15 Top Roads

ballast · 03-17-2011, 12:51 AM

AMA members select America's 15 best motorcycling roads
March 15, 2011

The results are in, and communities nationwide are the winners. Members of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) voted on their favorite roads in America, and the top 15 selections represent scenic highways and byways throughout the country.

"When it comes to the best places in the country to ride motorcycles, no group of riders is more knowledgeable than AMA members," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. "No group puts in more miles, samples more asphalt or rides more roads.

"By publicizing our favorite roads in American Motorcyclist magazine, AMA members will seek out these destinations and bring tourism dollars into local communities through the purchase of food, fuel, lodging and more," Dingman said.

The editors of American Motorcyclist magazine used the 230,000-member, non-profit association's website, AmericanMotorcyclist.com, to accept nominations and tally votes for members' favorite roads. Nearly 100 roads made the ballot, and the magazine published the top 15 roads in the April issue as well as a list of "honorable mentions."

"Some of these roads are familiar to motorcyclists, and others may not be," said Managing Editor James Holter. "They all have one thing in common: They're the best roads in the country, as chosen by AMA members."

A countdown of the top 15 routes:

15. Washington Route 129 and Oregon Route 3, Clarkston, Wash., to Enterprise, Ore.
14. Ohio Route 170, Calcutta to Poland.
13. California Route 58, McKittrick to Santa Margarita.
12. U.S. Route 33, Harrisonburg, Va., to Seneca Rocks, W.Va.
11. Natchez Trace, from Natchez, Miss., to Nashville, Tenn.
10. Angeles Crest Highway, California Route 2.
9. U.S. Route 12, Lolo Pass, Idaho and Montana.
8. California Route 36.
7. Cherohala Skyway, North Carolina and Tennessee.
6. Going to the Sun Road, Glacier National Park, Montana.
5. California Route 1, Pacific Coast Highway.
4. U.S. Route 550, from Ouray to Durango, Colo.
3. U.S. Route 129 -- The Tail of the Dragon -- on the North Carolina-Tennessee border.
2. Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina.
1. Beartooth Highway, Montana and Wyoming.

**Jared** · 03-17-2011, 01:50 AM

I've ridden 8 of those 15. :)

AlabamaNomadRider · 03-17-2011, 09:10 AM

Thanks for the list Charlie. I will save it for future use.

usranger74 · 03-17-2011, 09:42 AM

Been on 9 and hope to bag two more this summer

But, my number one would have been the Blue Ride Parkway ;)

ballast · 03-17-2011, 10:34 AM

I've only hit 3 so far. Will get another one on the July ride with Netnorske. I think I will map them and see what kind of tour it would take to hit them all in a 3 week trip

elvis · 03-17-2011, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballast

I've only hit 3 so far. Will get another one on the July ride with Netnorske. I think I will map them and see what kind of tour it would take to hit them all in a 3 week trip

Great post for future reference (If memory serves me well, we hit 6 out of 15).

Looking forward to seeing your map, If all 15 lines up nicely, it would make a great 3-4 maybe 5 weeks road trip.

Thanks for this info.

E.

petenomad · 03-17-2011, 08:18 PM

Damn, Kansas is snubbed again.

Nothing like being able to ride a perfectly straight line until you run out of gas.

Netnorske · 03-17-2011, 09:12 PM

I've ridden 1,4,6,9 and 10. Like Charlie said...we will get number 15 this summer. All are worthy of their vaunted status...

. One of these years I will get 5, 8 and 13. One of my favorite rides too was California route 139 going north/south from Klamath Falls, OR to Susanville, CA. That was one sweet ride with almost zero traffic. I rode many miles without even seeing another vehicle and the surroundings were spectacular.

**schoeney** · 03-20-2011, 10:26 PM

Good info. Thanks Charlie

tombstone · 03-20-2011, 10:51 PM

10 of 15. I would like to add SR 12 in Utah, Escalante to Torrey.

peterdarby · 03-21-2011, 06:42 AM

I have been on five of them. Three in the top five

fish · 03-21-2011, 09:50 AM

:'( none of them :(

usranger74 · 03-21-2011, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fish

:'( none of them :(

Fish - you can change that by going to the Nat. Rally

fish · 03-21-2011, 11:27 AM

We are going :) Its just that our local roads suck. :(

**brote** · 03-30-2011, 10:29 AM

Only rode three and haven't ridden #1 but if it is better than the Blue Ridge Parkway I have to take a ride out to Montana. Thanks for posting the list ballast

03-17-2011, 01:50 AM	#2
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	15 Top Roads I've ridden 8 of those 15. :) __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President)
	0

03-17-2011, 09:10 AM	#3
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	15 Top Roads Thanks for the list Charlie. I will save it for future use. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
	0

03-17-2011, 09:42 AM	#4
usranger74 Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: La Vista, NE Posts: 4,060	15 Top Roads Been on 9 and hope to bag two more this summer But, my number one would have been the Blue Ride Parkway ;) __________________ Bill (usranger74) Blake 2016 Goldwing VBA # 1505
	0

03-17-2011, 10:34 AM	#5
ballast Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orting, WA Posts: 1,394	15 Top Roads I've only hit 3 so far. Will get another one on the July ride with Netnorske. I think I will map them and see what kind of tour it would take to hit them all in a 3 week trip __________________ Charlie "Ballast" Krogh 2005 1600 Nomad "Tangerine Dream" VBA #999 VROC #29355 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

03-17-2011, 08:18 PM	#7
petenomad Sr. Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 1,135	15 Top Roads Damn, Kansas is snubbed again. Nothing like being able to ride a perfectly straight line until you run out of gas. __________________ Glenn petenomad Peterman 2016 BMW R1200RT 2012 Candy Arabian Red Concours - Traded at 23000 miles 2008 Red/Black Nomad - Traded at 29500 miles
	0

03-17-2011, 12:51 AM	#1
ballast Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orting, WA Posts: 1,394	15 Top Roads AMA members select America's 15 best motorcycling roads March 15, 2011 The results are in, and communities nationwide are the winners. Members of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) voted on their favorite roads in America, and the top 15 selections represent scenic highways and byways throughout the country. "When it comes to the best places in the country to ride motorcycles, no group of riders is more knowledgeable than AMA members," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. "No group puts in more miles, samples more asphalt or rides more roads. "By publicizing our favorite roads in American Motorcyclist magazine, AMA members will seek out these destinations and bring tourism dollars into local communities through the purchase of food, fuel, lodging and more," Dingman said. The editors of American Motorcyclist magazine used the 230,000-member, non-profit association's website, AmericanMotorcyclist.com, to accept nominations and tally votes for members' favorite roads. Nearly 100 roads made the ballot, and the magazine published the top 15 roads in the April issue as well as a list of "honorable mentions." "Some of these roads are familiar to motorcyclists, and others may not be," said Managing Editor James Holter. "They all have one thing in common: They're the best roads in the country, as chosen by AMA members." A countdown of the top 15 routes: 15. Washington Route 129 and Oregon Route 3, Clarkston, Wash., to Enterprise, Ore. 14. Ohio Route 170, Calcutta to Poland. 13. California Route 58, McKittrick to Santa Margarita. 12. U.S. Route 33, Harrisonburg, Va., to Seneca Rocks, W.Va. 11. Natchez Trace, from Natchez, Miss., to Nashville, Tenn. 10. Angeles Crest Highway, California Route 2. 9. U.S. Route 12, Lolo Pass, Idaho and Montana. 8. California Route 36. 7. Cherohala Skyway, North Carolina and Tennessee. 6. Going to the Sun Road, Glacier National Park, Montana. 5. California Route 1, Pacific Coast Highway. 4. U.S. Route 550, from Ouray to Durango, Colo. 3. U.S. Route 129 -- The Tail of the Dragon -- on the North Carolina-Tennessee border. 2. Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina. 1. Beartooth Highway, Montana and Wyoming. __________________ Charlie "Ballast" Krogh 2005 1600 Nomad "Tangerine Dream" VBA #999 VROC #29355 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

03-17-2011, 09:12 PM	#8
Netnorske Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Everett, Washington Posts: 5,709	15 Top Roads I've ridden 1,4,6,9 and 10. Like Charlie said...we will get number 15 this summer. All are worthy of their vaunted status... . One of these years I will get 5, 8 and 13. One of my favorite rides too was California route 139 going north/south from Klamath Falls, OR to Susanville, CA. That was one sweet ride with almost zero traffic. I rode many miles without even seeing another vehicle and the surroundings were spectacular. __________________ *Kris Olsen* VBA #0691 2017 HD Ultra Limited Low 2013 Victory Cross Country Tour 2012 1700 Vulcan Voyager 2008 1600 Vulcan Nomad 1997 Vulcan 800 Classic *"Growing old is mandatory,* *but growing up is optional"* Custer 2009\|Kalispell 2010\|Cortez 2010\|Crescent City 2011\|Kanab 2012\|Canmore 2012\|Estes Park 2013\|Orofino 2014\|Lake Tahoe 2015\|Red Lodge 2016
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03-20-2011, 10:26 PM	#9
schoeney Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NW Region Posts: 5,222	15 Top Roads Good info. Thanks Charlie __________________ VBA #659 2003 Nomad 1500 (Gone but never forgotten) 2005 Honda ST1300 - Sweet and still kickin 2006 Honda Goldwing - Best Boat in the Marina
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03-20-2011, 10:51 PM	#10
tombstone Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Utah Posts: 437	15 Top Roads 10 of 15. I would like to add SR 12 in Utah, Escalante to Torrey.
	0

03-21-2011, 06:42 AM	#11
peterdarby Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Manassas Va. Posts: 286	15 Top Roads I have been on five of them. Three in the top five
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03-21-2011, 09:50 AM	#12
fish Top Contributor Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Aquashicola Pa. Posts: 6,377	15 Top Roads :'( none of them :( __________________ I'm not prejudice I hate everyone equally;) 08 nomad blue/silver MaryJane 74,010miles VBA #299 Her's 10 900LT 36,700 09 Bath NY. 10 Lake George NY. 11 National Maggie Valley NC. 12 Pa Wilds (Wellsboro) Pa. 14 Lincoln NH. 17 National Lake George NY.
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03-21-2011, 11:27 AM	#14
fish Top Contributor Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Aquashicola Pa. Posts: 6,377	15 Top Roads We are going :) Its just that our local roads suck. :( __________________ I'm not prejudice I hate everyone equally;) 08 nomad blue/silver MaryJane 74,010miles VBA #299 Her's 10 900LT 36,700 09 Bath NY. 10 Lake George NY. 11 National Maggie Valley NC. 12 Pa Wilds (Wellsboro) Pa. 14 Lincoln NH. 17 National Lake George NY.
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03-30-2011, 10:29 AM	#15
brote Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lawrenceville, Georgia Posts: 905	15 Top Roads Only rode three and haven't ridden #1 but if it is better than the Blue Ridge Parkway I have to take a ride out to Montana. Thanks for posting the list ballast __________________ Hank Brote W1HCB 2008 Diablo Black Nomad Lawrenceville, GA VBA # 1234 VROC # 32837 Patriot Guard Riders Naval Advisory Group Vietnam 69-70
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