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Hi all,
Can anyone advise if you need to wear a summer mesh type bike jacket with protectors on a cruiser doing the route or do most people just wear a standard light weight jacket (thought not being on a fast sporty bike it might be different?).
any thoughts most welcome!
thanking you in advance
Maureen
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Average low temperature in Flagstaff AZ in July and August is 50 degrees. I don't know about anyone else but on my Valk at 50 degrees and 60 mph, I want leather and a sweater. Remember you are up about a mile in elevation. It gets nippy in the morning!
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Cripes, didn't know it would be cold too. I see what you mean. During the day times did you feel you needed a jacket through the route in general? I heard Oklahoma and Kansas can have mixed weather so am bring waterproofs.
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Maureen, it really depends on the time of year you will travel. Let us know, and I'm sure we can give you more specifics.
Ex. in the middle of summer you wouldn't need much more than a rain suit. But, in the early spring, and late fall the temps vary widely depending on where you are along the route.
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Our Honeymoon starts from Chicago on 21st August and we pick up the hired Harley on 23rd August. We should end up in Cali on the 7th or 8th of September to fly back to London(boooo). I worry about whether we should where something with protection in it jacketwise or if I can get away with just a light jacket and thin waterproofs rolled up in the top box?
We are on a big cruiser so no racing along.
would welcome any thoughts please!
Maureen
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Hi Maureen , we have just returned home from riding Route 66 on a Suzuki 650 and we bought mesh jackets with waterproof liners and we both wore draggen jeans ... The mesh jacket were great and we started wearing the jacket with the liner in but as we headed west the liner came out as it got hotter and hotter.. Sometimes we had to wear the liner and a thin jacket ... We only got rain once in Springfield and had to put all our wet weather gear on .. We took waterproof pants also ...
Our panniers were small and could only take a small amount .. I took 2 pairs of shorts , 2 pair of 3/4 pants and 5 tops .. There are lots of t-shirts to buy on the route..we stayed in motels along the route and found most provided shampoo/conditioner and soap , even some body cream ..
Most had laundries but keep your quarters because most were $2 for the washing powder $2 for the washer and $2 for the dryer all with quarters ..
The first few states had great signage for Route 66 and you could follow along .. Some of it was frustrating with the roads there but all of a sudden Road Ends..
But it is an awesome ride and we saw some amazing museums and the people are very friendly .. Have fun
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that is so helpful many thanks for that. Especially the advise on quarters.
getting real and scary as there is only 3 weeks and a bit to go!!!!!!
have got pannier bags and nearly packed mine with a view to putting shared toiletries and a couple of road books, shoes etc in the top box and it doesnt look as bad spacewise as I thought it might be!!!
so pleased you had such a good time and so looking forward to it.
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Nothing to be scared about Maureen. I know we were a bit nervous (I expect you're more nervous than scared 🙂 ) we would get lost, or turned around on our first trip. And, of course we did on a couple occasions, but it was easy to find our way back to the route. We just considered it part of the journey, and enjoyed the diversions. Hope you have a fun, and safe journey on the Mother Road.
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NZ Biker 2 & Wanted 33,
thank you so much.
am nearly on track with wedding organisation for a small affair.
and have more importantly packed my pannier bag and got toiletries lined up for the joint top box one. I have packed a surprisingly large amount in my bag! And thanks to your advise feel better about accounting for the weather. Mind you the floods on Monday in New Mexico there is NO planning for!!!!
Have google map plotted enough for 3 years worth of staying, eating and sightseeing.
My bloke is trying to organise a 1 day hire of a new Electra Glide so he can see/feel the difference between our old boy a 1992 one and what the hired one will feel like.
So, gosh I can't believe it - we have the first and last hotels booked and the rest we will wing.
gulp.
will report back mid Sept when back and no doubt check in here before I leave.
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Maureen, if you run low on anything we have a large chain store called Wal Mart. They are everywhere, and have every thing from A to Z, with reasonable prices. Also all of the chain motels have complimentary toothpaste, tooth brushes, etc. if you need.
Jim
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Thanks Jim,
will the Wal Mart's be along the route? I thought maybe only big towns had them. I have only been to the USA once before and that was 2 weeks in San Deigo, I think we saw that shop there? Again, a big city.
Phew for the comp toiletries in H/Motels, will pack some just in case and eek them out by using the ones we find in accommodation.
Excited and scared in equal measures and I am only a pillion!!!!!
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Maureen, Wal Marts are mostly situated near the larger towns, but easily anticipated if you need something. The company has started experimenting with smaller store called "Wal Mart Marketplace" in smaller towns. I've seen them, but I can't remember exactly where now. My mind isn't what it used to be.:)
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Maureen . here in Amarillo
this is the BEST place for gear & if u have bike trouble...
https://www.trippshd.com/
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Thanks Blue Turtle, we are hiring from Easy Rider as we didn't think my blokes old boy a 1992 Electra Glide would stand the journey over from London let alone the 3000 odd miles (with a couple of detours) that we plan to do.
we should so get a tee from the Harley shop though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
