FAQ
Q: How long does it take to complete the trail?
A: Some riders do it as fast as 2 weeks but at a comfortable pace of 7 riding hours per day, it takes about 26 days
Q: How long is the route?
A: New York to Los Angeles is 5139 miles (8270km) and Cape Hatteras NC to Port Orford OR is 5174 miles (8326km)
Q:Can I ride the trail from West to East?
A: Yes you can, however there will be a few spots where you will have to take the easier options due to one way roads. It is as simple as riding the arrows (chevrons) backwards.
Q: What must my gas range be?
A: There is one day that is 161 miles between gas stops, however, I would recommend a 120 mile range on a tank and to carry a little bit in a bottle for the longer days.
A: What bike would you recommend?
Q: I would say any bike that you are comfortable on. The nicer ones would be a WR250R or a DRZ400 if you were trying to do all the hard, single track options. The route can still be done on a big 1200cc adventure bike however, you probably would want to take the green routes. So there is a wide range of bikes that can go on the trip, but the bike you take will determine the options you can choose.
Q:What tires do you recommend?
A:You could do the route on any good dual-sport tire however you might want more aggressive knobbies for the hard options in the West but that all depends on your vision of how you want to approach the ride.
Q: What is the recommended ride length per day?
A: I have separated it based on gas stops and would suggest 2-3 gas stops a day. However, you can veer off the trail or go at a slower pace if you want and cover 1 gas stop a day.
Q: Where should I get bike maintenance done?
A: There are a few good options and several places that are a little way off the trail that you could go to if you have an issue. Richfield, UT at Jorgensen's Honda, Beebe, AR at Sunrise Yamaha, Las Vegas, NV at Yamaha of Las Vegas all have good size motorcycle shops where you could get help. You could also go to Tulsa, OK or Colorado Springs, CO but they are a little way off the trail.
Q: What is the best GPS for the ride?
A: Almost any will work, but if you want to buy a new one see my GPS Recommendations:
Adventure Bike GPS and Dual Sport Bike GPS
Q: Does this trail cross private property?
A: Yes, of course many times. There are many public easements which allow people to cross these zones. There are also many gates, which you are allowed to open and pass through. You are requested to leave the gate as you found it, open or closed. This is very common out west.
Sadly some property owners wish there was no public easement and will post no trespassing signs, which can be confusing, really it means you are allowed to pass on the road, but should not travel off the road onto their property.