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[brosen101]

Our group is starting to plan a ride from CT to CA around June of 2014.  We're looking to ship our bikes from CA to CT, and ride back home.  We're thinking to take three weeks and see some sites along the way.  Who's done this coast-to-coast, and if so, any tips?

[JCZ]

Andy (ak), Jon (Jonga) and I shipped our bikes to Atlanta, Ga. from Sacramento.  Picked the bikes up and Chip lead the ride the rest of the way over to Myrtle Beach (the Atlantic ocean) to begin our ride west from the true east coast.

Using my (new to me back then) gps, we avoided the interstates and freeways and stayed on two lane roads where ever possible.  We spent a couple of nights here and a couple or three nights there....when there were things we really wanted to check out.  And of course we timed it all with the Western CVO Owners GTG in Cripple Creek, Colo. where we spent four more days.

We intentionally avoided family and friends that we may have had individually, along the way......although we did hook up with our CVO friends along the way.  Had dinner with some, spent the night with some and some even joined us for a few miles or so.

It was a great experience and lots of great memories. I think we did it just under three weeks.

I would say that it's going to be miserable in June, due to the heat....especially in the west.  You might want to reconsider doing it either earlier (late Apr/early May or late Sept/early Oct.) for a more comfortable ride.

I'm curious how you chose Ct. for your departing point?

[brosen101]

Thank you for the feedback  - smart idea to stay away from friends (without bikes) and family to keep the pace moving forward!  I also like the idea of staying away from interstates to get a closer feel of the surrounding areas and a deeper experience.

We started out discussing the Sturgis event, but none of us want to be riding near 600,000 bikers.  The Sturgis discussions quickly evolved into a coast-to-coast run as we all realized this was a bucket list item for all of us.  We have friends in CT that are also CVOr's, so we brought them into the loop.  Being a few miles from the Pacific Ocean on our side, and our fellows in CT right on the water, we're literally going to touch the water on both sides.  Anyway, that's was how we picked CT, and how it pretty much started. 

Agreed that April/May would be ideal, but I have two young ones still in school so having them out for summer break is the only time I can do this ride - June it is, heat (and rain somewhere along the way) and all...

You mentioned Western CVO GTG, I am not familiar with that - who / what is that?  Thanks again for the feedback.

[JCZ]

GTG = Get ToGether.  Every year, somewhere on the east side of the country they have an annual GTG and every year on the west side of the country they have one.  The first few years we just called them the Western CVO Owners GTG....after Cripple Creek, Colo they started calling them by location......Mt. Hood, Pala, Sedona, Santa Fe, etc.  See the Ride Reports and Pictures boards for photos of past events.

As you kind of formalize a route, post it on here and the members on this forum will let you know the best routes, what to see & do and what to stay away from.....some may even join you for a few miles, a day or two.  That's just how this forum and these members work.

By the way, welcome to the board.  You should go to the introduction board and introduce yourself, your riding experience, what you ride, where you're from, etc.  Get to know these guys and gals.  I gurantee you this forum is different from any forum you've ever been on before.

For a number of rides all over the country the past few years, here's some of my ride reports....  http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=77699.0

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=72870.0

[brosen101]

Wow, that's a healthy amount of info and advice, all terrific.  I'll hit the intro post in a bit. 

Thank you!

[cvolovermi]

8 of us just got back from a Detroit to Los Angeles, and back, trip and I can tell you that you want to stay on the major interstates.  First, there are plenty of Harley dealerships off the major interstates and although most of us had brand new CVOs, we ended up needing several dealers along the way.  We all fueled up in Lebanon, MO at a Phillips 66 station and all of a sudden 3 bikes wouldn't even start.  Turns out the gas tank was full of water.  The station refunded all of our money and paid for the Harley dealer to drain all of our tanks and put new gas in.  That dealership happened to be 1/2 mile away.  Second, the gas stations out west are very far apart.  In fact, on I-40 in California, you have to fill up in Needles, Ludlow and Barstow because the stations are 80 miles apart.  Miss one and you might not make it to the next one.  Also, road service and towing is very sparse out west, as.

Another bit of advice is timed gas stops.  Don't let everyone be on their own agenda or your stops will take forever.  This wastes a ton of time.  You want to try to do all of your riding during the daytime hours, because the animals are all over at night time, especially in the mountains.  A club brother of mine just hit a deer in California on Thursday.  He is OK, but bike is toast.

I can tell you there is nothing like traveling cross country on a bike.  We are doing Seattle next and then back to Cali.

Enjoy!
KB

[2k]

8 of us just got back from a Detroit to Los Angeles, and back, trip and I can tell you that you want to stay on the major interstates.  First, there are plenty of Harley dealerships off the major interstates and although most of us had brand new CVOs, we ended up needing several dealers along the way.  We all fueled up in Lebanon, MO at a Phillips 66 station and all of a sudden 3 bikes wouldn't even start.  Turns out the gas tank was full of water.  The station refunded all of our money and paid for the Harley dealer to drain all of our tanks and put new gas in.  That dealership happened to be 1/2 mile away.  Second, the gas stations out west are very far apart.  In fact, on I-40 in California, you have to fill up in Needles, Ludlow and Barstow because the stations are 80 miles apart.  Miss one and you might not make it to the next one.  Also, road service and towing is very sparse out west, as.

Another bit of advice is timed gas stops.  Don't let everyone be on their own agenda or your stops will take forever.  This wastes a ton of time.  You want to try to do all of your riding during the daytime hours, because the animals are all over at night time, especially in the mountains.  A club brother of mine just hit a deer in California on Thursday.  He is OK, but bike is toast.

I can tell you there is nothing like traveling cross country on a bike.  We are doing Seattle next and then back to Cali.

Enjoy!
KB

Several years ago went from LA to Seattle. Hwy 1/101 to top of Washington, across Wa on 101 & Strait of Juan de Fuca, 104 to Ferry to Seattle. GREAT TRIP