Great motorcycle roads riding familiar roads in your own backyard

While motorcycle travel is a passion for me and for many others, finding a local road that becomes a favorite can be just as much fun as hitting the highway in search of something new.

There is something to be said for a familiar road. When you ride a familiar road, you dont necessarily have to hesitate when entering a curve you cant see around; you know how it ends! On your own local roads you know where the stop signs are and whether you can see well enough to pull out in traffic. On roads you ride often, you know where the gravel wash is likely to be, where the dogs will chase you, and where slowing way down is going to be prudent.

So what makes a good local road? As with most things, this is highly subjective. What I may like may or may not be what the next rider likes. Here are a few things I look for in my adventures in Kentucky:

Curves, sweepers, and twisties or as I like to tell my friends, You dont have to take the pilgrimage to ride The Dragon, we have plenty of lizards here.
Not much traffic because if I want to take my time I dont want some bozo riding my tail.
Not much stop and go because I dont mind slowing down or downshifting, I just dont like stop signs every mile. "The key to budget travel is to prepare ahead. When it comes to family trips, globetrotting, well-deserved trips and/or going to see new places we have never been before, the fact of expense and budgeting is generally in the back of our minds. Arranging and expending our travel budget carefully is a main concern for most families. Minimizing consuming and expenses, while still taking pleasure in your vacation to its fullest, is the key to confirmed accomplishment and fiscal obligation. Your pocketbook and family will thank you! The thought behind protecting money while journeying is simple: Even if your personal funds is highly limited, you can still take a break and enjoy life! Simply put, life is just too short to never step out of the door or leaving the homestead! Also recalling that while traveling, no matter whether on a budget or not, even the smallest of things can all add op to a big vacation or travel costs!..". Besides that, the chance of an unwanted encounter with someone not paying attention is greater when stop signs are involved or ignored.
Smooth surfaced roadways because I dont want to spend my seat time dodging potholes when I could be enjoying the scenery.
And speaking of scenery, it helps make a good road a great road if there is a pull out so you can stop and enjoy the views.

So what are some of my favorite roads in my area? Here are a few:

US-23 running up the east side of the state from Ashland to Pikeville, it is also known as Country Music Highway. Check out the cuts through the mountains near Pikeville!
US-119 along the southeast edge between Pikeville and Pineville this is what mountain roads look like!
KY-15 from the Mountain Parkway to Hazard is more mountain riding with twists and turns galore but take a side road off this highway and the speed limits drop from 45 mph to a mere 15 mph for good reason.
The Mountain Parkway from Winchester to Salyersville is a four lane divided highway making getting to the mountains fast but with very little traffic.
US-60 across the state has the mountains in the east, horse farms in between Lexington and Louisville, and gently rolling hills of farmlands in the west
US-31E from Louisville to the Tennessee state line is filled with not only great twisties also is steeped in history as it passes by Bardstown and Hodgenville.
The Western Kentucky Parkway from Elizabethtown to I-24 near Paducah is another divided highway great for getting to further reaches of the state but unlike the Mountain Parkway, this route does have some traffic issues.
Any road that takes me near a Kentucky State Park.

I am truly fortunate to live where I do. The variety roads in Kentucky are awesome! From the mountains in the east to the lakes in the west with the horse farms of the Bluegrass Region in the middle, there is something for everyone. Attached is a video of just one of the many country highways crisscrossing this state.

While much has been written here about great motorcycling roads, it again remains up to the rider to seek out those roads and share them with other riders. So now is the time to share. Comment below and let everyone know of a great motorcycle road in your own backyard.

Other articles on the subject of great motorcycle roads:

Tail of the Dragon a rite of passage
Motorcycling Beartooth Scenic Highway and Chief Joseph Scenic Highway
Great motorcycle roads the Blue Ridge Parkway
Great motorcycle roads the Kancamagus Highway
Great motorcycle roads the Adirondack Northway
Great motorcycle roads Covered Drive in Upper Michigan
Great motorcycle roads Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway
Great motorcycle roads the Cherohala Skyway
Great motorcycle roads East Tennessee Crossing Scenic Byway
Great motorcycle roads Americas Byways
Great motorcycle roads Bikers Dozen
Great motorcycle roads according to AMA members
Progressive published list of best states for motorcycling

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