My Top Ten Favorite Western U.S. Rides
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- Here it is, my favorite ten rides in the Western United States.
Thanks to Willa Jabir for the following times if you wish to jump ahead.
1:00 #10 Bighorn
2:40 #9 Lolo Pass
4:25 #8 Needles Hwy
6:10 #7 Badlands
7:54 #6 Mt Evans
9:30 #5 Devils Tail
11:26 #4 Death Valley
13:35 #3 Sawtooth/Salmon River
16:05 #2 Million Dollar Highway
18:21 #1 Beartooth
If you enjoy my videos and want to help me out with the time and expense that I take to create them please visit my page at Buy Me A Coffee and consider making a small donation. Thanks so much, Robert.
www.buymeacoffee.com/lgEFpyZjs
This is such a well done compilation. I appreciate how you let the video and the motorcycle do the talking, saving your comments for the transitions. Ecellent.
Thank you very much! I do prefer to let the video speak for itself. If you want opinions, rants, and lots of talk you have come to the wrong place. Let's ride!
All great roads. I’m from Indiana and ride west often. Love the west.
There are some spectacular roads out here to ride, I hope my vids give you more ideas for ones that you have not rode.
Thanks for watching and leaving a comment!
Thank you Robert. Here is the index to your rides if you'd like to copy/paste into your description:
1:00 #10 Bighorn
2:40 #9 Lolo Pass
4:25 #8 Needles Hwy
6:10 #7 Badlands
7:54 #6 Mt Evans
9:30 #5 Devils Tail
11:26 #4 Death Valley
13:35 #3 Sawtooth/Salmon River
16:05 #2 Million Dollar Highway
18:21 #1 Beartooth
Thanks Willa.
Thanks for Sharing. I'm planning my bucket list motorcycle trip for next spring(2021). As an East Coaster, this gives me insight into the lesser-known rides, it's like having tribal knowledge for riding...
You are very welcome Darrell. Some of these rides are very well known and deservedly so, but they also become a bit to popular and then the traffic tends to diminish the experience. Other of these rides are definitely lesser known and that makes them even better. Have a great 2021 trip, and thanks for taking the time to comment!
Thank ya brother. Awesome video with beautiful scenery. Next time you are in Lone Pine on Hwy 190 head west over the Sierra Nevada and you'll go right past the house I owned just before you get into Porterville just past the western slope of the Sierra's. It is a beautiful ride about an 8,000 ft pass over the top with wonderful views of Mt Whitney to the north. Thanks again for the memories as I have been all over Death Valley.
I really love Death Valley. I have been there 7 or 8 times now, usually spend a week each time, it is one of my most favorite places in all the places I have visited.
Beartooth is probably my top as well, but there are so many great rides out west, its hard to decide. Going to the Sun and the North Cascades are two others that are well known, but sometimes you happen across great roads by coincidence. We went to Libby Dam and a guy that worked there told my son and I "you guys want to see nice scenery along the lake, drive up the west side of the lake, but do it early in the morning. After 9:00a.m. on sunny weekends, lots of motorcycles are ripping up and down that road. Ever since they blacktopped it, motorcycle riders seem to love that road for some reason, and they come here just to go up and down that road back and forth all day". Yeah, can't imagine why that road attracts motorcyclists.....
Local knowledge does reveal some gems that us tourists would never find otherwise.
I'm revisiting this video. I really like the way this was put together Robert. These 10 selections are tough to beat. Checking some these off the list this summer. Mt Evans is added to the list. You obviously research you rides. Well done. Thanks for the list.
I spend a fair bit of time planning before a trip. One of the things I consider, and I think I have mentioned before, is what direction it will film better and at what times.
The gallatin river between West Yellowstone and Bozeman is a pretty ride. I remember my dad taking us over the beartooth when I was a kid. When you get above the treeline, it got harder to breathe, but it's a beautiful ride.
Thank you. So many good roads, and just not enough time!
Outstanding selection. Hope to hit the Million Dollar Hiway and Bea tooth in July...
Thank you. And between Million Dollar and Beartooth there is a lot of beautiful highways to explore as well, it sounds like it is going to be an awesome trip
Those are all great roads. Really well done. Beartooth has been on the list a long time. I did Lolo pass back in the summer of 66 on a Honda 250 Scrambler. What an incredible highway.
Thanks Jim!
Robert, this is great menu of Western U.S. rides. I've been on a few of them and after this video I have a few more on my "to-do" list. I live out west and have a few suggestions that you and others may like: 1. Highway 89 between Truckee, CA and Mt. Shasta City. This route goes through Mt. Lassen National Park, so check that the has been cleared of winter snow. One can also get onto Hwy 89 from Hwy 70 near Oroville, CA. This is a spectacular canyon ride. 2. Any combination of roads that take you to Crater Lake, Oregon. 3. The loop around Lake Tahoe in California and Nevada. There is traffic in the towns along the lake, but the views are stunning. Emerald Bay is a highlight. Also, Luther, Carson, Monitor, Ebbetts and Daggett's passes are all a stones throw from Tahoe. If you like twisty, Ebbetts should be on your list. 4. Highway 395. Hardly a tight turn anywhere. But, riding beside the steep and high mountains of the Sierra Nevada in California is inspiring. This would be a good add on to your Death Valley route if one wanted to head north. Thanks again for giving us your Top Ten...
Hello Rick and thanks for the suggestions. I have heard about Mt Lassen rides a few times and I do have to check out Highway 89 now, it sounds like my kind of ride. I have rode around Crater Lake and to and from of course, and there is some really good highways to ride, I especially enjoyed the Rogue River Route. The Lake Tahoe area I have not ridden but will have to check out some of those passes one day. I have rode and driven most of, but not all of 395 from Lone Pine to the Canadian Border, it is a great highway with many sections worthy of a top ten list. You cannot believe how much I struggled with which highways to include and which to exclude, and how to rank them.
Again thanks for the suggestions, and thanks for watching as well.
Really awesome info, thank you.I really like the parts of the Sierra Nevadas that I have seen, I have rode 120, and have a RUclips of. But I will need to put the rest on my list. The PCH is of course legendary and is on my list to do one day as well. I have been to a lot of southern Utah but not on a bike, and it is on my list. I will have to look up your info on G Maps and dream about that trip too!
I have watched many many of your videos.. and all are great and I am just amazed how many miles you have done on motorcycle you and your wife.. only one word for that... WOW
Thank you for curating this list of your favorite rides. It's more difficult to locate the bucket list rides than it should be. There should be a website where we can upload our favorite rides (with comments, linked videos and GPX files) and everyone could vote on their favorites.
For my tastes, what was credited at the end of the video (21:18) as "Motorcycle Sound Effects" detracted from the video rather than adding to it... sort of like a canned laugh track on a sitcom. In a similar vein, a $14 external mic from Amazon for your camera or cell phone will greatly improve the audio quality when you are speaking. I found myself straining to hear your excellent comments, particularly when competing with the motorcycle sound effects.
Thank you for watching, and for taking the time to leave a very good, and constructive comment!
On the second part of your comment you are right on all points. This was my first vid offering an opinion and appearing on camera in this type of role. I was uncomfortable both in being on camera, and in offering an opinion, something I have tried to avoid in my vids as I believe there are way to many "opinion" and "talking head" vids out there already. However, there I was, offering an opinion, and maybe trying to hide from the role I had put myself. I have since greatly improved my audio, yes, with a mic and also by the way I mix the tracks. I also understand that when I do a talking head vid I need to get out there and not try to hide from the camera. I have been working hard on doing better in these parts of my videos, and I have plans to make further improvements. Here is my last vid, in which I do a couple short appearances, and I hope you will see some huge improvements ( I know I still can do better)! ruclips.net/video/Xl6pSZGlaaE/видео.html
Hey, thanks again for the comment, I do hope you will check out my later vids and follow along with me in the coming season as I continue to improve.
@@RobertMerz - i made some niche informational videos and felt bad about the audio quality with an internal cell phone mic. RUclips production standards are much higher now.
Thanks for the link to your later video. As promised, the same video style but better audio (mic and mix). Very nice!
I really enjoy your videos, but this one was special. I just added the amazing rides to my bucket list. Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with all of us. Paul
Thank you very much Paul! You are right this one was special, my other videos I do not give an opinion in, I just present the ride and let you decide if you like it or not. It was also technically very different for me to create, a lot of work actually.
Thanks for watching, and for taking the time to comment.
Thanks Robert for the great reply. Paul@@RobertMerz
I’ve enjoyed your videos, and I’m looking forward to several of these rides this Spring, Summer & Fall… Rand from Boise
Thanks Rand, it is really nice to hear that you are watching my vids and enjoying them, keep the comments coming!
Living in Boise you are quite central to a lot of my favorite rides, what a lucky guy!
JACKPOT!!! Man o’ man, did you nail this Top 10 or what?! Look at the stir and urgency you created out of our riding community to add these epic, can’t miss rides into our bucket list and vacations just ahead. Thanks so much for giving back; your expertise and dialogue, briefly sharing a few nuggets on each ride was outstanding. Nobody rides and reports the way you do. I would trust every route you suggest; who needs a map! I gotta believe, Top Ten Favorite Canadian Rides is the perfect sequel to this valuable riding resource you left us with!
Thank you. You were one of the guys that commented that I should do a list like this, but I was a bit reluctant for a variety of reasons, so thanks for your encouragement.
I really like, and appreciate your comment, and I am going to use it on my Facebook page "Dry Rock Studios" to promote this vid.
As far as a Canadian list I have refrained from many Canadian Rides partly because there is far less interest on RUclips in Canadian Rides just going by the number of views that my Canadian ride vids have received. Perhaps I will try a few more.
Well riders will ride anywhere they can get to a stunning landscape.
Did you ever say you rode Going to the Sun Pass or Trail Ridge Road? Both on my list as well.
I have not rode Going to the Sun, so obviously I do want to! I have rode Trail Ridge Road and I can assure you it is very nice, and although it might not be on my top ten favorites, I am sure it is on many peoples and well it should be. The link to my vid is here: ruclips.net/video/nU_x__9K51s/видео.html
Also, in conjunction with Trail Ridge, try to ride South St. Vrain Canyon, the link is here: ruclips.net/video/4F11AjL9xTk/видео.html This is Highway 7 from Estes Park to Lyons.
Boy you know how to get me going! Lol. Love your feedback on Trail Ridge. I did it as a teenager on a family vacation, but have just missed getting back there on the bike, so glad you confirm a great ride, so definitely going to catch it next time in that area! Going to the Sun also a family vacay as a teen, and it’s a must-get to, and stay at Many Glacier Hotel over on the east side of Glacier, for the experience. I gotta check out this new link/ride you just shared!
Thank you. I've done three of your rides. DVNP, Sawtooth and the Million Dollar. Awesome
Right on!
Great video Robert. I've ridden most of those rides and agree with your excellent critique. However, now this is my opinion and we all know about opinions, right? Utah Route 12, from Panguitch on the West end to Torrey on the East end is the BEST ride I've ever experienced. Hands down. The ride is totally different going West as it is East. If any of your fans read my comment, I sincerely hope they get to ride that road at least once in their motorcycle riding career. Thanks again for a great video!
I know what you mean about opinions and that made me very reluctant to make a video like this. I sort of let myself off the hook by calling it MY top ten and felt better about offering my list. I have heard about Rt. 12 before and when you mentioned it I checked it out with street view on Google Maps. I sure can see why it is your favorite! I have actually driven the west half of it, from Cannonville to Panguitch. That trip actually started west of Page on Hwy 89 at a place called Paria. We drove the Cottonwood Canyon Road, quite a rough dirt road, from there to Cannonville. Absolutely awesome scenery! I really do need to get back there on the bike.
Hey I really appreciate the comment, and of course your watching the video to start with, but without the comment I would never know how you liked the video. I also would not have been reminded of those great areas in southern Utah that I need to revisit and explore further such as Route 12.
Also a big thank you for the coffees, that not only puts gas in the tank literally, but it also puts gas in the tank, like your comment, emotionally. Thank you very much!
@@RobertMerz Well deserved coffee! BTW, the one comment that I made worth reiterating, is the difference the ride on Rte 12 is depending on direction. I first made that ride way back in 1992 on a GSXR1100 sportbike going East to West. I lived in IL then. I moved to AZ in 2015 and I'd always vowed to make the West to East trip someday. Well, I finally did it in 2018 on a big ole 2009 HD ElectraGlide and was riding my tail off having a blast!! Such a treat and the ride of a lifetime I'll never forget. Thanks so much for your videos Robert!!
looks like excellent rides.I like the narration explaining the areas.
Thanks Brian. These are some really beautiful, spectacular areas both for riding or just for sightseeing.
Now those are what I have to say are some memorable rides. I have had the opportunity to ride most of about 3 of them. I love #3. Beartooth is still on my list. Someday. As usual a great collection of videos and the narrative was perfect. Really great video to watch. AWESOME!!!!
Thank you very much Jim. Yes there are some very memorable rides on this list. I have rode 3 a couple times now and I really like so much about it, as I said it just checks off all the boxes for me.
Vídeo sensacional! Até meu garotinho de 5 anos não tirou os olhos da tela! Emocionante! Esse Estado é maravilhoso! Sem palavras! Abraços de Montes Claros/MG/Brasil.
Thank you so much, for watching my videos, and for taking the time to comment. It always encourages me to keep on making more!
Muito obrigado por assistir aos meus vídeos e por reservar um tempo para comentar. Sempre me incentiva a continuar fazendo mais!
A little late, I know. #1 beartooth pass is awesome. I prefer to turn off before Cooke City and take the scenic "Chief Joseph hwy," Also, i love "rattle snake grade between Joseph Or. and Lewiston, Id.
Chief Joseph is a great road as well, and so very different from Beartooth. The year I was there filming it had major construction on it so I did not feel the video was representative.
I have never done Rattlesnake grade but I have heard enough about it to know that I need to.
Thanks for watching, and for leaving a comment.
Great video Robert. All routes marked on my USA road atlas ready for my March 2021, 10,000 mile road trip. Thanks from Cornwall, England.
It sounds like you are planning an awesome roadtrip in 2021. Death Valley will be fantastic in March or April and by June you will be able to work your way further into the hiker elevations, by early to mid July most passes should be rideable!
Thanks for watching and commenting!
You will not regret going on that trip. It's going to be the best time ever for you
Great video love them all, but I think you missed out Chief Joseph Highway, and my favourite the Escalante ride from Bryce Canyon to Mexican Hat {Monument Valley } via the Moki Dugway.
Thank you. I do like Chief Joseph and have ridden it a few times now, the east side is really great scenery and it is a nice ride, but I think it is surpassed by similar scenery by Wyoming's Bighorn Scenic Byway, but that is just my personal opinion, which of course is the basis for this entire video.
I have been to Bryce Canyon, and the area around, including Monument Valley, and it is incredible scenery!! But I have not ridden any of that area on a bike and I based this video on what I have ridden. I have also driven the Escalante road before it had NP status, it was fantastic! I have not been on the Moki Dugway but I do have a friend who has and he raves about how fantastic it was. I guess it goes on my list!! That whole area of Utah and northern Arizona is the kind of country I really enjoy and I do have to get back there some day.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, I was hoping for suggestions just like yours.
@@RobertMerz not sure how you feel about the east coast down here but there is a beautiful stretch of highway outside of Gatlinburg Tennessee I remember driving on
It was somewhere between there and Chattanooga.. Very beautiful
Hola mi amigo Rober. Muy lindo este video de tus rodadas por USA. Está muy bueno. Vamos a ir un grupo de 10 Harleros a recorrer Canadá. Calculamos unos 15 días. Nos puedes recomendar algunas rutas allá y en qué época del año sería mejor rodar allá. Un abrazo. Aún recuerdo nuestra reunión contigo en Canadá. Fue muy agradable conocerte. Saludos.
Try Chief Joseph highway in WY Routes 12. In Utah and also Highway 128 along Colorado River in Utah north of Moab. Also Silver Thread scenic byway in Colorado.
Thanks John, those are some great suggestions. I have done Chief Joseph quite a few times, it is a great highway to ride. The other two I will have to put on my list!
absolutely amazing list
Thank you.
Liked the narrative along with the videos.
Thank you
Hope you guys are riding and enjoying you Spring/Summer!
Taking a trip from Minneapolis to Seattle this summer. Very excited to see much of the route made your top 10 list! Thank you for all that you do in making this and your other videos. They have been invaluable and my "go to" resourse in discovering and planning the best roads to ride along the way.
That is going to be an awesome trip!
You are very welcome, and thank you for watching, and taking the time to comment!
Excellent. We are doing Beartooth in June.
Thank you.
When you do Beartooth try to combine it into a loop or ? with Chief Joseph Pass, it is a really great ride as well and is right there,
Very good video, well done and valuable info...keep up the good work!
Thank you very much.
I rode over the Beartooth pass, before it was designated a Highway in 1965, in my dad's 1963 Rambler. I sat up front with my dad. My mom was so scared she was lying down in the back seat. It was a dirt road then. No guardrails anywhere. My dad was happy when we got down into Jackson Hole...
Wow, that is pretty cool, it is an enjoyable road, but it can still be a bit nerve wracking, I can only imagine what it would have been like back then.
Ha ha ha ha chuckle chuckle.
It's hard to find much of an argument about your order. I was going to comment if you ever made it back to Montana then you would love Bear tooth. But you beat me to it. Although my number 2 would have been the Stanley/Salmon ride
Thanks for posting
I had a really hard time deciding on the order of this list. I love the Stanley/Salmon area and the highway is an awesome ride. One of the things that it has over all the other ides is the low traffic volume, and of course in length I think it is pretty beyond compare, but it isn't as in your face spectacular as Beartooth or Million Dollar Highways and for that reason I put it behind those rides.
@@RobertMerz just googled images of the million dollar highway.
You made your point sir.
Like I said , hard to argue. I'm originally from Idaho so I'm maybe slightly biased to the Stanley ride lol
Just checking in on you guys. Hope you’re enjoying the summer and getting some riding in.
Thanks Buddy. Been really busy here with work and life related stuff. Have had the bike out, but the weather has been very wet, the wettest June and into July in a long time. Even if I would go, many days I can't get the bike out to the highway with a mile of clay mud road to deal with first. Perhaps August will be better.
Sounds good, and most importantly, just always glad to hear you’re doing well with a plateful of life on your hands. Certainly understand the goofy weather that can surface, making no sense. Just glad you all are healthy, and you guys are still looking for chances to get in the saddle to ride. You’re a Leader to our riding community, and your travels to the most beautiful landscape in the country, and your vlogs to share as much, are a blessing of encouragement to all, to get off the bench and get in the game. Stay in touch, always looking forward to your next post.
Thanks for sharing. The ride list just got a little longer. Heading out this June to Colorado, the Million Dollar and Mt Evans are both on the agenda.
Hi Ron, thanks for watching, and commenting.
Sounds like you are planning a great Colorado trip, do check opening dates for Mt. Evans, you are probably going to be there right around the time that it first opens. One thing is for sure, in June those Colorado mountains are going to look that much more spectacular with their still snow covered peaks!
What an epic list of rides, now I have some new rides added to my list. Thank you for sharing
Love your videos and the way you make it easy to see beginning/end points. I am mapping out my 2 week western ride referring to your videos! I would suggest giving Glacier National Park a ride. For me, it was the most beautiful road I've ever ridden.
Thanks again for the awesome videos!
Thank you very much. I try to create a video that is both just an enjoyable escape and a decent documentary with enough information to help in trip planning so I appreciate your confirmation of that.
I have not rode Going to the Sun but have heard so much good about it. I know that I will have to do it someday, I just never seem to get to it.
Thanks for watching my videos, and thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. Have an awesome ride!
Hope you all are doing well. Riding season is amongst us; hope you guys have some rides planned for yourselves.
If Beartooth is ur 1 then PCH is a close 2nd. Have ridden both...so if u have one ride left let it be PCH. Have ridden all ur list except Death Valley and devils tail...keep up the good work.
Thanks Richard, that is good info.
And thanks for watching and commenting!
Great video! Wow, 10 rides I have to add to my bucket list, I better get busy planning my rides! This video will help tremendously to plan epic motorcycle trips, thanks for sharing your top ten!👍
You are welcome Alberto!
Thank you, Robert! This video is definitely well done & explained. I've done the Beartooth twice & will be checking out the Million $$ this yr. Now you have me intrigued to check out all the others. Saving to my bucket as well. Very appreciative 👍😎
You are very welcome, thank you for watching and taking the time to comment.
Thank you so much for this video. I have ridden most of these roads, but now have some new ones to visit. Good editing job too!
Well thank you very much for watching, and taking the time to comment. Happy to hear that you were able to add a couple more rides to your must ride list!
Thank you for this wonderful video. I plan on riding some of these roads as my wife and I are planning to ride the Rocky Mountains for the next 3 years. We visited Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons last summer. We already have 2 of these road completed: Beartooth and Needles. I would also recommend South Dakota 16A by Needles. You probably rode 16A. 16A is as good as The Dragon in Tennessee. In October, we will be riding Million Dollar Highway, Monument Valley and visiting the Grand Canyon. So we will have completed 3 of 10. Not bad start.
Hey you are very welcome, and thank you for watching and taking the time to leave a comment.
I have rode 16A, and have a video of "Hermosa to Custer". I haven't ridden the Dragon, but have heard so much about it. 16A is a nice ride for sure and I do like the geography that it traverses, it is quite pretty, but part of my choice for my list is based on spectacular scenery, and 16A is, to me, just pretty. Sounds like you have a great October trip planned, if you have a chance to fit one more great ride in ( I haven't done it but have heard from friends) ride north on 261 from Mexican Hat near Monument Valley.
Million Dollar HWY is a must. Circle the entire San Juan’s if you time. Cortez, CO north 78 miles to Telluride is a stunning ride along the Delores River. Telluride & Mountain Park Village are worth an over night stay or two. A morning ride out of Telluride over to Placerville around the mountain towards Ouray is a great way to start a day.
Very well done! Kudos
Thank you very much Steve.
Did some of those, Beartooth's hard to beat.
It certainly is!
@@RobertMerz I couldn't watch all of 'em cause It would be a spoiler, I was gonna do Mt. Evans in 2021 but the high was 28º so I elected to skip it.
Spoiler. No. A teaser!
If not the bike, load up the car and you and Karen hit the road! Do Mt. Evans, and slip over to Idaho and do Sawtooth and Salmon River!
@@RobertMerz Done the Sawtooth, Mt. Evans is really on my radar.
That was a great list! I've ridden Needles Highway and it was amazing!
Thanks! The Needles Highway is really out of this world scenery!
Thanks for this video! I’m planning a trip out west later this year and this list helped me plan my route.
That is really awesome Jim. I really love getting comments, especially positive ones ( I mean who doesn't?) but hearing that my video(s) help with someone's trip planning is pretty much the best. Thank you!
Thank you, Robert.
You are very welcome!
I love that list. I took 5 of them for my future trips.
That is awesome.
Thanks for watching, and taking the time to comment.
great top ten Robert.done 550 both directions going to do beartooth pass next year.
Thanks Steve. 550 is a great run, and could, and probably is number 1 on many people's lists, and as I mentioned the towns on either end just make it that much better. Beartooth is a much different highway scenery wise, great alpine views from a very long narrow ridge, with a very twisty highway trying to stay perched upon that ridge, you are going to love it.
Hi Robert,
Great Video! I have watched several of your videos and really like how you include the sound of he bike instead of loud music. Your list is close to mine, except PCH and I like the trip down from Pikes peak better than Mt Evans. Also, Utah hwy 95 and 12 are excellent, plus if you brave, try Utah hwy 261, called the Moki Dugway but its best section is unpaved. Thanks for sharing your rides!
Hello Mike. Thanks for your great comment, always nice to hear from people that are enjoying my videos.
Robert, Have you ridden the Coronado Trail in NE Arizona? Morenci to Alpine. 90 miles of turns. Ridden it many times. Stay at the Tal Wi Wi lodge in Alpine.
That sounds awesome, thank you Tom, I will put it on my list!
Thanks for the tips, will have some in cosideration since I am from de socal side.
You are welcome Jimmy. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. You have some great rides in socal, and my picks are based only what I have ridden, but Death Valley is something real special in so many ways, and it does have some really great roads for riding in and around it!
Absolutely love your channel.. I have ridden of bunch of these and when I plan my yearly long trip a lot of my ideas and locations have came from watching your great videos.. Keep em coming!!!!
Thank you very much Roger, that is a great comment.
desde latinoamerica tambien disfrutamos mucho sus videos, que cantidad demotoviajeros expertos directores de cine
Muchas gracias. ¡Aprecio mucho que te hayas tomado el tiempo para avisarme!
I use your videos to re-enact the rides I've done (Beartooth,MillionDollar,Mt Evans,Needles,Badlands) and to certainly plan to do few more (Nevada ,PCH,Oregon). Your riding style complements mine, and I hear my own downshifts through your pipes. Being a bit over 65, and riding with my brother in law we used to do 500 miles a day, but no more. I'm guesing Colorado Rt 34 Granby to EstesPark (Rocky Mountain National Park) just missed the cut along with tourist packed Pikes Peak. Being from Ohio (NOT a good riding state) I'm wondering if you're ever head east (with some greener scenery). If so I might suggest a route New Orleans to Nashville on the Nanchez Pakway (444 miles) the obligatory riding of The Dragon Tail, and Foothills Parkway in NC TN. and the BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY and SKYLINE parkway to near Washington DC. Maybe take Rt 50 back west afterward being careful to avoid nothern Ohio,Indiana and Illinois. Well once again thanks for letting me re-live trips I only have stills of. And lastly, I rarely see you go off-radius on any of the thousands of curves, damn consistant- my congratulations, ride safe.
What a great comment, thank you for all of it.
Doing a top ten for me was really hard, there are so many factors to consider. One of those factors was how much traffic? I really prefer the quieter roads so although Rocky Mountain National Park is an awesome road, with so many other ones to choose from it just didn't quite make it. Pikes Peak was one of the ones I actually didn't ride so I couldn't compare it. Instead I took the cog railway up to the top, which was excellent and I highly recommend. I do however wish that I had rode Pikes Peak, an iconic road, absolutely legendary, and for that reason I would recommend it to anyone considering it.
Thanks for the suggestions to the east, I like the open, often desert, or near desert of the west, and there is so much to ride here, and generally without the same traffic volumes that are to the east. But maybe one day I will be able to get out to that beautiful, lushly forested hill country that is so popular in the areas you mention.
Again, thank you, for watching, and commenting.
@@RobertMerz One last thing the Natchez and Blue Ridge Parkways are each 400 miles plus of no commercial traffic, no stop signs, and no stoplights. And thanks for your response. Stay Well
Really appreciate your videos sir. After watching quite a few of your BC rides, I have made some plans for this coming summer from northern Alberta. Perhaps you could suggest some northern BC rides I should look at.
Alright, here we go...
What rides are the best is a very subjective thing, but I can certainly try. What kind of bike are you riding would be important for me to make suggestions that might be suitable. So what kind of bike do you plan to use for the BC trip?
@@RobertMerz HD Ultra Limited. I’m an old guy who likes scenery and comfortable touring.
Okay. That helps a lot. I didn't want to talk up a great scenic road that was all gravel, thinking maybe you were on an adventure bike just to disappoint you because you would not be comfortable on it, or worse. I will give you a list and it will be dependent on how much time you have as to what you can fit in. I will also just name some possible attractions and you can Google them for more info.
So, Highway 16 is decent for scenery all the way from Jasper to Prince Rupert, especially from Jasper to McBride and from Smithers to Prince Rupert. Of particular interest along the way might be Historic Fort St. James, and the Ksan Historical Village at New Hazelton. Hwy 37 into Kitimat is well worth the ride. If you plan on going north the Stewart Cassiar (Hwy 37 as well) is quite nice and usually very quiet. 2 Hours north of Highway 16 on 37 is Meziadin Junction, which is the jumping off point for the ride through spectacular Hwy 37A to Stewart and Hyder Alaska (yes, Alaska is closer then you think). While you are in that area apparently Hwy 113 is paved so very much worth a look ( it was gravel last time I saw it). This route is from Terrace to New Aiyansh and beyond to Highway 37. It passes through the Nisga'a Lava beds and is well worth a look.
South of Hwy 16 are two options. Hwy 5 is more natural scenery (McBride to Kamloops) and is quite a pretty ride. If you do this route spend some time in Wells Gray Park, it has some spectacular, easy access waterfalls. Hwy 97 is the other option. Hwy 97 is more farm and industry, and a lot less spectacular nature, so it depends on what you are looking for. Along Hwy 97 you can head east on Hwy 26 to Barkerville. 26 is an enjoyable ride, and along the way is Cottonwood House Historic Park, and historic Barkerville. If you like that sort of stuff ( I do) then these are must see attractions. Plan on a couple days to see Barkerville. Another good route is from Williams Lake to Anahim Lake, Hwy 20. Beyond Anahim Lake is unpaved, it is the most spectacular part, and depending on conditions and your comfort level it can be rode on your Ultra, but I am going to warn against it. But the eastern portion of the road is great, some pretty ranch land, and super quiet. Be sure you keep your gas tank full. Further south Hwy 24 from 97 through Lone Butte to Little Fort on Hwy 5 is a really pretty ride and ties our two north south corridors together.
That is some ideas for Northern BC.
@@RobertMerz Wow! Thanks so much for all the information. I will look up all you have suggested, and will pick my favorites to put in my HD Ride Planner. The sad part for me, is I am >=4.5hrs from any junction. That said, I plan to see some sights in 2023, and beyond.
Thank you for the response, and I wish you the best in your riding.
beautiful presentation !
Thank you very much Marco!
I don’t know if you have a video of this type but I’d like to see one where you discuss your bike. Why you bought it, top likes and dislikes, etc.
I don't have a video of this type, but you are not the first to ask for one, I have sort of put it on a "should do" list.
Great video thanks for sharing i have road some of them roads
That is awesome Jim, so you know just what great rides they are.
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Great video thanks for sharing
And thank you for watching. It is always nice to hear from you Jim!
Bob, this is really great. I totally agree with your #1 pick, The Beartooth Highway. One memory were signs along some stretches of the highway warning travellers not to stop because of bears. Not a place to develop an engine problem! Look forward to your next ride.
Awesome list Rob! I haven't done any of those rides, but I've now added them to by bucket List.
If you get a chance I'd like to know what you routinely do to "stay safe" on the road? For myself it's about keeping plenty of distance from other vehicles and looking far ahead for possible hazards. I've only been riding a couple years and could certainly learn a lot from a veteran rider like yourself.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you!
As to staying safe on the road, here is my attempt at a list of things I attempt to do. As with many things it is a set of guidelines that should be adapted to the existing conditions:
Do not ride tired. Always be well rested before a ride.
Do not ride at night. No matter how good your lights, you cannot see the potential roadside hazards as well as in daylight. If you must ride at night, slow down.
Don't let your emotions dictate your ride. If someone "wrongs" you in traffic let it go. Most of the time there is no ill intent, it was just a stupid mistake, we all make them, and we all hope that we will be forgiven for them. Learn from them. Be vigilant for the next time. But don't let anger affect your ride.
Focus on the road immediately ahead. Where the is next gas stop, overnight, etc., is very secondary to what is right now!
Keep your eyes moving. Look where you want to go (it really is a thing), but scan left, right, mirrors, close ahead, and where you want to go. Repeat. Every once in a while change it up with a glance at your dash as well (speed, warning lights, etc.). This should happen every few seconds. And assess everything you see for hazard potential, a grazing cow, a lazy dog, a pedestrian, or a truck on the side of the road. They all at some point change their activity or lack thereof at some point, expect it to be at the worst time for you.
Give everything a wide berth. Everything is a potential danger, stay away from it.
Don't tailgate, ride your own road, the whole road, not just the piece between you and the vehicle in front of you.
Don't be tailgated. Just let them by, make it easy for them, encourage them. Use your brake light, but do not brake check the tailgater, keep the throttle on and give just enough pedal to put your brake light on. When safe to do so let them, encourage them, to pass, by pulling to the right side of the lane and slowing down (slowly, not suddenly). If need be pull off completely and let the tailgater put somebody else in danger.
Indicate your intentions to other traffic. That isn't just using signal and brake lights, but exaggerated shoulder checks etc. The body movement will draw attention and usually is understood.
Ride proud in the lane, the left side of the lane. It identifies you as other traffic instead of something on the side of the road such as a bicyclist, pedestrian, etc. It keeps you as far away as possible from the seen and unseen roadside hazards waiting to jump out at you, and it also visually protects your lane from other traffic "borrowing" a portion of it to make an unsafe pass, both same direction and oncoming.
When in traffic don't be static. A moving object draws attention, so move around, both your bike and your body, safely. Change lanes, change speed, all gradually and safely, nothing sudden or unsafe. Two objects travelling at the same speed appear static in relation to each other. Do not appear static.
Don't override your ability, your bike, the road, or the conditions.
Know your bike, how it sounds and feels. Always do a pre trip looking for anything out of the ordinary. Always be paying attention for changes when riding. Always have a quick walk around at every stop to notice any changes.
Agree with you 100% Rob! I think you hit every important point. There's too many distracted and careless car drivers on the road these days; being prepared and adjusting our ride as necessary is the best way to say safe.
If you're ever riding in Southern CA please drop me a note. It would be great to meet you and hopefully add a #11 to your list. :)
Thank you.
Love your videos. Plan on taking a few of your top 10 that I haven't been on yet. We recently did a bucket list trip of mine, "Around the Grand Canyon". It included both North and South rim, some of Route 66 through Oatman Az., Page Az., Monument Valley, Moki Dugway the ferry across Lake Powell at Hall Crossing and one of my favorite rides of all time, Route 12 in Southern Utah from Torrey to Escalante! 65 Miles of Beautiful Twisty's and gorgeous Scenery. If you haven't ridden this road yet, put it on your list. It's worth the trip and right in the middle of Capital Reef, Bryce and Zion Canyon National Parks.
It sounds like your trip was pretty awesome. I will have to keep Highway 12 in mind.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
loved the video. nicely done. is it safe to guess at the time of this production you had _not_ ridden
the *Going To The Sun* road? it is my #1 in the country.
i look 4ward to working my way thru your library. peace.
John 3:3
You are correct, and I still have not rode it. A top ten list such as this is very subjective. I have heard lots of good things about GTTS but I also have heard how busy it is. If I rode it and found it very busy it might not make my #1 spot as that is definitely something that would take away from the enjoyment for myself, but it is pretty safe to say that it would still be on the list. Some of the rides I chose for the list can be quite busy, but I was able to pick times when they were very low traffic and very enjoyable, so, they made the list!
@@RobertMerz , yes, GTTS can be busy.... but the *MAJESTIC MAGNITUDE* is awesome.
it is less busy while school is still in session. i try & go 3rd week of May or 2nd week of Sept.
best wishes.
Awesome!
Thanks Carol!
Thank you! 7 I have done ✅ the rest will follow hopefully 😊
A Top Ten list is very subjective, and for that reason I really struggled with which rides to include. Which are the three that you have not yet done?
@@RobertMerz
Lolo Pass, Devils Tail & Sawtooth/Salmon River
Lolo Pass surprised me, I really had low expectations and then I rode it and there is just something about it. It isn't especially spectacular or anything like that, but it just sort of grows on you, the gentle sweeping corners, constantly changing from left to right, and the pretty river, it is just a beautiful ride. The Devils Tail is short but awesome in a stark way. Sawtooth and Salmon River are really good, and what makes them even better is the lack of traffic every time I have rode them. The Pocahontas Cabins on the south side of Salmon were awesome and even had a bike wash when I was there last time.
@@RobertMerz Thank you for your recommendation! I plan my next US tour in 2024 and may (just an idea) I will visit Arizona & New Mexico.
I have never rode in New Mexico, but I would expect lots of good riding. Arizona has some awesome roads for sure. In no particular order here are a few roads I recommend. Bisbee to Tombstone on Hwy 80. The East Old Spanish Trail east of Tucson. West Gates Pass Road west of Tucson, and be sure to check out old Tucson. Hwy 60 Superior to Miami and Globe. I see you like old west stuff so besides the obvious Tombstone, check out Goldfield just east of Apache Junction, and then continue on Hwy 88 to Tortilla Junction. Hwy 93 from Wickenburg through Wikieup to Kingman. At Kingman you can take Hwy 66 west through Oatman and also go east on 66 through Crozier to Peach Springs. Hwy 163 Kayenta through Monument Valley to Mexican Hat. Carry on past Mexican Hat to Montezuma Creek then down to Teec Nos Pos, and continue south to Many Farms and Chinle. Those are a few of the roads that I know of that are well worth the ride!
Great choices! We have been on a few of those rides. Have you ridden from Clarkson WA. to Enterprise OR. Is an absolutely amazing ride.
Thanks.
No I haven't and I do want to ride that area, hopefully next year the border will be open and I can get down there.
Hey, this video I think is what we all needed. I noticed you've done most of them in September. My wife and I are planning on doing both the Beartooth and salmon/sawtooth scenic byways in early September. Did you find most of the greenery had already turned brown and was kind of drab looking when you did those one? Thanks, really appreciate your perspective.
I find September is a great month for riding. The traffic volumes are lower, some places very dramatically. The daytime high temperature is often much nicer then the sweltering August temperatures. There are generally way fewer insects to clean off the camera lens. Most services that might be seasonal are still open and available, although sometimes reduced hours. The downside though is that you are correct the greenery at the higher elevations will be turning brown if not so already. Of even bigger concern is how much time you have in September before some of the higher passes are closed for the coming winter, an example is Mt. Evans and Beartooth which may stay open as late as October, but have been known to close as early as mid September. For your specific routes I would pick September as the best month to ride them, and my only concern would be Beartooth suffering an early closure. As you mention though you are planning early September and I think that is perfect for both.
A couple tips. When you do the Beartooth try to make it a loop if you can, by connecting it with the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, it literally is right there, and it to is an awesome highway to ride. On the Salmon and Sawtooth Byways you might consider incorporating Lolo Pass on the north end, the routes connect at Lolo MT. On the south end, if you have the time, spend some time at Craters of the Moon National Park.
Have a great trip!
Great video. I’ve been on some of those rides myself. I hope to make all of them! Too bad it’s limited to just ten. In the western United States alone, there could be 100 “top ten” rides!
But one request: when you’re talking, please stop the background engine noise. It makes you hard to hear.
Thank you. You are right, there are so many really good rides, and our opinions are very subjective. I keep trying to do better with my audio, I will keep this in mind for future vids.
Thanks for watching, and taking the time to comment!
Hope all is well!
Super busy at the moment. Check out my latest activity on my Facebook page Dry Rock Studios. You can also message me there!
Dang, I wish I could but I’m not on FB. Glad ur staying busy though!
Thank you robert
You are welcome!
How many miles do you plan riding in one day? I am planning a trip this summer, and the first couple of days will by necessity be long, hard rides, but after that I want to take time to enjoy the scenery.
It sounds like you think like myself. My first and last couple days are "positioning days", getting to where I want to start my journey. After that I probably average 100 to 150 a day. It seems low, but I might stop an hour at one attraction or maybe spend an entire day somewhere and put zero miles on. I always travel with the thought that I may never come this way again so see it now and I don't worry about miles. Many people ride solely to ride, and solely to put miles on, I do not.
Robert, well said. I love how you describe the first & last days riding as “positioning days”. I’ve always ridden the same way. Packed, full tank of gas the night before (pet peeve/don’t like starting a new day, by getting all my gear on, then straight to a gas station), so I can hit the trail Day 1 around 5, 5:30 am to ride all day to “get somewhere”. Often it’s a Day 1 that’s 500-550 miles. Sleep in, get a good breakfast, and ride 150-200/a day, see things, stop and enjoy some sights, experiences, photos, eateries along the way, taking it all in, until it’s time to make the ride back home, where it’s another 500-550 all day of riding. “Positioning Days”, I love that; it really is exactly that!
How you guys doing up there? Hope all is well and you’re getting some great riding in.
Very nice. Is there any concern about gasoline stations on the longer routes? I am planning to explore the western parts this year.
My longer rides on this list all have gas stations along the way when I was there. The concern with many small towns or middle of nowhere gas stations is that they are sometimes only open during the middle of the day, sort of 8 to 6 kind of thing, or that things change, people retire, etc, and the gas station that was open last year is no more. Because of those reasons I rarely pass a gas station after riding an hour on these back roads, once I am down an hour worth of fuel I am ready to top up again. Another concern is that many of the small stations only have regular so I will top up and still have a blend that is higher octane then the regular fuel, rather then empty the tank and then be forced to run straight low octane regular. So I guess short answer is that I am always concerned about gas stations , but I act accordingly to hedge my bets. The longer runs like Lolo Pass and Sawtooth and Salmon pass through several small towns with fuel along the way, even Death Valley has fuel at Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells (around the midpoints). You will find that towns and fuel stations are usually about an hour to 90 minutes apart in the rural western parts of the US so you really shouldn't have any trouble.
Happy exploring!
What a dream ride. Maybe someday the good Lord willing and the debts don't rise.
Get out and ride, any chance that you can!
I really enjoy your videos, and have a question. How do you eliminate wind noise without eliminating the engine noise?
Thank you Frank, it is always nice to read comments that are positive and encourage me to do more.
I am probably going to disappoint you with my answer to your question though. I don't actually eliminate wind noise in my videos, instead I strip all the sound out that is recorded when I ride and then dub in pre recorded sound during my editing process. If you think about the recording process and how microphones work it is easy to see why it is virtually impossible to capture the sound we want to hear in a bike video, the exhaust note with the same camera that is recording the ride. The camera is mounted at the front of the bike and it is recording engine (valve train and other mechanical sounds) and wind noise. The exhaust sound is behind the camera and even more noticeable behind the bike, it will never be nicely recorded by the front mounted camera. Perhaps if an external microphone was connected and mounted at the back of the bike and properly shielded from the wind it could work.
What I have found works for me is I prerecorded my bike exhaust under various conditions with a camera mounted on the rear seat and properly shielded from the wind. I then have a variety of sound files which I dub into my videos from those recordings. It is the only thing I have found that works well, but it is a lot of work during the editing.
I hope this helps, although I suspect that this isn't the simple answer you were hoping for.
@@RobertMerz Thanks for the help. I have done what you do to a point, but have no pre-recorded engine/exhaust noise. I ride a Goldwing, so there isn't much sound there, but I have mounted the camera on the back once facing rearward which greatly reduces the wind noise.
@@RobertMerz I am amazed at how you sync your engine sound to the situation!
В каком штате вы живете роберт и какой мотоцикал
Я живу в Британской Колумбии, Канаде. Велосипед Yamaha 1900 Roadliner
A link to my Number 10 playlist is here: ruclips.net/video/ryhbDRsyeM0/видео.html
I just came upon your channel and while I enjoyed the video, you might want to consider a better microphone. The audio during your intros was very weak.
Thanks Joe, I appreciate your taking the time to give me some feedback. I have invested in a audio recorder this year and hopefully any voice overs will be somewhat improved from now on.
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🙏🏻
Thank you very much Paul!
Роберт как поживаете почему вас невидна
Hope you guys are well! I get worried when I haven’t seen you guys posting rides, or hear from you. 😁 Hope you’re out getting plenty of riding in. I stumbled across this wonderful couple from Canada, whom you might know, or seen their videos, and maybe follow them here.
ruclips.net/video/tDvsc0QyKTQ/видео.html
It has been a really tough couple years, but I keep slogging along.
Thanks for the concern, it is very much appreciated. I am doing prep work on some vintage videos at the moment, and will be on the bike again soon for more videos.
Regarding Angela Murray's video channel, she does really good work, and I wish I could do as well with my endeavors as she is doing with hers.
Nobody is better at this video producing and posting than you. You’ve covered every desirable path west of the Mississippi, and then some. Just threw her name out as she is in your neck of the woods, always nice to connect and introduce our riding community where we can.
Glad you guys are well, upright, and enduring as many of us strive to do. Treat yourselves, pack the bags, top off the tank, and go get away to enjoy the landscape, and unwind the mind. You’ll never regret it.
You left off PCH?
You are right Richard I did. I have not rode the Pacific Coast Highway so I could not include it as I have no personal experience with it. I have to ride it someday, and it is on that list to do. I am sure it will live up to it's reputation!
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
I would like this video a lot more if I could understand you without having to hear the pipes. I am sure that all your fans know what a bike sounds like and don't really need to hear it when they are trying to listen to you. Just my two cents worth, the content is great however.
Your two cents is bang on Patrick. Some of the audio I do quite well ( I think) but I did really blow it with this voice over, sorry.
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, most of the time I let the bike do the talking, or maybe add some music to ride to. I hope that you watch those and I get a chance to redeem myself.
Утебя трактор хороший мнебы токой трактор где живете дров собераете в лесу живетте
Спасибо. У меня есть несколько тракторов. Это отличные машины для сбора дров
Hey brother...if you could edit out the bike, I would actually be able to hear what you're saying...but until then, I'll just turn off the sound (as all I can hear clearly is your exhaust, or someone's exhaust?), and enjoy the scenery. I ride a BMW R1150RS, and even with the after market pipes, it still sounds like a Singer sewing machine... I love the sound of the pipes, bro, but it's an either/or: either the pipes, or you talking, but not both. Sorry, but I just can't hear you, man....
Hey JM, thanks for letting me know about the audio. I know it isn't perfect, I am still trying to get the right blend for my voice overs.
@@RobertMerz Love the videos, brother! Thank you!!
Drop the motorcycle noise and stick with your narration so folks can hear what you are saying.
Sorry about the problems you had hearing me, perhaps it is the speaker on you device. Try viewing this video on something else and see if that helps.
Robert Merz could just be old farts hearing.
I really work hard at the audio end of my videos, and they play well on all my devices. I do occasionally get a complaint that my voice can't be heard or understood, but not very often, and I suspect that it is the device. I know myself that if I have multiple sounds (like in a room with multiple people talking) around me I have a hard time focusing on just one, but I don't think it is the case with this video.
Thanks for commenting and I do hope you enjoyed the video despite the audio problems.