Denver to Santa Fe Tomorrow (advice)

[DenverDuc]

So tomorrow I'm heading to my buddies place in Santa Fe, NM from Denver,CO on my 996 for some river rafting.

It's a 395 (5:45 hr/min) mile ride from I-25 all the way down, but I was told by him to take Highway 285 which is 358 miles and 6:58 hr/min. He said it was a better ride with some twisty roads. However, since I am doing this alone I wanted to stay on I-25 all the way down so at least if something happens I am next to a highway and not BFE. Plus, 400 miles on a 996 makes me ache just thinking about it.

I will post some pics when I get back.

Any advice or suggestions for the road I would appreciate it. I am traveling light since another buddy will have all my stuff and be coming down later in the day in his car. The Duc is bit of a torture rack so I want to be light as possible (no backpack).

I will have my leather jacket, sidi boots, cell phone, jeans, some rain gear, a Nalgene bottle of gas (Just in case), map, camera, camel back, few road flares, radar detector secured to my helmet, first aid kit and (some protection from the humans). This will all be in my jacket excpet for the small container of gas.

I had the bike looked over by my mechanic (oil change, rear brake bled, fluids topped off, chain greased and adjusted, tires inspected, bulbs checked). Test ridden and everything seems a o.k.

Wish me luck........

[Shez748]

I'd take a tire kit. Just incase you pick up a nail or something. Reminds me..I need to stick on of them under the seat on my 748.

[DenverDuc]

good call...

[billyb]

If you have never made this trip before, the part between Trinidad and Las Vegas New Mexico just sucks. Its real flat, straight, and there is nothing out there. Between Las Vegas and Santa Fe is pretty nice. It goes through the mountains and is okay. Beyond that it really is just a horribly boring part of the country. Have fun rafting.

[corks67]

been there done that , january 96 with a mate while i was visiting

did it in a honda civic tho

got done for speeding tho, by a grumpy HWP fella

[DenverDuc]

Originally Posted by billyb

If you have never made this trip before, the part between Trinidad and Las Vegas New Mexico just sucks. Its real flat, straight, and there is nothing out there. Between Las Vegas and Santa Fe is pretty nice. It goes through the mountains and is okay. Beyond that it really is just a horribly boring part of the country. Have fun rafting.

I just got back today and yes that part of the trip did suck (I-25 )......luckily the Duc gave me no problems and no tickets....and my ride back was through La Vida (not sure how to spell it) which was great fun....

I will post a few pics soon.

[848ista]

Sounds like fun, look forward to the pics.

[DenverDuc]

trying to get pics up but im having some issues

[DenverDuc]

Hard to take pics of myself next to the bike but I was riding solo

Sweet Shot!!!



Getting ready for rafting down the Rio Grande..doesn't look rough but it beat us up further down, then we strapped on helmets and went down it in tubes...I will post those when I get em

Skyline at night..Stopped to have dinner with some friends

Went rafting here and a kick @$$ ride through the mountains afterward

Cruisin

All I had a was small tank bag and camel back for luggage

[vivaleduc]

Too bad that I didn't see your post earlier...should have taken your buddy's advice on the route. Northern NM and Southern CO have some of the most beautiful motorcycle roads in the country...but I 25 is, well, a freeway. It looks like you had dinner at the Coyote Cantina...hope you enjoyed yourself.