April 1 to 11 Las Vegas, Yuma, San Bernadino, Barstow, Flagstaff, Route66, Grand Canyon, Winslow

guzzirider

guzzirider

Well-known member
I had no luck giving away my $468.99 in West Jet credits so I decided to spend them on a return flight to Las Vegas.
With no interest in gambling, flashing lights or sitting around a pool with my anemic, florescent white body I will rent a motorcycle.
I have an 11 day route planned and barring any bad weather should be an easy ride of 3700 kms.
Riders-Share seems to have the best deals for me.
It is a toss-up between a 2015 Yamaha FJ-09 and a 2020 KTM 390 Adventure.
The Yamaha has luggage and is probably better for long stretches of hi way but still decent in the twisties.
The KTM 390 is a lot lighter and nimble but has no luggage so I have to bring my own.
Before you say it is not big enough, remember I am a guy who does 5000+km trips on a 250.
Accommodations are a combination of motel/hotels and Airbnb. I may have the only hotel in Vegas without a casino.
I usually pay the extra for full refund cancelation privileges.
Since I am paying for 2 beds in most cases anybody who wants to join me will get a break on accommodation costs.
Most days will be about 350km with plenty of stops and photo ops.
The trip from Los Vegas to Yuma on day 2 is 500km but is mostly flat and straight Interstate and followed by a rest day.
Because of the timing and expense of this trip I will delay the Lake Erie Loop for a year.
I am spending $3000.00 dollars to save $468.99!
As a motorcyclist this a logical thing to do.

Proposed route

Las Vegas April.jpeg
 
guzzirider said:
I had no luck giving away my $468.99 in West Jet credits so I decided to spend them on a return flight to Las Vegas.
With no interest in gambling, flashing lights or sitting around a pool with my anemic, florescent white body I will rent a motorcycle.
I have an 11 day route planned and barring any bad weather should be an easy ride of 3700 kms.
Riders-Share seems to have the best deals for me.
It is a toss-up between a 2015 Yamaha FJ-09 and a 2020 KTM 390 Adventure.
The Yamaha has luggage and is probably better for long stretches of hi way but still decent in the twisties.
The KTM 390 is a lot lighter and nimble but has no luggage so I have to bring my own.
Before you say it is not big enough, remember I am a guy who does 5000+km trips on a 250.
Accommodations are a combination of motel/hotels and Airbnb. I may have the only hotel in Vegas without a casino.
I usually pay the extra for full refund cancelation privileges.
Since I am paying for 2 beds in most cases anybody who wants to join me will get a break on accommodation costs.
Most days will be about 350km with plenty of stops and photo ops.
The trip from Los Vegas to Yuma on day 2 is 500km but is mostly flat and straight Interstate and followed by a rest day.
Because of the timing and expense of this trip I will delay the Lake Erie Loop for a year.
I am spending $3000.00 dollars to save $468.99!
As a motorcyclist this a logical thing to do.

Proposed route

View attachment 65387
Click to expand...
Sounds fun,
Is the purpose of the trip sight seeing? Or riding the best roads? I assume you will be primarily on pavement based on the bike options?
 
I am starting to mellow in my old age so it is both.
I still prefer pavement but have been known to ride on non pavement if it gets me where I want to be.
My theory of off road bikes is if you can't pick it up and carry out of the hole you a re stuck in its TOO HEAVY.
Its just that I have owned trials bikes.
 
Have you ridden along the 89A from Flagstaff through Sedona and over to Jerome and Prescott?

If not, that is one of the riding highlights of that area and I would highly recommend for at least one direction of your route to and from Flagstaff.
 
Last edited:
I will have to see if I can fit it in.
May have to bypass the San Bernardino Mountains if there is bad weather.
Hope I don't meet this guy (see pics)

Jerome2.jpg
Jerome.jpg
 
guzzirider said:
I had no luck giving away my $468.99 in West Jet credits so I decided to spend them on a return flight to Las Vegas.
With no interest in gambling, flashing lights or sitting around a pool with my anemic, florescent white body I will rent a motorcycle.
I have an 11 day route planned and barring any bad weather should be an easy ride of 3700 kms.
Riders-Share seems to have the best deals for me.
It is a toss-up between a 2015 Yamaha FJ-09 and a 2020 KTM 390 Adventure.
The Yamaha has luggage and is probably better for long stretches of hi way but still decent in the twisties.
The KTM 390 is a lot lighter and nimble but has no luggage so I have to bring my own.
Before you say it is not big enough, remember I am a guy who does 5000+km trips on a 250.
Accommodations are a combination of motel/hotels and Airbnb. I may have the only hotel in Vegas without a casino.
I usually pay the extra for full refund cancelation privileges.
Since I am paying for 2 beds in most cases anybody who wants to join me will get a break on accommodation costs.
Most days will be about 350km with plenty of stops and photo ops.
The trip from Los Vegas to Yuma on day 2 is 500km but is mostly flat and straight Interstate and followed by a rest day.
Because of the timing and expense of this trip I will delay the Lake Erie Loop for a year.
I am spending $3000.00 dollars to save $468.99!
As a motorcyclist this a logical thing to do.

Proposed route

View attachment 65387
Click to expand...
FJ09, FJ09, FJ09
 
Evoex said:
FJ09, FJ09, FJ09
Click to expand...
If I have to deal with the guy in the photos above I would rather have the KTM at 140lbs less weight and dual purpose tires.
 
guzzirider said:
If I have to deal with the guy in the photos above I would rather have the KTM at 140lbs less weight and dual purpose tires.
Click to expand...
FJ09 will rocket you far out of that situation, the low end punch is worth the price of admission.
 
Power equals weelie head on into oncoming vehicle
Light weight equals making suden course corrections to avoid head on.
It just comes down to physics!
Had this happen to me last summer with an 18 wheeler.
 
guzzirider said:
Power equals weelie head on into oncoming vehicle
Light weight equals making suden course corrections to avoid head on.
It just comes down to physics!
Had this happen to me last summer with an 18 wheeler.
Click to expand...
could be true, good thing the fj09 has wheelie control! I had a likely similar setup on my fz09, front wheelie barely lifts.

but lighter is never a bad thing to be.
 
Looks like a nice trip, and your math makes perfect sense to me.

Out of curiosity, why those 2 particular bikes?
 
Didnt want to create an entirely separate thread, but how are the roads in southern Cali? Might be able to mix in some pleasure with business. Tight and twisty like the Appalachians? (I'll be avoiding the big cities)

@shanekingsley @Brian P
 
bigpoppa said:
Didnt want to create an entirely separate thread, but how are the roads in southern Cali? Might be able to mix in some pleasure with business. Tight and twisty like the Appalachians? (I'll be avoiding the big cities)

@shanekingsley @Brian P
Click to expand...
Lots of canyons if you look for them
 
SoCal is great. Look up: Ortega Highway, Mount Palomar, Ojai (highway 33), anything called "... Canyon Road" near Malibu, Angeles Crest Highway. But, I was last there more than 30 years ago.
 
xrljoel said:
Looks like a nice trip, and your math makes perfect sense to me.

Out of curiosity, why those 2 particular bikes?
Click to expand...
Price with lots of free miles! I did not want a sport bike or cruiser
 
bigpoppa said:
Didnt want to create an entirely separate thread, but how are the roads in southern Cali? Might be able to mix in some pleasure with business. Tight and twisty like the Appalachians? (I'll be avoiding the big cities)

@shanekingsley @Brian P
Click to expand...
Better roads than the Appalachians
Just use Open Street Maps and enlarge until the yellow and white road show.
 
Dang I wish I didn't have to work, I'd take you up on the offer. Sounds like a ton of fun - I know when I was out in NV a few weeks ago there was plenty of times I'd wished I was on 2 wheels instead of in 4.

Congrats on the decision to go full YOLO though, you'll remember this trip I'm sure.
 
guzzirider said:
Accommodations are a combination of motel/hotels and Airbnb. I may have the only hotel in Vegas without a casino.
I usually pay the extra for full refund cancelation privileges.
Since I am paying for 2 beds in most cases anybody who wants to join me will get a break on accommodation costs.
Click to expand...

This is a great opportunity - round trip flights from Toronto Apr 1-11 are only $174 non-stop!

Joining @guzzirider on the first part of this trip would be another option for my WCHR trip, but I'd end up in LA a couple weeks ahead of schedule.
 
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