Interstates: Love 'em or hate 'em?

[Freebooter]

Hello all,
Interstates; do you like them or hate them? If you are on a trip do you prefer interstates or back roads? Me personally if I am on a trip or going to a certain destination I take interstates. I like them, you make better time, I like the room, wide open views, etc. Except in or near big crowded cities. Then I take the bypasses such as 459 around Bham, Al or 285 around Atlanta.

I have a friend who takes nothing but country roads, 2 lane state highways, even on a long distance trip and the curvier the better. He hates interstates. To each his own though. I could care less about curves and curvy roads. Just love tooling along in the free wide open air. On some 2 laners, country roads, etc here in Alabama the trees n woods lining the road ars so close they are just a blur where u have no views. And an animal darting out of those woods so close you hardly have time to react. On an interstate it is more open and you can see them coming. But I do like country roads if I am out riding on a lark here at home.
Freebooter
Sovereign Stare of Alabama
Occupied Confederacy

 

[pnelson]

You might enjoy this similar thread: http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=13136.0

Interstate travel is safer and it's a good way to get to the roads you REALLY want to be riding on.

;-) Paul

 

[gaps]

I remember my Mom telling me to be careful when I use the word hate because hate is a strong word....I hate hate hate the highway...

 

[gaps]

pnelson, is that a Thistle I see?

 

[WJBertrand]

If on a motorcycle tour I try to avoid the interstates if possible. They are handy for crossing featureless landscapes or getting from one back road to another when necessary, but they are almost never my first choice. The exceptions being if I am in the car and just have to be somewhere as soon as possible. Seems like the LEOs also watch the interstates more heavily. Since they carry a lot more traffic than the back roads, it's easier for them to fill the local coffers with citations there.

 

[Big Blu]

I do my best to avoid Interstates and major highways when traveling unless I've got a critical schedule to make. Now that I'm retired I spend most of my traveling time just wandering the back roads. It's about the journey, not the destination, not the tool. One of my most enjoyable 1-way cross country trip in 2012, was all back roads, 28 days, 5k miles....... on a Vespa 300.

Paul

 

[Indyrider]

I use the interstates as a means to the end, of course that being great riding. Living in the middle of flaaaaaat Indiana, loads of interstates to take me places, perhaps southern Indiana, eastern KY, TN , OH, NC, even good old Arkansas. My vacation days are very limited so interstate travel allows me quick access to such fine destinations. If I had time I would absolutely ditch them to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

 

[Kurgan]

I use the interstates as a means to the end, of course that being great riding. Living in the middle of flaaaaaat Indiana, loads of interstates to take me places, perhaps southern Indiana, eastern KY, TN , OH, NC, even good old Arkansas. My vacation days are very limited so interstate travel allows me quick access to such fine destinations. If I had time I would absolutely ditch them to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

Same mindset here. When I lived outside of Detroit, I would bomb down 75 or 23 to get down to the Kentucky border and then it was 2 lane roads down to Northern Georgia. Visiting one of my good friends in Fishers, IN for example (and I have a friend in Carmel, too) it all depends on how much time I have to play going to/from.

 

[Donk]

Depends on my mood, where I'm going and how fast I want to get there. When I had my Triumph Sprint GT I loved pounding out the mileage but now on the S10 I'm just as happy on the back roads. Now that I think about it maybe its not the bike so much as my age?

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Interstates are a necessary evil. Much rather be on the back roads. The deeper the better. But sometimes you need to re-position to get to a better set of back roads. Interstates allow you to move efficiently between areas. I never look forward to interstates, but I don't dread them as much as I did a year ago. They serve a purpose.

 

[sotipnomon]

I use the interstates as a means to the end, of course that being great riding. Living in the middle of flaaaaaat Indiana, loads of interstates to take me places, perhaps southern Indiana, eastern KY, TN , OH, NC, even good old Arkansas. My vacation days are very limited so interstate travel allows me quick access to such fine destinations. If I had time I would absolutely ditch them to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

Agreed, if I'm going to blast down the big road for a day to get where I want to ride I'll even admit to rather being in my truck with the bike on the versahauler. My vacation time is short so I like getting there, being fresh to ride hard and long while there then driving back as late as possible. Maybe if I hit that powerball tonight I won't be in such a hurry, ha.

 

[barkingllizard]

hopefully its about the journey, Freebooter, but sometimes, when traveling to the good parts or in particular, trying to beat the weather,
a well traveled and maintained Interstate IS the safest plan for continuing to ride, for years to come.....

 

[pnelson]

pnelson, is that a Thistle I see?

Yup, that's my current boat. Just finished 448. Starting on 276 next.

http://thistle448.blogspot.com

https://plus.google.com/photos/103841350024498346596/albums/5654885456366855729

 

[Freebooter]

Also, and this might seem silly, but another reason I like interstates is I like to show off my bike. I want people to see this beauty! Lol!

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Also, and this might seem silly, but another reason I like interstates is I like to show off my bike. I want people to see this beauty! Lol!

Hmmm...I sensing you may have had chrome in your past.

 

[ord13]

What we've in France, speed limits (a lil) less restrictive on toll highways (130 km/h instead of 90, wow it's rave-up...).
So highways vs main or secondary roads, what a f...... dilemma. ::007::

 

[WJBertrand]

Also, and this might seem silly, but another reason I like interstates is I like to show off my bike. I want people to see this beauty! Lol!

99.9% of the drivers on Interstates in my experience don't see you at all, let alone notice or care what kind of bike you're riding. Little kids on the other hand....

 

[Freebooter]

WJBertrand, true w some, but I see a lot of people look over at my bike when I pass them or or they pass me.
Ord13, I have bn in such traffic and I hate it. That is why I by pass big crowded cities.

 

[ord13]

Hate it too, but lil choice of nothing so long live patience and self-control ::010::

 

[Bryce]

On the bike, Interstates are a means to an end. If I'm needing to get somewhere fast (trip ran over and I need to get home for example) I'll slab it and haul ass. I prefer secondary roads with little traffic control devices. So if I'm going through a big city, I'll jump on limited access roads to limit my time in stop and go traffic.

Back roads and small towns are preferred.

I'm the same way with restaurants... On my trips, I have a rule of no chain restaurants if i can help it.