Greeting from Northern Utah

[daver1959]

Hi all,

I have a '07 FJR1300 that I have had for about a year and have taken 3 trips with it since July '11. The logest was 5 days and 1500 miles. I am planning a trip to Northern Idaho, Western Montana, Glacier and Yellowstone in July of this year. I hope to use info and help from this website in my planning. I would be interested in any info on routes, things to see, etc that mmembers might have.

Is there anyone in this group from Northern Utah?

[leonardlloyd]

I think that we have one member in the greater Salt Lake, Provo, area. Good ride choice.

[stevegrab]

I'm making a trip to Yellowstone after our national rally at the end of June. We plan to spend a couple of days there, as well as a couple on the way from Avon to see the sights. From what I've heard some of the key roads are Beartooth Highway/Pass and Chief Joseph Highway. But it looks like almost all of western WY is nice.

I know some other guys who are talking about going to Glacier as well, but don't know much of their plans.

I'll try to post some sort of recap after I get back (after 4th of July) but you may be gone already.

[daver1959]

I am probably not leaving until around July 14th. Beartooth highway is already on list for the trip. Your recap could probably be just in time ! Thanks Steve

[stealth1]

Hey Daver!
I live in southern Utah and ride an '08 FJR.
If you are down south let me know and maybe we can do some riding.
Are you going to STAR this year?

[RIDEMYST]

Welcome aboard!
If you are running programable GPS we can send your route suggestions and waypoints. -JEP-

[stevegrab]

Dave,

Sorry that I haven't been able to post much info for you yet, I''ve been a little busy since I got back, then had a little bout with a stomach bug for a couple of days. Here is a short recap from my trip. I've also sent a PM with my cell phone# if you want to call and ask for additional input.

Some highlights from the trip

• My motorcycle club rally in Avon CO - visit with old friends, good food/drink, great hotel staff
  
  • Independence and Loveland passes fun as usual
  • Grand Mesa was very cool, CO65 & Debeque Cutoff were tasty twisties
  • 24 to Leadville, one of the best roads and so close to Avon
  
  
• Dinosaur National Park
  
  • Fossil Quarry - amazing quantity, quality and variety of bones
  • Canyon Area - nice road, good scenery, sandwich for dinner
  • Harper's Corner trail - fabulous views nearing sunset
  • dry and hot, drink lots of liquids (mostly water)
  • the ride back during dusk/dark - lots of critters some very close
  
  
• Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
  
  • fun ride there over Summit Pass
  • large dam/resevoir with good visitor center info
  • ride around west end on UT44 - very fun lots of great views
  • Red Canyon area - WOW you can see where they get the name
  
  
• road from there to Jackson WY - hot, windy and smoky
• Grand Tetons –
  
  • spectacular views approaching and inside the park
  • Jenny Lake loop - mule deer, waterfalls and nice views
  • Signal Mountain - more fabulous views and a fun ride
  • dam area - good spot nice view back to Tetons, water outlets
  
  
• Yellowstone WOW!!! So much to see and do
  
  • geysers - Old Faithful the giant of them all
  • paint pots, mud pools, etc. - FANTASTIC
  • Yellowstone Lake and some of the roads around it - VERY NICE
  • Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, and its falls – AWESOME
  • the wildlife
    
    • lots of bison, from herds to 1-2 ON and near the road
    • elk, some very close both adults and young
    • bear, both grizzly and black including young
    • did I mention the geysers, paintpots, and other thermal spots?
  
  
• other than early morning & high mountain passes still pretty hot
• Beartooth Highway/Pass - Chief Joseph Hwy
  
  • very nice road, a bit windy on way to Red Lodge MT for lunch
  • views vary lakes and rivers, to tundra and dry/barren rock
  • very windy on way back, saw a bike down, quite dangerous
  
  
• Chief Joseph more fun road but FUBARed by slipper tar snakes
• dinner at the historic Irma Hotel in Cody - more good food
  
  • built by Buffalo Bill Cody, very cool old place/town
  
  
• lots more dry/hot/windy roads in WY heading back to Avon
• some fun roads to from Avon near Steamboat Springs
• CO 131/135, even parts of US40 & county road 27 (AKA 20 mile road)

Some lowlights from the trip

• very bad service at Avon hotel in house restaurant for breakfast
  
  • but very good otherwise with a minor exception or two
  
  
• my friend’s bike breaking down while in Colorado - but the road trip goes as planned
• animal encounters on the road, pretty startling at dusk/night
• heat - while not as bad as crossing the plains, western WY is HOT
• some pretty boring flat roads at times, with heat/smoke/wind
  

[daver1959]

I was in So. Utah during April and I may head back in September. If I do, I will send you a note and see if you have time for an outing

[daver1959]

Stealth1.... I was in So. Utah during April and I may head back in September. If I do, I will send you a note and see if you have time for an outing

[stealth1]

Stealth1.... I was in So. Utah during April and I may head back in September. If I do, I will send you a note and see if you have time for an outing

Sounds good! I only moved here last December and am having a blast discovering all the local roads. I will really be glad when 14 is open full time. If you post to this thread I will get an email update.