This thread is in regards to a 2 week long ride through 10 US states, plus BC in Canada. This will help us organize and plan for the ride. The ride as it sits right now is roughly 4,370 miles round trip from Denver.

Here's a giant google maps route for the ride as it stands right now:
GOOGLE MAPS LINK FOR 2012 MOTORCYCLE RIDE
-Each letter point on the map is a night where we'll be staying

Ride Dates: July 14, 2012 - July 28, 2012
Riders: Ryan (2011 KTM 990 Adventure Dakar), Brandon (2011 Triumph Tiger 800)
States to Cover: Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico (for Brandon). We'll also hit BC in Canada

Things Brandon needs to buy for the ride:

- dedicated GPS unit
- side cases (I'm thinking about the Jesse Odyssey II luggage system)
- GoPro camera
- Netbook
- Tire patch kit
- tire pump
- Drybags

If I do get the Jesse Odyssey II bags, I'll also want to pick up some "Lid Loops" so I have extra tie-downs. (link: http://www.xplorermoto.com/accessories.html#loops). Apparently people have had luck going to the hardware store and getting little cabinet handles and using those with a little silicone to keep them water tight.

The pannier lid bags also look like a nice way to take advantage of a little extra storage. (link: http://www.xplorermoto.com/accessories.html#liners)

Brandon,
Looking at your route heading west out of Spokane, I would suggest turning north on Hwy 25 then west on Hwy 20 to work your way to the North Cascades Hwy. There is a nice dualsport Forest Service route (RD 37) from Conconully to Winthrop.
I also just ordered the Odyssey II bags for my T800 XC.
HT has a new engine guard in the works.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/g_B3KP34pIzFDRasJ2j-YNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0
When are you planning this trip?

Hey Deano,

Thanks for the suggestion! The route outlined above was really just our starting point. We're looking for suggestions and advice like this to get off the interstates and really enjoy the scenery.

You'll have to let me know how you like those Odyssey bags. From everything I've looked at they seem like some really nice panniers. I especially like how close they are to the bike and don't stick out too far like some of the other brands.

As it stands right now, we're looking at somewhere in the middle-end of July for the trip. We don't have the dates finalized yet but should be doing that soon.

Updated Motorcycle Ride


Right now we have the Itinerary started with the places that we will be camping at, along with the amount of miles that will be traveled from point to point.

Itinerary:
Day 1:
* July 14 (sleeping at Google map point B)
* 598 miles
* Leave Denver and head to Yellowstone campground
* States: CO, WY

Day 2:
* July 15 (sleeping at Google map point C)
* 78 miles
* Tour Yellowstone and head west to Henry’s Lake to camp
* States: WY, MT, ID

Day 3:
* July 16 (sleeping at Google map point D)
* 443 miles
* Just covering ground to get to Coeur d’Alene campground
* States: ID, MT

Day 4:
* July 17 (sleeping at Google map point E)
* 402 miles
* Beauty Creek campground to Birch Bay
* States: ID, WA

Day 5:
* July 18 (sleeping at Google map point F)
* UP IN THE AIR / FLEX DAY
* Find a hotel by driving around
* States: WA, BC

Day 6:
* July 19 (sleeping at Google map point G)
* 278 miles
* Broughton Strait Campsite near Port Hardy (Call to reserve)
* States: BC
* Talked to the manager he said we don't need anything for the July 19th even if the place is booked we can setup the tents anywhere then we just settle the difference in the morning.

Day 7:
* July 20 (sleeping at Google map point H)
* 309 miles
* Ride from camp site near port hardy to Victoria
* Buy our tickets the night before in Victoria for the ferry
* Camp at http://www.victoriacampgrounds.com/rates.htm (call to book)
* States: BC
* Sent email at 5:54pm January 25, 2012 to info@victoriacampgrounds.com

Day 8:
* July 21 (sleeping at Google map point I)
* 280 miles
* Victoria, touring around Olympic to Fort Canby State Park
* States: BC, WA

Day 9:
* July 22 (sleeping at Google map point J)
* 380 miles
* Ride PCH all the way down to Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park (Mill Creek Campground)
* States: WA, OR, CA

Day 10:
* July 23 (sleeping at Google map point K)
* 379 miles
* Ride through the various redwood state parks and see the trees plus a lot of twisties it looks like by the map and make it to Reno
* FIND A HOTEL
* States: CA

Day 11:
* July 24 (sleeping at Google map point L)
* 580 miles
* Slab it from Reno to Spruces, UT campground
* States: NV, UT

Day 12:
* July 25 (sleeping at Google map point M)
* 265 miles
* Ride to Arches, UT / Moab and camp there
* Set up base camp at Arches for two nights to explore
* States: UT

Day 13:
* July 26 (sleeping at Google map point M)
* ???? miles
* Staying at our Arches campsite and exploring the area
* States: UT

Day 14:
* July 27 (sleeping at Google map point N)
* 257 miles
* Ride to Aspen, CO and hang out there then camp there.
* States: UT, CO

Day 15:
* July 28 (Riding back to Denver at Google map point O)
* 163 miles
* Ride back to Ryan’s house
* States: CO

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=16984390&postcount=252

I'm just posting this here so I'll remember where to get instructions for installing my aux lights.

I also want to pick up a pair of these earplugs and see how they compare to the cheap orange ones you can pick up at most hardware stores:
http://earplugsonline.com/

I wish you would get a pair of those and give a report. I am using orange foam plugs and would like to find something quieter.