United States of America

A collection of 1110 posts

May/Jun '19

City Escape: Salem, Oregon

This loop northwest of Oregon’s state capital is a nice mix of curvy roads and great scenery. It features the conifer-rich forests that the Beaver State is known for, but also adds a coastline stretch and several interesting natural and man-made attractions along the way. The weather on much

May/Jun '19 Premium Content

Missouri: The Great Branson Stampede

Misconceptions and skepticism are not the way to start anything, especially a 2,000-mile round trip to a place you’ve never been, on a bike you’ve never ridden. But that’s how this adventure for the “Lost Squadron”—consisting of John on his 2013 Harley-Davidson FXDC, and me

May/Jun '19 Premium Content

Gallup, New Mexico Shamrock Tour®: Heartland of the Ancients

Northwest New Mexico is home to several of the state’s 23 Native American tribes: the Navajo, Jicarilla Apache, Acoma, and Zuni are among those who reside in the region. Despite westward expansion in the late 1800s and the federal government’s efforts to “Americanize” the native people, Indian culture

May/Jun '19 Premium Content

New York City: More than Apples in the Big Apple

New York City is the original melting pot. Generation after generation of immigrants from all over the world have come here to settle in neighborhoods in one of the five distinctive boroughs and make this place their own. A motorcycle is one of the best ways to unlock The City’

Mar/Apr '19 Premium Content

Southern California: Spanish Galleons to Austrian Motorcycles

Familiarity doesn’t necessarily breed contempt, but it can breed ignorance. When traveling to far-flung adventurous lands, one’s attention is typically at peak levels—absorbing the sights and sounds, mental notes becoming etched into memory like words chiseled into stone. It’s easy to forget that your exotic destination

Mar/Apr '19 Premium Content

Georgia: The Fly Guys

“Bet you I’ve caught more fish in my life than you have.” These are the words I stupidly blurt out my first time meeting the one and only Bill Oyster, considered by many to be the best bamboo fly-rod maker in the world. Sad thing is, it’s probably

Mar/Apr '19

City Escape: Topeka, Kansas

For folks who have the misimpression that Kansas is just one huge flat wheat field, the Flint Hills region is in fact a landscape of subtle beauty and fascinating history. If you’re not from these parts, and even if you are, prepare to be surprised. Length Approximately 220 miles

Mar/Apr '19

City Escape: Cheyenne, WY

When it’s time to get out of Wyoming’s capital city, this short foray south into Colorado features great scenery and some intoxicating winding roads. For just a single-day ride, this Cheyenne City Escape is remarkably diverse. You will roll through both arid grasslands and alpine forests. The roads

Jan/Feb '19

City Escape: San Jose, California

Jan/Feb '19

City Escape: Fort Collins, Colorado

This 105-mile section of CO-14 has become an all-time favorite over the years. Leaving Ft. Collins, the road winds alongside the Cache la Poudre River and climbs steadily into Roosevelt National Forest until it reaches Cameron Pass (10,200 ft). From there it descends steeply before flattening out on the

Jan/Feb '19 Premium Content

Eastern Tennessee: Inspiration in the Hills

Silence consumes the surrounding Tennessee hills—insects around here sleep in. With my coffee cup balanced on the gas lid of the KTM, I assemble my bag. One of the greatest thrills of a motorcycle trip is the shedding of excess baggage, literally and figuratively. The saddle bags, extra pants,

Jan/Feb '19 Premium Content

Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Ontario: The Superior Trip

This story is a gift to my father, Daniel Lynn Swab, the most important person to me on earth. In fact, he’s the reason that I got into photography when I was younger. Not because he enjoyed taking photos, but because there were no photos taken of him. Born

Jan/Feb '19 Premium Content

Athens, Ohio: Windy 9

As the official home base of Ohio’s Windy 9, Athens marks the beginning and end of every route on the list. It’s sizeable enough to offer plenty of lodgings, and urban enough to serve up the region’s largest collection of dining, shopping, and nightlife options. During our

Jan/Feb '19 Premium Content

Billings, Montana Shamrock Tour®: Touch the Sky

I land in Billings and meet Cameron at the moto-inspired MoAV Coffee House. We’re both eager to spend time in Big Sky country, and brand-new 2018 Gold Wings await us at Montana Honda & Marine. The next morning we start with breakfast at Stella’s for strong coffee and

Nov/Dec '18 Premium Content

Michigan: Doing the Drift

The old lumbering town of Lewiston located in the north-central area of Michigan’s lower peninsula has a unique claim to fame. Lewiston is the only town in the U.S. to host two National Rally events a year. In January, the rally crowd descends on Lewiston to turn their

Nov/Dec '18 Premium Content

North Carolina: The Great Triple-Digit Escape

It’s another 100-plus-degree day in “Middle-earth” of North Carolina. The office air conditioner is struggling to keep up as the warmth radiates from the large windows. We haven’t ridden in a few weeks due to the heat and humidity. Fortunately for us, the Great Smoky Mountains are just

Nov/Dec '18 Premium Content

Grants Pass, Oregon Shamrock Tour®: Land of the Rogue

He stands guard over the north entrance to the city nigh 20 feet tall, hardened arms and sinewy muscles, a mighty club gripped tightly in his left hand. He’s the Grants Pass Caveman statue, a novelty of both civic-minded businessmen and mascot of the local high school. The Caveman

Nov/Dec '18

City Escape: Scranton, Pennsylvania

Get a taste of the Pocono Mountains and savor sweeping backroads to tight curves. This loop takes you along the Delaware and Lackawaxen Rivers and through the Delaware State Forest—a perfect mix of riding and country scenery sure to spark a smile or three. Length Approximately 220 miles Meet-up

Nov/Dec '18

City Escape: Reno, Nevada

Sep/Oct '18

City Escape: Hamilton, Ohio

This serene ride through rural America shows off the region’s beauty, and it also offers plenty of things to see and do in Hamilton and nearby towns. Country byways, Acton Lake, Miami University, and a KitchenAid factory serve up even more ways to stimulate the senses. Length Approximately 115

Sep/Oct '18

City Escape: Dallas/Fort Worth

This is an entertaining and varied loop located due west of the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area. Dotted with interesting towns and land features, it also offers a sampling of several different road types from straights to sweeping curves and even a few hairpins. The ride can be enjoyed year-round,

Sep/Oct '18 Premium Content

Kentucky to Idaho: Totally Eclipsed

I look for excuses to ride. Are we out of milk? I’ll be right back! Have you heard about the new breakfast joint that serves real maple syrup? Let’s check it out this weekend! Did you know a total solar eclipse is crossing the entire country? Let’s

Sep/Oct '18 Premium Content

California Amid Redwoods and Literary Giants

After years of traipsing the globe, putting various motorcycles on gloriously winding roads and mountain passes from South Africa to Tuscany and Morocco to Mississippi, I find myself returning again and again to the Central Coast of California, specifically Carmel and Big Sur. This part of the world is my

Sep/Oct '18 Premium Content

South Central Tennessee Shamrock Tour®: Nashville Countryside

Nashville is known the world over for its country music, and for many people that’s as far as it goes. I like the music too. But it’s the hills and smooth two-lane roads in the surrounding countryside that recently drew me there. The four loops of this Shamrock,

Jul/Aug '18 Premium Content

Western Washington: Wilderness & Waves

Beauty is truth, truth beauty—John Keats A photo story of a 600-mile motorcycle tour of The Evergreen State. Motorcycle & Gear 2016 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin 2008 BMW F 800 GS Helmets: Arai Quantum II, Shoei GT Air Jackets: BMW Commuter 3, BMW GS Dry Pants: Firstgear Jeans Boots: