I live in western Missouri and there isn't many nice curvy roads. I have one normal loop that runs along the Missouri River to Lexington, I've done it dozens of times and sometimes I don't want to go that far. I really do try to get lost and am pretty good at it, riding down rural roads I've never travelled. Sometimes depending on what I'm riding, I'll take a run down an abandoned unpaved road, and I've had some pretty long runs on gravel roads. I often tour cemetaries, and look for really old graves. Found one recently that was born in the late 1700's, pretty rare here.

Sometimes I have really good rides even when I think I've seen it all close by. I've been surprised at roads very close to my house I've never been down. Maybe it is the time of year, but I'm shocked how seldom I see anyone outside. I'm afraid its because of TV, video games and internet.

Any suggestions on mixing up routine and tips on what you do to increase motorcycling fun?

When I had a bike, I enjoyed even commuting.
The 'same old loop' even just as some time to unplug was great. Add in a riding buddy & that helps too.

I'm always on Google maps exploring different areas. Pick a destination and go there, then see where that leads.

I do a couple different things.
Sometimes I just hop on the bike and see where I end up.
I'll make arbitrary decisions about when/where to turn based purely on my feelings at the moment.
Other times I'll pick a specific direction and head that way.
Other times I'll try to map out some specific route if there's somewhere precise that I want to end up.
Having a riding buddy also helps.
If you're looking for inspiration for good roads near you, I've heard VERY good things about Butler Maps.

What do you ride on?
I have an Indian Roadmaster Dark Horse..
I've had it for about 3 months now and have put 7500 miles on it.
It's by far the biggest bike I've ever ridden - esp with that big tour pack on the back.
I recently (2 weeks ago) rode it from here in NC all the way down to the Florida Keys and back (do not recommend - the keys suck).

Download Rever and look around for rides others have done. Sometimes you'll find something great and you can choose which type of terrain (paved, adventure, off-road) you'd like to ride. There's always taking a moto adventure too, either solo, 2 up, or with another group of like minded riders. Pick a direction and go. You can camp or rent rooms depending on whether you like roughing it or not. Can always find truck stop to shower at for about $15-20. They normally give you as much time as you'd care to take. Tail of the Pig in Arkansas is a very good ride, especially if you stop off in Eureka Springs to see some of the artists and their shops.

Lastly, a thing I like to do here in Virginia (and pretty much anywhere I travel) is to look for historical markers. This became a habit of mine when my 9th grade history teacher gave us an assignment to find, read, and learn about 4 markers within our county (there were probably 30 to chose from). link to the ones in Missouri May give you a reason to go out in search of new places.

As long as I am not sitting in traffic, I love a good ride. I have found so many cool places and met a lot of great people. Filling up at the gas station is never a solitary affair. Someone always wants to discuss the motorcycle.

I change my settings in google maps to avoid highways. Then put in your destination. Generally, you will find some nice country roads.

I too research and travel to pioneer and mining/timber era cemeteries. I use FindaGrave to help me locate them. This gets me onto roads way less traveled and into small towns I normally would not have found. I use a bar mounted Garmin GPS to help me navigate to where I need to go.

I try to take a lot of "invisible roads" meaning those small enough that most aren't on typical road maps, and stay away from all but the smallest towns. Some of these roads are paved but in poor condition while others are gravel, so dual sport or adventure motorcycles are my preference. I sometimes utilize a GPS set to "shortest distance" with "avoid highways" and have it route me through rural areas to some destination 50 miles or so distant (as the crow flys). Over time I put to memory the most enjoyable sections of many different roads that I ride in my own home area, say 50 mile radius, then started connecting those sections to make a number of different routes of varying distance. So if I want to go out for 3 hours or so I may take the east, Swanton MD, 120 mile loop, etc.

I also like just packing up the tent and heading out on a 3-5 day ride to different campgrounds in WV, VA, Ohio, and PA. I sometimes do this with a riding friend who doesn't much like camping so we travel lighter w/o the gear and share a motel room.

At least once a season I like to get away on a longer ride. 2023 I took a couple week ride up through Michigan and the U.P. and across to western Montana, down through Idaho, then back across Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, etc. practically all on 2 lane roads. This coming June I'm planning to ride to Oregon to a Moto Guzzi Rally, while the rally is the destination it's really all about the ride.

One thing that helped me a lot is to join several of the regional Facebook groups. Riders post GPX files, share routes, organize rides.

I try to plan at least two big trips a year. Got to ride in northwest Arkansas this year, which was amazing. Organizing and planning for those trips keeps me going. The people I meet on those trips always clue me in to something new.

It may sound stupid, but I've adopted an attitude of manifesting gratitude. I mean, think about it, you don't have to go riding. You get to go riding. . And there will come a day, sooner or later, where you no longer get to ride. Someday I won't be able to hop on the bike and go get my Saturday small-town cheeseburger in the middle of no-where Texas.

quote:

Originally posted by mutedblade:
Download Rever and look around for rides others have done. Sometimes you'll find something great and you can choose which type of terrain (paved, adventure, off-road) you'd like to ride.

^^ THIS ^^

Except I use the motorcycle GPS app called Calimoto

My favorite rides are when I just leave with no time limit, no destination, and just ride and explore. That's where I've had the most fun and found peace.

Rides with buddies are fun too, but a lot depends on the dynamic of the group.

Get a MO Gazetteer map to study. You should be close enough to enjoy some of the numerous excellent roads in the Ozarks part of the state down south. I used to pop in from east of St. Louis all the time.
Those are great maps to plan MC trips on. Great level of detail.

Watching with interest.

Solo rides with no defined destination are my favorite. The problem is that 2-3 hours is my practical limit comfort-wise and I've done every paved road I'm aware of within that radius. I don't have the bike, the urge, or the physical condition to do anything rougher than well-maintained gravel and prefer to stay on pavement.

So, in most cases, my 2 hours is up before I get to anything new and interesting.

I do have 3 favorite loops that I do a few times a season and trips to town that don't entail hauling anything bulky are often done on a bike just to enjoy the weather and the ride.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Watching with interest.

Solo rides with no defined destination are my favorite. The problem is that 2-3 hours is my practical limit comfort-wise and I've done every paved road I'm aware of within that radius.....

Paul it sounds like a short trip is in order, maybe just down into central PA. This wouldn't require long hours maybe 5 hours of actual riding per day and taking a 1/2-1 hour break every 200 miles to walk and stretch. Repeat this for a week.

My friend Mike went for a morning ride one day, he left his house in Upstate ny ...came back the next day with 2 Maine lobsters !!!! wife was NOT happy.

Not happy that he left? Or that he came back?

By making it home in one piece.

I know.

There is little more depressing when you are banged up, than going to the tow truck yard to pickup the remains of your motorcycle.

Other than that, get on, start her up, and go.

If I had few curvy roads then I'd opt for a dual sport or scrambler type motorcycle and explore more off roading stuff.

I once had 2 weeks of vacation I had to burn or lose, got on the Beemer to go see a pal in Maine and after visiting ended up in North Carolina. Great trip with no time restrictions other than getting home at the end.

While living in TX, land of the straight and flat roads, we used this site from time to time in the surrounding areas. When breaking in a new sports car over a single extended road trip, we navigated almost exclusively with this through TX/OK/AR, going from one good road to the next through whatever city it took us.

Advance user tip for non-natives - do NOT think you can just pop into any little Texas town and score a room during rodeo season!

Motorcycleroads.com