FROM THE EDITORS OF RIDER MAGAZINE

PHOTO BY RICH COX

LAST SPRING I rode a 2,600-mile loop around California as part of my test of the 2016 Yamaha FJR1300ES( Click here to read Chasing Four Corners with Six Gears.) Traveling on familiar roads— south on various freeways to San Diego, north for hundreds of miles along the Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway and through the majestic Redwood National and State Parks on U. S. Route 101— I layered new memories atop old ones.

But my route also included roads I’ d never ridden before— east on Interstate 8 along the U. S.- Mexico border and through the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area( photo at left), and west across the state on Route 299, over the Cascade Range and through the Trinity Alps, for example— where I mapped out fresh memories. As I ticked off miles, my brain soaked up unfamiliar sights, smells and sensations along with the details

of new-to-me curves, turns and grades.

All of us have mental lists of memorable roads. There are the familiar streets around our neighborhood and on our daily commute, as well as our favorite back roads for quick escapes. There are the many scenic routes we’ ve sought out or stumbled upon, roads that may not be on any bucket list but are satisfying just the same because we experienced them on two wheels. And then there are the truly special roads, those transcendent byways that transport us not just to new places but to new states of mind.

Favorite Rides & Destinations, which brings together the best of Rider’ s touring and Favorite Ride stories, as well as inspiring photography and exclusive touring-focused content, is a go-to resource for memorable roads, including some truly special ones. This issue includes tour stories from all over the United States, from Acadia National Park to the Washington Cascades, and much, much more.

We hope you enjoy the issue. Please share it with your friends and let us know what you think by completing the short survey at the end.

See you on the road! Greg Drevenstedt rider @ ridermagazine. com