The Yamaha Road Star Warrior Forum

    I took a road trip out to Yellowstone a couple of weeks ago and on the return trip, I discovered my new favorite road. Heading east out of Cody, WY on US14, you pass through Grey Bull and Shell. That is about where it becomes The Bighorn Scenic Byway. This is several miles of beautiful scenery, winding roads and mountain passes. It just doesn't get any better than this. There are hairpin turns, long sweeping curves, inclines and declines, and sections to get up some good speed. It is about 58 miles from Shell to Dayton and every mile of it is breathtaking.

   I have ridden the Tail of the Dragon, and everyone needs to be able to say that they have at least once, but in my opinion there are a lot better rides in the Smokies. Cherohola Skyway and the Blueridge Parkway run through some of the most beautiful areas in this country.

   Highway 311 (The Kanawha Trail), from Newcastle, Va up to I-64 at the Virigina - West Virginia state line, is about 40 miles of excellent road through the lush green forest. When you get to one end of that, you just feel like turning around and heading right back through.

   Natchez Trace Parkway, from Tupelo, Mississippi to Nashville, TN is a must ride.

   Bearclaw Pass and Chief Joseph Scenic Trail between Red Lodge, Montana and Cody, Wyoming seem to turn up on every list of best motorcycle routes.

   There is no arguing that these are excellent roads to ride, especially on a great all around bike like a Warrior. But even after all of these, if there was just one road I could ride for the rest of my live, it would be the Bighorn Scenic Byway.

   Here is a link to a video that I shot through about 5 miles of it. This is just the beginning. I had to put the camera away and enjoy the rest of the ride. MotorCityWarrior is leading and my cousin is just ahead of me on his VTX. Sorry that it isn't a more stable picture, but I was just holding the camera in one hand as I was riding. I hope you can get a sense of how nice it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JrQfKGPPR4

Looks like a nice ride, but seems like the standard ride out her in Montana or Idaho. Thanks for the video.

   gman, to a Michigan 'flatlander' there is nothing standard about that. I looked at your gallery and you may be right though. It looks very much like the area around Glacier and Flathead Lake. I only got to Billings before I turned south, so I didn't make it over to Idaho, and I understand that Montana just keeps getting nicer as you go west, so I can understand that you would think this is normal.

   Maybe next year I can make it on over to the coast. I would not mind it at all if I discover that I have a new favorite on over there somewhere. I just wish there wasn't 2000 miles between me and there.

Nice video.  Would like to get out there sometime.  Love the long sweepers through the gorges and all too. 

Sweet ride! That would be my favorite too if I had actually ridden it. Maybe someday.

Flathead Lake and Glacier Park are great. Also you should check out Lolo pass heading into Idaho then turn south at Grangeville and ride into Boise. If you can make it you won't regret it. If you swing through let me know, we can have a brew and talk motocycles.

Nice. You dont see canyons like that just anywhere. Thanks for sharing.

gman, congrats on the Raider. Stay around this site too. WHEN I get back out there I'll take you up on the brew and story tellin'!

My folks are moving back to Bozeman in less then a year, I think I will be out that way shortly

Nice camera work and one-hand-riding!  Glad you like the mountainous west. 

Come see us for a dose of high-mountain evergreens and deep volcanic lakes next season!

  Arizona, the other guys in my riding party are thinking about a southern route out to the west coast next year, because 3 of the 6 made it on out to Seattle and down the coast during this trip. Maybe we will take the southern route with them and keep going north when they head east! I have to see the rest of the north-west.