Ducati Monster Forum

Unless my girlfriend's cousin comes through with some cheapo tickets for LAX-Rome, I'm thinking about riding Route 66 for my vacation this year. Leave Santa Monica, take a week or so to get to Chicago, head to Indy for the MotoGP, then head back via amber waves of grain, purple mountain's majesty, etc., etc. Understand parts of it are now slabified, but would look forward to funky diners, old roads, small towns, local bars  [drink], bridges of Madison County, local bars  [drink]. You get the picture. Girlfriend should be picking up a 620 next month and though she's new to biking, shouldn't be a big deal kind of trip. If it is for her, I can always rent a girlfriend for those two weeks.
I kid.
Any thoughts? Anyone travelled Route 66 before? Recommend or avoid?

Good luck with the bridges of Madison County, Route 66 doesn't go through Iowa.

Colour me jealous. I've wanted to undertake that particular trip through Americana for a while.

You should map it out, stick to 2 lane as much as possible and only eat & sleep at local "Mom & Pop" type places. Sure, you could end up at the post-modern equivalent of the Bates Motel, but no one ever had a good story that started with "We ended up staying at this Motel 6".

The problem with this approach is that, for the most part, it doesn't exist anymore.  For the most part, there are no Mom and Pop type places, or at best a handful.  You need more than a handful of Mom and Pop diners and motels for 2400 mile road trip.

Riding Route 66 is a great idea in a romantic sense, but in reality I think you'll find it not so much.  Much of the road itself no longer exists; the Interstate Superslab is all there is, especially out in the vast desert wastelands of the West.

I've been toying with the idea of doing US Route 50 from Ocean City, MD to Sacramento, CA. which is one of the last coast to coast routes that is still largely intact and non-slab.  Just over 3,000 miles in length.  Going west to east, a great run would be from Sacramento to St. Louis.         

did it by car several years ago and much is gone and is now generic I40 freeway, though some parts are still great, remember the OK portion in particular....came back on I50 and liked it a LOT, especially across Nevada, that pert is called "The Loneliest Road in America"    FWIW there is a good and easy to find book on two lane roads including 66 and some info is at http://www.roadtripusa.com/ (http://www.roadtripusa.com/)

You are so bringing me down.

What time of year you planning on?

It passes through my hometown (Upland) and there isn't anything special about that stretch. It's just a major street through a suburb.

I rode over a small part of Hwy 50 in Utah on my way to the WSBK races at Miller MSP. They ain't kidding. Not so much twisties as long stretches of nobody and nothing. I saw maybe 5 cars and that many bearded, helmetless dudes on Choppers with shit-eating grins like they were just tipped for robbing a bank.

Here it is:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3626/3494784022_a327aff780_m.jpg)

One of the highlights of my trip actually.

Arrive in Indy by:
August 29: Indianapolis MotoGP

I've got a recent book that tells the history of Route 66 and has some places that are still worth seeing. My only fear is that they are so few and far between it may be a boring trip. With a Moto GP at the end it can't be all bad. And I've got lots of suggestions for a fun trip back. Keep in mind that I can be amused for hours by the world largest ball of yarn type thing.

Didn't you also say that the gf is getting a 620? It's not her first bike, is it? Long hauls aren't fun for noobies. They're not used to the saddle and get butt burn fast.

Yes, kinda, but that's a whole separate issue. If she's not ready we won't go. We've got lots of mini trips planned to access her abilities.

And Daddy's got lots of medicine for the butt burn.  :)

Too easy.  ;D

My hometown is on it. I grew up a block off of it. My gradeschool was right on it. What these guys are saying is true...it's not that exciting. Most of it is boring superslab and there are bits and pieces of the old pavement still there but not alot.

It's probably worth doing it just so that you can have the memories but just don't expect a lot of wow factor. Good luck and have fun!  [moto]

This thread reminds me of the kids movie "Cars".

As long as I get to park the bike in one of those teepee motels!

The longest stretch of original 66 is in Oklahoma.  One place, The Rock Cafe in Stroud, is in "Cars" and the owner was used as the inspiration for the blue Porsche Sally.  The place *was* full of original Disney art that the crew gave to her when they ate there.  Unfortunately it burned down last year, was rebuilt, but the inside was updated a lot and all the Disney stuff burned.  Still it is a nice place to stop and eat.

Drove out to Williams AZ this summer for a few days in the Grand Canyon.  I wouldn't advise a moto trip through the Mojave at this time of year.  It is blistering from just outside of LA until you get into the higher elevations of AZ.  118* in Needles in mid-Aug.  That's nearly 6 hours of retarded heat on a air cooled scooter(620).

As far as Rt. 66 in California and AZ, it's pretty spotty at best with a few tumble weed towns just off the 40.  

But don't let all of the buzz killers with FHE stop you from experiencing it for yourself!  [moto]

Free trip to Rome is sounding real nice. That is assuming you're not talking about Rome, NY. [cheeky]

If you do wind up making the trip or some variant, remember to give me a shout before you pass through Arizona; while the remaining Rt. 66 sections aren't all that remarkable aside from the buses of Japanese & European tourists, there are some bee-uteous motorcycle roads not that far off the AZ sections.

Route 66 is a great trip, well worth it. And it's still there, it's just labeled differently in parts.

I'm in Arizona, and I recommend the following:
- Black Barts Steakhouse. Flagstaff, AZ
- Meteor Crater. Between Flagstaff and Winslow, AZ

 

If you do this you will be going through the hocking hills area of Ohio which is the best riding in Ohio.  I ride there all the time.  If you do, stop by Athens Ohio, the home of Ohio University, my favorite place in the state and my hometown Chillicothe Ohio.

Exactly. I just rode it this last summer; it was predominantly interstate only, with at the most a mile of 66 running along side the interstate and signs declaring it "Historic Route 66" - and covered with places that have long since gone out of business. I went from Dallas to Vegas. I probably wouldn't do it again, lest I be bored out of my gourd.

A couple of summers ago, we were at the Rt 66 museum in Chandler, OK just getting ready to leave.  We saw a GS with packed bags go by and then he stopped and turned around and pulled up.  It was a guy from Italy who had just retired from the Italian Army.  He introduced himself, said when he saw all of those Italian bikes he had to stop for a pic.  It was a retirement gift to himself to fly to the US, rent a bike and ride Rt. 66.  I hope he wasn't too disappointed, but he did look like he was having a good time.

Good to know, thanks!

Sadly, I rode through the Mojave in august before. The bike faired way better than me. I was stopping every 75 miles. And don't worry, I won't let the buzz killers stop me no matter how much good sense their advice makes.

I am down for that offer, thanks.
You haven't lived until you've seen the buses unload on Hollywood boulevard though.

That's what I'm talking about! Thanks Michael!

Highly recommend Ted Drew's Frozen Custard in St. Louis, Mo (Watson Rd Old RT. 66; three blocks from my house so hit me up)
as well as the Missouri Hick in Cuba, Mo (eff'n great bbq)
There are one or two of the old style motels (built in garage or carport attached to a room) in st. louis still, but they are definitely on the lower end of places to stay.

i drove i think out on route 40 and back on the more northern road not sure which one, it was all interstate.

its a bit boring but that is part of riding out there, you will see a lot of nothing, but you will also notice that probably nm is the most colorful state in the southwest i think from the highway.  meteor crater is ok, make sure you see the grand canyon, and if you go far enough north hit moab and also arches national park that is some good stuff there, much nicer than meteor crater.

personally if i could do this trip i would rent or get something like a bmw touring bike or something those are probably awesome with a trip like this.

good luck and have fun, its worth the trip even if you do take the superslab the entire way its still you will see a lot of america.

I agree.

If it were me, I'd love to do the whole "I did Route 66" bit, but really the best ride is going through Sedona, Grand Canyon, Moab, Arches, Painted Desert, etc.

Like this:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Los+Angeles,+CA&daddr=AZ-89+N+to:AZ-179+N+to:AZ-64+E%2FUS-180+W+to:State+Route+191%2FUS-191+N+to:39.196077,-109.050293&hl=en&geocode=FYqYBwIdm77z-CkT2ifcXcfCgDH0CEYlb98v4g%3BFcIXEAIdnplM-Q%3BFdLgEwIddp5W-Q%3BFfjkJQIdeidR-Q%3BFYBATAIdML14-Q%3B&gl=us&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=5&sz=10&via=1,2,3,4&sll=39.098095,-108.943176&sspn=0.753489,0.950317&ie=UTF8&ll=35.047987,-112.895508&spn=12.703081,15.205078&z=6 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Los+Angeles,+CA&daddr=AZ-89+N+to:AZ-179+N+to:AZ-64+E%2FUS-180+W+to:State+Route+191%2FUS-191+N+to:39.196077,-109.050293&hl=en&geocode=FYqYBwIdm77z-CkT2ifcXcfCgDH0CEYlb98v4g%3BFcIXEAIdnplM-Q%3BFdLgEwIddp5W-Q%3BFfjkJQIdeidR-Q%3BFYBATAIdML14-Q%3B&gl=us&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=5&sz=10&via=1,2,3,4&sll=39.098095,-108.943176&sspn=0.753489,0.950317&ie=UTF8&ll=35.047987,-112.895508&spn=12.703081,15.205078&z=6)

Or even this:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Los+Angeles,+CA&daddr=AZ-89+N+to:AZ-179+N+to:AZ-64+E%2FUS-180+W+to:UT-9+W%2FZion+Canyon+Scenic+Dr%2FZion+Park+Blvd+to:37.031062,-110.1297+to:State+Route+191%2FUS-191+N+to:I-70+E&hl=en&geocode=FYqYBwIdm77z-CkT2ifcXcfCgDH0CEYlb98v4g%3BFcIXEAIdnplM-Q%3BFdLgEwIddp5W-Q%3BFfjkJQIdeidR-Q%3BFdq-NwIdpA9E-Q%3B%3BFYBATAIdML14-Q%3BFcYOVgIdauV_-Q&gl=us&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=5&sz=9&via=1,2,3,4,5,6&sll=36.86424,-109.89624&sspn=1.553539,1.900635&ie=UTF8&ll=36.22655,-113.269043&spn=12.518563,15.205078&z=6 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Los+Angeles,+CA&daddr=AZ-89+N+to:AZ-179+N+to:AZ-64+E%2FUS-180+W+to:UT-9+W%2FZion+Canyon+Scenic+Dr%2FZion+Park+Blvd+to:37.031062,-110.1297+to:State+Route+191%2FUS-191+N+to:I-70+E&hl=en&geocode=FYqYBwIdm77z-CkT2ifcXcfCgDH0CEYlb98v4g%3BFcIXEAIdnplM-Q%3BFdLgEwIddp5W-Q%3BFfjkJQIdeidR-Q%3BFdq-NwIdpA9E-Q%3B%3BFYBATAIdML14-Q%3BFcYOVgIdauV_-Q&gl=us&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=5&sz=9&via=1,2,3,4,5,6&sll=36.86424,-109.89624&sspn=1.553539,1.900635&ie=UTF8&ll=36.22655,-113.269043&spn=12.518563,15.205078&z=6)

I personally love huge bridges, and the second route has you pass over Navajo Bridge, then through Zion (which is a good place to stay overnight), and then back again over Glen Canyon Bridge. Both are awesome.

I visited the Grand Canyon recently and had a chance to stop in Williams Arizona and thought it was bad ass. From local diner to the old Brothels I was taken a few years back by the ambience. My relatives stayed in a reconditioned hotel complete with the vibe of antiquity.

Check it out!

+1 -- Williams is one of my favorite spots in Arizona; we seem to find reasons to head up there quite a bit.

I recall that a few years back I received some junk mail about route 66 motorcycle tours so I just checked online to find that there are some commercial tours out there.  I also found this article http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/rideanddest/motorcycle_tour_route_66/index.html (http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/rideanddest/motorcycle_tour_route_66/index.html)  I gave it a quick skim and it seems to be what you are looking for.  Last fall I was in NM and while touring Navajo ruins I met a group of English riders that had come over to do Route 66.  I thought, as many have expressed here, that the trip would be a bust and there are many better east-west routes out there.  The guys seemed to be having a great time.  They had started in Chicago and were doing it right, on Harleys.  I am not a Harley fan but it seems to me that route 66 and a heavy American made cruiser go together like a ball and glove.  Route 66 must be the road that Harley was engineered to ride.   

it would have been far more comfortable to do it on one of those bikes than on my Monster. Even more comfortable again on a sport tourer. (because then I could still have fun and go fast sometimes, and be comfortable on the boring straights)