What's On Your Motorcycle Bucket List?

[ptgb]

Well, it is that time of year up here in the still frozen north where we begin to see light at the end of the tunnel, thoughts turn to all things motorcycle and riding. Plans begin for spring, summer, and fall rides; updates to our motorcycles; or maybe even things more spectacular.

I have been thinking a lot lately about what I want to accomplish, "motorcycle-wise", both near and long-term. What I want to do, see, learn, or acquire. Not just "wax the bike" or "get that rear tire changed"... I mean the bigger stuff... the "yea, I have always wanted to do that" kind of stuff.

Money or time (within reason) is not a factor when it it comes to this... but, I try to keep mine mostly, somewhat, kinda realistic... and I truly want to, and think I can, accomplish these things before its all over...

My "Motorcycle Bucket List" is below....   what is yours?

Motorcycles

1. Would like to own another Valkyrie... an around town "zoomer" - decked out chrome-wise and custom painted. Already have an I/S for the long trips and/or day rides.

2. Would like to own either a BMW Tourer or a Goldwing, for those longer trips once the I/S can not longer be that bike for me.

3. Wouldn't mind a sport tourer type mc for my distance-ride plans and goals.


Rides and Trips

1. Want to SS1000 (1000mi in 24hrs) around each of the Great Lakes. I have already done Lakes Erie and Ontario (twice) and we are coming up to Inzane a few days early to do a Lake Superior 1000 the Monday before Inzane. Going to do a Lake Huron 1000 probably in September. Next year finish that with a Lake Michigan 1000.

2. Do a "Great Lakes 100" which is going around all the Great Lakes (bout 2400 miles) in 100 hours. Probably in 2013 or so.

3. Do a "48-10" which is the lower 48 States within 10 days (bout 8000 miles). The plan now is to retire in about 7-8 years... before I pick up another job... this ride will be my retirement present to myself.

4. Want to ride across Canada

5. Want to ride the Canadian Rockies - at least two weeks or more to see everything

6. Want to ride the Canadian Maritime Providences - at least two weeks to see everything


Other/MC Related

1. Want to build a decent sized garage for the Motorcycles with a decked out shop. Want to have the lifts, tools, machines, and other stuff to accomplish anything that a professional shop can do... oh yea, with cable TV in it!

2. Want to take a police motor officer training course and practice to get to that level of riding competence.


Really interested in yours...

[Serk]

Dipping my toe in the Arctic ocean after riding to Dead Horse, Alaska... Was all ready to go this coming summer before we found out my wife's pregnant with triplets, kinda puts a damper on any motorcycle trips for me for a while...

I've wanted to ride the Dalton Highway for many years now, and someday I WILL make it there, just gonna hafta postpone it a few more years...

I'd LOVE to take a cross-Europe trip like Dag did a while back, but unless I win the lottery, I'm afraid that one will remain just a pipe dream...

[Grandpa Bigbuck]

My wife and I were just talking about this yesterday.  Ride up to Vancouver or British Columbia, take the Alaska state run fairy from island to island along the inland passage.   

[Joe Hummer]

My ride list contains the Pacific Coast Highway and the Blue Ridge Parkway (both top to bottom...or bottom to top...don't matter).  Would also like to ride all of the Great Lakes...have done Michigan and Superior. 

Joe

[fordmano]

In the case of Bikes,,, Sure would like a blown injected standard Valkyrie completly stripped of anything it does not need, on a big old car tire.

A brand new V-Max would be fun to have..


Riding, I would love to ride coast to coast or at least a future InZane and a road trip to see my Family in Texas...

[Momz]

On my personal "Bucket List", to be able to ride until I die.

[Sodbuster]

I guess I'm on the same page as Momz .... I've been riding motorcycles now for the last 40+ years and have seen a lot of country but I guess there's one thing I dream about especially getting closer to retirement is to take off for a whole month and ride and ride and ride ....

[valkmc]

I will be riding from Central Florida to Alaska summer of 2012. Return down the Pacific Coast Highway all the way To Mexico and across the southern border back to Florida. Trip from Ocala to Alaska solo, wife will fly into Portland and ride to Arizona where my brother lives and fly back to Florida. Can't wait, I have spent lots of time planning and would love to go this summer but have other responsibilities so I can't. God willing I will still be healthy enough and will be able to make the trip. Job is no problem, school teacher, so I am good to go.

[Disco]

Rides:
PCH from south to north (I believe I'll take the inside lane on some of those stretches!)
Vancouver Island
Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler
Alaska
The rest of the lower 48
As many of the Canadian Provinces as I can do
Trans-continental & Continental Divide rides on a dual-sport.

Hardware:
Yamaha GTS1000 & Suzuki RE5 just cuz they're cool

[Valker]

Never had much desire to ride Europe, slightly more desire to ride Australia, but they're not on my list. Reading all these other posts about dream trips, I realize being a school teacher for the past 34 years and being able to travel all summer for 15 of those years (single then), I see I've done nearly all of what has been mentioned....so, my list is to do them again!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Oss]

take 3+ weeks and ride across to see SD the farm that MP has in ND, Wyoming montana visit lake louise and banff idaho across the cascades in washington oregon crater lake and Mt Hood  then west to the redwood forest in nw california. Then travel down PCH to Muir Woods so I can have the crap scared out of me on that road then home accross the slab in 4 days

would fly the wife out for part of the trip

next fall may ride out to New Mexico if Bonnie has business there  if so Valker will call you

[mario]

Dipping my toe in the Arctic ocean after riding to Dead Horse, Alaska... Was all ready to go this coming summer before we found out my wife's pregnant with triplets, kinda puts a damper on any motorcycle trips for me for a while...

I've wanted to ride the Dalton Highway for many years now, and someday I WILL make it there, just gonna hafta postpone it a few more years...

I'd LOVE to take a cross-Europe trip like Dag did a while back, but unless I win the lottery, I'm afraid that one will remain just a pipe dream...
triplets!! that's fantastic!! congrats to you both!! alaska will still be there but triplets isn't an every day occurance. you are blessed.

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

I want to ride the 48 states and to Alaska. Doesn't have to be all at once, just want to have ridin' them all before I die.

I'd like to ride Wyoming, Idaho, Montana and the Dakotas again when I'm not as pressed for time as I was last year. In particular, I have to ride the Beartooth Highway again. I have to fit Pikes Peak in too.

I'd like to hunt pronghorn in the West and any large game in Alaska. Alaska hunting is something I will probably never be able to afford though.

I'd like Honda to make a new Valkyrie, same good looks, comfort and handling with at least 30 more HP and a 6'th gear. And I'd like them to do it before I breakdown and buy a new bike from another manufacturer.

[BonS]

I guess I'm on the same page as Momz .... I've been riding motorcycles now for the last 40+ years and have seen a lot of country but I guess there's one thing I dream about especially getting closer to retirement is to take off for a whole month and ride and ride and ride ....

I second that emotion! I've been working toward that for over 45 years and I hope it comes true soon.

[Valker]

next fall may ride out to New Mexico if Bonnie has business there  if so Valker will call you

That will make my year! Let me know when, and I will take off work. Many, many great roads. Where in NM?

[Hoser]

Ride in all the lower 48.  I've got nine more scheduled for this year.  hoser

[alph]

as for my dream cycle, have it already

my to do ride; hwy 101 in california, up to Kings canyon, through yellowstone, all around the rockies, then, maybe up to maine, vermont, you know, something that would take me all year to ride.....

[Bama Red]

Pretty simple, really:

3. I'd like a garage/shop for my Valk.
2. I would love to tour Europe on my Valk.

and #1 on my list -
1. I want to make one of Smokinjoe's rides thru my old stomping grounds in east Tennessee.

[Big IV]

I'd like to see the other three of the US four corners. I'd also just like to see all the 48, parts of Mexico and Canada by Valk.

I'll keep working on it.

[KW]

Great post & good question 

Mine is to convince everyone on this board I'm right and they're wrong about; Politics, Religion, Tires, Oil and now Unions! Oh, and to get everyone to boycott 'Cracker Barrel" because my feelings are hurt over the racists name of this company!

Seriously, I've been blessed with a nice garage and I have all the tools I need (not want) so, I'll go with a second Valk. I HAVE to get serious this summer about buying one! You can still find low mileage Dragons and the price keeps coming down, so now's the time!

And, an out west bike trip which, Lord willing, will happen THIS year (late June, or early August after InZane!) We'll be staying a week in Independence Missouri visiting close friends before heading across the Plains, up into the Dakotas, then southward to Arizona!

Peace! Ride safe!

[Big Rig]

The pan is to hit Strugis for my 50th and then the black hills...not sure about bike week there...

then after retirement ride around the outer edges of the land down under...would like to take about 6 months with the lovely mrs...

Then hit the remaining states...then hit 100k on my valk...FINALLY!

[Kaiser]

ride around the outer edges of the land down under...with the lovely mrs...

  :2funny:

[olddog1946]

My immediate goal is to get my lady ready for the trip to AZ to see my daughter and her family. Will spend at least a month there..then head to CO to take in a rafting trip..once back ride every day..

Getting ready
1. Install a real cruise control (waiting on control panel)
2. get the Ultimate seat (ordered today)
3. find some decent quick detach bags
4. replace the fork seals again (done last month by a shop/leak like a sieve)

Long term
Build a shop/garage to house all the junk I've got out back and in front with room for the bikes)
Ride as often as I can....
Return to Germany for some more bike riding.
AND add a BMWR100RT or a K100 to my list of bikes

[captsharky]

Now with a new to me second Valk Interstate, where do I begin??

There is a lot of chrome I like to get.

Hook up the Zumo.

Ride to Panama!

[donaldcc]

my to do ride; hwy 101 in california, up to Kings canyon, through yellowstone, all around the rockies, then, maybe up to maine, vermont, you know, something that would take me all year to ride.....

    I think you really want Hwy 1 up the coast of CA.  Hwy 101 and Hwy 1 do join up for a while along central CA coast, but I would hate to see you take your bucket list ride stopped for hours in traffic on 101 in LA or up in SF Bay area.

[PhredValk]

Lets see now...
Get the Harley Road Atlas and ride the 10 best roads (The Tail of the Dragon, Needles Ferry in BC); the coast hiway, route 66 (though that would have to be in a 63 Corvette, lotto time!).
Sturgis, Daytona, Big Sur, Port Dover, Wingding, InZane; all in one year, every year.
10 provinces, 50 states.
Decent shop with full tools, including air, for bikes and cages.
A trailor in Texas so I can ride in the winter and get to know those crazy DFW guys.

Oh, yeah, world peace, an end to hunger, blah blah blah...

Fred.

[Flat6Valk]

On my list is a cross country trip east to west on US 50 starting at Ocean City, MD and actually ending in San Francisco even tho US 50 ends now in Sacramento.  Then I would like to spend about 30 days riding the good roads all over California and Oregon.  The return leg I believe will be mostly thru the southern states visiting relatives along the way. 

Another trip I'd like is a month or so in the Maggie Valley region.

I hope my wish comes true. 

Thanks for letting me provide my list.

Greg