All-Time Favorite Routes

FOUR OF US OUTLINE OUR TOP-OF-THE-LIST MOTORCYCLE RIDES.

Bill’s Baja Sweet Spot

San Ignacio to Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Pairs well with: Any motorcycle and some camping gear
170 miles—but you should make it last all day

I’ve been lucky enough to ride a lot of miles in a wide variety of environments. Still, my favorite stretch is this chunk of Baja’s Highway 1. There’s something to love about every town down there, but San Ignacio is where, in my opinion, things get truly juicy.By the time you roll into this spot—about 750 miles south of the border—there’s a one-hundred-percent chance you’re a little worn out from long, desolate highways punctuated by chaotic small towns and terrifying semi-trucks. San Ignacio is literally an oasis. You can feel your heart rate drop as soon as you leave the highway and head toward the picture-perfect town square, complete with a couple places to eat, an ancient church that never closes, and rough cobblestone pavers.
Once you head south out of San Ignacio, the boring straight lines of Highway 1 are long forgotten. You’ll wind through valleys and over ridges, mostly downhill, and then suddenly drop into the often-overlooked town of Santa Rosalía. Stop and eat here. The food and architecture still carry a cool hangover from French colonial days.

Mulegé is the next significant town and totally worth exploring. There’s a hardy group of gringo expats, but it’s no tourist trap. From there to Loreto, it’s classic Sea of Cortez: turquoise water on the left, rugged desert to the right. Take your time on this section—the rewards are big. Stopping for a cold beer and a swim at least once is mandatory.

The beach at Santispac is awesome. So are Coyote and Burro. Sometimes there’s food at these spots, sometimes there’s not—that’s just Baja. I especially like the place we used to call “Secret Spot” because you couldn’t see it from the road. Google now calls it Playa Los Naranjos. I’ve never seen an orange there, but I’ve rented kayaks for a couple bucks and paddled out to the little islands just offshore. That shit is magical.

Loreto could be a full article on its own. Grab food and drinks at Mi Loreto. Have a couple frosty Palomas (made with Squirt) in the town square with live music on the weekends. If you time it right, the whale-watching tours are fantastic. It ain’t cheap, but a room at the Misión on the malecón is a perfect place to congratulate yourself on a life well lived. Lounging in the saltwater pool there is a good time to start cooking up more plans—either to keep heading south or turn around and do the whole thing in reverse.
-Bill

Otto’s Golden Chain Highway

Oakhurst, CA to Placerville, CA
Pairs well with: FXR or chopper
140 miles—but you should make it last all day

When Bill asked me to name a favorite motorcycle route, there was no hesitation: Highway 49. I’ve been riding it for about 15 years, usually to visit my mom or head to the Nor Cal Cycle Swap. After spending most of my life in Southern California, I was always hunting for better ways north. When my mom moved to the foothills, I found 49—and I haven’t looked back.

There’s no graceful escape from the Southern California bubble. Leave early or late, you’ll still pay: traffic, distracted Tesla drivers, freeway shutdowns, potholes, or weather that makes riding miserable. Like my buddy Ryan says, you’ve got to want it. But once you break free, Highway 49 makes it worthwhile. It has everything I want in a ride—curves, elevation changes, and small towns spaced just far enough apart to keep you fueled and fed. Samuel Clemens—better known as Mark Twain—spent time along this corridor, and his story The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County grew out of Gold Country lore. Tall tales and stretched truths have drawn people here for generations, which is part of what draws me, too.

I usually pick up 49 in Oakhurst, near Bass Lake, a gathering point for motorcycle clubs since the 1950s thanks to its scenery, swimming spots, and easy reach from Los Angeles, Bakersfield, and the Bay Area. From there, you can ride roughly 300 miles north on a route that rarely feels crowded. In summer, much of it runs shaded, and you’re almost always near a river, stream, or reservoir where you can cool down. The watering holes are as frequent as the swimming holes. The pavement rolls and bends like it was designed with motorcycles in mind. Sonora, Jackson, Placerville, Auburn, Nevada City, Grass Valley—each town offers cold beer, good barbecue, strong coffee, and diners that still serve milkshakes the right way. Cross the American River, take a break, dunk your junk, and settle into the slower rhythm that defines the corridor.

What really makes 49 special, though, is the people. The towns are full of riders, mechanics, and folks who appreciate the land. If you need a tube patched or a chain adjusted, there’s usually a mom-and-pop shop nearby. And if things go sideways, someone with a pickup will help. My favorite bike for 49? A chopper or an FXR—simple, honest machines that match the road’s character. Highway 49 isn’t just pavement; it’s history, community, and miles of freedom winding through Gold Country, and I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of it.
—Otto

Josh’s Ride

Blue Ridge Parkway
Pairs well with: Any bike that loves the twisties
469 miles—plus great side excursions

Spanning an impressive 469 miles from Virginia to the southern edge of South Carolina, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a true ribbon of two-wheeled bliss. The parkway follows the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, connecting Shenandoah National Park with Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I rode most of this route over three days with my buddy Lou on our way to an event in Alabama.One of the best features of the Blue Ridge Parkway is that it’s designed like an interstate—no cross streets, no traffic lights, just on- and off-ramps to enter or exit. From a motorcycle perspective, that means you get all the benefits of a twisty mountain road while eliminating much of the stress that comes with intersections and cross traffic. Some sections are properly tight and technical, so it’s wise to ride within your limits and take your time.

Because the parkway is so iconic, there are plenty of places to pull off for food, fuel, or a night’s rest. We stayed our first night at a vintage roadside motel about halfway down, complete with the kind of “world’s smallest pool hall” charm that makes road trips memorable. You’ll also find vintage trailer parks and a wide range of other accommodations scattered along the route.

Elevation changes can bring dramatic weather shifts, so come prepared. We experienced everything from hot to cold and clear skies to rain—sometimes all in the same day. Cell phone reception can be spotty in the mountains, so printing your route or having offline maps downloaded is a smart backup plan.

We rode the parkway in early October and were rewarded with incredible fall foliage. Mid-September through mid-October is considered peak season, so expect more traffic during that window. There are more than 200 scenic overlooks along the way, and the maximum speed limit is 45 mph, encouraging riders to slow down and soak in the views.

There are also worthwhile detours nearby, including the Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, North Carolina, and Dale’s Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, NC—both must-visits for motorcycle enthusiasts.

If you’re looking for an epic East Coast ride, the Blue Ridge Parkway delivers. It may be a bit touristy, but for good reason. With the right planning, it’s an ideal route for beginner to intermediate riders and a great introduction to a multi-day motorcycle trip.
—Josh

Davin’s Route

Red Lodge to Cook City, Montana
Pairs well with: ADV unit, of course!
96 miles—crank that hog!

No link available for this one since we wrote this story in winter and Bear Tooth pass is closed. Thanks, Googles!

Heading south out of Red Lodge Montana on US Highway 212 is the world famous Beartooth Highway. This section runs 68 miles from Red Lodge to Cooke City, MT with a little dip into Wyoming in between. Beartooth Highway and the pass of the same name is one of the most scenic rides in America. The climb up with sharp curves and steep cliffs with few guard rails is about as good as it gets. Theres plenty of lookouts to pull over into on the way up. So don’t be afraid to stop. Be warned, this is a heavy tourist area, so sometimes the traffic is slow. You’ll see RV’s crossing over the double yellows, slow cars stopping every so often to take photos, and lots of brother and sisters out there cranking their hawgs. It’s hard to explain how crazy looking it is up top. Rugged snow capped peaks, tundra flowers, and the bluest of lakes. Theres a great store on the way down to stop for snacks, stickers, and a cold (or hot) beverage.

Depending on your route, if you don’t need to go to Cooke City or Yellowstone, I highly recommend checking out Chief Joseph Hwy (WY-296), which intersects 212 once you get to the bottom of the pass on the “south” or “west” side depending on how you like to operate. It’ll be on your left about 11 miles from the Top of the World store. This stretch of road runs east toward Cody, WY, and is much lighter traveled than BTH / Hwy 212. In my opinion it’s the best way to top off the ride over Beartooth. The road is a damn race track! You can get a good haul going right away. Tight hair pin turns, a lot of elevation changes, and plenty of great views. 

The first place you’ll want to stop coming from the west is the Sunlight Creek Bridge. At roughly 260’, this bridge spans the Sunlight Creek gorge. Said gorge is nearly 300 feet deep, so it’s not recommended for those of you that are afraid of heights. There’s a parking lot with bathrooms next to it, so you’ll want to stop to have a stroll across before heading over Dead Indian Pass that comes up next. I love this road SO MUCH you guys. It absolutely does not get better than the 1-2 punch that these 2 roads can give if the conditions are right - warm weather, blue skies, and light traffic. I hate writing about stuff, because I feel like words aren’t good enough to convey the message here, so check this route out if you haven’t already done so.
—Davin