Third World Infrastructure (NGC)

[Motormike]

Well, I just got back from the Circus know as Sturgis.  Had planned to ride on into Canada on the Icefields Parkway, but that went up in smoke literally with the Jasper fire. So I and my riding buddy opted for the Beartooth Highway and one night in Yellowstone.  My overwhelming impression from this trip is the roads in this country are not fit for travel.  We were both on Harleys.  I admit Harley Davidson has perhaps the worst suspension on any modern motorcycle.  Well, the components aren't that bad, but Harley's focus on a low seat height dooms the result with such short suspension travel.  The roads we traveled on consisted of suspension bottoming, rim bending, kidney bruising potholes and frost heaves.  The bridge transitions were the worst.  Imagine taking your motorcycle and hitting a one inch to one and one-half inch concrete lip at 70+ mph. Not once, but dozens if not hundreds of times on the four-thousand-mile+ ride.  I just got in the habit of raising my butt out of the seat (no small task on a Harley with footboards) at every bridge I crossed, short or long.  I won't be doing it again; my back can't take that kind of abuse any more.  Any touring I do will be on an adventure touring style bike with a minimum of 5 inches of suspension travel if not more. It was brutal. Sigh, Rant over.

  Anyway, here are some pictures that prove I'm a glutton for punishment! And to think I just could have stayed home, gone to the Cookie Jar and had pie!  Oh, and among the thousands of motorcycles in Sturgis, I saw just ONE Moto Guzzi!  A Tenni Green Griso! Stock right down to the muffler!

[Moparnut72]

In my area there is a lot of road construction (destruction) taking place. It is common to see signs that say "Rough Road Ahead." I have always been temped to "borrow" and place it at the California/Nevada border to warn tourists coming into Golden State. One thing Cali does the save money is to rather than repave a worn out roadway surface they use machines to grind out worn or cracked areas. The areas filled in with new asphalt which leaves ridges on the edges. Of course the low cost tires that come on some of our Guzzis like to follow these ridges making for an interesting ride. My V100 isn't too bad at all but my V7lll is just awful. Due for new tires anyway so I will put something on that doesn't do this so much.
kk

[Motormike]

There's even more to my "bad roads" story. My trip almost ended before it was barely started.  We were riding through downtown Nashville (against my better judgement, but I was following) in very heavy traffic (is there any other kind in downtown Nashville??) I saw a tremendous pothole in the road, but because of all the surrounding traffic, was unable to swerve.  All I could do was "brace for impact." When I hit it, the suspension completely bottomed out, and I saw something fly past my shoulder out of the corner of my eye. I assumed the hit had broken or dislodged something off my bike, but what? A wheel weight?  A small piece of trim?  I didn't know.  Then, to my horror, I looked down at the fairing, to see the small compartment door open!  The compartment door where I store my key fob needed to start the bike! What I had seen flying away was my security key fob!  I was screwed!  I raced ahead and got my riding buddy to pull over.  Nothing to do but head to the nearest Harley dealership in Nashville and have them program me a new key fob (for a price!).  The whole fiasco cost us about an hour and a half.  Luckly it was a weekday.  If it had happened on a Sunday, I'd still be sitting in Nashville.

[Tkelly]

WI and MI had roads like you describe until they elected new Governors who had not signed no new taxes pledges.You get what you pay for.

[lti_57]

Washington state here
Some of the highest gas taxes in the US and some of the Shitiest roads around, I don’t think WADOT, even knows how to make a road transition into a bridge smoothly with out jarring the snot out of you.
Go to Idaho just over the border. They get the same snow fall we do but roads are in far better shape.
Their gas in Idaho avoid .60 cent per gal cheaper

[guzzisteve]

Excellent trip report for HD's.

[pressureangle]

We recently rode from Sturgis (Mt. Rushmore actually) to Yellowstone, via the Bighorn range and Cody, WY. up to Beartooth near Billings then to YS. I don't have any memory of roads on that route being notable.

[Motormike]

The Beartooth had better pavement that most of the interstates between here and there.  I was quite surprised.  They must have recently repaved it.  If you want an adventure, ride US 60 between Wickliffe, KY and Paducah.  I thought Illinois roads were bad, but this Kentucky section of road takes the cake.  I rode most of it standing up like the Harley was a big enduro. That section of highway will put blood in your urine, I tell ya!

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

I am reminded of this fine worker who stands at the Missouri Welcome Center along Route 66 to remind you what the roads have in store for you.



Route 66 may be the roughest roads I've ever ridden across the USA, and that was on the Guzzi V7 850 riding with others who were on rigid frame antique bikes... I got to watch their butts jump inches off the saddle as they hit frost heave bumps in the roads in the midwest.

The roads with their top layer ground off leaving a rough groove is seen all over, not just California. One thing California does noticeably well is that when the roads are not under construction, the rain grooves are reasonable. Some other places, especially in Colorado, I would consider them to be rough grooves as even when a road has just been redone they may cause "tramlining" and wobble if you are not riding a bike with wide tires and a lot of weight.

[Don G]

Well up here in Kanuckistan, we have roads through our pothole system....  DonG

[nmroadrunner]

Hmm...rode all over the Black Hills area on my Norge and had a blast...no suspension issues at all. 

Of course, I probably didn't look "american" or "cool" but I had fun.

[Guzzistajohn]

 Here's a Missouri pothole, I changed bikes to compensate for our lack of road maintenance 

[Frulk]

OP states…

“Oh, and among the thousands of motorcycles in Sturgis, I saw just ONE Moto Guzzi!  A Tenni Green Griso! Stock right down to the muffler!”

Where’s the picture of the Tenni Griso? 

[Motormike]

Hmm...rode all over the Black Hills area on my Norge and had a blast...no suspension issues at all. 

Of course, I probably didn't look "american" or "cool" but I had fun.

It's the 2500 miles getting back and forth that take a toll.

[bad Chad]

The suspension on a CARC is dramatically better than anything you can get on a v7.  I upgraded front and back suspension with much better kit than stock, and it works way better than stock, but still in a different ball park from my B1100.

[twowheeladdict]

I have Ohlin's suspension on my Road Glide, but with the low profile tires i avoid pot holed roads.

I would have just used my security pin until i got home and retrieved my spare fob. 

we missed you at the cookie jar. 

[nc43bsa]

I am reminded of this fine worker who stands at the Missouri Welcome Center along Route 66 to remind you what the roads have in store for you.

Inspired by this guy, perhaps?





https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna31395158