New Trip planned to Northern California 2018

grantmac

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Now that we have decided not to go with Eagle Riders again for our next US Tour we will plan this one ourselves. Plan is for October 2018 but this time Northern Cal for 7 days.
Any recommendations as to where I can rent a couple of GS's up there?
 
Now that we have decided not to go with Eagle Riders again for our next US Tour we will plan this one ourselves. Plan is for October 2018 but this time Northern Cal for 7 days.
Any recommendations as to where I can rent a couple of GS's up there?

Anywhere that's not on fire...
 
Now that we have decided not to go with Eagle Riders again for our next US Tour we will plan this one ourselves. Plan is for October 2018 but this time Northern Cal for 7 days.
Any recommendations as to where I can rent a couple of GS's up there?
Euro bikes out of Windsor near Santa Rosa are offering rental
 
Dubbelju are your best bet down in SF. You can have a great little trip in 7 days as it's a great time of year.

Let me know if you want any advice on routes but I'd take in the PCH, Crater Lake, Lassen Volcanic Park and back through Napa Valley.

All depends on what mileage you want to do but happy to help if you need it.
 
Dubbelju are your best bet down in SF. You can have a great little trip in 7 days as it's a great time of year.

Let me know if you want any advice on routes but I'd take in the PCH, Crater Lake, Lassen Volcanic Park and back through Napa Valley.

All depends on what mileage you want to do but happy to help if you need it.

Thank for this. I am looking at heading east towards Yosemite, then on to Mammoth, then up to Tahoe and round and down via the Mendocina National Forest and along the coast dipping inland via Napa on the way home.
We will arrive on Saturday, ride the full 6 days Sunday through to Saturday a week later.
Any trip's or even routes would be really helpful and appreciated. Will contact dubbelju and see what they have. Ideal would be 2 x 2016 or later GSA / GS with BMW navigator V holder, I will even buy a second hand Nav V if needed.
 
booked with Dubbelju who were able to offer guarantee on bike age - less that 2016 and also cradle for Nav V. Just gone a bought a second hand Nav 5 unit from someone on here so now just need to load up the maps. Have already set up some routes and hotels but if anyone has any tips please let me know
 
booked with Dubbelju who were able to offer guarantee on bike age - less that 2016 and also cradle for Nav V. Just gone a bought a second hand Nav 5 unit from someone on here so now just need to load up the maps. Have already set up some routes and hotels but if anyone has any tips please let me know
Make very sure you take full and proper medical insurance ,which takes riding a large motorcycle into consideration :rolleyes:
 
Make very sure you take full and proper medical insurance ,which takes riding a large motorcycle into consideration :rolleyes:

+1 for this^ don't even think of going without it...:rob:D
 
If you're over 50, consider joining the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) - you don't need to be retired and they accept your UK address. It costs $12 iirc and there's AARP discount available on all sorts of things. You'll get more than your joining fee back on a just single night's hotel booking with many of the big names and others. The States is a great place for giving military discounts, but AARP discount often beats it. They're big in motorcycle insurance too, but I don't know if that helps a hirer or if a Brit can tap into that line.
 
Thank for this. I am looking at heading east towards Yosemite, then on to Mammoth, then up to Tahoe and round and down via the Mendocina National Forest and along the coast dipping inland via Napa on the way home.
We will arrive on Saturday, ride the full 6 days Sunday through to Saturday a week later.
Any trip's or even routes would be really helpful and appreciated. Will contact dubbelju and see what they have. Ideal would be 2 x 2016 or later GSA / GS with BMW navigator V holder, I will even buy a second hand Nav V if needed.

OK, if you want to spend your time riding and not spend all day sightseeing in the NP's this would be my route:

Sunday: South ot of SF to Hollister then hwys 25 and 128 through Visalia to 3 Rivers @ 300 miles
Monday: Sequoia and Kings Canyon (Kings Canyon is the best road on the planet bar none!) to Oakhurst @ 200 miles (mostly winding!
Tuesday: Through Yosemite via Glacier point and out of the East Entrance to Lee Vining. South to Mammoth (ride to the top of the mtn in Mammoth....stunning) @ 200 miles (slow through the Park and lots of stops).
Wednesday: North on 395 via Bodie Ghost Town to Tahoe and possibly a bit farther north as far as Chester @ 380 miles and all fairly fast riding.
Thursday: Run through Lassen Volcanic National Park and back as it's stunning riding and views. Head West and run either the 299 or 36 as they are staggering roads. Eureka or Garberville @300 miles
Friday: South on 101 via the Giant Redwoods (just north of Garberville) and onto Hwy 1 south. Turn inland at Stewarts Point on the unbelievable Skaggs Springs Road to Healdsburg @ 250 miles
Saturday: Run down to SF via napa and Golden gate Bridge @ 200 miles

This is easily doable in the time as I've done it and you can easily change the stops to suit but beware of getting rooms in or close to the NP's . I always start early and finish early and have plenty of stops and fairly big distances are easily done out there.

There are some fantastic roads on this route and you'll be glad you are on a bike that will go round corners without scaping the running boards at the first glance of a bend.
 
SNIP/

Tuesday: Through Yosemite via Glacier point and out of the East Entrance to Lee Vining. South to Mammoth (ride to the top of the mtn in Mammoth....stunning) @ 200 miles (slow through the Park and lots of stops)

/SNIP

Whatever you do - even if strapped for time - do NOT be tempted to leave out Glacier Point in Yosemite (which is a 50+ mile round trip)...:thumb2

i-98vfM9K-L.jpg
 
do NOT be tempted to leave out Glacier Point in Yosemite (which is a 50+ mile round trip)...:thumb2

Definitely not :rob

Also, as Sarge says, don't miss Bodie Ghost Town. Really interesting place for a couple of hours
 
Glacier point already taken in but not Bodie Ghost Town. From Tahoe we want to head to Quincy but via a loop and not direct. North West on the 89 to Sierraville and then south West on the 49.
Then some smaller roads back North West until we hit the Oroville - Quincy Highway, the 160. Its a pretty small road by US standards but looking at the top and bottom of this road on google maps it looks spectacular. Only thing is google doesn't have pictures for the middle 100k's.
Anyone been along this one and can advice?
 
Glacier point already taken in but not Bodie Ghost Town. From Tahoe we want to head to Quincy but via a loop and not direct. North West on the 89 to Sierraville and then south West on the 49.
Then some smaller roads back North West until we hit the Oroville - Quincy Highway, the 160. Its a pretty small road by US standards but looking at the top and bottom of this road on google maps it looks spectacular. Only thing is google doesn't have pictures for the middle 100k's.
Anyone been along this one and can advice?

I've not ridden those roads but have done a lot of those "smaller" roads a little north up around Lassen and further west. From my experience most are forest tracks so you have to be a little careful on them. Most are very good and hard packed but be prepared for gravel, dust, steep gradients and tight hairpins. Some have tarmac but not all so be aware.

<a href="https://chrisbiltcliffe.smugmug.com/Mine/i-9gjL6KW/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Mine/i-9gjL6KW/0/8307c936/L/Last%20day%20dirt1%20-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
<a href="https://chrisbiltcliffe.smugmug.com/Mine/i-s7Wgdg3/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Mine/i-s7Wgdg3/0/e3360775/L/Klammath%20Lassen%20dirt1-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
<a href="https://chrisbiltcliffe.smugmug.com/Mine/i-g7cfmMC/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Mine/i-g7cfmMC/0/375e4ee5/L/Last%20day%20dirt-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
 
Looks like a good plan, Rte 36 is much preferred over Rte 299 though.
 


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