|
|
Cruiser
Posts: 88
Nova Scotia , Canada | Hi every one my wife and I and another couple have booked a trip to Vegas and have rented bikes for a 3 day trip, yes, mine is a Vision tour premium and my wife a King Pin tour, the other couple are Harley Riders.
One of the recommended tours are, from Vegas to Furnace Creek the first day, to Kingman the next and the last day back to Vegas passing by Hoover Dam. This tour takes us away from the Grand Canyon which I would like to see as well, but I am not sure what we would see on the Furnace Kingman run. Has anybody travelled this route? Is it a worth while trip?
My other option is to travel towards the canyon, one day out, a day touring there, and a day back. What are the best sightseeing/driving routes in the G. Canyon area?
Any advice is more than welcome
|
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 742
North Orange County CA | NR:
The traffic to Hoover Dam was surprisingly heavy when I went; but I loved the tour.
As to advice of where else to go, in all honesty there are a bunch of locals on this board who will have a much better idea of where to ride than I do. I can't remember much since first crossing the southwest desert (traveling from Tennessee) on my BMW in August almost 30 years ago. I must have boiled away the brain cells that I didn't kill overindulging since I now rely on GPS to get home from the grocery.
My wife likes the desert; what she sees in 117 degree days is beyond my comprehension. She also married me, so I would term her judgment suspect (at best).
As a young man who grew up in what is left of the American eastern hardwood forest; my first trip through the desert was fascinating. I thought every geological feature was interesting; every dead snake, every creosote bush and every volcanic cone was an opportunity to marvel at the wonders of nature and the forces that shaped our world. Now I view every desert run as an exercise in survival.
I may be telling you things that you already know and if so forgive me. KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR FUEL - Gas stops can be few and far between in the desert and Cell phone service can also get sketchy in many areas.
Also that line about the weather ,"it's not so bad, it's a dry heat" is BS.
Heat is like velocity; too much is dangerous.
Bring lots of water on your ride, a crush-able wide brimmed hat, sunscreen and a white or light colored shirt with sleeves. I know its not biker chic, but black clothing is a disadvantage if you end up sitting on the side of the interstate waiting for the tow truck (you are traveling with Harleys after all) and couple of hours will seem like a thousand years while you endure triple digit temperatures and the high desert sun without water.
3M warrantees their vehicle graphics for 5-7 years everywhere in North America- except in south Florida and in the high desert of the south west (Vegas for example). In these areas UV exposure is so great that all bets are off, and graphics are expected to fade in less than 1/2 the normal time period; hence my admonition about sleeves.
"What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas" is also BS. Your friends have camera phones.
Have a great time and a safe ride, wherever you ride.
|
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 64
Hot Springs Village, Arkansas | I would spend the time and money to see the Grand Canyon and the scenery there and back. The dam is very interesting but kind of a zoo. Kingman is not anyplace to remember and Oatman is just a novel tourist trap. Just my 2 cents, hope I didn't offend anybody. Alan |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 88
Nova Scotia , Canada | Thanks Tarpits and Big Al, I'm from Eastern Canada and this is our first time to Vegas, we would like all of the advice we can get to make our trip decision, the Bikes are already booked.
|
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 64
Hot Springs Village, Arkansas | Hey Mr. Rides, You might also consider a ride to Zion National park. It's a little more direct from Vegas and you are in the scenery of canyons rather than overlooking the canyon. Hopefully this is just a teaser trip, Utah and Arizona have some amazing areas and deserve more time to do them justice. You might look on the PASHNIT site for suggested routes or alternatives. Alan |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 88
Nova Scotia , Canada | Big Al, I had a look at the PASHNIT site ...... Nice, Just the info I was looking for. Thanks ! I can see another trip in the spring of 2010 for 7 - 10 days.
Don |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 54
Bancroft Ontario, Canada | Wife and i were there in April ....rented a vision from Arlen Ness shop....see Eric.... i also rode into Vegas last year to the Victory Dealer's meetings in July.....my advice......you can take day rides out of Vegas in any direction a see something a little different......do a circle over around death valley....Eric has other rides already maped out on handouts....
When it comes to Grande Canyon....take the helicopter trip...including lunch on the bottom......best views of Vegas, Lake Mead and western Grande Canyon....you can also get a trip with drop off at the overhang and river rafting on the colorado...
Just my thoughts from mt few trips with my Wife
Bear |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 127
| I'm a Vegas resident, and I keep my rides fairly short, especially during the summer. The Vision isn't as bad as some bikes for heat output, but it still can get nasty when it's 110 in the shade. Out Blue Diamond road on the south edge of town theres a run up into the hump towards Pahrump. Spring Mountain Bar is at the top (5500' el) and it's typically 12 degrees cooler, with some real interesting motorcycles in the parking lot.
OR, there's Mount Charleston, 35 miles north of town on SR95, where you can get 20 degrees cooler at almost 9000' elevation. Another restaurant near the top gives you a nice break with decent scenery, both mountains and motors. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 88
Nova Scotia , Canada | Great advice, thanks to everyone that had provided their thoughts. The bikes are rented from Arlen Ness in Vegas, I delt with Jim Morris, Great guy, he gave me a great rental rate and a lot of good advice as well.
Thanks everyone |
|
| |
|
New user
Posts: 1
| Hi since you are thinking of going on a vacation here is a nice vacation it is the grand canyon tours and it does not matter if you will go by land, air, or water you will surely enjoy it.
Here is a site that can help you know more about the grand canyon tours:
http://www.explorenevadatours.com/grandcanyon.php
Hope you enjoy the tour and Have a Great Day! |
|
| |
Vegas Bike Vacation
