liked US95 through Hells Canyon in ID. Not very twisty but high speed sweepers pretty much the whole way.

JCZ · « **Reply #11 on:** June 11, 2016, 07:15:01 PM »

You'd really like Ca 36...... 140 miles of it kind of wears you out. http://www.pashnit.com/roads/cal/Highway36.htm

On Pashnit.com you can pick your medicine.....so many options it'd be a long, long time before you'd have to do the same one a second time.....

http://www.pashnit.com/motoroads.htm

AMEDD_SFC · « **Reply #12 on:** June 13, 2016, 12:50:39 PM »

Quote from: DesertHOG on June 10, 2016, 08:21:12 PM

In New Mexico we have Highway 64 that goes from Cimarron, NM to Bloomfield, NM. Not really tight twisties but big sweepers with great scenery. I'd put it on the list.

One of my absolutely most favorite roads!

M

BigLew · « **Reply #13 on:** June 15, 2016, 09:41:15 AM »

Well I've ridden the top 7!

BigLew

FLSTFI Dave · « **Reply #14 on:** June 19, 2016, 09:02:24 PM »

I have ridden #12, #11, some of #8, #7, #6, #4, #3, #2 and #1

Number 1, Beartooth is my favorite. Number 4 "Million Dollar Hwy is my second favorite. Number 6 Going to the sun is third favorite.

I do not thing number 11, Natchez Trace should be on the list.

Number 9, route 12 Lolo pass is on my bucket list as is Number 5 the PCH.

MrSurly · « **Reply #15 on:** June 20, 2016, 12:17:11 PM »

Natchez Trace is horrible. I rode it 444 miles and it was a total chore. Never again.

I'm fortunate to have ridden over half of the list, including the top five.

2k · « **Reply #16 on:** June 21, 2016, 05:50:30 AM »

Have been lucky to have ridden 10 of these roads......and all of the top 7. As already stated no way Natchez should be on there, some nice stretches but otherwise boring.

Rebel1 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 17, 2016, 04:17:48 PM »

Having ridden 9 of the 15, I think that the Coronado Trail in Eastern Arizona should be on the list. I would even rank it somewhere in the top 10. It is US 191 and it runs from Clifton AZ. to Springerville, AZ. It's approx. 120 miles with over 300 curves. Elevation changes from around 1200 feet to over 9500 feet. If you go, be prepared for some really cold temps. I've seen it snow as early as Sept. and was once caught in a big snowstorm the last week of April.
Bob

guppytrash · « **Reply #18 on:** September 19, 2016, 10:52:20 AM »

Great thread and even better info from those who have been there.
Thanks Greg

GDK · « **Reply #19 on:** October 02, 2016, 08:51:14 PM »

We just rode 1500 miles in Colorado and hwy 64 in NM didn't find a bad road. Very little traffic and the scenery is amazing.

Yellow09SERG · « **Reply #20 on:** October 12, 2016, 07:27:41 PM »

Quote from: GregKhougaz on June 10, 2016, 11:23:34 PM

Oftentimes, the best road is the one I happen to be on.

Or the next road your getting ready to turn on to

FlaHeatWave · « **Reply #21 on:** October 12, 2016, 10:28:35 PM »

Either one works for me

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #22 on:** October 12, 2016, 10:46:59 PM »

Quote from: Yellow09SERG on October 12, 2016, 07:27:41 PM

Or the next road your getting ready to turn on to

Author Topic: The 15 Best Motorcycle Roads in America (Read 8089 times)