Highways across southern KS

Discussion in 'Trips & Events' started by RRJV, Jul 28, 2015.

  1. RRJV

    RRJV New Member

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    Hey guys,

    I am going to be crossing KS (essentially Springfield MO area to Pueblo CO) in a couple of weeks and I'm curious if anyone has advice on what roads to avoid, or roads to check out. I'm looking to run along HWY160 and HWY400, and possibly I70/135 on the way home (from Denver). I recently went to CO via car (from KCMO) so I had a chance to check out I70 and 96/40. I'd like to avoid those roads due to lack of fun and/or potential fuel stops. Thank you in advance for the help!
     
  2. V4toTour

    V4toTour New Member

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    I'm so sorry, you have my condolences. If you're in CO you NEED to ride the san juan skyway. You'll *#&@ bricks between ouray and silverton.

    seriously though, Kansas is probably the most hated ride I've done. just pick an interstate and get through it as quick as possible. Like ripping off a band-aid.
     
  3. FJ12rydertoo

    FJ12rydertoo Member

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    Yeah, there ain't no good way to cross Kansas by bike. It's all pretty awful after the first couple hours. If I were leaving from Springfield, I'd probably go up to Wichita to 54 to 50 and on into Pueblo. Taking the interstate would mean going quite a ways north and then coming back south again. The 2 lanes are a bit slower, but you won't have to travel quite so far. Having some towns along the way does help with the boredom too. I've traveled across Kansas too many times to count over the years and there are no good routes, except the shortest/quickest one.

    And as I'm sure you aware, it can get pretty freakin' hot out there in August so stay alert and stay hydrated.

    Be advised that western Kansas is not the end of the earth, but you can see it from there.
     
  4. V4toTour

    V4toTour New Member

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    ship the bike and fly into denver
     
  5. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    Dorothy? Toto?
     
  6. FJ12rydertoo

    FJ12rydertoo Member

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    ^^^^^^^^^They couldn't be too bright, they got out of Kansas, and then came back!! "No place like home" my a$$.
     
  7. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    Indeed, the Munchkin POV is popular in some circles. Mself I like the version in "The Outlaw Josey Wales" who ended up elsewhere and wasted the bad guys too.
     
  8. V4toTour

    V4toTour New Member

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    for the staying hydrated bit. wear a camelbak so you can sip while riding. Less time spent stopping in that hellhole.
     
  9. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    No son, I meant ride the camel to the whorehouse not do what you did to the camel.
     
  10. MichaelD

    MichaelD New Member

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    One route you could take seeing as you mentioned hwy 160 would be 54/400 to Pratt ks, south on 281 to 160 , Medicine Lodge, ks then west from there. That would take you thru the gypsum hills. I really advise you avoid hwy 50. Rated the most dangerous road in ks. Ks is by no means Tenn. or Ark. but Ks isn't the 2nd hell on earth I'm reading in these posts. There's many great back roads here. Isabel, Tri City and others are near 160.
     
  11. V4toTour

    V4toTour New Member

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    I dunno man. Name another state you believe overall is a worse motorcycle destination.
     
  12. FJ12rydertoo

    FJ12rydertoo Member

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    North Dakota? Delaware? New Jersey? Florida? Okay, maybe none of those are worse than Kansas, well maybe North Dakota. But they're all pretty bad.
     
  13. MichaelD

    MichaelD New Member

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    If you follow the main highways (135, 54/400, I70, 50 ect...) ya its pretty non eventful, but if your willing to jog around Kansas you can find some nice riding. Again no one is claiming to trying compare to riding thru the Mark Twain national forest, the mountains of Colo. ,or the smokey mountains.
     
  14. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    Any state named would have to have nine letters. I was going to name Canada but it got kicked back.
     
  15. Aimbot9000

    Aimbot9000 New Member

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    my experience with ks and I-70 was 109*F of fun. I set the throttle lock 90mph and pretended i was a cruise missile. fuel was not an issue dont think i ever went more then 60miles without seeing a station.
     
  16. RRJV

    RRJV New Member

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    I survived the trip. Took 400/160/50 across on the way out, and I70 on the way back. I think next time I'll consider hauling my bike if I go that direction.
     
  17. LookingHard

    LookingHard New Member

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    RRJV,


    The next time you are traveling this might help a bit............


    http://www.motorcycleroads.com/




    LookingHard
     
  18. V4toTour

    V4toTour New Member

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    That site is a good resource, however all the good rides shown are not in KS. Not sure how helpful that would be on another cross grain plain trip.
     
  19. jethro911

    jethro911 Member

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    I lived in Wichita for a few years and finding fun roads was a challenge. We made the run out to CO for a weekend tour once. It was a simple throttle lock at max speed scenario. Once in CO, we had great fun in the snow too so it was a tour that covered many bases in three days. This was mid September and there was already snow in the pass above Vail and sleet fell around Brekenridge.

    Let's see, there was hail in Garden City,
    [​IMG]

    This was the scene after coming down from the pass above Breckenridge,
    [​IMG]

    This was taken on Independance Pass. The 91 was really suffering at these altitudes.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  20. bruteforce

    bruteforce New Member

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    Nice pictures. I currently live in Wichita and this is an awful place for motorcycles. I've been thinking about taking a trip out to Colorado myself
     
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