Ducati Monster Forum

Hey guys,

I had trouble keeping track of my ride plans so I decided that I should post them up here.  This isn't set in stone yet, it's just a basic idea of what I want to do.  It's going to be May 10th to May 16th to relax after a hard semester.  The ride is going to be somewhere around 3,770 miles with stops somewhere near (in order) : Sacramento, CA,   Los Angeles,CA,    Phoenix, AZ,    Denver, CO,    Idaho Falls, ID and back home.  Not sure about IF so if anyone has any suggestions, let me know.  I just picked it cause I have a friend that lives there.  I'm hoping to be able to hop between DMFer houses for the trip to keep costs down as well as being able to meet a few of you.  Here are the threads asking for places to stay (trying to keep track of em is hard so that is why I'm posting this here).

1st Night: Sacramento, CA area
http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=35858.msg628311#msg628311 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=35858.msg628311#msg628311)

2nd Night: Los Angeles, CA area
http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=35861.msg628320#msg628320 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=35861.msg628320#msg628320)

3rd Night: Poenix, AZ area
http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=35859.msg628312#msg628312 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=35859.msg628312#msg628312)

4th Night: Denver, CO area
http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=35860.msg628317#msg628317 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=35860.msg628317#msg628317)

5th Night: Idaho Falls, ID area (unless someone has a place to stay with a better route)

6th Night: Back Home :)


Basic ride outline:
http://www.mapquest.com/mq/8-6kgIgsNfcS4S3AHxwiqJ (http://www.mapquest.com/mq/8-6kgIgsNfcS4S3AHxwiqJ)

I'll update to keep track of what is going on.  Thanks to those who are willing to let me stay with them [thumbsup]

That will be a blast.  Good luck, I am sure you will get cozy with a couch or two along the way.  What about packing a small tent, sleeping bag, etc. so you can stop where you please?

 [popcorn]

I'll do some digging for ya...that route through CO isnt worth riding...trust me.  Its straight highway and boring as hell.  If I remember right, you are pretty stuck on time though, correct?  Can you leave a couple days earlier?

Yea, the time is pretty solid, it's the only time I could get this long of a ride to fit....but....bad news.....I had approval for the ride up until I mentioned that I hadn't met the people that I was going to stay with and they are worried about me staying with ppl in their houses.  They said that if I try to go they will remove my gas tank for the week that I was going to go.....I won't be able to afford it any other way so it looks like the trip is off :-\  Better luck next time I guess :(

Who said this?

It was my whole family in combination with my gf....

Would they be more amenable to the idea of you camping, or is that just as bad?

Maybe you should introduce them to your other family.

+1
I told my wife there was no discussion on the bikes.  she married me anyway and now she has one of her own.  just saying... ;D

well...all I can spare is to pay for gas but we'll see.  Hopefully this thread will be able to get revived with an update of a go ahead, I was looking forward to meeting my fellow DMFers.  Most of what I have is going towards school costs and the rest is being saved for school in Scotland next year.  I was hoping to get a few long trips in before I leave my bike for a year (or it might have to be sold the way things are looking right now) but it looks like a no go for this trip.  I can still make it to the west cost DIMBY this year, they are just nervous about me staying with people that I don't know.  They're worried that you are all serial killers  [roll]  I understand where they're coming from though, I just wish that it didn't put a stop to my trip

It's too bad they don't get it.

Good luck.

lets hope it works out.

Do you think it's wise to go on a trip like that when all you can pay for is gas?

Normally I'm all for rational approaches but make the beast with two backs it. He's young-if he makes it all he'll be able to say is "I rode my motorcycle". Adventure it what happens when things don't go according to plan.

Let them think they won. Then escape in the middle of the night. Run for it! Have just enough to choose between food and gas. Try to boil ramen on the moto exhaust. Pick up cans to have enough for gas. G'wan-go for it.

When I did Sac to LA I went down I-5 the caught Mines road over the crest, past the observatory and then scooted into Monterey. From there I took Hwy 1 all the way down through Big Sur. When I reach SLO I hopped on the 101 and took that into downtown LA. Great day. I was exhausted by the end.

If your trip brings you through Santa Barbara we offer respite to weary bikers.

Ride safe.

sac

I do have savings that I can dip into, but I really should be using that for school....the smaller the loans the better  :)

You ride around the streets on a motorbike - a Ducati, no less - and yet your nearest and dearest have so little respect for your judgment and good sense that they are going to forcibly prevent your taking a holiday road trip that involves staying with 'strangers'.  :o

As a teenager, I'd have taken the same course you seem to have, and capitulated. Thirty years later, I would strongly suggest you tell them to save the stranger-danger stuff for your infant children, if and when they arrive.

And do whatever it takes to frustrate their plotting, however well intended they imagine it is, and take the trip.  8)

Only other suggestion I would have is perhaps cut back on the distance a bit. That way you would save on fuel and add some time for the fun stuff.

You can take long trips like that on a monster without it being miserable?  I'm still in pain from the three hour trip a couple days ago.