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Thread: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

  1. #1
    Senior Member Clovis's Avatar
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    Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    This August my lovely wife and I will be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary. Traveling on the motorcycle has become somewhat of an anniversary tradition.



    This year we want to hit up the Pacific Coast Highway.


    Here's where I need help planning.



    I'm not familiar with any motorcycle roads west of Moab, UT. I've never been on the PCH so I don't know where I should start the PCH and where I should end it.


    Here's a rough route I drew up: http://goo.gl/maps/Y3cgp



    Basic trip rules:




    • The trip is more about the ride then the destination.
    • Starting and ending location is Colorado Springs, CO.
    • We have 1 week to complete this trip.
    • Prefer to avoid interstates.
    • First or second week of August depending on weather and work.
    • Bike is a Gen 2 set up for touring. Will also have Justin's LED Rider LR4 auxiliary lights so some night riding is possible.
    • We can comfortably cover 500-700 miles a day, maybe more 700 miles in a single day has been the most we've previously done.
    • No camping planned (but could be open to it). Only the finest 2 star motels for us
    • I kind of like the idea of going to Santa Monica in one shot, would be a SS1000 for both of us.

    Questions:



    1) Is the PCH better riding south to north or north to south?

    2) Where should I enter and exit the PCH? Right now I'm thinking Santa Monica in the south and Eureka in the north. Should I go further south to San Diego? Further north past Eurka?

    3) Any routes to avoid the boring desert highway sections in Nevada?

    4) Must see sites along the way?



    And lastly... With Colorado Springs being the starting/end location... any other trip suggestions? Basically anything up to 3500 miles is game.



    Thanks!



    Justin
    "If not us, who? If not now, when?"




  2. #2
    Senior Member Yearly Supporter Generic's Avatar
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    Re: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    I'm totally getting in on this as my plan is to do the same trip in the fall.
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  3. #3
    Member KennyFish's Avatar
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    Re: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    Clovis I would reach out to Chaos-Mike. I know he just came back from a solo trip to PCH.
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  4. #4
    Senior Member FZRguy's Avatar
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    Re: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    ...and Matty def knows the best Cali roads.
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  5. #5
    Member big_sur's Avatar
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    Re: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    Probably need to do Mulholland if you're near LA

  6. #6
    Huge Member Site Admin Mother Goose's Avatar
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    Re: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    You should skip going all the way up to Redding and head over to Yosemite instead, if you've never been there. On the way there, you can stop in Clovis. Get it?
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  7. #7
    Member Chaos's Avatar
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    Re: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    That route looks pretty good! The only reason I took interstates on my trip is I was on a time crunch and being on a sportbike, I was wanting to cover as much ground as quickly as possible to and from. As far as the actual PCH, I don't think it will matter much going north or south. Probably would be better going south though I would imagine, due to the fact that opposite traffic won't be between you and the ocean for better sights, or needing to cross the road if you want to stop for pictures etc. The only thing I noticed is, you missed a little stretch of hwy 1 just north of SF. the 101 right there is pretty much like being on I25 and always heavy in traffic. Also, I second taking Mulholland if you're going down that far anyway. Something I wasn't able to do.
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  8. #8
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    Re: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    Take PCH going south. It's way easier to make scenic stops. Highway 36 from Red Bluff to the coast is one of the best roads I have ever ridden. Riding to Reno in a day via US 50 might kill you, there are some really long stretches of straight roads in Nevada with nothing to offer as far as services go.
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  9. #9
    Gold Member salsashark's Avatar
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    Re: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    I did PCH from Just north of the Golden Gate Bridge to Eureka... Amazing ride.

    The redwood forests up north are insane to ride through. And, 299 from Eureka to Redding was great, but east of there was BORING! Plus, eating in-n-out, then riding into the desert is a bad idea

    I second the Yosemite tip. If I were to do it over, I would add a day just for Yosemite.

    My route and report: http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/forum...ide&highlight=
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  10. #10
    Gold Member asp_125's Avatar
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    Re: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    I'll just leave these here. Oregon coast!




    I second the Yosemite and northern cali coast if you're more into a wilder less populated ride, the lower coast if you like hanging out in beach towns with a bucket of clams and a cold beer.
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  11. #11
    Senior Member Repsol a095's Avatar
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    Re: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    Clovis, let's talk. I used to live in la. I am taking the Fjr there in couple weeks. I can give you some suggestions.

  12. #12
    Senior Member Matrix's Avatar
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    Re: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    Leaving this here for you. Enjoy.

    http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/forum...highlight=6600
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  13. #13
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    Re: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    Well eastern Nevada and most of Utah is some long straights but man talk about being able to sit and enjoy a ride. Also instead of heading into reno you should grab 395 south in Carson city head down to the 88 and take that into Stockton. You will thank me later. Or take the time to do a ride around tahoe. Or both. Lol.

    Don't take 50 to 80 into sac. You will just destroy what could be an amazing opportunity.

    I plan on doing this drive over the Sierras again here soon. I will gopro it so you can have a taste.

  14. #14
    Pimp Daddy Matty's Avatar
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    Re: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    No need to start any more south than Santa Monica. If you're interested in some fun roads around that area let me know.
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  15. #15
    Member gregr's Avatar
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    Re: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    Last summer I rode down Hwy 1 all the way from Seattle to San Diego, so I've got plenty of opinions. :-)

    Looking at your route, the first thing that comes to mind is, for the love of all that's good and twisty, ride the Angeles Crest Highway. I think this link will show it (the new google maps is strange):

    https://goo.gl/maps/pThn3

    It's Highway 2, from Phelan to roughly Pasadena. It's on your way to the coast (or your way back).

    Over a 6000 mile trip, covering many of what are allegedly some of the best motorcycle roads in the western US, I think this road was my favorite. Not really scenic (by Colorado standards), but smooth and twisty and a total blast. The speed limit is 55 (IIRC), and going around 65-70 is a pretty good fast pace on most of this road, so not a ton of ticket risk. The turns have a great radius, and there aren't any big surprises that will get you in trouble. I had so much fun on this road, I ended up riding it again in the other direction.

    Seriously, IMHO this road alone is almost worth the trip out there.

    When I get some more time I'll look at the map and see if there are some other must-do roads that I remember...

  16. #16
    Member texlurch's Avatar
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    Re: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    Need to hit Mulholland as well, just "because"
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  17. #17
    Pimp Daddy Matty's Avatar
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    Re: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    Quote Originally Posted by gregr View Post

    It's Highway 2, from Phelan to roughly Pasadena. It's on your way to the coast (or your way back).

    Over a 6000 mile trip, covering many of what are allegedly some of the best motorcycle roads in the western US, I think this road was my favorite. Not really scenic (by Colorado standards), but smooth and twisty and a total blast. The speed limit is 55 (IIRC), and going around 65-70 is a pretty good fast pace on most of this road, so not a ton of ticket risk. The turns have a great radius, and there aren't any big surprises that will get you in trouble. I had so much fun on this road, I ended up riding it again in the other direction.

    Seriously, IMHO this road alone is almost worth the trip out there.

    When I get some more time I'll look at the map and see if there are some other must-do roads that I remember...
    next time try Angeles Forwst Highway! Even more fun..
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  18. #18
    Member GMR's Avatar
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    Re: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    Quote Originally Posted by Matty View Post
    next time try Angeles Forwst Highway! Even more fun..
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  19. #19
    Pimp Daddy Matty's Avatar
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    Re: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    Highway 33 from Maricopa to Ojai.

    Now that's a road...
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  20. #20
    Senior Member Hibs's Avatar
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    Re: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    I just moved from Cali, lived in Monterey for 2 years. Highway 1 is definitely nice especially going south from Monterey. A slight detour inland at Monterey and you can go check out Leguna Seca. Then if you are a little further North, Google "Alice's Restaurant Santa Cruz" it's up on top of a "mountain" line and all 4 roads leading to it are very curvy and nice. The restaurant is a biker hot spot.

  21. #21
    Senior Member Hibs's Avatar
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    Re: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    And for sure check out the Marin Headlands which overlooks the golden gate bridge up in SF.

  22. #22

    Re: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    Skyline Drive (roughly San Jose to San Francisco) is another popular road in the bay area.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_35

  23. #23
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    Re: Need help planning a trip to Pacific Coast Highway and back

    Quote Originally Posted by #1Townie View Post
    Well eastern Nevada and most of Utah is some long straights but man talk about being able to sit and enjoy a ride. Also instead of heading into reno you should grab 395 south in Carson city head down to the 88 and take that into Stockton. You will thank me later. Or take the time to do a ride around tahoe. Or both. Lol.

    Don't take 50 to 80 into sac. You will just destroy what could be an amazing opportunity.

    I plan on doing this drive over the Sierras again here soon. I will gopro it so you can have a taste.
    Nope.

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