Don't forget tylenol and/or ibuprofen for the altitude headaches. I use a $20 duffel bag on top of the tour pack for raingear and full face helmets. Like what was already said, you should consider renting a jeep in Ouray and heading out to the Alpine Loop trail. This is a hell of a lot cooler than the Pikes Peak tourist trap area. I'd still visit Pikes Peak and Mt. Evans, but the old mining roads can't be beat for scenery and you can stop anywhere you want to relax and explore the area. We came back and bought a jeep of our own after we did this. Good luck!

 

Def a trip on my to do list

 

A few friends and me are doing a 6,500 mile ride out west this summer and our first order of business is to do the the Pikes Peak Hog chapter 5 in 1 ride.
Never done it before but I can say the hog road captain is the best. He answered my emails and helped out a lot. the ride is July 20th for about 300+ miles of the best one day riding over five mountain passes. check it out on the Pikes peak hog website. And thanks again to Steve.

My recommendation for anyone like me not familiar in riding CO is to buy a Bulters map for less than $20 bucks. Fantastic guide to riding for the non-resident.
This is a great thread. I hope there are more pics offered up. the train pic is unbelievable.

 

When you get into higher elevations switch to the 85 octane gas. From 5,000 ft there is 25 % less oxygen and 85 will burn better. Your engine will thank you for it.

 

i grew up in pueblo and salida colorado, and the 85 gas works fine up at altitude. i didn't know it till one time i was on a trip back home to colorado and stopped at the corvette shop in colorado springs and they gave me a flyer as to why we don't need to use premium or even midgrade at high altitudes. there is much less oxygen to compress up there, so using a higher grade isn't necessary. they were right, my corvette ran great using el'cheapo gas. there's highway 50 and the road from canon city up through salida and over monarch pass is nice, and you could also turn off of hiway 50 and head up to leadville and to nearby I-70 which would put you on the road to glenwood springs. i now live in oklahoma and really need to make another mini vacation back up to colorado. you guys got me to really missing colorado.

 

In 2007 I put together an HD Forums ride that took in all of these passes in a week. I had 42 people from all over the country at my house the night before the ride for the pre-ride BBQ.

It was a great experience and we saw a big chunk of Colorado, but there were still a lot of really cool places that we didn't get to see.

We have had 3 HD Forums rides into Colorado, and are still able to find new places to go.

Bill

 

Big state, lots of variables in terrain and scenery, we have loved both our trips out there.

 

Don't forget to check/adjust your tires air pressure. You will be amazed at the variance from sea level. Same thing is true on the way back.