 SW USA advice
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I'm planning a trip through the South West in March and never having been through that part of the country I don't know what to expect. I'll be trailering the bike from NY to Waco and riding from there to San Diego, then back to Waco. Can anyone from that area give me any advice? Are there high MC thefts is places like El Paso, Tombstone or Yuma? What kind of weather is normal for March? I don't see many gas stations when I go on google maps. I'm hoping I won't have to do the whole trip on Rt I10 just to have gas stations available. How about speed limits? Some of those roads look like they'd be screaming "open that baby up and see what she's got." This is something we can seldom do in the NE. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Re: SW USA advice
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,695 Likes: 22
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2006
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Average temps will be 80s to low 90s once you get south and west of Waco. El Paso is the big city you will run through in Texas. I would plan on passing through it and sleeping in New Mexico. There is gas and food everywhere. Texas has stretches on IH 10 at 80 MPH>
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: SW USA advice
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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The Three Twisted Sisters (Ranch Roads 335, 336, and 337) also known as the Hundred Mile Loop is a must ride. The three roads are near Kerrville if you are looking at a map, but a quick google search will get you plenty of routes to and from the sisters. The Willow City Loop is a nice ride in that area as well. Once you get to West Texas, Big Bend is another must see. It's a little out of your way, but to come that close and not swing by there would be a true waste. 170 heading out of the west side of the park towards Presidio is abolute GREATNESS! Here's a pic taken on the river road between the park and Presidio. That would be Mexico on the left! 
Last edited by nuthin; 02/06/2009 12:47 AM.
Learning from my mistakes... again and again.
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Re: SW USA advice
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Quote:
Once you get to West Texas, Big Bend is another must see. It's a little out of your way, but to come that close and not swing by there would be a true waste. 170 heading out of the west side of the park towards Presidio is abolute GREATNESS!
+1 You will never regret making the detour for that ride! I made the Alpine/Big Bend loop (90-385-118-170-67-90) in 2001 and am looking forward to it again sometime.
If there is any downside, it is the downside is the long ride to get there. Yeah we have many stretches of highway posted 80mph, but that is more an anti boredom measure than anything else for most. Personally I don't mind the long desolate roads, but many seem to loathe them.
Last edited by TxSpeedster; 02/06/2009 1:48 AM.
2018 FLHCS
2014 Surly Straggler - 16,000 miles and counting!
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Re: SW USA advice
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Joined: Apr 2006
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Beautiful picture. If you don't have a GPS, consider getting one. It can make your trip much more pleasant. It's a major goal of ours to ride the western USA someday. The problem is the distance from home, a couple thousand miles one way. I won't trailer a bike so the options are to burn a lot of vaction time, or fly out & rent a bike. Have a great trip! Ride safe. 
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: SW USA advice
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Old Hand
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Old Hand
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Passing through Ruidoso NM is worth the miles. That is where the majority of NM motorcycle rallies are held for good reason. From there, it isn't far to the White Sands national monument, quite a spectacle. Fill up with fuel and drinking water at every opportunity in TX, NM and AZ, you will be glad you did.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: SW USA advice
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Joined: Jul 2008
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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Even if you don't get further south than Wacko, you'll be pretty close to those of us in Central Texas. If ya want to meet up, say the word. That's only an hour or so from me.
Last edited by Lazyrider; 02/06/2009 12:12 PM.
'08 America Blue/White; Custom Headlamps, Custom Lowers, Clearview 20", Bafflectomy
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Re: SW USA advice
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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I'm just an hour and a half north of Waco, so I wouldn't mind running down to meet up with you guys. Maybe we could grab a meal and talk about how great our bikes are.
Learning from my mistakes... again and again.
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Re: SW USA advice
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
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Quote:
...Are there high MC thefts is places like El Paso, Tombstone or Yuma?
"Down in the West Texas town of El Paso,
Tom from New York had his bike stolen there!"
(hey, anybody ELSE around here remember Marty Robbins???) 
(sorry) 
Hey Tom! When ya get to SoCal look me up! If you're willin' to ride up to the L.A. area from Sandy Eggo, I'll buy ya a beer, dude! 
(...and sing a few MORE fractured song lryics while we sit at the bar!!!) 
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: SW USA advice
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
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Quote:
hey, anybody ELSE around here remember Marty Robbins???
If they don't, they should
jh
"It's not what I say that's important, it's what you hear" Red Auerbach
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Re: SW USA advice
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Joined: Jun 2006
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I don't have my Triumph anymore, but I'm only an hour north of Waco (in Ft Worth) Yup, make the detour to Big Bend even if you don't go anywhere else. There's a group here in Texas called Two Wheeled Texans, a bunch of them go to BB... check out the ride reports, and say Howdy...us Texas are friendly..<BG> http://www.twtex.com/It's still going to be cold going over the mountains in March.. if you have heated jacket liners or whatever, bring those. And a GPS. If you like the smell of oil, stop in El Paso, otherwise, NM is pretty... although they do have stockyards and the associated smells... but IMHO, much preferable to the smell of money (oil). Oh, it WILL be windy.... and cold... and hot... But beautiful... and wide open in some places. Have fun. Wish I was going with you. Mary aka krashdragon 
Krashdagon aka Snappy
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Re: SW USA advice
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Joined: Jul 2008
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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Quote:
"Down in the West Texas town of El Paso,
Tom from New York had his bike stolen there!"
(hey, anybody ELSE around here remember Marty Robbins???)
Don't know about El Paso, but when I lived in Houston, the scumbags would ride around in groups of four or five in pickups, looking for bikes to steal. Their technique was to jump out of the truck, run a steel pipe through each wheel, then use the pipes as handles to lift the bike into the bed of the truck. The solution when I had my HD was to carry a cobra lock everywhere I went. I would anchor the bike to a post or pole if it would be where I couldn't see it. Don't know if they still make those locks. Mine has 1" thick steel links that require at least a torch to cut. It's not an absolute deterrent, but it buys time.
'08 America Blue/White; Custom Headlamps, Custom Lowers, Clearview 20", Bafflectomy
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Re: SW USA advice
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
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Now hold on a minute here, Jackson!!! I THOUGHT all you Texans were always prepared to stop this kind'a stuff from happenin'???!!!  (I mean, what with ever'body packin' a Six-Gun down there and all, WHAT'S THE FRIGGIN' PROBLEM HERE, HUH?!) 
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: SW USA advice
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,500
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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Quote:
(I mean, what with ever'body packin' a Six-Gun down there and all, WHAT'S THE FRIGGIN' PROBLEM HERE, HUH?!)
We don't mind gunning somebody down. It's just that it's hard to dump a body somewhere in the desert when your riding a motorcycle.... (although a hack saw and some big saddle bags might do the trick  )
Learning from my mistakes... again and again.
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Re: SW USA advice
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Joined: Apr 2008
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
the scumbags would ride around in groups of four or five in pickups, looking for bikes to steal. Their technique was to jump out of the truck, run a steel pipe through each wheel, then use the pipes as handles to lift the bike into the bed of the truck.
Ya, I saw that movie too! 
And you may see me tonight
With an illegal smile
J. Prine
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Re: SW USA advice
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,695 Likes: 22
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,695 Likes: 22 |
Thats a good idea. When he comes through we can have a Texas meet and take the traveler to eat BBQ.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: SW USA advice
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,440
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,440 |
Quote:
I THOUGHT all you Texans were always prepared to stop this kind'a stuff from happenin'???!!!
The problem is bio-shrapnel. Took me two days to clean one of those varmints off the bike last time. 
'08 America Blue/White; Custom Headlamps, Custom Lowers, Clearview 20", Bafflectomy
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Re: SW USA advice
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 146
Adjunct
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OP
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Thanks for the input. It will all be used to help me plan my routs. Looks like I should just pass El Paso. Any problems with Tombstone or Yuma?
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