48 in 10, August 2025

The bucket listing “48 in 10” journey was one thing I would thought of for a few years and in honor of my sixty fifth birthday, I made a decision this was the 12 months. I’ve by no means posted about any of my rides, however this was an epic journey so improbable, I felt it was price sharing with the group if for no different motive than to encourage a few of you to attempt it. It takes plenty of cautious planning, some lengthy days within the saddle and a good quantity of endurance. I am usually a solo, “Blue Highways,” off the overwhelmed monitor form of rider and clearly there was plenty of slab using right here. Not everybody’s cup of tea. However for these prepared to attempt, it presents a number of the most spectacular vistas this nation has to supply in a single intense, hyper-focused, unforgettable experience. Most days have been kick stands up by 5:00am adopted by roughly 15 hours on the bike.

My one piece of recommendation can be to experience with somebody you understand very effectively, somebody you want and somebody who has comparable using habits…meal/lavatory break frequency, early get up calls, using model, temperament. Issues can get testy using 800+ miles a day and the very last thing you want is to have a unpleasant using accomplice midway throughout the nation. On this case, it was my brother. And though I might by no means think about doing this journey on something aside from a K1600, he did it on a Harley Extremely Glide and gave the impression to be simply as thrilled by each single mile as I used to be. (He is a two-time Hoka Hey Problem Trip finisher, for these of you acquainted with that insanity)

After taking just a few months to resolve on the route, we began out on August third from Woonsocket, Rhode Island. We took a counterclockwise route across the decrease 48. Here is a hyperlink to the route the place you need to have the ability to zoom in on the map:

Hyperlink: Journey: 48 in 10

If the hyperlink above to the interactive map would not work, here’s a static route map

In some states we zipped over the border, bought gasoline, took a photograph of the receipt with the odometer and moved on (ME, MI, WI, NE, MN, WY, CA). In others we had lots of of miles of wonderful roads (SD, MT, ID, AZ, NC, VA). Every state offered totally different challenges, totally different circumstances and amazingly totally different sights.

Day 1 – Rested and relaxed

Luverne, MN

NV Hwy 50 “The Loneliest Highway in America”

Seligman, az

Monument Valley

Day 10 – 8,263 miles later

Aside from the dreaded 10 bar engine overheating problem on the few events after we have been caught in site visitors on blisteringly scorching days, the K1600GT carried out flawlessly. As did the brand-new Michelin Highway 6 GT tires I placed on earlier than departing. For these farkle geeks on the market, I additionally suppose my Sargent seat & backrest, handlebar risers, freeway pegs, AeroFlow windshield and wings, lowered pegs and grip puppies made an already superb bike much more snug and ideal for the lengthy days in retailer.

Extra of a quest than a experience, it was on the similar time exhilarating, exhausting, enjoyable, intense, therapeutic and difficult. At occasions it took all of the motorcycling abilities we had and it was probably the most rewarding issues I’ve ever allowed myself to do. Most individuals suppose we have been nuts. I learn concerning the man who did the 48 in 10 just a few years in the past and when he completed, he instantly rotated and did the precise route in reverse. That is nuts…

“The true journey of discovery consists not in seeing new landscapes, however in having new eyes.”