SF to Missoula, Montana

[ariacode]

I'm thinking about riding out to see my sister in Missoula sometime this year. Anybody have any recommendations for routes I should take?

I've made a rough sketch for both directions:

SF -> MSO: https://goo.gl/maps/6ky2zgk26tN2

MSO -> SF: https://goo.gl/maps/VuppSPsfekC2

I don't know how much time I'll have to meander around, those two routes are basically best-case scenarios. I'm not tied to these routes at all, they're made from looking at some "top 100 routes" lists including Idaho/Montana and diverting google's suggestions from 80 towards twisties in California.

Also, what's a good time of year to go? I'm thinking it's a bit early now, but maybe later in the spring?

If it matters I'll be taking a Monster 696. Fire roads are great but anything with ruts is a no-go for me.

Thanks!

 

[davidji]

Also, what's a good time of year to go? I'm thinking it's a bit early now, but maybe later in the spring?

89 over Lassen is closed. Opening dates from the past are listed here
https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/winter-road-closures-and-spring-clearing-update.htm

 

[DIY]

SF to Missoula on a Monster 696? On purpose?

 

[ariacode]

89 over Lassen is closed. Opening dates from the past are listed here
https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/winter-road-closures-and-spring-clearing-update.htm

Thank you. I'll probably end up skipping this. I don't want to wait 'till June.

SF to Missoula on a Monster 696? On purpose?

Eh, it's what I have. The bike came with an uninstalled bar riser that I'm going to try out on a NorCal ride before I go.

If I can't make it, I'll turn back. Interested in routes regardless. I'll be getting something more suited to the trip sooner or later.

 

[OaklandF4i]

Eh, it's what I have. The bike came with an uninstalled bar riser that I'm going to try out on a NorCal ride before I go.

If I can't make it, I'll turn back. Interested in routes regardless. I'll be getting something more suited to the trip sooner or later.

:thumbup Thats the attitude! I've done Cabo a number of times on some truly uncomfortable sportbikes. Dont let the bike hold you back from your adventure.

I'm going to do a similar road trip this summer to Minnesota on a Street Triple. 2k miles each way while staying off the freeway as much as possible and integrating cities with friends in or places I have never been. I may cheat coming back if tired of the adventure.... will see.

I'm taking 50 thru Nevada as I have never been on it and know little of Central Nevada other than what I have read. Have to ride the loneliest hwy once in your life time I am told. Curious about 95 to the south coming back. Any reason you chose that route or interesting on it? May consider it on my return trip.

Going to follow this thread to see what folks suggest for you as I may want to integrate a few into my trip as well. Twowheeltramp has ridden extensively all over NE California, OR, NV and may have some good suggestions for you (as well as what would be open or not). Whats your timing?

I'll ping TWT re this thread.

Good luck!

PS: consider riding a ride report in the ADV section and/or even posing this Q there. Sounds like it could be a great trip!

 

[1962siia]

I think your routes look great. If I was that close to Craters of the Moon Nat. Mon. I'd make the detour to ride through there. Its pretty amazing. I rode through there in 2014 on the fz09 and really enjoyed that stretch. 93 south of there is relatively straight and lots of bugs, but once you pass through Twin Falls and Jackpot into Nevada you are in beautiful high desert country. I love it there and although the ride is straight and not too exciting the scenery is gorgeous. I'd check the distance between gas stops in Nevada. Looks like you are going to do the route between Ely and Tonopah and I don't think there is any gas between the two so make sure which ever way you're going though NV that you are paying attention to your fuel.

Last thing is that if you have a bunch of gear on the back and you are running a sporty tire on your Monster beware that NV roads somehow make you want to go faster than normal and this can eat a rear tire fast. I pretty much cooked my rear tire heading east across 50 on that same trip. Luckily I was riding right by RockyMtnATV's warehouse and they had a tire for me.

FYI I went through those sections in late May early June 2014. I went through Boulder, up through Wyoming, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, to Bozeman and got snowed on a couple times at higher elevations. I'd just be prepared based on the weather man and be familiar with the elevations you will travel through to see the likelihood of bad weather being factor on your route choice. Have a blast! :thumbup

 

[anglerdon]

I have made this run many times to Kalispell and points North. My favorite time of the year is late August/early Sept.
#80 is OK if you are pressed for time but there are many other more enjoyable routes filled with Western History. For example, #12 is not only twisty, it is filled with Lewis and Clark history. Instead of taking #13, stay on #12 thru Orofino to Lewiston. Great little museum East of Lewiston. On to Clarkston, Wa. and South on 129/3 down Rattlesnake Pass to Boggan's Oasis for homemade pie right on the Grand Rhonde.
Continue on to Enterprise and Joseph, burial marker of old Chief Joseph. This is the heart of Nez Perse country. #82 scenic ride to LaGrande.#84 to Baker City and East to the must see Oregon trail center.
email me for more ideas.

 

[RightCoastBias]

Looking forward to your ride report, I am thinking of doing a trip out this way late summer.

 

[Ogier le Danois]

I'm thinking about riding out to see my sister in Missoula sometime this year. Anybody have any recommendations for routes I should take?

I've made a rough sketch for both directions:

SF -> MSO: https://goo.gl/maps/6ky2zgk26tN2

MSO -> SF: https://goo.gl/maps/VuppSPsfekC2

I don't know how much time I'll have to meander around, those two routes are basically best-case scenarios. I'm not tied to these routes at all, they're made from looking at some "top 100 routes" lists including Idaho/Montana and diverting google's suggestions from 80 towards twisties in California.

Also, what's a good time of year to go? I'm thinking it's a bit early now, but maybe later in the spring?

If it matters I'll be taking a Monster 696. Fire roads are great but anything with ruts is a no-go for me.

Thanks!

If Going to the Sun Highway is open in Glacier it is worth the 300 mile round trip up to glacier and back to Missoula.

Lolo pass (on your route) is a great ride.

 

[2strokeYardSale]

I'm taking 50 thru Nevada as I have never been on it and know little of Central Nevada other than what I have read. Have to ride the loneliest hwy once in your life time I am told. Curious about 95 to the south coming back.

50 is teh suck

95 well at least you have a view of Walker Lake

 

[SFSV650]

SF to Missoula on a Monster 696? On purpose?

I would seriously recommend hopping on the Craigslist, getting an old $2,500 fifth gen VFR800, doing the tires and fluids, riding that sweet, smooth ST bike there and back then selling it for what you paid for it, unless you're so enamored you decide to keep it.

Fun enough in the twisties, fast, smooth and stable on the freeway, great headlights, easy enough on gas and doesn't care at all if you put 60lbs of gear on the back seat.

I did ~3,000 miles in 5 weeks on one, and I seriously doubt I would have made it on a naked SV / monster.

 

[OaklandF4i]

50 is teh suck

95 well at least you have a view of Walker Lake

Dont want to derail the thread, will pick your brain about NV threads next weekend at Stonyford. Looking for input.

 

[two wheel tramp]

:thumbup Thats the attitude! I've done Cabo a number of times on some truly uncomfortable sportbikes. Dont let the bike hold you back from your adventure.

I'm going to do a similar road trip this summer to Minnesota on a Street Triple. 2k miles each way while staying off the freeway as much as possible and integrating cities with friends in or places I have never been. I may cheat coming back if tired of the adventure.... will see.

I'm taking 50 thru Nevada as I have never been on it and know little of Central Nevada other than what I have read. Have to ride the loneliest hwy once in your life time I am told. Curious about 95 to the south coming back. Any reason you chose that route or interesting on it? May consider it on my return trip.

Going to follow this thread to see what folks suggest for you as I may want to integrate a few into my trip as well. Twowheeltramp has ridden extensively all over NE California, OR, NV and may have some good suggestions for you (as well as what would be open or not). Whats your timing?

I'll ping TWT re this thread.

Good luck!

PS: consider riding a ride report in the ADV section and/or even posing this Q there. Sounds like it could be a great trip!

I wouldn't consider my experience there as extensive. I did a fun route out 36 to 395 to some dirt that I would not recommend for your bike (buckhorn back country by way). You can skip all that, hit 299 and then it turns into Nevada 8A (gravel free way with wild horses!), to 140 to OR 205. Nemo Brinker would have good advice.

 

[johnkol]

I'm thinking about riding out to see my sister in Missoula sometime this year. Anybody have any recommendations for routes I should take?

Your going route is good (skip Lassen Volcanic); there are some more scenic and desolate roads you could take, but for a first trip this is a good start. Make a point of visiting your sister more often and you can explore all the alternate routes.

Your return route could be improved:

• Take Route 21 out of Stanley, through Boise National Forest, and you will end up at the outskirts of Boise.
• Go south on I-84 (marvel at the 80 mph speed limit), exit at Mountain Home, and take Route 51 to the Nevada border, where it turns into Route 225.
• Continue all the way to Elko, take I-80 west and exit at either Rt 306 or 305, where both will take you south to Rt 50 close to Austin.
• Take "the loneliest road in the world" all the way home.

Don't let anyone talk you out of such a wonderful trip due to your bike: I covered 4500 miles in 9 days over these roads last year on my way to Glacier and Yellowstone, on a CBR600RR.

 

[EastBayDave]

FYI I went through those sections in late May early June 2014. I went through Boulder, up through Wyoming, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, to Bozeman and got snowed on a couple times at higher elevations. I'd just be prepared based on the weather man and be familiar with the elevations you will travel through to see the likelihood of bad weather being factor on your route choice.

I'd wait about 60 days & THEN do it. Right now the wx up there is still iffy & everything N. of us going thru OR/WA is going right thru there.

You will be very close to Grand Tetons/Yellowstone so don't miss it. There are plenty of places to stay early season, but I'd wait another month or two & wait for the snowstorms to end....

 

[louemc]

Don't have route suggestions... Different people have different priorities, and that of course includes available time.

Just wanted to say how impressed with the people, I was talking to, in Missoula...

OMG, no matter if at a gas station or where... Everyone can see that I'm traveling...
And they ask..Anything You need? Can I help?

 

[NorCalAthlete]

I did about 800 miles in one weekend on a GSXR 750. Monster may be a tad more uncomfortable due to a lack of wind protection - I was pretty sore (back, legs, shoulders, neck) after the GSXR ride.

 

[louemc]

Thank you. I'll probably end up skipping this. I don't want to wait 'till June.



Eh, it's what I have. The bike came with an uninstalled bar riser that I'm going to try out on a NorCal ride before I go.

If I can't make it, I'll turn back. Interested in routes regardless. I'll be getting something more suited to the trip sooner or later.

:thumbup There is no excuse for discomfort on a bike.

What it takes to be comfortable, is available . If it isn't there, it's only because the owner didn't know what was needed, and didn't do what was needed.

 

[louemc]

I did about 800 miles in one weekend on a GSXR 750. Monster may be a tad more uncomfortable due to a lack of wind protection - I was pretty sore (back, legs, shoulders, neck) after the GSXR ride.

You're talkin Clip-ons, right?

 

[ScottRNelson]

I'm taking 50 thru Nevada as I have never been on it and know little of Central Nevada other than what I have read. Have to ride the loneliest hwy once in your life time I am told.

I drove Highway 50 from Delta, UT to Folsom, which included the entire width of Nevada, which is the only part of that highway they actually qualify as "the loneliest". It will go straight for 20 miles, then go up over a hill, then straight for another 20, then a slight bend, then straight some more. Occasionally there are some curves in it, like near Austin, NV.

We stayed overnight in Austin at a fairly inexpensive motel. They told us the best restaurant in town was across the street. We ate there, then understood what that really meant - there weren't any great restaurants in that town.

It's worth doing once, for the experience. Much of it would have been quite fun at 120 mph. :cool