MotorcycleRoads.US Blog

Hyner View Road, Pennsylvania

2011-10-28T14:17:00.001-04:00

Hyner View Road uses several switchbacks to take you to a scenic vista which overlooks the West Branch of the Susquehanna River and is a favorite spot for hang gliding. At 1,940' altitude above sea level it is perhaps the most spectacular viewpoint in all of Pennsylvania.

Located northwest of Lock Haven and I-80, X178, it is not far from PA 120 and is worth the short side trip involved.

Group Riding

2011-10-24T22:28:00.001-04:00

This past weekend, there were 3 motorcycle accidents in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In one case "police said a motorcyclist going more than 100 miles an hour crashed into another motorcyclist on westbound Interstate 40." The riders were part of an organized group ride and the motorcyclist going over 100 miles an hour blew out a tire trying to catch up to the other riders.

This brings up one of my pet peeves. Group rides in which the leader has no clue what is going on behind him and the consequences of his actions.

Recently, I was on an organized ride involving 50-60 bikes. The leader was cruising at 65mph in a 55mph speed zone. Those in the rear, including myself, frequently had to speed up to 75mph to catch up to the group. At one point the bike in front of me almost ran into the rear of the bike to his front such as the accident noted. Needless to say, during the ride I was constantly looking for escape lanes if I needed them.

This group leader on this ride did not observe several rules.

1) The leader should not exceed the posted speed limit or even stay 5mph below the limit. Safety is the number one priority of the leader, PERIOD!

2) The leader should watch the formation in his rear view mirror and adjust his speed to keep the formation tight.

3) After turning a corner and going through curves, as well as other situations, the leader should accelerate SLOWLY to keep the group formation tight. I was on a 9/11 ride into New York City in which the group leader quickly accelerated after going through a toll booth. Needless to say the group got split up and the bikes ahead were out of sight. Fortunately, I had been on the ride in previous years and knew the route into NYC, so we were able to eventually rejoin the rest of the group. Otherwise we would have lost our way and a good portion of the group would have ended up falling out of the ride.

These rules outline, in my opinion, two of the most important responsibilities of a group leader: safety and keeping the group formation tight.

Springdale-Hunters Road, Washington

2011-10-16T23:33:00.001-04:00

As its name implies, Springdale-Hunters Road runs between Springdale and Hunters in Eastern Washington. The road takes you through a remote area and features sweeping turns. Just northwest of Spokane, Hunters is close to the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area which provides visitors the opportunity to enjoy camping, hunting, boating, and other outdoor activities.

State Route 23 - Nebraska

2011-10-01T23:12:00.001-04:00

NE 23 is located in South-Central Nebraska. Contibuted by Daren Fleischman, he relates that it is "Up and down sweeping turns through the lower sandhills." He also recommends the Curtis Cattle Company restaurant in Curtis for it's chicken fried steak. I suspect you need to be a local to know what chicken fried steak is, but it sounds delicious.

Redwood Road - California

2011-10-01T16:57:00.001-04:00

Located in the Oakland area, Redwood Road goes through Redwood and Chabot Regional Parks. A rider from Castro Valley says that it "Starts off kinda easy but then gets heavy with lots of turns.". He also recommends that you turn off Redwood Road and take Pinehurst Road towards Valle Vista for more twisty curves.

East Tennessee Motorcycle Trails

2011-09-27T21:36:00.001-04:00

Recently, on my travels, I picked up a brochure from the Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council titled 'The Long & Winding Road'. It includes information on the heritage, culture, and history of East Tennessee, but more important it highlights 5 loops which provide an opportunity for a great day ride.

East Tennessee, along with its neighbor, western North Carolina, offers some of the best roads in the US. I think even experienced California riders would be impressed.

You can find some limited information and maps of the 5 loops at http://www.easttnvacations.com/east-tn-trails/ . The brochure provides a lot of information on points of interest along the routes. I did not see any opportunities on the website to download or request the brochure, so I guess you'll have to pick one up at a travel or tourist centers in the area.

US 31, Indiana

2011-09-06T21:25:00.001-04:00

Many Interstates follow along or replaced US highways. One of those is US 31 in Indiana which travels close to I-65. John describes it as a "Relaxing well maintained roadway. This is a great Sunday ride. Small towns along the way provide plenty of opportunities to grab a bite to eat; from mom and pop to national chain restaurants."

You may find that roads like US 31 have light traffic without the presence of the 18-wheelers.

SR 74 - Colorado

2011-08-30T04:59:00.001-04:00

State Route 74 in Colorado is also known as Bear Creek Road. Besides being twisty, a rider from Littleton explained that it "Takes you past Red Rocks and some wonderful scenery." As it's name implies, SR 74 follows along the Bear Creek.

This 11 mile stretch of SR 74 runs between Morrison and Evergreen and is just west of the Denver metropolitan area.

Old Hill City Road - South Dakota

2011-08-28T08:55:00.001-04:00

Old Hill City Road is unique in that it follows and crosses the railroad tracks 14 times of the 1880 Train, a vintage steam engine. Contributed by Jeff Marchitto, he describes Old Hill City Road as "a twisty, scenic ride which serves as a very handy and fun crossover between Hill City and Keystone."

You could use Old Hill City Road as an alternative to US 16 or combine the two for a nice loop. At the Keystone end it is only a few miles to Mount Rushmore.

Hopkins Hill Road - Rhode Island

2011-08-25T10:42:00.001-04:00

Hopkins Hill Road is located just west of Warwick, but the contributor say that it has an "Unusually rural feeling for RI (like some back roads of NH or Maine)." He also noted that Hopkins Hill Road "will test your curve negotiation skills."

It is only 8 miles in length but it is a road you might want to turn around and do it again. Looks like a good road to seek out if you are in the area.

How to Save Gas

2011-08-19T15:14:00.001-04:00

About.com has posted an article on How to Save Gas on a Motorcycle. It provides 10 tips to improve your miles per gallon (mpg). Besides making common sense, many will help you 'keep the rubber on the road' and improve the pleasure of your ride.

Here is another tip: While scanning 5 seconds down the road, if I observe a red light, I back off the throttle and coast (in gear) to the light. More often then not, the light turns green before I reach the intersection.

Do you have a tip to increase mpg you would like to share?

River Road, Pennsylvania

2011-08-13T06:32:00.001-04:00

River Road, AKA Buck River Road, is located 5 miles north of Blakeslee in the Pocono Mountains. Submitted by Charles Peterson, he describes it as "a beautiful country ride through: state game lands, the quaint little town of Thornhurst, and along the upper Lehigh River. Use caution on the turns--several are tight and poorly banked. This road is somewhat difficult to find at each end but a ride well worth the effort after getting there."

Alger County Route 58, Michigan

2011-08-08T23:16:00.001-04:00

Nick Sloane recently submitted CR 58 and it was quickly followed up with comments from Bob L. Both praised the scenery along this route and the excellent road conditions. CR 58 is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan along Lake Superior and runs through the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Both Nick and Bob also noted that traffic was very lite on this route.

Triadelphia Road, Maryland

2011-08-07T20:34:00.001-04:00

Triadelphia Road is a quiet backroad which loops off of MD 32, just west of Baltimore. The contributor relates that it is a "Fun route for novice riders since there's virtually no traffic." No doubt a good choice for experienced riders as well if you're in the area.

Sturgis Rally

2011-08-06T04:56:00.001-04:00

The Sturgis (Black Hills) Rally officially begins this coming week. One the events on Monday, August 8th, is the Mayor's Ride. Mark Carstensen, the new Mayor of Sturgis, has obtained his motorcycle license and will borrow an H-D Road King in order to participate in the event. He has previous experience riding dirt bikes but this will be his first involvement in road riding.

Mayor Carstensen will also be available to officiate at weddings, which are common at the rally.

For Mayor Carstensen's comments on motorcycling and the rally logon to the Sturgis Rally Daily.

I commend Mayor Carstensen for his support of motorcycling and the Sturgis Rally and wish him, the City of Sturgis, and all the participants well for a safe and successfull rally.

State Route 3, Kentucky

2011-08-05T17:11:00.001-04:00

SR 3 in the Eastern Highlands of Kentucky looks like a real winner. A rider from North Carolina describes it as a "Sweet little back road through the mountains, with lots of turns and elevation changes.". It starts in Louisa along the West Virginia state line. It is recommended that you stop at Kentucky's Pavieillon, at the intersection of SR 3 and US 23, which he relates "is a unique combination gas station/ice-cream shop/country music museum (honoring the locals who made it big), with plenty of rocking chairs out front for riders who want to take a cool break on a hot day." Check out the Paveillon's website, I'll think you'll agree.

SR 191, Pennsylvania

2011-08-04T19:59:00.001-04:00

A rider from New York recently submitted PA 191 which takes you through the Pocono Mountains and the Upper Delaware River Scenic and Recreational Area. He stated that he "Found this one by mistake, but what a find." I completely agree.

I've ridden it several times and it is a road that I look at anytime I plan on heading north into New York. Once you cross the bridge to Hancock, NY, you have several options:

1) Take NY 97 to backtrack south along the Delaware and enjoy the infamous 'Hawks Nest' with it's spectacular views of the river.

2) Pickup NY 10 and experience the wonderful scenery provided by the Cannonsville Reservoir.

3) Catch NY 30 which is a great route through the heart of the Adirondack Mountains.

PA 191, along with anyone of the NY routes, will provide a good day of riding.

2012 Victory Lineup

2011-08-03T11:06:00.001-04:00

Victory has announced its 2012 lineup of 15 models including 3 Ness Limited Edition models. Gone are the Kingpin 8-ball and Vision 8-ball. The price of the Vision Tour was dropped $2,200. For more information and photos, visit About.com's 2012 Victory Motorcycles Buyer's Guide.

New Roads

2011-07-29T21:11:00.001-04:00

Added 9 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US.

1) California: Marysville/La Porte Road: "This road takes you through some great twisty asphalt through the Plumas National Forest." Located northeast of Yuba City.

2) Illinois: Blue Ridge Road: "Nice curvy 2 lane blacktop up out of the Illinois River valley."

3) Michigan: River Road: "A scenic ride along the Au Sable River. Several points of interest along the way..." Off of US 23 in northern Michigan.

4) Missouri: SR H: "Highway H doesn't have the best pavement, but does have some nice sweepers and elevation changes. " Located east of Fort Leonard Wood.

5) New Jersey: Pasadena Road: "This road runs parallel to a former railroad track and ends up by Route 72 in Manahawkin."

6) New York: CR 57: "Narrow road with little traffic and twisties." AKA Shunpike Road.

7) Oklahoma: Cavanal Hill Road: "You're riding a steep and twisty one lane road to the top of the highest hill in the world..." "If this road had a personality, it would be Snake Plissken!" Located west of Poteau.

8) Pennsylvania: Powells Valley Road: "...from Lykens to Greenland Road the road is smooth with plenty of curves as you go through Lykens Glen State Park."

9) Tennessee: Daus Mountain Road: "The road starts out as a nice set of twisties and turns into sweepers." Located northwest of Chattanooga.

Madawaska (ME) Four Corners Park

2011-07-29T14:22:00.001-04:00

Received an email from Joe LaChance, president of the Madawaska Four Corners Park Association, with some information on the park.

"The Madawaska, Four Corners Park Association has created a park to honor the S.C.M.A Four Corners Tour finishers, participants and motorcyclists.

Located prominently in downtown Madawaska, Maine, our park features an impressive 12-foot tall blue pearl granite monument and a lighted water fountain, surrounded by granite benches and tables with gazebo's, a drinking fountain also a storyboard, and a fireplace. The parks landscaping includes flowers and trees to create shade and beauty for visitors to enjoy. The park also features walkway paths paved with engraved granite paver stones celebrating Four Corners tour finishers ,participants and park supporters. a must see for motorcyclists."

Madawaska is located on US 1 in the northeast corner of Maine and the US and a must stop if you are in the area..

Top Roads

2011-07-28T07:49:00.001-04:00

Here are a few top roads listings which were recently posted. I'm not going to comment on the selection of roads, they are all good motorcycle roads. You could argue forever about a top roads list. Here they are:

Competition Accessories is in the process of listing the top 20 roads in the various regions of the US. A short description, photo, road length, and rider's rating is provided on each road. However, in many cases, you have to guess which road(s) or route are being described. A map or the road designations would have been helpful.

Bill Muneio recently posted his Top 5 Motorcycle Roads of California's Central Coast. Bill provides a good description along with several photos and a link to a Google Map of the road. He purposely left out CA 1 since it has been covered thoroughly elsewhere.

Smage Brothers Motorcycle Stunt Team

2011-07-21T07:08:00.001-04:00

The Smage Brothers Motorcycle Stunt Team was a smashing success on this week's edition of America's Got Talent. Link to YouTube video.

Harley 2012 Lineup

2011-07-21T06:33:00.001-04:00

Harley-Davidson has announced its 2012 motorcycle lineup. The lineup includes 32 models showcased by 4 CVO models, a 10th Anniversary V-Rod, and a new model, the Dyna Switchback.

The Dyna Switchback, with detachable hard saddlebags and detachable windshield, can easily be converted from a touring bike to a cruiser. The base price is $15,999.

Overall prices for 2012 are up 1% in the United States with a range of $7,999 for a Superlow Sportster to $37,249 for the Ultra Classic CVO model.

For more information visit Harley-Davidson's website.

West Virginia

2011-07-15T23:23:00.002-04:00

Spent a couple of days riding in the mountains of West Virginia. 1st time for me. Here are some of my observations:
WV 55 is a great road but it's character has been compromised as a portion in now a 4-lane freeway (part of Corridor H). This freeway cuts through mountains and fills in valleys. Traffic on this freeway, which cost several million per mile to build, was very light. This is a waste of taxpayer money and it has ruined the beautiful mountain scenery and road. Along the freeway you will see signs directing you to the old 55, however.
Ditto for US 33 - it also has some segments with Corridor H freeway. A must stop is Seneca Rocks at the intersection of WV 55 and US 33. Be sure to visit the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center and check out Harper's Old Country Store.
Rode US 50 from Clarksburg to Ellenboro. Also a 4-lane freeway (Corridor D) and a bit of a disappointment. Traffic was moderate on this segment.
From Ellenboro I took WV 16 to St. Mary. If the rest of 16 is as good as this small segment, you can't go wrong. St. Mary is unique in that a railroad runs down the center of the main street. I talked to a local and he said that several trains come through daily and St Marys is one of only 2-3 towns in the US with this rare situation. When a train approaches, lights flash to warn motorists to move to the side and make way for the train. An opportunity for a quick stop and photo op.
WV 7 was the real deal and it restored my faith in WV roads. Light traffic and endless curves.
Overall, these roads in the WV mountains were a enjoyable ride. Look forward to getting back to this area and explore other roads.

Great day of riding

2011-06-16T07:21:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, with perfect weather, took a ride to the Dutch Country of Pennsylvania. Stopped at Yoders Country Market in New Holland for their all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. The food was excellent and a real bargain at $10. After lunch rode over to Intercourse, PA and stopped at Kitchen Kettle Village. Its worth the time to walk around, do some shopping and, best of all, listen to the music of the duo (guitar and banjo) who perform outside the bake shop.
On the way down rode PA 568. This is a road which is a must ride if you are in the area. Lots of curves, nice scenery, and very little traffic. It is very tempting to push the speed, but with no shoulders and many blind curves, it is wise to sit back and enjoy the scenery and cooling shade.
Leaving Intercourse, I took PA 772 west to Rothsville. 772 is not listed on MotorcycleRoads.US but it is a great motorcycle road and I hope that a rider out there submits their comments on it.
The highlight of the day happened upon arrival at the Kitchen Kettle Village. As I got off by bike, I spied a couple across the parking lot who had also just arrived. Went over and introduced myself and it turned out that the couple were from Iceland touring the US on their Yamaha Venture. We had a nice conversation and quickly became friends. Needless to say that this is an example of why motorcycling is a such a passion with me.

New Roads

2011-06-13T09:22:00.001-04:00

Added 9 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Arkansas: SR 221 - "This road is really good with its curves and elevation changes. Good pavement and very pretty ride." In the Northwest Ozarks out of Berryville.

2) Minnesota: CR 16 - "...along the St. Croix River..." AKA Wild Mountain Road. Located north of the Twin Cities.

3) Missouri: US 50 - "Nice ride thru the Mid Missouri countryside. Usually low traffic." Runs between Jefferson City and St. Louis.

4) North Carolina: Road to Nowhere - "This road goes into the Smokey Mountains National Park and deadends at a tunnel about 1/4 mile long. The views of the Southern Smokies are great along this route..." AKA Lakeview Drive.

5) New York: CR 6 - "Great sportbike road that will keep you on your toes with a variety of hard to predict turns at times. Short, but one of the best in the area." Located in the Hudson Valley region.

6) Ohio: US 52 - "Nice sweeping turns with little traffic." Follows along the Ohio River.

7) Pennsylvania: Oysterdale Road - "Mostly sweeping (slightly twisty), beautiful countryside." In the Dutch County northeast of Reading.

8) Tennessee: Clifton Turnpike - "...this road snakes it's way through heavy woods to a lower elevation where it straightens out to open meadows. Sport bikers will not be disappointed." Located southwest of Nashville.

9) Texas: FM 2208 - "Nice road, friendly traffic, very scenic, around 40 miles of fun." Out of Longview not far from I-20, X599.

New Roads

2011-05-03T21:21:00.001-04:00

Added 9 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Alabama: CR 87 - "Mostly sweepers but a few twisters. Most of the area is farm land..." East of Hunysville.

2) Indiana: Old Trail Road - "Gentle, rolling, twisting rural road with pleasant farmland scenery, open fields, strands of forest, and almost no traffic to speak of." Located west of Fort Wayne.

3) Maryland: SR 146 - "Nice country road. Old farm houses and nice curves." From Towson north.

4) Minnesota: Olinda Trail - "Scandia is a cool little town..." Northeast of the Twun Cities.

5) Missouri: SR 87 - "Great road over the hills and bluffs above the river...you have the road mostly to yourself. There is a little bit of twisty fun in the middle." Off of I-70 west of Columbia.

6) New York (Ontario, CA): Niagara Parkway - "The most scenic ride in the region! A low speed route that hugs the shore of the Niagara River. Pick up the parkway in Fort Erie, ON, under the Peace Bridge. {From Buffalo].

7) North Dakota: National Park Road - "The park has wide sweeping turns, beautiful scenery, and wildlife." A loop located in Medora off of I-94, X24.

8) Ohio: Africa Road - "...through Alum Creek State Park the view is calm and beautiful. The roads are top quality with nice hills and soft sweepers." Just north of Columbus.

9) Tennessee: SR 16 - "Very fast sweepers, alot of fun." Begins in Winchester, west of Chattanooga.

New Roads

2011-04-21T04:50:00.001-04:00

Added 9 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Arizona: US 180 - "Route goes from a high elevation of over 8,000ft to a low of close to 5,500ft." Located between Flagstaff and Grand Canyon National Park.

2) Florida: Beacon Light Road - "A well paved, narrow road with tight turns and little hills." In Brevard County, south of New Smyrna Beach.

3) Indiana: SR 25 - "Very beautiful road, runs along the Wabash River from Lafayette to Delphi. It does have a number of sweeping turns and hills."

4) Minnesota: CR 9 - "...check out the St. Criox River at Wild River State Park." Off of I-35 noth of the Twin Cities Metro area.

5) North Carolina: Gum Springs Church Road - "Beautiful quiet road along Jordan Lake. Mostly scenic with a few good sweeping turns and some hills." Located east of Pittsboro.

6) New York: SR 46 - "Nice mix of sweepers and moderate twisties. Route passes through two state parks..." North of Rome.

7) Ohio: Kitzmiller Road - "The road is in great condition with some 90 degree turns and lots of trees." Northeast of Columbus.

8) Virginia: SR 631 - AKA Dobyns Road. "Twisty with some elevation changes." In the Roanoke Valley region west of Stuart.

9) Wyoming: SR 211 - "Combination of straight, sweepers, and rolling hills. Lots of open prairie." Portion of the road is gravel but OK for street bikes. North of Cheyenne.

New Roads

2011-02-26T17:19:00.001-05:00

Added 6 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Idaho: SR 32 - "The variable green patchwork of the farmland created a very scenic ride and the seemingly endless sweeping and rolling from one end to the other left me with a huge grin at the end." East of I-15 close to the Wyoming state line.

2) North Carolina: Croomsbridge Road - "Its a nice road but short." Just off I-40 north of Wilmington.

3) Ohio: Clark State Road - "Beautiful Ohio Byway road with good elevation changes and sweepers through horse farms and state parks." Located northeast of Columbus.

4) Pennsylvania: SR 18 - "This is a great high speed route with many long passing zones and great curves and elevation changes. " Starts in Washington, south of Pittsburgh.

5) Virginia: SR 600 - "This is a beautiful route to take on the motorcycle. Along this road you will have access to seaside fishing towns that have great seafood restrauants and other attractions." Located on the DelMarVa peninsula.

6) Wisconsin: SR 47 - "...tons of twisties and small hills with slow vehicle turn outs. It's also quite scenic on the Menominee Indian Reservation." In the northern highlands east of Wausau.

New Roads in Tennessee

2011-02-25T11:52:00.001-05:00

Added 5 new roads to Middle Tennessee (Lebanon area):

1) SR 267 - 11 mile road that runs south out of Watertown.

2) Bradley Creek Road - "Short run loops off SR96/Lascassas Pike..." Northeast of Murfreesboro.

3) Linwood Road - "Rural Life in Wilson County, speed limit is 35 mph."

4) N. Milton Road - "Straight away leading to sweeping turns."

5) W. Richmond Shop Road - "Some twisty turns... Good Tennessee blacktop road."

New Roads in Tennessee

2011-02-13T06:03:00.001-05:00

Added 9 new roads to Middle Tennessee. All are in Wilson County (Lebanon area). Many of them can be combined to create a loop.

1) Alsup Mill Road - "Numerous sweeping turns, beware of horse and cattle crossings."

2) Beech Log Road - "Backroads Tennessee riding."

3) Eastover Road - "Country road, speed limit 35 mph, rural riding, be careful of the 90 degree turns. T's into Bailey Road at stop sign and connects to Poplar Hill Road.."

4) Greenvale Road - "Scenic drive to small town of Statesville, TN. No services. Rolling scenic drive with blind curves over hills."

5) Poplar Hill Road - "Country riding. Speed limit 35."

6) SE Tater Peeler Road - "Beware of LEOs. Speed limit 35 mph."

7) Sherrilltown Road - "Some blind over hill curves. A few 90 degree turns. Hooks up to Beech Log Road to either go to SR 266/Cainesville Road or to US 70/SR 26/Sparta Pike."

8) Simmons Bluff Road - "Be careful of curves that rise to blind spots. There are several 90 degree 20 mph curves."

9) St Johns Road - "Short drive connecting to Alsup Mill Road. Good paved road. Major road for Wilson County, TN."

New Roads

2011-02-12T15:37:00.001-05:00

Added 5 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) California: South Mountain Road - "Great scenic road throgh the orange groves on the way to Santa Paula from Moorpark."

2) Florida: CR 314A - "Just about as good as a rural road gets in Florida." Located in Central Florida east of Ocala.

3) New York: Moriches Road - "Many beautiful homes and some scenic views of Stony Brook Harbor and Duck Pond." On Long Island near Smithtown Bay.

4) Ohio: Headleys Mill Road SW - "The scenic route has some great sweepers... The road goes through woods and past a golf course." East of Columbus.

5) Wisconsin: CR G - "A Wisconsin Rustic Road. Very twisty, lots of elevation changes, northwoods and lakes." Off of US 51 near the Michigan state line.

TravelSmart Newsletter

2011-01-29T19:42:00.001-05:00

MotorcycleRoads.US was featured in the December issue of the TravelSmart Newsletter. In her column titled US Motorcycle Tours, publisher Nancy Dunnan, wrote that MotorcycleRoads.US "is a great source of information and the most comprehensive coverage we've found." TravelSmart Newsletter was cited by Money Magazine as the "Best newsletter for travelers on a budget"and has been published for over 30 years.

New Roads in Texas

2011-01-29T15:56:00.001-05:00

Added 9 new roads to Texas.

1) Hill Country:

a) FM 2222: "This road in Austin is a great ride... It has curves and hills and is beautiful for an 'urban' road."

b) City Park Road: "Won't know you are in the middle of Austin, TX city limits. Nice road through Emma Long Metro Park. "

c) Mt. Bonnell Road: "...this road leads to Mt. Bonnell Park, which is the highest viewpoint in Austin. You get a great view of Lake Austin, the loop 360 bridge, and the other direction is downtown Austin."

d) Shaw Drive: "The first part of the road is super tight and curvy, and there is a view of Lake Travis as you come off the hill. You do have to u-turn, as it ends in Turkey Bend Recreation Area..."

2) Prairies and Lakes Region:

a) FM 67: "It has several tight curves that are not spaced too far apart, so the road doesn't have too many "boring" spots, and the scenery is actually a little hilly, which is a plus."

b) FM 216: "Even though this road dead-ends into a gravel county road, it is too fun to miss if you're riding around the Glen Rose/Hico/Meridian/Cranfills Gap area."

c) FM 309: "This is a great curvy road in the Hillsboro area... There are many sweepers, and it gets very slightly hilly as it gets closer to the west end. A very good little road."

d) FM 1473: "Even though this road ends at a county road, it is an excellent motorcycle road, because it is twisty. It is scenic at times also as it follows some hills." Located west of Meridian.

3) Piney Woods.

a) CR 3440: "County Road 3440 is an awesome road that goes along the shoreline of Lake Hawkins, both for its twisty quality and the awesome lake views."

New Roads

2011-01-27T23:21:00.001-05:00

Added 9 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Arizona: Old US 80 - "This is a paved 2-lane rural road thru the Gila River Valley. It runs roughly parallel to AZ 85..." Can be accessed from I-8, X115 or X119. Located SW of Phoenix.

2) California: Grimes Canyon Road - "Twisty mountain road from Moorpark to Filmore. Start and end in the orange groves with a great mountian view." Located NW of Los Angeles.

3) Idaho: Pine-Featherville Road - "This road will wind downhill to the Anderson Reservoir. The road is two lanes all the way with many twists and turns plus tons of great places to take pictures." West of Mountain Home off of US 20.

4) New Jersey: Hartsthorne Drive - Situated on a peninsula in Sandy Hook National Park.

5) Ohio: Morse Road SW - "Good hills and valleys with a great ravine bridge to enjoy the ride even better." Located east of Columbus.

6) Oklahoma: SR 152 - "Highway 152 west from Cogar to Binger is very good.." Can be joined with SR 37 and US 281 to make a nice loop. Situated west of Oklahoma City.

7) Tennessee: Mooresville Pike - "Hilly, scenic with some twisty parts. Smooth road surface, little traffic." Located south of Columbia in Middle Tennessee.

8) Texas: CR 3420 - "This road is a wonderful road for both the twisties and for the views of Lake Hawkins." Situated north of Tyler.

9) Virginia: US 13 across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. "This is a unique ride in that it provides 360-degree views-- except when obstructed by birds, ships and fishermen, and the smells and sounds of the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Chesapeake Bay on the other."

New Roads

2011-01-06T19:23:00.001-05:00

Added 5 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Alabama: SR 107 - "Great scenic road through the Alabama hills. Lots of sweeping turns too."

2) California: Santa Rosa Road - "Great scenic road through wine country with fantastic sweeping curves." Located east of Vandenberg AFB.

3) Indiana: Deputy Pike - "Typical southern Indiana combination of mild to interesting turns! Straightens out a bit toward the east."

4) Pennsylvania: SR 16 - "Loops south from US 30 through rolling Pennsylvania farmland, forest, and ridges. With lighter traffic, a much better alternative to crawling through Chambersburg on US 30."

5) Texas: Winner Foster Road - "Great scenic ride with nice sweeping turns." Located west of Houston.

New Roads in Texas

2010-12-12T07:44:00.001-05:00

Added 7 roads to North Texas:

1) FM 660 - "This is what I would call the 'scenic' route from Ennis to Ferris, especially if you're trying to avoid I-45, which is always advisable." South of Dalas.

2) FM 813 - "This road is a great road for being this close to the DFW area. It has many low-speed sweepers, and is actually twisty in sections."

3) FM 916 - "A nice ride through the Texas countryside. Good pavement, sweeping curves, and pretty scenery." South of Fort Worth.

4) Cahoba Drive - "Cahoba Drive is a fun cruise with many Lake Worth views. The pavement is not what I'd call "excellent" for cutting the twisties, and there are a few speedbumps, but the speedbumps are sectioned with gaps that you can pass through easily on a motorcycle..."

5) Heron Drive - "Heron Drive follows Lake Worth shoreline for several miles, and is full of tight twisties, blind corners, hills, and Lake Worth views. This is an awesome road, and I never thought I would find one this good this close to Ft. Worth."

6) Lake Road - "Lake Road is a very nice and fun cruise around Lake Weatherford. Lots of nice sweepers and lots of lake views, as it goes right with the shoreline."

7) Watercress Drive - "Watercress Drive is a great road that follows the Lake Worth shoreline, giving great lake views, and several twisties."

New Roads

2010-12-05T14:51:00.001-05:00

Added 7 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Florida: Fussell Road - "About as 'twisty' as you get in Florida. But this road is infamous for riders going down. Open straight sections allow speed build-up, but some deceptive turns that can cause you to over-steer." Located southwest of Orlando.

2) Indiana: Bicycle Bridge Road - "Goes over Bicycle Bridge (cross the Tippecanoe River), so named according to history buffs because the original bridge was so narrow it was only good for bicycles." Just outside Delpi (NE of Lafayette).

3) Maryland: Renner Road - "Keeps you on your toes with several tight turns & some nice grade changes. Good pavement the whole way." Northeast of Frederick.

4) Minnesota: CR 1 - Good access from I-90, X266 or X270.

5) Ohio: Cherry Bottom Road - Located north of the Columbus International Airport.

6) Pennsylvania: Walter Dam Road - Easy access from I-80, X277.

7) Texas: FM 116 - Located in the Killeen/Fort Hood area.

New Roads

2010-11-19T21:30:00.001-05:00

Added 7 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Alabama: SR 54 - "Good sweeping turns, plenty of farmland and overhanging trees." Located just north of the Florida state line.

2) Florida: SR 2 - "Great ride with farms, woods and plenty of sweeping curves." In the Florida panhandle.

3) Kentucky: SR 700 - "Very nice trip from just above Cumberland Falls to 25 miles South of Burnside, well paved, good turns; a very enjoyable ride." Goes through Daniel Boone National Forest.

4) Michigan: CR 595 - "A short but good ride. Road is usually in good condition and relatively debris free." Located northeast of Grand Rapids.

5) Ohio: Noe Bixby Road - "Traffic can be heavy around rush hour. Road is in great condition with trees and river." Columbus area.

6) Pennsylvania: SR 61 - "Some really nice scenery with some nice sweeping turns. There are a few twisty switchbacks." Can be accessed from I-81, X124.

7) Texas: FM 1276 - "This is a very nice and quiet road, very good road." Located east of Livingston.

New Roads

2010-11-08T14:50:00.001-05:00

Added 8 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Alabama: SR 171 - "Nice sweepers, very scenic." 36 miles of two-lane north of Tuscaloosa.

2) Arizona: BIA 59 - "...through the heart of the Navajo Nation to the Canyon de Chelly National Monument. This stretch of roadway is easy riding two-lane asphalt in good condition."

3) Arkansas: SR 298 - "Tree-lined, chip-seal, two lane, no potholes..." Located northwest of Benton.

4) Florida: Baymeadows-Gate Parkway - "Left & right alternating sweepers, undeveloped area." Southeast of Jacksonville.

5) Missouri: SR K - "This is an awesome ride with brand new asphalt. Mostly sweepers with some fairly technical stuff thrown in."

6) Ohio: Dry Creek Road - "No amenities along the road but plenty of stops in Newark. Road has some loose gravel in some spots, uneven pavement near Alexandria." Located northeast of Columbus.

7) Pennsylvania: Union Deposit Road - "Short, but twisty with many tight turns and frequent elevation changes." Harrisburg area.

8) Texas: River Road - "Short country run with some fun turns." Located west of Longview.

New Roads in Texas

2010-11-05T15:58:00.001-04:00

Added 9 new roads to the Hill Country (Lake Travis area) of Texas. All compliments of a rider from Arlington, Texas.

1) Boggy Ford Road - "It has some sweepers and some lake views for a relaxing cruise in this area."

2) Comanche Trail - "There are awesome high hillside views of Lake Travis, and lots of up-and-down hills and tight curves." Ends at Bob Wentz Park.

3) Hughes Park Road - "If you like twisties, don't miss this one. It follows the curves of Lake Travis enroute to Tom Hughes Park."

4) Lohman Ford Road - "The road has many fun sweepers and some hills, and great views of the surrounding country and Lake Travis. A must do road..."

5) Lost Creek Boulevard - "It is super curvy and very tall hilly, so it's really fun to ride."

6) Reed Park Road - "This road is yet another awesome road for motorcycles in the Lake Travis area, west of Austin. It is a loop road thats twists and turns through a high-end area off of 1431."

7) River Place Boulevard - "...neat cruise through a nice housing area with great views from big hills in west Austin."

8) Singleton Bend Road - "It is hilly and curvy, with nice Lake views in a couple of spots. Fun if you're in this area."

9) Thurman Bend Road - "It twists and turns like a snake past homes enroute to the end in a housing addition at the edge of Lake Travis."

New Roads

2010-11-04T08:54:00.001-04:00

Added 9 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Alabama: SR 18 - "Scenic foothills to the Smokies. Lots of sweepers and elevation changes." Located west of Birmingham.

2) Arizona: US 89A - "It will wind you through high forest and high desert settings. Stunning landscape and excellent road conditions." Takes you to SR 67 which is the entry point to the north rim of the Grand Canyon.

3) Florida: Baden Powell Road - "Good for somebody that usually only gets to ride Florida's typical straight & flat roads." East of Gainesville.

4) New York: CR 24 - "One of the best twisties in the Adirondacks with banked curves and elevation changes."

5) Ohio: Sunbury Road - "Lots of amenities along the way. Great, clean road along the river and dam." In the Columbus area.

6) Oregon: SR 201 - "It has a good bit of sweeping turns with some rather large hills to go up and down." Can be accessed from I-84 at either X356 or X374.

7) Pennsylvania: Oley Turnpike Road - "I found myself basically alone on this road with no cars. Nice sweepers and some elevation changes make this road fun to ride." Located east of Reading.

8) South Carolina: SR 703 - "This short ride over the Intracoastal Waterway bridge to Sullivans Island and the Isle of Palms is within minutes of Charleston and changes character from day to night."

9) Texas: FM 193 - "Scenic road passing though a canyon and large windmill farm with sweeping turns." Located in the Panhandle Plains northeast of Lubbock.

New Roads

2010-10-21T09:57:00.001-04:00

Added 7 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US.

1) Alabama: SR 96 - "Scenic, lots of sweepers and elevation changes." Located west of Birmingham near Mississippi state line.

2) Louisiana: SR 104 - "Closest thing to 'twisty' road that South Louisiana has to offer." Can be accessed from I-49, X19.

3) Maryland: River Road - "A combination of sweeping turns and farmland, the road disipates into the woods.." AKA SR 190, it can be accessed from I-495, X39.

4) Minnesota: CR 36 - "Little traffic, some curves, nice valley scenery." AKA Ottawa Road. Located southwest of the twin cities.

5) Pennsylvania: SR 562 - "As the main road between Reading and Boyertown it can bogg down with slow moving traffic and little to no places to pass. So you might as well enjoy the views of rural farm life."

6) Tennessee: SR 395 - "This is a beautiful run that starts in a National Forest in Erwin, TN." Becomes SR 197 in North Carolina.

7) Wyoming: I-25 - "As Interstates go, this is a pretty dang good one. Hardly any traffic and some mighty fine views for the whole route."

New Roads

2010-10-04T23:35:00.001-04:00

Added 5 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Kentucky: SR 625 - "A nice dodge/detour to US 421 near the Ohio River..." Located just south of Milton and the Ohio River.

2) New Hampshire: Jefferson Notch Road - "It is dirt and sometimes twisty. It climbs to 3009 ft. Nice ride through the woods if you are comfortable on dirt." Access from Base Station Road.

3) Pennsylvania: Geryville Pike - "A nice alternative to Route 63 bypassing Red Hill & Green Lane." Can be combined with Kings Highway (below).

4) Pennsylvania: Kings Highway - "...it's loaded with sweeping turns and plenty of elevation changes to give your left foot a good work out as you change gears." Can be combined with Geryville Pike.

5) Texas: FM 2978 - "...it's a nice little detour if you happen to be in the Houston/Tomball area and need a decent place to ride." North of Houston.

New Roads

2010-09-28T20:35:00.001-04:00

Added 6 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Maryland: SR 382 - AKA Croom Road. "This route is smooth and great for cruising. The route takes you near parks, the Patuxent River..." Located Southeast of Washington, DC.

2) New Hampshire: Base Station Road - "Road is basically just for cog railway. Has some nice tight sweepers (twisties lite). A fun backroad that has little traffic." Pick up off of US 302.

3) Pennsylvania: Christmas Village Road - "A short and moderately technical ride through farm land and forest. Nice twisties with good pavement conditions and scenic to boot." Located northwest of Reading.

4) Tennessee: SR 63 - "...it's got it all; Scenic, Sweeping turns, and Twisty. It also has hills, hollows, and unexpected turns. Pavement is good, very little traffic." Just south of the Virginia state line.

5) Texas: FM 95 - "...a good road to ride, for sure!" Located east of Nacogdoches.

6) Virginia: SR 63 - "Good combination of river and mountain twisties, with plenty of elevation changes." Located in Dickenson and Russell counties.

New Roads in Missouri

2010-09-27T21:29:00.001-04:00

Added 3 new roads to Missouri:

1) SR 5 - "sweeping turns through Central Missouri farm land - good visibiltiy - good road surface." Can be accessed from I-70, X101.

2) SR 126 - "Straight, little traffic, good open road. Pretty ride during harvest season." Located north of Carthage.

3) US 160 - "...good fall ride during harvest season." Also located north of Carthage.

New Roads

2010-09-23T11:11:00.001-04:00

Added 9 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Alabama: US 29 - "...very rural with some wide sweeping turns. It's a great escape from heavy traffic and a chance to see some wonderful scenery." Close to the Florida State border.

2) Arizona: US 191 - "...among the best of several roads that pass through this classic, red-desert country of northern Arizona. Large, rusty red plateaus rise up on the left and right and are spotted with deep colored evergreens." Not the infamous stretch of 191 between Clifton and Alpine. Further north.

3) Louisiana: Lookout Road - "This is a good road for a peaceful ride. You will probably not pass a single vehicle out here in the middle of nowhere." In the Fort Polk area.

4) Maryland: Warren Road and Popular Hill Roads - "Nice bridge to go over and lots of tree cover. Narrow road." Located off of I-83 in Cockysville area.

5) Michigan: Marcellus Highway - "This is a nice scenic road with some nice sweeping curves." Located in the Southwest corner of the state.

6) North Carolina: SR 150 - "Much of the route, especially around the Mooresville / Lake Norman area, has been overtaken by suburban sprawl, making for slow going even on a Monday afternoon. In all, a disappointment, and not recommended." One man's trash another man's treasure? You make the call.

7) Nevada: SR 225 - "This is a very fun road to ride in several places and the scenic value is also very good. It's a desolate stretch - nobody out there." Continues into Idaho as SR 51.

8) Virginia: SR 71 - "A lovely, lightly traveled ride along the side of Clinch Mountain." In the Southwest corner of the state close to Kingsport, Tennessee.

9) Washington: Issaquah-Fall City Road - "Lots of twisties through the evergreens." Situated off of I-90, X 17 east of Bellevue.

New Roads

2010-09-11T05:49:00.001-04:00

Added 7 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) California: SR 190 - "...gains 6,000 feet of elevation as it winds through the Sequoia National Forest. Overall it is ripe with sweeping turns with the occasional twisty to keep it fun."

2) Idaho: SR 46 - "This road also climbs and twists before it starts to drop into Gooding. There is a 6% and a 8% grade along the way."

3) Maryland: Carroll Road - "Very nice scenic route." Located north of Baltimore.

4) Missouri: SR 135 - "...good road - free of traffic - mix of sweeping turns and twisties- not flat - Missouri Farm Land...."

5) Pennsylvania: SR 183 - "a very beautiful scenic road." Located north of Reading.

6) Texas: FM 317 - "Great ride between Athens and Lake Palestine with low traffic and good pavement." Located southeast of Dallas.

7) Virginia: Greenwood Church Road - AKA SR 657. Located north of Richmond.

New Roads

2010-08-26T15:19:00.001-04:00

Added 6 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US.

1) California: SR 243 - "Definably twisty, passes through the little town of Idyllwild." Off I-10, X100 in the Desert Southeast Region.

2) Indiana: W 510 S - "Wonderful narrow two-lane... Very little traffic down a back road. Some sweepers and sharp turns..." Southwest of Lafayette.

3) New York: SR 116 - "The road cruises by the Titicus Reservoir and through a park. Lots of turns and sweeps." In the Hudson Valley Region, it continues into Connecticut.

4) South Dakota: US 83 - "Being on the US System it's wider than most state routes and is fairly well maintained. ...goes through some beautiful hills and rangeland." Can be accessed from I-90, X192.

5) Texas: Spicewood Springs Road - "Very beautiful ride with lots of trees forming a canopy over most of the road. " Located just north of Austin.

6) Virginia: SR 601 - "There are some twists in this route, but it is heavy with scenic sites. ...a lot of the vegetation grows over the road, creating tree tunnels." AKA Fort Valley Road.

Butler Motorcycle Maps

2010-08-23T09:03:00.002-04:00

Butler Maps is a relative newcomer to the motorcycle community that provides maps specifically tailored for riders looking for some great motorcycle roads. Based in Eagle, Colorado, it was founded by 4 motorcycle enthusiasts with varied riding backgrounds and styles. Butler Maps currently has maps available for several Rocky Mountain States with more to come.

I recently received a copy of their Colorado map. At first glance it looks much like your usual state road map. It provides a state highway map on one side with other standard road map information such as a city/town locator, mileage chart and legend on the other side. However, the similarities end there.

First, the map is made of the heaviest & strongest foldable plastic which makes it waterproof and tear resistant. These are important features for the rider on the open road.

Unfolding the map brings you to a road map of Colorado. However, the right half of the state has several ‘Windows’ that provide zoomed in maps of the best rides in Colorado. These rides are numbered and titled and have a corresponding numbered box on the map so that you can locate it. Why cover the eastern half of the state with these windows? East of the I-25 corridor you’ll find that Colorado is flat open country much like Kansas and other Central Plains states while west of I-25 are the beautiful and thrilling Rocky Mountains.

On the backside of the map there is a wealth of information for the rider. Most important is the Cartographic Data and G1 Descriptions.

The Cartographic Data organizes the best segments of roads into four categories:

1) G1 roads are the best motorcycle rides where you can expect high mountain passes, switchbacks, twisties, and remarkable scenery.

2) G2 roads are great motorcycle rides just a notch below G1. Expect dramatic scenery, lively roads, and lots of elevation change.

3) G3 rides are less dramatic then G1 or G2 but provide great scenery, wooded canyons, and narrow winding roadways.

4) Lost Highways are described as roads that seem lost in time and provide a unique experience for the motorcyclist.

The G1 Descriptions are the ‘meat’ of the information provided by Butler Maps. They include a summary of the experience you can expect from the road, an elevation chart with segments classified as outlined in the Cartographic Data, and symbols, which outline the character of the road.

In addition the backside includes a motorcycle shop directory, a climate guide, a list of mountains over 14,000 feet in elevation, and a map of the Front Range, west of Denver.

I must also note that every road segment in the map has been ridden and rated by an owner of Butler Maps and researched by its staff.

All in all, Butler’s Colorado Map is a real bargain at less then $15. With all the useful information provided, it will help make your riding experience one you’ll never forget. For more information and to order a map visit https://www.butlermaps.com/.

New Roads

2010-08-20T04:12:00.001-04:00

Added 6 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Colorado: SR 306 - "...the road up Cottonwood Pass is newly paved and a pure delight. Great sweepers and twisty."

2) Florida: Walter Hunter Road - "Begins with open farmland on both sides of the narrow road and ending the last few miles with constant shade from the canopy of trees."

3) Indiana: SR 19 - "Ride goes through farming communities with Amish homes, horse and buggy traffic - scenic farmland of northern Indiana..."

4) South Dakota: US 18 - "...very picturesque and not what you might think south-central South Dakota looks like. All in all a really good ride that has little traffic, good pavement and big views."

5) Tennessee: SR 72 - "One of my favorite roads to take on the way to Deals Gap."

6) Wisconsin: CR S - "Combination of scenic ridge views, sweeping turns and twisty elevation changes. "

New Roads in Texas

2010-08-17T21:33:00.001-04:00

Added 6 new roads to Texas:

1) North Texas

a) FM 512 - "There are many sets of nice, pretty tight curves, which make for a very fun run through the country."

b) FM 896 - "This road winds up and down over these little camel humps and other bigger hills very much like a roller coaster of sorts."

2) Piney Woods

a) FM 839 - "Nice ride and good sweepers. No major corners so you can cruise easy."

b) FM 1000 - "Very good riding, with plenty of curves and small hills to make it interesting."

c) FM 1001 - "This road is a very good road for the 30 mph sweepers, and also for the many places where you catch a lot of shade..."

d) FM 1993 - "...several small hills, which makes it interesting and worthy to ride."

New Roads

2010-08-15T05:36:00.001-04:00

Added 7 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Arizona: SR 238 - "Has several sharp curves, some twisty but not radical. Just a great ride..."

2) Connecticut: SR 66 - 29 mile ride through scenic towns in the Central Valley and Eastern Uplands.

3) Idaho: National Forest Road 9 - "Some nice sweepers and a few twisties near the pass compliment this beautiful ride through the Coeur d'Alene and Kaniksu National Forests."

4) Minnesota: CR 5 - "...full of sweepers." Parallels, and can be combined with, CR 21.

5) Missouri: SR 82 - "...sweeping turns, good visibility, good surface, very, very little traffic."

6) Montana: SR 471 - "Some nice sweepers and a few twisties near the pass compliment this beautiful ride through the Coeur d'Alene and Kaniksu National Forests."

7) Nebraska: SR 11 - "This road rolls over and around the hills between the Missouri and Niobrara Rivers and is a lot of fun to ride."

New Roads

2010-08-10T14:40:00.001-04:00

Added 9 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Alabama: CR 13 - "Quiet, scenic, back road with minimal lights or traffic."

2) California: McEwen Road - Great motorcycle road in the Bay Area that ends at Port Costa.

3) Idaho: National Forest Road 456 - "Serious twisties on this stretch of paved 2-lane Forest Service road that goes over 4200' high Dobson Pass."

4) Minnesota: CR 21 - East of the twin cities, it goes through Afton State Park.

5) Missouri: SR Z - "Nice road through Missouri country side - many sweeping turns and surprising vertical changes."

6) New Jersey: Nomoco Road - "This is a back road behind Turkey Swamp Park. A few twisties and a few sharp turns, as well as some sweeping turns."

7) New York: CR 33 - "Short and sweet! Wide road, with turns that fall somewhere between sweeping and tight. "

8) North Carolina: SR 1625 - "Nice sweepers with few driveways and very clean road. Little traffic. It's really fun to ride."

9) Wisconsin: CR U - "Cashton and County U is in the heart of Amish farm country. Watch for horses and their exhausts."

New Roads in Texas

2010-08-03T20:08:00.001-04:00

Added 6 new roads in Texas:

1) Gulf Coast - FM 1463 - "This is a short, but fun section of turns to ride fast."

2) Hill Country

a) FM 1283 - "This was a good road for some nice, hilly scenery, and a little lake views of Medina Lake."

b) FM 1341 - "This is a really nice little road for some small hills and a lot of low-speed curves."

c) Park Road 37 - "...short, but very fun, road with a nice view at the end."

d) Bullick Hollow Road - "Lots of scenic views of the lake but lots of twisting turns."

3) Panhandle Plains - FM 2889 - "The pavement ends at a county road, and from the end of the pavement, you can see one viewpoint of Palo Duro Canyon."

New Roads

2010-07-27T11:51:00.001-04:00

Added 8 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Kansas: Stockdale Park Road - "Good ride just off [US ]24..."

2) Minnesota: CR 11 - "Scenic view between tall trees and around beautiful lakes."

3) Missouri: SR N - "Nice little road with sweeping curves and nice hills and scenery."

4) Montana: SR 314 - "This is one really suWEET road that NOBODY knows about."

5) North Carolina: SR 281 - "Great scenery, wide road, few intersections - and really fast for a mountain road."

6) Ohio: SR 557 - "This is the heart of Amish country. It is very senic and twisty."

7) Pennsylvania: US 119 - "This road has ample twisties to keep you entertained."

8) Virginia: SR 623 - "623 is an exciting, tisty, curvy, well paved, and very lightly traveled road that takes you up the mountain and down into Burkes Garden Valley."

Protective Clothing

2010-07-26T20:17:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I got a grim reminder of the importance of wearing protective clothing while riding.

I responded with my fire company to an accident involving a motorcycle and a car. The motorcyclist was wearing absolutely NO protective clothing. He was wearing just a pair of shorts and sneakers. No boots, no pants, no shirt or jacket, no helmet, and no eye protection! Needless to say the rider was critically injured, medivacked to a hospital, and is now fighting for his life.

I urge all riders to wear proper protective clothing at all times. Accepting the risk of riding without it is not worth it.

I am reluctant to sermonize, but the sight of the injuries this biker incurred would make a believer of anyone.

New Roads in New York

2010-07-23T15:08:00.001-04:00

Added the following to New York in MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) SR 39 - "Route 39 is overlooked by the local riders as we are familiar with it but it's still a very nice ride."

2) SR 42 - "Road conditions are good, nice views of Catskills."

3) SR 81 - "Very nice ride! Sweepers from US 9W to NY-32. Some tight corners from NY-32 to NY-145."

4) CR 30 - AKA Tracy Road.

5) Pitcaim Mountain Road - "It's a little back road off of NY-28 north of the Ashokan Resivoir."

State Route 555, Ohio

2010-07-23T05:50:00.003-04:00

I recently received an email from Toots and Alan, S&S Carryout, in regards to a bridge out on SR 555 and a recomendation for an alternative to the posted detour.

"Hello again This is Toots and Alan from S and S carryout on the Triple Nickel. Just wanted to post some updates on bridge closure on the Triple Nickel.About 4 to 5 miles south of Zanesville the bridge is being replaced and 555 is closed for repairs. If you dont want to take the posted detour which is not very scenic and doesn't pass our store, try 555 south out of Zanesville and then old river road turns to the left off of 555.

About 3 miles from Zanesville .(at the end of the first long straight stretch by the junkyard), follow this down river for about 12 miles then turn right on 669 and this will dump you back on 555 in about another 4 miles.

When you see 555 again just turn left and you will be back on track just above our store. Old River road is a paved county road which follows the Muskingum river and is a very scenic ride.

Also a note to those who placed orders at our store for the Triple Nickel shirts. We had a problem with our supplier and have not forgotten you. They should be here in another week or so and I will ship them out. Also I am trying my hand at a website to sell these shirts,I just bought the domain name and will be attempting to get it up and running in the near future.OHIOTRIPLENICKEL.COM is the address and email is ALAN@OHIOTRIPLENICKEL.COM

My wife and I hate the inconvenience of the road closure and hope you can locate us. Any questions do not hesitate to email us."

Thanks to Toots and Alan for this good information.

New Roads

2010-07-21T20:46:00.001-04:00

Added 7 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) California: Bonny Doon Road - "Great condition road with sweeping turns and very light traffic."

2) Missouri: SR 7 - "Traffic is normally light and road is in good shape. Just south of Richland, MO you will see a sign for The Cave Restaurant, a restaurant in a cave."

3) North Carolina & Virginia: Pipers Gap Road - "The road is wide and well maintained with pleanty of sweepers and a few tighter sweeps..."

4) Ohio: SR 643 - "This is a very beautiful ride through Amish Country. Many great valley views of the beautiful rolling hills of Ohio."

5) Pennsylvania: SR 21 - "This is a nicely maintained highway with plenty of sweeping curves to keep it interesting..."

6) Tennessee: SR 52 - "Sport riders will love it for the curves, cruisers will enjoy it for the view. A winning combination all round."

7) Wisconsin: US 53 - "This is a very nice rural highway with scenic views of rolling farmland. It has a good mix of straights, sweeping curves, and hills..."

New Roads

2010-07-04T22:26:00.001-04:00

Added the following new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Gerogia: SR 42 - "Not quite the same as the North Georgia Mountains, but they do provide some fun."

2) Illinois: SR 145 - "The route is very scenic with a mixture of forest and farmland."

3) North Carolina: East Fork Road - "Crazy twisty road that just calls out from the map - 'ride me!'"

4) New York: SR 5 - "Route 5 provides picturesque views of the Mohawk Valley. Several small towns line the route..."

5) Pennsylvania: SR 96 - A great alternative to US 220.

6) Tennessee: SR 76 - "Nice road to ride sweeping curves some fast. Lots of trees and other scenery."

7) Virginia: West Neck Road - "...sweep after sweep after sweep...through the farm and swampland of southern Virginia Beach."

New Roads in Texas

2010-06-27T21:35:00.001-04:00

Added 9 new roads in Texas:

1) Deep East Region

a) FM 353 - "This is a really great road for lots of twisting curves through the east Texas countryside."

2) Gulf Coast

a) FM 421 - "Not to many good motorcycle roads in Southeast Texas, but this one is definately worth riding!"

3) Prairies and Lakes Region

a) FM 340 - "Nice road for this area, with several good sweepers through the countryside..."

b) FM 443 - "...a surprise, and well worth it if you're cruising around the Shiner, TX area."

c) FM 531 - "It is loaded up with sweepers, and lots of fun. A don't-miss-it road for this area."

d) FM 744 - "Lots of good turns with few stops and fairly smooth roads."

e) FM 957 - "It is a nice country cruise, with a sweeper here and there, and lots of farms, and very little traffic."

f) FM 974 - "...great to ride on during mid day during the week and really good for the weekend. Less traffic."

4) South Texas

a) FM 1961 - "A really great road for this area..."

New Roads

2010-06-27T21:08:00.001-04:00

Added the following roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Kentucky: SR 1693 - "Smooth, twisty, scenic, absolutely beautiful!"

2) Louisiana: US 79 - "...it's in the hills of Louisiana and is full of sweeping turns on a 55 mph road shaded by large pines and oak trees."

3) Maryland: SR 125 - "Nice two-way road with some twisties, but mostly sweeping turns."

4) Michigan: SR 123 - "The road takes you through some of the deep Upper Peninsula forest and right past the Upper and Lower Tahquamenon Falls."

5) Nebraska: SR 29 - "If you like wide-open spaces and uncrowded roads with cool stuff to stop and see, then this is a fun one."

6) New York: SR 28N - "The road is very quiet and seldom traveled, even at the height of tourist season."

7) Pennsylvania: SR 869 - "Nice road over some mountains and open land."

8) South Dakota: US 85 - "Take this road if you want to see some really sweet views of the western Black Hills and follow the old Cheyenne-Deadwood Stage Route."

New Roads

2010-06-19T21:12:00.001-04:00

Added the following new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Florida: SR 40 - "This route is both very scenic, and lots of winding curves. The horse ranches, hills, and dales, along this route are beautiful!"

2) Louisiana: US 79 - "...it's in the hills of Louisiana and is full of sweeping turns on a 55 mph road shaded by large pines and oak trees."

3) Mississippi: SR 178 - Follows along US 78 and goes through Holly Springs National Park.

4) North Carolina: US 70 - "Some big sweeping turns, a couple of sharper turns, but mostly just an open road and the smell of salt water."

5) New York: SR 990V - AKA Potter Hollow Road. "Just a nice quiet ride through the woods..."

6) Ohio: SR 97 - Located northeast of Columbus, it goes through Mohican Memorial State Forest.

7) Oklahoma: Ralston Road - "Two lane country road, some gravel patches. Liesurely ride."

8) Pennsylvania: SR 56 - "Nice road up over the mountain."

9) West Virginia: SR 5 - "A hidden gem in central WV, mostly following along the Little Kanawha River."

New Roads

2010-06-07T05:02:00.001-04:00

New roads added to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Florida: Norman Riley Road - "Fine Blackwater Forest scenery, nice curves and fresh blacktop."

2) Missouri: US 65 - "A sweeping road through lush, hilly, sparsely-populated Ozark countryside. As of this writing, the route was in absolutely pristine condition."

3) Montana: SR 434 - "Geologically interesting, with a large rock outcrop called 'The Reef' as one of the major features."

4) New York: East Mountain Road - "Twisty mountain road that borders the northeast side of Fahnestock State Park."

5) Ohio: SR 13 - "Great morning ride, make sure you stop at the R&M Southside Diner for breakfast."

6) Pennsylvania: SR 100 - "Arguably the most scenic route in Chester County as it follows the Brandywine from West Chester down to Wilmington, through historic Chadds Ford. Northern part (above Rt 926) is very technical, but runs continuously along the Brandywine."

7) Tennessee: SR 233 - "Mostly fast sweepers with some tighter twisty sections, rolling hills..."

8) Texas: FM 330 - "This is yet another really fun East Texas road..."

New Roads

2010-05-24T19:33:00.001-04:00

New roads added to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) California: SR 41 - "...a nice little way to get out to the coast from the Hwy 101 corridor."

2) Indiana: SR 234 - Fun little ride along Shades State Park. Located west of Indianapolis.

3) New York: SR 443 - "A great road regardless of which direction you travel on it. Lots of nice wide turns..."

4) Pennsylvania: SR 724 - "...runs along Schuylkill River through upper Chester County farm country."

5) Texas: FM 1277 - "This road has lots of nice sweepers and scenery, too. There are many 30 - 40 mph curves through the nice forest scenery, plus some hills with limited sight distance."

6) Virginia: Lime Kiln Road - "Nice country road with some good turns right next to Goose Creek. Very scenic."

New Blog

2010-05-23T05:00:00.001-04:00

I've started a new blog, Life on 3 Wheels, in which I document some of my rides and travels on some great motorcycle roads in the US. Maps & photos are included..

New Roads

2010-05-15T10:56:00.001-04:00

New roads added to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Georgia: Smokey Road - "Nice peaceful country road, some sweeping turns."

2) Maine: SR 114 - "This route has recently been paved and offers a large variety of terrain. From long flats to open it up, to tight and narrow well banked turns."

3) New York: SR 115 - "Nice ride North out of Poughkeepsie with rural views through some farmland."

4) Pennsylvania: SR 162 - "Very technical, twisty road through Chester County farm and river country..."

5) Virginia: Lime Kiln Road - "Nice country road with some good turns right next to Goose Creek."

6) Washington: Whidbey Island Ride - Scenic ride along Penn Cove and the Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island.

New Roads

2010-05-08T05:21:00.001-04:00

Added 5 roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Indiana: SR 227 - "...fairly straight with some real whoopty whoops. Watch your speed, you can get airborne really easily."

2) Maryland: Elliott Island Road - "...it actually has everything from sweepers to tight 1st gears corners and, as it does not see heavy use, the pavement is in very good condition."

3) New York: CR 32 - "Lot's of good sweeping turns, new pavement, good sight lines in most places."

4) Pennsylvania: SR 324 - "Nice scenic twisty route that follows a stream down to the Susquehanna River."

5) Virginia: SR 618 - "Slow easy road (30mph) though farm land and woods."

New Roads

2010-05-05T04:28:00.001-04:00

Added several new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) California: Wildcat Canyon Road - "You have boulder covered hills on either side along the beginning of the ride and a nice pass through Barona (which is very green)."

2) Illinois: Terre Haute Road - "The Lower Terre Haute road has the best curves in the area for motorcycling..."

3) Indiana: SR 243 - Takes you through Lieber State Park and Recreation Area.

4) Iowa: CR X52 - AKA the Great River Road. "Scenic road with nice small towns..."

5) Kentucky: SR 920 - "...a lot of action to it. Lots of curves. Up and down hills."

6) New Jersey: CR 635 - AKA Charlestown Road. Starts at I-78, X12 for 7 miles to the village of Hampton.

7) New York: CR 31 - AKA Upper Mongaup Road. "Plenty of sweepers, a few off camber turns, and elevation changes to please almost everyone."

8) Pennsylvania: SR 69 - AKA Jackson Run Road. Starts north of Warren and ends close to the NY state line at Sugar Grove.

9) Virginia: SR 608 - "Lots of turns with some great elevation changes."

New Roads

2010-04-09T05:57:00.001-04:00

New roads added to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) California: CR J1 - "A fun road that runs through the low mountains of the Coast Range." You can pick it up at I-5, X379.

2) Florida: Black Creek Highway - Located just east of Choctawhatchee Bay and Eglin AFB in the Panhandle.

3) Michigan: Linden Drive - "Sweeping turns along the Grand River basin..."

4) Minnesota: SR 26 - "Great little towns along the way and great views of the river - watch for eagles!" The road continues south into Iowa.

5) Missouri: SR W - "Twisty road that ends up near Bagnell Dam. An absolute blast to ride."

6) North Carolina: Black Snake Road - "This is a nice twisty, winding road that definately lives up to its name." Located northwest of Charlotte.

7) Ohio: SR 235 - A scenic 100+ mile road in the Lowlands and Plains region of Ohio.

8) Pennsylvania: SR 118 - "...a nice well kept road with a lot of small rolling hills and trees."

9) Virginia: Twelve O'Clock Knob Road - "The paved, narrow mountain road crosses the summit of Twelve O'Clock Knob." Road is just south of Salem.

New Roads

2010-03-31T05:42:00.001-04:00

The following roads have been added to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Florida: CR 448 - located in a rural area of Lake County south of Tavares.

2) Missouri: SR A and SR T - located in the Ozark Highlands region of Missouri, the 2 roads form a 'T'. "Lots of elevation changes and twisties!"

New Roads

2010-03-21T23:05:00.001-04:00

New roads added to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Tennessee: W. Shawtown Road - Runs from Hornbeak and Freemont in the Western region.

2) Texas: FM 449 - "Some twisties, sweepers, and pretty hilly." Out of Marshall in the Piney Woods region.

New Roads

2010-03-18T04:01:00.001-04:00

Added KY125/TN5 and KY 94/TN78 to MotorcycleRoads.US. Both roads are in the vacinity of the Mississippi River and Reelfoot Lake and they can be combined to create a longer ride.

New Roads

2010-03-16T04:17:00.003-04:00

We added 3 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Florida: Blanton Road and Hayman Road. Both roads are located between Dade City and Brooksville.and can be combined to make a longer ride.

2) Pennsylvania: SR 425 - "...a twisty ride from the rolling hills of Pa down to the Susquehanna River through the small town of Shenks Ferry and then back up the hills." Located southeast of York.

New Roads

2010-03-16T04:17:00.001-04:00

We added 3 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Florida: Blanton Road and Hayman Road. Both roads are located between Dade City and Brooksville.and can be combined to make a longer ride.

2) Pennsylvania: SR 425 - "...a twisty ride from the rolling hills of Pa down to the Susquehanna River through the small town of Shenks Ferry and then back up the hills." Located southeast of York.

Kentucky Region Map

2010-03-12T15:54:00.001-05:00

A map of roads >50 miles in length in Kentucky and surrounding states has been posted at www.motorcycleroads.us/regions/kentucky.html. You can use this map to plan day trips, long distance rides, and tours. All of the roads are listed on MotorcycleRoads.US with links to the their respective pages.

New Road in Massachusetts

2010-03-12T15:40:00.001-05:00

Added SR 62 to the Worcester Plateau region of Massachusetts. "Scenic sweepers and some twisties." As a sidelight, you can turn north on Mountain Road and ride to the summit of Mount Wachusett.

New Road in Wyoming

2010-03-07T05:19:00.001-05:00

Added US 287 to the Yellowstone Park & Bighorn Mountains region of Wyoming. "This is one fantastic ride that you won't forget or be sorry you took. In fact, you'll probably come back to ride it again..." Travels through the Wind River Valley and over the Togwotee Pass at the Continental Divide.

Tennessee Regional Map

2010-03-06T11:20:00.001-05:00

Added the Tennessee Regional Map to MotorcycleRoads.US. It includes roads >50 miles in length in Tennessee and surrounding states. Good tool to plan day trips, tours, and long distance trips.

New Road

2010-03-04T10:48:00.001-05:00

Added Carnahan Road to Kansas. "As curvy as in gets north of Manhattan, KS."

New Roads

2010-03-03T00:29:00.001-05:00

Added several new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) New York: Guymard Turnpike - "Great turns! You may want to turn around and do this one again." Back road in the Hudson Valley. Also includes a video.

2) New York: Carney Road - A twisty Catskill Mountains road. "Technical and blind turns, hills and twisties."

3) Tennessee: Cedar Creek Road - "Great road with great scenery..." West of Linden in Perry County.

4) Texas: FM 5 - "This is a really nice motorcycling road, especially for as close to the DFW metroplex as it is."

5) Texas: FM 1830 - "This turned out to be a nice road for a "cut-through" route to Denton... It was a much nicer ride to take than the same old boring 377 to Denton all the way."

New Roads

2010-02-26T19:49:00.001-05:00

Added 2 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Florida: Railroad Avenue - A nice Northwest Florida road just outside of Sopchoppy. "A short and rare diversion from the usual boring Florida road."

2) New York: CR 25 - AKA Creek Locks Road. Scenic road along the Wallkill River.

New Roads

2010-02-25T01:03:00.001-05:00

Added the following new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Georgia: SR 188 - Near the Florida state line, the road is described as "...a rural two lane road with lots of good sweepers..."

2) New York: Ulster County Route 6 - Not far from I-87 in the Catskill Mountains. "Twisty mountain road, some nice views."

New Roads

2010-02-22T16:05:00.001-05:00

Added 2 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Pennsylvania: Towpath Road - " Along the road, stone wall remnants of the old Delaware & Hudson Canal inspire images in one's imagination of times past ...".

2) Wisconsin: Grant County Route B - "Platteville is at the end of the road and it's a nice little scenic town."

New Road in Massachusetts

2010-02-21T19:20:00.001-05:00

Added US 6 to the South Shore region of Massachusetts. "The ride over the bridge is pretty kool but after that it could be a typical road anywhere in the country."

New Road in Washington

2010-02-18T22:28:00.001-05:00

Added Mullinix Road to Eastern Washington. A twisty road southwest of Spokane, it is described as "...a great road for tearing around the Eastern Washington country..."

New Road in Washington

2010-02-17T05:18:00.001-05:00

Added SR 206, AKA Mt. Spokane Park Drive, to Washington. Nice twisty road that takes you from the Spokane area to Mount Spokane State Park. "This ride rocks! Don't miss out."

Great Motorcycle Roads Quizzes

2010-02-14T06:43:00.001-05:00

FunTrivia.com has just posted 2 new quizzes about great motorcycle roads. Fun way to test your knowledge about some of the wonderful roads in the US. Goto Great Motorcycle Roads in the USA and Great Motorcycle Roads Part II and click on 'Play HTML Quiz'.'

New Road in Minnesota

2010-02-08T19:09:00.001-05:00

Added Polk County Route 12 to the Northern Lakes and Plains region of Minnesota. Goes past Maple Lake with it's lakeside resorts and several smaller lakes.

New Regional Map

2010-02-07T04:05:00.001-05:00

Added a page with a map of great motorcycle roads in the Deep South which includes Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and adjacent states. All of the roads are listed in MotorcycleRoads.US and are at least 50 miles in length. You can use this map to plan day trips and longer tours.

New Roads

2010-02-01T21:23:00.001-05:00

Added new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Maryland: I-68 - "Beautiful sweeping turns through mountains and valleys."

2) Tennessee: US 25E - "4-lane most of the way. Beautiful sweeping turns through the Cumberland Gap Tunnel, over the Clinch Mountain Range, crossing Norris and Cherokee Lakes."

Biker Wisdom

2010-01-29T22:21:00.001-05:00

If you can't get it goin with bungee cords and electricians tape-it's serious.

New Road in California

2010-01-28T15:17:00.001-05:00

Added Cavedale Road to the North Coast Region of California. Located just north of Sonoma, the rider describes it as "a glorified goat trail--wanna be.". However it appears to be suitable for road bikes. Two photos are included.

New Roads

2010-01-25T13:12:00.001-05:00

Added 2 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:

1) Arkansas: SR 300 - Northwest of Little Rock, it is made up of sweeping turns with a few twisties in higher elevations.

2) Oklahoma: Lake Hefner Drive - Located in Oklahoma City, it follows the shoreline of Lake Hefner.

New Road in California

2010-01-21T09:16:00.001-05:00

Added Bald Mountain Road, a twisty road, to the Sacramento Valley region of California. "...the road up into the Stanislaus National Forest is fantastic." Road name changes to Bailey Ridge Road.

New Roads in Maryland

2010-01-21T06:12:00.002-05:00

Added 2 new roads to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Mount Olive Road and Millville Road. Located southeast of Salisbury, these two roads can be combined, along with a short stretch of SR 12, to form a longer route. Furnace Town Living Heritage Museum is located along this route.

New Road in California

2010-01-19T10:07:00.002-05:00

Added SR 253 to the North Coast of California. A 17 mile ride in Mendocino County that is "...serious fun running through the mountains".

New Road

2010-01-17T05:08:00.001-05:00

Added CR E16 to the Sacramento Valley region of California. "It provides some great views as it twists and climbs into the mountains."

Also added comments to SR 49 in Alabama. "This road never gets too boring. It has curves and sweepers mixed with straights right from the start at I-85 and they become a rollercoaster near SR 281 in the mountains."

New Road & Comment

2010-01-16T14:26:00.001-05:00

Added a new road and comment on the Illinois page:

SR 102 is a scenic ride along the Kankakee River southwest of Chicago.
Added comments to SR 113 which runs along the opposite bank of the Kankakee River.

The two roads can be combined to create a nice scenic 40+ mile loop.