Used to live in holland, If you take 31 north, alot of it is neat right along the roads, if you map quest it and push avoid Major highways, you should get a nice ride, Im on the way out the door, but ill try to get a link for the map in a bit.

Crazy long link, and did a pretty long ride time wise, but gives you an idea, gone on a few of these roads, not too bad. Some views of the lake.  Also any thought to the Sleeping bear dune area?


http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?mo=ma&2si=gaz&un=m&go=1&2gi=0&1c=Holland&1g=ng3%252fQ02p5tBPFyfWosyoqw%253d%253d&1l=S%252bsFT9IUfhZ7sxGxNouvqA%253d%253d&2c=Ludington&1rc=Z1XAA&cl=EN&1n=OTTAWA+COUNTY&2g=qt2PYAeRdhboa6TNJKdWFg%253d%253d&qq=UHVXrlaxt4gsDHU%252ftQpiN6hl9AQxPM6HqAFalMY2od6gffWVlaWQpAgJytUTCYoZYruofYXbt0nzG7PL6STWJyGDE%252fEF1fHDjdDQCH7pZJezRJLAOub0B6kjJ%252fi8NZKOKNVKIgK%252b9CKoN4jap8J%252fAPYk5IeV52dz7EKfzy2YQpkjVA9dcMzTyvyhUV4D5equtwoZpGUX03uAUhsZU3KyOPljQwWm4zbaGqapX8PsWk7h9kl26iVpOWDhvBqf4ynQ1Mba4D%252fowaKd81qXExZTTaHI3H8yDAzN%252bbknG7QUZmAGKrHJ00JH%252by3yGvzYj5Dn8IeicIqihmnIdzXAmDLqwA%253d%253d&1s=MI&2l=iDuTGEufAby0NE2x5XFREg%253d%253d&ct=NA&1v=ZIP&2n=Mason+County&1y=US&1z=49424&1si=tana&2s=MI&2da=-1.000000&2rc=A5XAX&2v=CITY&did=1174067429&2y=US&rsres=1&do=nw&r=s&aoh=1&aot=1

that raceway ride sounds cool,that pinckney ride is good it seems that there is like five rider that live neer there.    door to door muskegon to mason is 120 mi,on the way back home after that ride my butt was dragin.    my friend jeff knows some good riding around the grand rapids and he has riden from there up to travers city several times.    i will call hem and get his ideas.    see y'all.

sarah, wade and damon need to ride with us next time too.     

yeah, but none of those folks have been poking around here lately Denman.  Wonder where they went.  Maybe we weren't active enough last year?

Been playing with my suggestions and Microsoft Trips & Streets (2005 edition).  These are the pictures I've come up with so far:

• The Leelanau Loop
  Okay, it doesn't look a lot like a loop, but most everyone would end up doing a circle in some way coming and going:
  
  
  
  This ride has great scenery, hugging the Lake Michigan shoreline.  Sleeping Bear Dunes is right at point -3- on the map.  T&S says the green line is just over 120 miles.  (Remember that you've got to get there and back so add your distance up appropriately.)  Let me know if you think this is too much for one day.
  
  
• To and From Grattan Raceway
  The roads are not as interesting, but the destination intrigues me. For over three years I've wanted to head out there just to see what it is all about.
  
  
  
  We could meet in groups of 2-3 and ride there.  After a look-see, we could ride as a group somewhere, have a bon voyage toast and head back from whence we came.
  
  I figure that if we pick a weekend with some motorcycling event, we could off-set the L - 7 roads with some excitement at the desitnation.  Scout the local for a possible Track Day adventure.
  
  
• Mason to Dexter Trail to Brighton and Back
  Kinda an "X" but really curvy roads and if you like waving at other bikers, this trip is for you. 
  
  
  
  The green line is about 122 miles.  We start and stop at the Meijers just off 127 in Mason.

That's all I've had time for tonight.  The cats want their supper.  Time to pack it in – will review the Huron Forest and a Thumb Ride in the near future.   

Quote from: manofthefield on March 15, 2007, 06:53:23 AM
I haven't looked to see what those rides would be like (names mean nothing to me right now without a looking at a map too), but I did find some other rides or roads we could add to our rides posted on the West Michigan Riders forum.

http://www.motorcycleroads.us/mi.html

and

http://www.sportbikeroads.com/frames3.htm (click on the Michigan link on the left for rides)

I haven't really looked at any of these roads or rides yet on a map either; I just found them and thought they might be useful.

Thanks for the extra ideas.  I've looked through some of these links and there are some that have possibilities.  (Many are short little jaunts that work if you're "in the neighborhood".)

I'll continue to explore these ideas (as you guys should too).    

Quote from: denman on March 16, 2007, 05:29:17 PM
sarah, wade and damon need to ride with us next time too.     

I'm feeling old, Denman.  You and I may be the only two repeat attendees from last year's event.  (Maybe we should get T-Shirts printed.  )  Sarah & SilverBack have sold their bikes, and neither has been on this site since October of last year.

Time to make new friends and for us to re-establish aquaintences.

sarah Is in Arizona, I bought her bike.  Im up for a ride on the west side of the state, GR area north, the others would be quite a trek for me.

Brad, thanks for sharing this.  Sarah and her friends were fun to ride with.  At least her ride will be making the return trip.   

I understand the effect that distance has.  It is indeed possible to have too much of a good thing.  I can take 2-3 hours in the saddle, then need to walk it off.  It would be a lot to ask of you to head to Mason, for Vantec6040 to head to Traverse City for the Leelanau Loop, and for Denman to visit the Huron Forest or the Thumb.

There may not be a single destination that fits everyone.  We're too spread out for a single-day ride.  Would be a whole lot more convenient (though crowded) if everyone lived in the middle of the state.   

Okay guys, with what I've mentioned so far, what ride tickles your fancy?  Let's Rank-em -- 1 (most favored) to 5.  After that we will tackle the problem of picking the sunny & warm weekend.

Let see...

1. Grattan should be an easy run for me just about any time, though the ride there probably won't be too exciting

2. Leelanau Loop is probably next on my list

3. Then Mason to Dexter Trail to Brighton and Back

4. & 5. And I put the other two last because they look like a loooong ride for me to get there, though I would consider them

Quote from: RedShift on March 20, 2007, 03:30:16 AM
There may not be a single destination that fits everyone.  We're too spread out for a single-day ride.  Would be a whole lot more convenient (though crowded) if everyone lived in the middle of the state.   

This brings up another idea I've had floating around, though I'm not even sure if I'll be able to do it this summer: a weekend ride.  I have some ideas for this, including trip to the U.P. or even a Lake Superior Circle trip.  Maybe something to think about for the end of August or next season if anyone is feeling that ambitious

im up for the weekend ride. 

1 TC ride
2. West side of the state ride, the one just north of GR
and then Gratten, would be a trek but the track would be cool to see
Id be up to all of em honestly

ok any thing closer than mason dexter would be great.   any thing farther than mason dexter,would kick my butt.    but hey ya only live once, so tempt me.   see y'all

Guys, I'll tell ya, I've been looking at Trips & Streets and thinking about my own question. 

#1 - I have got to say that the Leelanau Loop looks mighty inviting.  Would take me the better part of two hours to get out to Manistee, but the smile would be there right from the start.

#2 - I was tempted to return to do the Dexter Trail, but there is something to be said for exploring where I've never been before, so my second choice would have to be heading out to Grattan Raceway.  It's a bit of a crooked path, but after an hour the roads begin to go up and down, left and right, so there would be some fun before the destination.  And then there's whatever event is running that weekend.

#3 - The Pinckeny Ride would be next, only because there are only few roads that are straight for more than 3000 feet.  Had a great time last year and would be even better with the fresh rubber and new rear shock.

#4 - Tied with the Huron Forest and the Thumb Ride, both of which most of youse would find a bit too far for a single day's jaunt.  Nice roads in both areas and would satisfy the thirst for scenery and twisty roads.

So, those are my choices.  Vantec6040, it's your turn.  I kinda feel bad for ya as you're on the wrong side of the state for my top choice, easily 90 minutes ride beyond me.  But I have to be honest -- the Leelanau area becons.   

QuoteSo, those are my choices.  Vantec6040, it's your turn.  I kinda feel bad for ya as you're on the wrong side of the state for my top choice, easily 90 minutes ride beyond me.  But I have to be honest -- the Leelanau area becons.

The Leelanau route does have some appeal as for lakeside roads, nice twists, and UP forest locale. So if I were to vote I would go with Leelanau -- even if it meant I couldn't go. 

mapquest says (usually underestimates) 3.5 hours from my home to Manistee, meaning over 7 hours round + the Leelanau trip. Thats a lot for my not-so iron butt 
I've gone to Cadillac many times, which is right on the way to Manistee, so I know the route there pretty well. Just it would be a lot nicer if I could have someone to ride with there and back.

But by all means, dont let me decide this get-together, because as said before, we can always have more than one. 

I could probably meet you in caddy with a trailer if it gets decided to have it in the LP.  LEt me know

VanTec, I feel your pain.  Some 200 miles just to get to the starting point.  You'd be half worn out before we start.

How about the Grattan Raceway event?  That is just over half as far, and if you can take 100 miles on I-69 and I-96, it's probably 70 minutes closer to get to and you're only half as worn out.  Also, we'll spend a decent amount of time checking out the track, giving the bod a chance to recirculate the posterior.     I'd be good with that, and Brad, Denman and ManOfTheField have already suggested it's near the top of their list.

We can always shoot for a July or August Leelanau trip if the first works out.

What's ya say guys?  Is Grattan the beter destination for our first meeting?

Grattens good with me!

Sounds good to me!

Though I must admit, the longest ride i've been on two wheels is with my GS, which was to Port Huron for an ill prepared night at a park with my friend on a Rebel 250 (rained hard all day and night). So i'm just wondering, whats to bring? 

PS: Depending on when we have this, I may be able to bring my friend (the Rebel one) along too. He might be getting a new Ninja 250/GS 500 for spring . . . we will see . . .