North American Routes
 

With a lot of time to plan, I've been considering a number of North American Routes.

1. East coast to west coast USA, I would guess this is the most popular, at least for overseas visitors. In England you are usually advised to go west to east because of the prevailing winds, not sure if this is an issue for america on a motorbike.
2. East coast to west coast Canada, this could be a lot further than the USA route and I would guess you would only want to do it during the summer months, then there is that big wheat field in the middle.
3. East Coast - Florida - Maine - Canada - not sure which way North to South or South to North
4. West Coast - Mexico to Alaska
5. Follow a river, Mississippi - North to South has to be.
6. Wet west to dry west -
7. Follow the oil routes Well Head to Refinery to Gas Station
8. Tour the cities that defy nature -Phoenix, New Orleans, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Yellowknife. Think I missed a few.
9. Hurricane Chaser visit a variety of multi story car parks in hurricane season - don't think so.
10. Obsolete roads, trails. Route 66
11. Follow your favourite bands on tour.
12. Tour of Breweries, Friends, Motorcycle gatherings
13. Mason Dixon Line and civil war sites
14. Follow Mountain Ranges
15. Choose one state and stick to it.

Maine is Amazing!
 

Rachyett,

I grew up in Peru, South America, and although the USA is "where I'm from", I never felt at home there until age 40 when we moved to Maine. Water everywhere, both fresh and salty. Green, green, green. The trees come all the way down to touch the ocean! If you have ever seen the ocean in Peru (desert), you will understand my enthusiasm...

Did you know that Maine has 3,000 miles of coastline? How about riding the whole coast of Maine, going down every peninsula and out to every island that has roads???

How much time do you have ?

I always tell people to go up into the Navajo Reservation in northern Arizona. Within a few hours driving distance of the Grand Canyon, visit Canyon de Chelly (Chelly is pronounced "shay"), and then the famous Monument Valley. If you ride to see the Grand Canyon, and then go to Canyon de Chelly, you will see firsthand the reason that I think this canyon is more spectacular and scenic than the Grand Canyon. If you go to Canyon de Chelly first, and then the Grand Canyon, IMO, you will feel let down!

The highways and secondary Indian routes that run through the Reservations (there is actually another reservation, the Hopi Reservation within the Navajo Reservation) are very scenic, and will cause you to pull over and take photos. I know that those who have been through here can chime in--it's that nice.

Now that I have gotten that out--my suggestion West to East. One of the most well-known tourist routes in the US is shaped like a triangle--from Las Vegas, to the Grand Canyon, to Los Angeles. However, starting in L.A. and California--many spectacular sites all up and down the West Coast from British Colombia to Baja California, go east to Vegas. Then through southern Utah, and the places to see there, such as Moab and others, and then drop to northern Arizona and the Grand Canyon, then east through the Navajo Reservation to Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley, or from the Grand Canyon to Monument Valley to Canyon de Chelly.

This puts you in the "4 corners" area a little more east, the only place in the US where 4 US states meet--Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. You could drop down into Phoenix, a 2.5 hour drive from Flagstaff, Arizona, where, if you are lucky, you can experience 110+ Faranheit temps (you might have already felt this in Vegas, so Phoenix could be skipped, IMO).

Once in the 4 corners area, my suggestion is to head east into southern Colorado--nice towns and small cities nestled in the mountains, all with their wild west history. From there, you could head north, i.e. to South Dakota or somewhere that way, or south for your last bit of the southwest in New Mexico.

This should give you some guidance for the west, and for my suggestion of west to east travel.

East to West!
 

Having done a lot of m/c touring throughout the states (inc. a 13,000 mile loop on all local roads), I def. recommend East to West. There's something about starting in civilization and watching it fade behind you wheels for the open spaces of the West. California's a great end point. Happy to help with any particular advice. I've always wanted to do Mexico to Alaska, too, but think if you'll get the most of the roads/country/ride with East to West. Second Yuma's advice too - Colorado is phenomenal and no helmet laws!
- Noah
Doing UK-Israel in July '08!

I only recommended West to East because I live, and have lived, in the West, and know it pretty well. But 'Noahb''s suggestion of East to West of leaving "civilization" behind little by little is not something that I would have thought of as someone who lives here, vs. being a visitor, and now gives you something to think about. This still doesn't answer the question with me suggesting West to East, and NoahB suggesting East to West, but that is one "problem" I hope to have some day ;)

I would suggest you go with the route that you can get the best airfare to, however.

North America is big and believe it or not has more than 200 years of history we are not as young as the press will have you believe. If you want to see some things most people never will you can visit a few of the places that predate Rome. Most will forever go unseen as Europeans viewed the native cultures as inferior and destroyed all traces buildings, tools and people gone. still some servived in the more remote places in the west and there are some mounds in the east. Most people are not interested so lets not go in to it.

East to West is a sound way to see the USA and Canada Mexico is more north to south. Looking at your routs id say no to all of them I cant see sticking to them long enough to complete most. Id have to know more about what you realy want to do. If you got the time start in the SE of the USA say Florida look at at all the old people talk to them see what they have done in there life. Look at the rich and powerfull there on the beach then go a little inland and see the poor and hopeless. That will blow away most misconceptions people have and there "stupid" ones that cant vote hehe.
Go up the cost dipping inland to pick up civil war sights and the war for independence. Go in to the Appalachian mountains ride the dragons tail see all the stupid rednecks and hillbiles as they realy are. Hit up Washington DC then New York New York see how it its to the old one. Go up to Maine the land stolen from the French in to Quebec for some old wold charm (good food there). Across Canada up to Big bays then crossing back and forth till you get to the point where you feel need to go to Alaska (or dont). Then down the costal roads or jump on a ferry boat south (saves time). Run the cost and coastal range till San Francisco or so then back east in to the desert then south in to Mexico till you had your fill of the dry then east till you hit hit Gulf of Mexico then back north and east to where ever you run out of money for a hop back to the UK.

Some things you may want to consider the bike will take bit of abuse on this trip, you can get on in the USA cheap. It will more than pay for it self over hiring one Get a good USA Atlas the National Geographic has a nice one Amazon.com: National Geographic the American Road: Atlas & Travel Planner (NG Road Atlases): National Geographic Society, Melcher Media, Kay Scheller: Books

Not knowing you well or the time you have for the trip limits the help we can give you on your trip.

Oh and :welcome: