Choosing routes for Urals

[louisg]

How do you all choose routes for your rigs? I have a 2011 so it's top recommended speed is 60. I have no intention of taking it on the interstate; I like the old rural highway top speed of 55 experience so I can see the scenery.

However, some places I may have to "portage" on roads that are 60 mph. Also I may end up on a path where I may have to be on the interstate (in the slow lane).

Was wondering what approaches people take to choosing a route in order to stay within speed margins, and if you find yourself having to go on a higher speed route (let's say 60mph) how concerned do you get about overheating and what steps you might take to address that problem.

Thanks!

[Desantnik-VDV]

If you have to, then the slow lane might be good. Or getting behind the 18 wheeler truck going slower and keeping your distance could be doable. 3rd or 4th lane, i.e. two closest lanes from the shoulder...

[Tin Man]

Got told when I got into these machines that they ain't highway bikes........not if ya want them to last any amount of time. So, I plan my trips to stay off the highways as much as is possible. Sometimes I have to, but only for a couple-a-few exits, and then I'm back to surface streets. And if I have a stiff headwind, I do not get on the highway......

[wooden nickel]

I usually go to Google Maps and select Avoid Highways on the Options list. It usually gives me more than one choice and I go from there.
If I have to go freeway, I stay in the right lane and travel about 60 to 63 MPH. You can usually find a semi traveling about that speed and can shadow them.

[Tomcatfixer]

Your 2011 should be able to handle sustained travel at 60mph with ease. My 2001 Patrol, with a 100cc smaller engine than yours, can achieve 67mph for short bursts, but is happiest at 55mph. I would focus my trip planning on selecting a route with minimal elevation changes, if possible. Urals are not-a so good at hill climbing (or hill descending, if you have all drum brakes, like my 2001).

[VWK75S]

I draw a line between point A and point B and try to stay close to it. Makes for interesting finds and doubles the riding time.
John

[SidecarDan]

I've never had a problem doing 50ish in a 60 zone, I travel at a comfortable pace for me and traffic always finds a way around as needed. The Ural is big enough for them to see so they aren't surprised by the moving roadblock.

[Lokiboy]

My 2011 will do 65mph. I just don’t want to.

Adding to Wooden Nickel’s response, if I know Google “avoid highways” still had me on four-six lane roads this is what I do.

I look for small towns and insert one or multiple “add stop”. By doing so, I’m able to pretty much stay on two lane roads to the same destination.

Have fun and enjoy the ride

[S 854]

"Choose a direction" rather than "Choose a route"...

Back in July 2008 we picked up our brand spankin' new Arctic from Ural NW (then located in Bellingham, WA) and began our voyage to our home in a (then) quiet suburb of Denver, CO.

Wanting to visit friends and family on the two week drive home we had certain cities and towns we needed to put on our agenda...

We purposely DIDN'T tell people when we'd be in their town, but rather called a day before to give a rough idea when to expect us (or when to send out the dogs if for some reason we didn't show...)

This lack of planning worked out wonderfully... during the two week, 3,483 kilometer drive we ended up on the super-slab for a total of 20 miles and even that could have been avoided if we added a 90 mile detour to our trip...

I guess the point is, if ya need or want to get somewhere on a definite time schedule, take your car... if ya want to get somewhere and take away some incredible memories, there's no better vehicle than your Ural...

[robp]

I use the Google 'My Maps' function to plot backroad routes using waypoint markers on preferred roads to a final destination. Basically, you put markers on a map and then connect-the-dots along the roads. If you open your map with your phone, Google won't give realtime nav directions, but will display your location on the map in relation to your plotted route. At some point I would like to get a GPS and learn how to export the Google map files to Garmin or whatever. I've experimented with the Garmin desktop mapping app but I don't like the interface and features very much.

If I have a complicated route with lots of turns, I have put a strip of painter's tape on my gas tank and noted the turns with a Sharpie so I don't have to stop and pull out my phone or a map. A low-tech approach until I buy a proper GPS.

[windmill]

Don't over think it.

Take whatever road and route you want, nobody is going to run you over, and there will always be slower vehicles on the road with you.
Sustaining 60-65 on a 2011 isn't a reason for concern under normal conditions. If facing long steep grades or strong headwinds downshift and slow down. The whole don't do freeways thing is way overblown.

I'm in the Kent/Covington area and ride on I-5, I-90, 405, 520, 16, and 2 on a regular basis without the slightest issue.

[bratmanxj]

I'll gladly jump on the freeway around Chicago and run the right lane at 55-60mph. So far it hasn't been an issue and surprisingly people are very nice to the unique bright red sidecar oddity in their way.

Now, I won't jump into the thick of rush-hour traffic even on my two-wheeler that can easily keep up. People in the morning just are not paying attention to put myself at risk in anyway. Its even sketchy to drive in a car!

[atlasheating]

I took a trip on my 2004 Troyka a few years ago. We had to do some freeway (405 for about 30 miles) in order to get where we wanted to go. We left on Sunday morning when I knew the traffic would be light. 55 and 60 MPH were easy to do. We got to the second ferry in Annacortes that afternoon, and I was shocked at how bad my gas mileage was. I was also happy with how well we did on that stretch of freeway. I try to avoid freeways, but I know I can ride it if I need to. The 2014 Fuel Injection has a bit better freeway speed and does not seem to be working so hard.

[Msblu79]

Don't over think it.

Take whatever road and route you want, nobody is going to run you over, and there will always be slower vehicles on the road with you.
Sustaining 60-65 on a 2011 isn't a reason for concern under normal conditions. If facing long steep grades or strong headwinds downshift and slow down. The whole don't do freeways thing is way overblown.

I'm in the Kent/Covington area and ride on I-5, I-90, 405, 520, 16, and 2 on a regular basis without the slightest issue.

I agree, not an issue, just run at your own pace and all will be fine. I believe Gobium drove across country on the interstates and had no problems.

[Lofty]

How do you all choose routes for your rigs?

I have a 2011 so it's top recommended speed is 60. I have no intention of taking it on the interstate; I like the old rural highway top speed of 55 experience so I can see the scenery.

I knew in advance of buying my 2018 GU that it would be ridden most frequently on two lane B roads, with the occasional jaunt on a four lane A road posted at 55 mph. That's the Ural's wheelhouse, in my estimation, and in that role my rig has performed flawlessly. That's why I bought it. That's how my routes were "chosen".

If I want to travel any measurable distance, e.g. to a long weekend Ural rally, I'll haul the outfit with a trailer for the sake of comfort and safety. When long days on the Interstate were a recurring part of my riding calendar, I owned several sport touring bikes in turn. They were and are much better suited for that purpose. This isn't to say a Ural isn't capable of highway work -- it is -- but we also mustn't forget Mechanical Sympathy when discussing the Russian engine's fitness for sustained highway operation.

On a mildly humorous note, an early lesson in my Ural ownership was that the same twisting roads that I glided through on any [single track] motorcycle was now one hell of a workout when trying to tiller a sidecar through the same snug curves. So, I do still occasionally choose routes for the sidecar that I'd ignore when piloting the Suzuki.