Hey Ya'll,

I'm looking for some solid information on making my first road trip on my new to me 07 Street Glide. I am heading to San Diego from Phoenix on the 29th of March for 3 days. From San Diego, I will head to Malibu on Saturday with some stops on the way up and taking the PCH from Malibu back with more points of interest stops.

Anyone have any insight they can provide as to what to expect weather wise? I have driven PHX to San D quite a bit so I am very familiar with driving it but, not this time of year and not the Malibu leg of the journey. What type of riding gear would you take on this 3 day adventure. Chaps, rain suit, heavy or medium riding jacket or this/that and what else ????

Thanks in advance for any and all replies.

LW

 

LW,

The weather at this time of year can be a little strange. It can be cold to cool in the mornings, 40-50 degrees, and go up into the 80's in the afternoon, then back into the cool/cold side at sunset. Fog can be a problem along the coast in the morning.

Hope that helps,

Rick

 

Thanks Rick. IIRC, not too much rain that time of year. Is that about right?

LW

 

There can be, but, if you check the weather before you leave you will have a pretty good prediction as to the possibility of rain during your visit.

 

Seems to me that ANY ride you make will be fraught with weather unknowns. I ALWAYS ride expecting the best and the worst. I keep a rain suit in my bag at all times and wear a jacket (FXRG) that can be used in cold and warm conditions with mods. I layer my clothing to be ready for the same. Chaps are another always carry item. I am rarely caught off guard and thoroughly enjoy every ride.

 

I live in San Diego a mile from the ocean. You're fortunately going early enough where the "june" gloom hasn't set in on the coast. Usually during May/June the coast is socked in with a hazey fog type air condition. It'w weird too. Go 2 miles inland and it's sunny and warm. The coast will be 10-15 + degrees cooler.

March I think you're good. If you're from Phoenix then you know dez temp ranges. Could be cold in the morning and then warm in the afternoon.

Like someone else said. Layer up and be prepared for those off days when it can be cold. I just did a 190 mile trip 2 days ago and it was 39 degrees and poruing rain. COLD! And I'm only 2-3 weeks off the date you're planning on going.

On the flip side 5 days before that it was 82 and sunny.

Welcome to San Diego and ride safe!

 

Thanks for the good word. experience the June gloom unpredictable weather last time we were there. Eating breakfast at the Green Flash, looked like it was gonna rain and 20 minutes later it was 5 degrees warmer and sunny.

Bought a couple of HD rain suits just in case. The cold and wet combination would be a real bummer. I really want to make this a great experience for my wife. She loves that part of Cali and now that we are able to experience it on a Harley has me stoked. Any recommended stops in Alpine (closer to the freeway) while we are on the way up?

If there is any information on stops in between Malibu and San Diego besides Neptune's Net and the Rock Store, it would be more than welcomed. We plan on riding up the freeway from San Diego to Malibu on the way up. On the way back we will cruise the PCH and stop at various spots along the way (Santa Monica, Huntington Beach, etc..)

Thanks in advance

LW

 

Well here are a few coose to san diego rides I like to take. I don't know your exact routes but these are fun/twisty/pretty rides. I even threw in a hike in case you want to get out and stretch the legs.

1) Roads up by Julian off the 78. Pretty, wooded and twisty. Not dez like most of SD. At higher elevation so check the weather
2) Riding up Palomar Mountain. Super twisty hairpin turns with beuatiful views off the mountain over the valleys
3) Temecula wine country roads. Just watch out for how much wine you put down!
4) Up the PCH from downtown to san clemente. Lots of open spots where you are right on the water. Especially from la jolla through san clemente as you pass cardiff, solano beach, encinitas, leucadia, carlsbad, oside and the get back on the 5N all the way through camp pendleton.
5) 79 from temecula to palm springs. Twistys the entire way and you go from the anza desert floor up to the mountain passes down to Indio/palm springs. The drop from the mountain pass to Indio is a beuatiful sight to see.

Lastly idf you have time get off the bike at Torrey Pines State Park and go hke around the trails. They're all easy and they go all the way down to the beach. The trees are famous because they only grow there or in Japan. Also there is some cool cliff erosion areas that make beautiful scenery.

Do be aware of the nude beach at blacks. How often are you going to get to lay on the beaches of san diego butt naked though? Take a walk on the wild side and give it a whirl. Just watch out for the large amount of gay guys. They won't bug you but they're not scared to throw down with a sword fight right in front of you. I see it from time to time when going down to surf blacks which is the #1 wave in all of san diego.

 

santa monica has a fun pier with rides and what not.

long beach sucks. industrial.

manhatten beach and newport is where all the $$$ is. Big boats and expensive restaurants.

Drive through palos verdes is always interesting. BIG money homes there.

Santa Barbara is homeless central. Basically the beaches are covered in homeless guys. Not much to see here either.


Right north of Malibu there is a bunch of roads that go through the state park. FUn riding there.

Have fun and be safe!