Hi all...I'm new to the world of riding and am planning a trip from SW Montana to Traverse City, MI area this summer - mid July - on my 2012 Tenere. I'm an experienced camper with all the gear necessary for a comfortable stay most anywhere. I'm looking to stay off the interstate as much as possible and make this trip about back roads and scenic routes, camping as I go. I don't have a heck of a lot of time, I can take about 4 days going and 4 days coming back. Any of you seasoned riders out there from MT, ND, MN, WI, and MI and any other experienced riders that want to weigh in, I'd love to hear your suggestions or resources you would recommend. I am looking forward to this trip and planning is almost as much fun. This is something I've always wanted to do (touring on bikes) and now I better get after it as this is year 50 for me. Thank you!
MT to MI...first big adventure
- Thread starter Kellbones
- Start date
robp
Active Member
As a general route, do you plan on going via the MI Upper Peninsula and crossing into lower MI at Mackinaw? I'd recommend that vs going through the southern route through the Chicago and Northern Indiana route unless you have specific waypoints you need to hit on the southern route. In the summer campgrounds and parks are often booked early so you may want to make some reservations ahead of time.
Thank Rob, yes I was planning on staying high, above Minneapolis, over the north end of Lake Michigan and down the Traverse City. Mostly tracking around US12 but looking for parallel diversions that would be worth diverting for. I appreciate your feedback, thank you!
Cycledude
Well-Known Member
I have done very similar routes, you also might want to consider traveling into Canada and riding along the north side of Lake Superior over to Sault Ste Marie then on down to Mackinaw City and Traverse City.
Eville Rich
Well-Known Member
I can't speak to your whole route, but highway 2 across northern WI and the UP is decent. A lot of it is two lane and a lot of it goes through towns, so you'll just have to deal with whatever traffic you encounter. But it's not fast for much of it. You may run into trucks or RVs going slower than you'd like. Plus general tourist traffic. Nothing bad, but it does affect your speed.
Overall, I'd look carefully at your required hours per day of riding, available daylight, and time needed to set up/ take down a campsite. You are covering a lot of ground on that trip and giving yourself some flex would be good. Plus it's really nice scenery. But in summer, the days are long, which helps, so long as you have the physical and mental fitness for long days in the saddle. Going from SW MT just to the Dakotas is a good haul.
Northern WI and the UP are great places to explore on a motorbike, so enjoy the ride! If you have some luxury of time, there are more interesting ways to go across than highway 2. But they take longer. And bring rain gear - you never know.
Eville Rich
2016 S10
Overall, I'd look carefully at your required hours per day of riding, available daylight, and time needed to set up/ take down a campsite. You are covering a lot of ground on that trip and giving yourself some flex would be good. Plus it's really nice scenery. But in summer, the days are long, which helps, so long as you have the physical and mental fitness for long days in the saddle. Going from SW MT just to the Dakotas is a good haul.
Northern WI and the UP are great places to explore on a motorbike, so enjoy the ride! If you have some luxury of time, there are more interesting ways to go across than highway 2. But they take longer. And bring rain gear - you never know.
Eville Rich
2016 S10
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Travex
Lost is my destination.
Nice ride you’re planning, Kellbones. I happened to go that way last year in your stated areas of MI to MT. (Niag Falls – Sherman) Only disappointing thing was wind/rain which is a given sooner or later. Otherwise it was ideal and beautiful.
As a camper you’re certain to quickly realize the advantage you have in the west with BLM land. East has it’s trappings and simple camping can be one of them. Reserve early if traveling peak and consider camping apps to simplify. If dispersed camping, choose wisely and at low profile. Haven’t had a problem yet.
The UP has pretty much endless camping possibilities. Sault St Marie, Gwinn, Hiawatha, Ottawa, and Chequamegon national forests have easily been home for one night or another.
Can’t speak to camping on the upper plains as the wind and rain found me in hotels/motels from Fargo to Sherman and back via rts 94/52/2. You guys got a heck of a lot of rain last year.
Used to be a 100% camper years ago and switched to hotels/motels for a time and am now back to a tent and thrilled about it.
Best to you for an enjoyable trip on your 50th!
As a camper you’re certain to quickly realize the advantage you have in the west with BLM land. East has it’s trappings and simple camping can be one of them. Reserve early if traveling peak and consider camping apps to simplify. If dispersed camping, choose wisely and at low profile. Haven’t had a problem yet.
The UP has pretty much endless camping possibilities. Sault St Marie, Gwinn, Hiawatha, Ottawa, and Chequamegon national forests have easily been home for one night or another.
Can’t speak to camping on the upper plains as the wind and rain found me in hotels/motels from Fargo to Sherman and back via rts 94/52/2. You guys got a heck of a lot of rain last year.
Used to be a 100% camper years ago and switched to hotels/motels for a time and am now back to a tent and thrilled about it.
Best to you for an enjoyable trip on your 50th!
Dshane
Active Member
Welcome from New Hampshire.
Cycledude
Well-Known Member
The only times I ever had any real trouble finding a campground was during holidays when lots more folks are camping, that’s also when motels get harder to come by.
4 days each way is tight for time. A few years ago I had to ride from Red Lodge to Minneapolis. Riding the interstate, Day 1 to Bismarck was a solid 1 day ride. (plus time change) Bismarck to Duluth will be a solid 8+ hours with breaks. US 10 and 2 will be much slower. Eville Rich makes a really good point about saddle time. Having spent a decent amount of work time in North Dakota, I encourage you to take the interstate and blast thru there. Exception....if you are from the Oil Patch, there is a lot of cool stuff to see in the Williston area
I am with Cycle Dude. If you can plan the time, North Shore Superior is a great ride. More scenic but it will be more time than scooting across the U.P..
To save time, there is a ferry between Muskegon and Milwaukee. It will keep you out of Chicago and help reduce backtracking. Additionally, you can then return thru the Driftless region in SW Wisconsin. US 14 is a pleasant ride thru southern Minnesota and a show case for corn from Mankato to west central South Dakota. It also opens the option for cutting thru the Black Hills
Whatever route you take, plan on hitting bad weather somewhere. Fair warning, around the Great Lakes in summer, storms can drop the highs into the 40's. Riding wet and cold seriously sucks
Hope you have fun. If you end up passing thru the Twin Cities, drop me a note. There is always a cold one in the reefer
Safe Travels
Wally
I am with Cycle Dude. If you can plan the time, North Shore Superior is a great ride. More scenic but it will be more time than scooting across the U.P..
To save time, there is a ferry between Muskegon and Milwaukee. It will keep you out of Chicago and help reduce backtracking. Additionally, you can then return thru the Driftless region in SW Wisconsin. US 14 is a pleasant ride thru southern Minnesota and a show case for corn from Mankato to west central South Dakota. It also opens the option for cutting thru the Black Hills
Whatever route you take, plan on hitting bad weather somewhere. Fair warning, around the Great Lakes in summer, storms can drop the highs into the 40's. Riding wet and cold seriously sucks
Hope you have fun. If you end up passing thru the Twin Cities, drop me a note. There is always a cold one in the reefer
Safe Travels
Wally
Wallkeeper, you are absolutely right about 4 days being a pinch . The more I explore all these great suggestions you guys have offered, the more I'm committed to more like 6-7 days each way. The north shore Lake Superior route is something I really want to include on my way out. My wife and I were talking about it last night and both agreed, while beautiful, it will likely be where I will hit some real weather, along with thunderstorms on the high plains. I'm liking the idea of US2, staying north out of population centers and with access to public lands for dispersed camping and going up and over Lake Superior, then dropping into the UP.
You guys have really helped me narrow it down, I'm very grateful.
Is there a navigation system that you guys prefer, other than hard copy maps, which I will carry regardless? I'm looking at that Rever app but I know you seasoned riders will have your own preferences. I would love to hear them! Also, any gear that you've found essential, I would love to hear what you've found you never thought you'd need but would never leave without again.
Thank you!
You guys have really helped me narrow it down, I'm very grateful.
Is there a navigation system that you guys prefer, other than hard copy maps, which I will carry regardless? I'm looking at that Rever app but I know you seasoned riders will have your own preferences. I would love to hear them! Also, any gear that you've found essential, I would love to hear what you've found you never thought you'd need but would never leave without again.
Thank you!
IMHO, Butler Maps are a must. I also end up in areas with no cell coverage so I ride with a Garmin XT
Also a car ferry from Manitowoc WI. to Ludington MI. SS Badger. Puts you close to Traverse City. There are lots of camp grounds in the UP, cell phone coverage is not very good and watch out for deer and other animals if you take that route. Be aware that the Michigan State Patrol actually enforces the speed limits. There are many possible things to see and do on this trip Manitowoc has a WWII submarine to tour, USS Cobia. There are maritime museums, waterfalls, boat tours (Pictured Rocks near Munising MI) and lighthouses along the coast in the UP.
thughes317
Well-Known Member
If you're thinking about poking around the North Shore:
I did the loop last summer......epic! Do be prepared for weather though, I left Duluth with blue skies and 90's, by Red Rock I was seeing 40's and mist/fog so thick I was glad the S10 is equipped with 4-way flashers (hoping to keep the pulp trucks from running me over in the fog)....this was mid-July!
Ride Lake Superior Motorcycle Tour
Ride Lake Superior an Epic Motorcycle Tour through Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota
ridelakesuperior.com
I did the loop last summer......epic! Do be prepared for weather though, I left Duluth with blue skies and 90's, by Red Rock I was seeing 40's and mist/fog so thick I was glad the S10 is equipped with 4-way flashers (hoping to keep the pulp trucks from running me over in the fog)....this was mid-July!
Cycledude
Well-Known Member
Another very interesting place to checkout in the UP is the Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck museum at Whitefish Point.
if your considering a new GPS the Garmin Zumo XT happens to be on sale right now for $399.99 which is $100 off the regular price. I happen to own 2 of them and they are the best GPS I have ever owned, the screen is very easy to read under any condition.
if your considering a new GPS the Garmin Zumo XT happens to be on sale right now for $399.99 which is $100 off the regular price. I happen to own 2 of them and they are the best GPS I have ever owned, the screen is very easy to read under any condition.
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Travex
Lost is my destination.
Nice that you're able to extend your trip to enjoy the beautiful north of Superior.
As others mention weather will probably be a thing to contend with now and again. For that I've leaned on the spendy side and have come to count on Klim riding gear. Expensive, but in a lifetime of riding I haven't used better, more durable or dependable layers. Boots are very important, I went with Sidi Canyon Goretex. Shoei & Schuberth for helmet. Hotwired for heated jacket as it can get chilly up there and it can be used for luxurious comfort in a cold camp with a decent lithium battery/charger.
Take a decent tent and tie it down just in case. I use a Lone Rider adv and find it pretty much ideal. For sleeping I use a Big Agnes Diamond Park 0 bag with Air Core ultra inflatable mattress, or just a liner if warm. Best night sleep I ever get outside my bed.
Water procurement and storage is big.
A Jetboil or equivalent knockoff has been on my essentials list from the first time I used it. Can't overstate its speed and convenience for hot liquid.
Decent rechargeable high-power LED headlamp, flashlight, tent light, and lithium power supply are also on the essentials list.
I echo @Cycledude 's thoughts on the Zumo XT and Whitefish Point. The convenience and surety of the Zumo at a glance in lousy conditions pays for itself pretty quickly.
Prudent alcohol distribution and titration thereof are the measures of a skilled adventure rider. Pack wisely, my friend. That and tacos.
As others mention weather will probably be a thing to contend with now and again. For that I've leaned on the spendy side and have come to count on Klim riding gear. Expensive, but in a lifetime of riding I haven't used better, more durable or dependable layers. Boots are very important, I went with Sidi Canyon Goretex. Shoei & Schuberth for helmet. Hotwired for heated jacket as it can get chilly up there and it can be used for luxurious comfort in a cold camp with a decent lithium battery/charger.
Take a decent tent and tie it down just in case. I use a Lone Rider adv and find it pretty much ideal. For sleeping I use a Big Agnes Diamond Park 0 bag with Air Core ultra inflatable mattress, or just a liner if warm. Best night sleep I ever get outside my bed.
Water procurement and storage is big.
A Jetboil or equivalent knockoff has been on my essentials list from the first time I used it. Can't overstate its speed and convenience for hot liquid.
Decent rechargeable high-power LED headlamp, flashlight, tent light, and lithium power supply are also on the essentials list.
I echo @Cycledude 's thoughts on the Zumo XT and Whitefish Point. The convenience and surety of the Zumo at a glance in lousy conditions pays for itself pretty quickly.
Prudent alcohol distribution and titration thereof are the measures of a skilled adventure rider. Pack wisely, my friend. That and tacos.
You guys are truly the best. Thank you and thank you!! Planning is so much more enjoyable and my confidence increases with your excellent insights and recommendations! I’m humbled by your experience and grateful for the time you take to share it!
03A3KRH
Active Member
Be prepared to ride on the steel grating on the Mackinaw bridge. Everytime I‘ve been over it in the summer the outer paved lanes have been closed for bridge maintenance. The steel grating can be unnerving as it’s pretty big openings and the bike wiggles a lot. It’s a long way across and you’ll be happy to get off the wire when it finally ends...
Eville Rich
Well-Known Member
I haven't ridden across that bridge, but it's part of my goal to circumnavigate Lake Michigan. That there are many YouTube videos about crossing that bridge on a motorcycle tells you something. I've seen a few and plan to do a review before making that trip. Not that it's anything to freak out about, but that bridge does have some "special" features. And no avoiding it.
Eville Rich
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