Germans want to see the US

[sandmann]

Hello @ all

Me and 6 other Members from the German FJR-Board are planning a Tour in 2011 visiting the USA. We have still no Idea where, when, what because we just talked about at the Christmas Party one Week ago. But Time is running :glare: and so I start to check some details out !

Some of us want to have a guided Tour. Thats not my Idea of holiday ! We all have Experience with our Navis, TomTom, Garmins etc. We all planning Tours all about Europe, so why not planning - maybe with a lot of help from you !! - a Tour crossing the USA on our own ??

I know this will be very difficult to handle ! We want to go to California, the Coast, Las Vegas,Grand Canyon, (I like SD -because I had a girl Friend there in 1993 ) Middle West .. maybe ending in Chicago ?? Maybe New Orleans ?? Who knows ??

You see, there`s still no Plan where to go...but we´re just (nearly) in 2009...Time...... and we just started planning !!!!

I`m very excited, what will be in 2011...with this Thread...and with us !!

Happy New Year -2008 still running for 11,5 h here in Germany....and an accidentfree, always good grip in 2009

 

[El Toro Joe]

Hello Sandmann, what time of the year are you thinking of doing this trip? (Spring, Summer or Fall)

 

[BikerGeek99]

Sounds like a helluva trip!

When you're in the mid-west, I HIGHLY recommend the roads around Lewisburg, West Virginia, home of EOM '07 and '08.

The GPS routes are still on the EOM Website. Go there, click on the 'Rides' link at the top of the page, and grab the routes. Since EOM '09 is in the planning stages, I figure that the EOM website will soon be updated with EOM '09 info, so if I were you, I'd grab those routes sooner rather than later.

BG

 

[beemerdons]

Gruss Gott sandmann! Wie geht es dir? Ich spreche ein bisschen Deutsch. I won't use Ihnen since you are a FJR Friend already: Angenehm! Was denkst du Phoenix, Arizona? There are places to rent bikes here and you are close to Grand Canyon und San Diego. Please keep my e-mail of [email protected] and home phone number of 480-917-3863 handy.

I was stationed at US Army Kaserne in Augsburg, Bavaria, Deutschland for the years of 1969 and 1970. I and another NATO German GI friend formed the German-American Motorcycle Club, where we soldiers of both armies would ride our motorraden together for day trips / overnighters to the Alps. Also had picnics where we would play soccer and US football.

I am a Director of https://www.azbeemers.org/forum the Arizona State BMW Motorcycle Club. Bought my first BMW in March 1969 from my off the base German landlord: 1966 BMW R60/2. Shipped home to USA in Fall 1970 after Europe tours.

Feel free to call on me and this club for any help you may need. Save your Euros and do not use a guided tour: Expensive!

https://picasaweb.google.com/beemerdons/Alps2007Ride# Vielen Dank fur deine Gastfreundschaft. Still riding schon Alpen!

 

[wheatonFJR]

That sounds like a good trip there sandmann. :clapping:

Depending on how much time you have, I would stay away from the American midwest unless you like cornfields...nice and flat with straight roads.

If you don't have much time to blow, just stay in the Rockies and west.

However, if you have LOTS of time to blow and do want to venture east of the Rockies to Chicago, I would suggest the following...

1) swinging down east through northern Arkansas and southern Missouri - 4 days min from east slope of Rockies,

2) taking the roads on the west side of the mighty Mississippi River up to northeast Iowa - 1 day,

3) then cross into Prairie DuChien, WI and work your way through SW WI (your Deutsch home away from home) 2 days.

4) ride over to Chicago to the Airport or stay downtown in some swanky hotel und esse zu viel, 1 to 2 days.

These days would average about 400 miles...and you would be plenty tired at the end of each day.

So adding that up...thats 8 to 9 days just to go through the good parts of the midwest. Might be time best spent out west where most travellers speak your language. Just kidding, but we did meet many Germans out near Mesa Verde in SW Colorado.

Actually, you could travel from Denver to Chicago in one long 900+ mile day...but what's the point of that? Stay in the West and soak that in. However, if you still want to do the midwest, I'm yer midwest road planning helper...just ask and I'm there.

Now if you could just get me a deal on an old R90/6...I would be grateful. :clapping: Thanks, and be quick about it my lad. :lol:

Happy New Year and have a great time travelling in 2009. May peace reign wherever you ride...

 

[panayoti]

I would agree with Wheaton's 4 step plan if you have the time. This would give you more of an overview. If you could plan your trip at the same time as a regional rally you would get a more in depth view. The local guys at rallys always know about those great roads. The North American FJR owners rally (NAFO) would be a good one but any of the other rallys would be good as well. If you want a historical ride you might consider traveling route 66. Personally I think it would be a bit tedious but everyone has their own preferences.

 

[Ignacio]

Perhaps get yourself a copy of Microsoft Streets and Trips North America and start drafting routes. I know one of the comments from several Europeans that have come over for the Iron Butt Rally...is that the country is so much bigger than they expected. I don't know if you're planning to ship your bikes over or rent Goldwings why you're here, but regardless they are absolutely able to cruise coast to coast in style and grace....but a trip from New York to L.A. is 5 times longer than a trip from Hamburg to Salzburg as an example.

In generalities the East Coast has more traffic than the West Coast. History may have been invented in Europe....but the East Coast did a good job at importing it...especially in the 13 colonies.

Riding through Kansas and Nebraska sometimes make cross-country riders contemplate suicide....I-70 is probably one notch better than I-80 in my opinion. The Rockies are breathtaking as you approach them. Southern Utah is simply amazing and can be easily combined with the Grand Canyon and Vegas....and consider adding Death Valley to the ride.

Good luck.

 

[cota95]

I just did a cross country trip last spring from New England to California and back a different route. Let me know if you want the gpx files and I can send them out.

 

[fjrb0]

I second WheatonFJR's recommendation on southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas. I also agree strongly on riding as much of the west as you can. Having said that, I would ride the west first, then if time allowed ride the MO/AR segment. I would try to include the major National Parks also, such as Yosemite, Death Valley, Zion, Bryce Canyon, North Rim of the Grand Canyon (stay away from the south rim - too crowded!), Mesa Verde, and Rocky Mountain National Park. Iffin you like beer like a good German should, plan your Utah stops carefully!!! :drinks: Moab would be a good stop, and allows you to catch Canyonlands and Arches, then either ride I-70 going east, or sneak over into Colorado on some awesome canyon roads. You might also like Monument Valley since you're going to be in that area.

Iggys recommendation on renting Wings is a good one, along with buying the MS Streets and Trips software. It's what I use to route my trips, as much as I do plan them!

 

[Randy]

Sounds like a helluva trip!
When you're in the mid-west, I HIGHLY recommend the roads around Lewisburg, West Virginia, home of EOM '07 and '08.

The GPS routes are still on the EOM Website. Go there, click on the 'Rides' link at the top of the page, and grab the routes. Since EOM '09 is in the planning stages, I figure that the EOM website will soon be updated with EOM '09 info, so if I were you, I'd grab those routes sooner rather than later.

BG

West Virginia is in the midwest????

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Me and 6 other Members from the German FJR-Board are planning a Tour in 2011 visiting the USA. We have still no Idea where, when, what...

'Ignacio' has good advice -- including this: "....but a trip from New York to L.A. is 5 times longer than a trip from Hamburg to Salzburg as an example."

If you haven't experienced it, it's hard to contemplate the vastness of the Great American West (western 1/2 of the country) -- although it all has the same currency (so-far) and a similar language (mostly).

I'd like to add:

Limit Interstate (I-'number') highway riding to areas only where it may make some sense -- use old U.S. numbered highways (U.S.66, U.S.61, just a couple examples). "Americana" is found off the 'Interstates'.

I try to tell folks to stay-away from the national tourist-traps like The Grand Canyon and Yellowstone -- but, it generally falls on deaf ears. I guess, if you have to see them -- you have to see them....? :huh:

Often, TIME is the major constraint (just not enough....).

Good luck with your planning -- and trip.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Grusstig -

As everybody wrote, riding across the Great Plains and the northern part of the country takes forever. You can also wear out the north side of the tires because of the cross wind coming down from Canada. You Germans typically get more vacation time that we get, so you might consider something like this for a dream ride:

Start by flying into Boston. (I think it's still an LTU destination, so may also be cheaper.) Head up into New Hampshire and Vermont. I'd even try going as far as Montreal.

Head west to Niagara Falls, come back across the border and avoid the highways heading south. The Finger Lakes region of New York State are beautiful and a great ride.

Meander around the Appalachians through West Virginia, Sky Line Drive, Dragon, etc.

Somewhere around Atlanta head southwest toward New Orleans. If you want a day at the beach to lay around, try for the Mobile-Pensacola stretch. (Pensacola to New Orleans is about 4-5 hours) Doing it this way will put you riding in Texas for more than a day, but the overall stretch toward the Rockies is a lot shorter than droning through the Great Plains.

See the Indian and natural sights across New Mexico and Arizona till arriving at the Grand Canyon.

The next day head to San Diego and then start your way up the West Coast. Finish at Seattle or Vancouver and fly home from there.

I doubt too many people have bedroom space for 6 guys to just drop in, but as your plans firm up, let us know and you might find FJR owners with space if you split into smaller groups at night.

Wir wohnen ein stunde Nord aus D.C. Viel Gluck und schreib noch mal.

Bob

 

[Patriot]

Hello @ allMe and 6 other Members from the German FJR-Board are planning a Tour in 2011 visiting the USA. We have still no Idea where, when, what because we just talked about at the Christmas Party one Week ago. But Time is running :glare: and so I start to check some details out !

Some of us want to have a guided Tour. Thats not my Idea of holiday ! We all have Experience with our Navis, TomTom, Garmins etc. We all planning Tours all about Europe, so why not planning - maybe with a lot of help from you !! - a Tour crossing the USA on our own ??

I know this will be very difficult to handle ! We want to go to California, the Coast, Las Vegas,Grand Canyon, (I like SD -because I had a girl Friend there in 1993 ) Middle West .. maybe ending in Chicago ?? [SIZE=14pt]Maybe New Orleans[/SIZE] ?? Who knows ??

You see, there`s still no Plan where to go...but we´re just (nearly) in 2009...Time...... and we just started planning !!!!

I`m very excited, what will be in 2011...with this Thread...and with us !!

Happy New Year -2008 still running for 11,5 h here in Germany....and an accidentfree, always good grip in 2009

Come on down anytime...I'll show you roads, eaterys, plantations, zoo, aquarium, anything you want <within reason>

I love to play tour guide either in person or directing you to go on your own, as you wish

consider attending my New Orleans Ride to Eat Gathering March 6-9 -> for more info, see the Gathering CLICKY in my signature below

you folks and all here are invited

there are pics in my flickr accout in my signature of past "BEVA" Gatherings

this year will be the fifth annual event here

let's ride safe and be careful out there,

Mike in Nawlins'

 

[sandmann]

First of all

[SIZE=18pt]Happy New Year !![/SIZE]

Thank you all for your answers !! I`m very impressed of this !!! I`m looking forward for 2011 !! If it`s goes on like this, it will be a great trip !!! With your help !!!

Thank you all so much !!! :yahoo:

BikerGeek99 Tried to grap the the routes..now I´m checking out ! Thank you !

beemerdons Thank you for your german words !! Great !! I hope we will talk a little bit more !!! Nice pictures !

My elder Brother still rides a BMW 75/5 old Lady !! Ich wünsche Dir ein frohes neues Jahr !!!

To be continued !!! :yahoo:

 

[Kirrilian]

I would be glad to show you around AR and MO if you would like, I'm usually riding around up in the mountains anyway and company is always welcome.

 

[HaulinAshe]

Sandman,

I did the routes files for EOM and would be happy to assist you with route planning if you wish. I have one cross-the-USA trip under my belt in recent years as well as one Eastern USA trip this past summer. With some general idea of how long you have and what type of sights interest you most, I think we could put together something good.

 

[SacramentoMike]

I noticed there have been no posts on this thread--yet--from any others of the California guys, so I'll be the first. Of course you're still two years out, so I won't be too specific, but will just say there's plenty of GREAT riding here, and you can count on an enthusiastic reception from us, north staters and south staters alike, and there are lots of us. We'll definitely plan some group rides for the time of your visit and show off our state.

I haven't seen any bad advice on this thread, it's just a matter of how much you have time to do. As somebody mentioned, the U.S. is a pretty big place. I'll just add that the National Parks are there for a good reason--they're amazing places, and they've been kept pretty pristine, unlike some of the other gorgeous places you'll see that have been over-developed and commercialized. It's worth it to fight some crowds to see most of them, and if you plan your trip away from some of the peak times, much better yet. I rode through Yellowstone in the late spring before the tourists started packing in, and had great stretches of road inside the park all to myself, for example. Even avoiding weekends makes a big difference. I'm kind of envious of you guys, wishing I could see some of these places for the first time myself. Even planning a trip like this can be a big part of the fun, too, can't it? Have a great visit and keep posting your plans.

 

[madmike2]

First: Plan it for the Spring!

Summer in the East is humid and in the Southwest it gets VERY hot, like 115 degrees farenheit (46.1 celsius) @ midnight in Las Vegas.

Springtime (early to mid-June) will miss most of those who vacation after the students are out of school for the Summer. The passes in the Sierra Nevada Mountains are usually open and passable (including Yosemite National Park) after May 30th.

If you include the West Coast, there are several "must see" places in California. Since you'll be at the Grand Canyon, it wouldn't be that difficult to cross through Death Valley and go up to Yosemite (That IS a must see).

The trip up Hwy 1 (along the shore of the Pacific Ocean) us simply unbelievable. That is a 2 day (or more) adventure by itself.

Once you've firmed up a working time table post up and those of us from different areas can suggest local roads, side trips and other sites you may like.

 

[rogdeb]

Lots of advice here -- all good Good luck with the planning and most certainly keep us all up to speed on your plans. It will be a GREAT trip!

You'll very possibly wind up with some kind of escort in just about all the States you travel through.