smccrory Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 My parents still live in Morgantown WV where I grew up. This weekend I had an occasion to ride my '13 V-Strom 650 there for a visit with my dad. So, why would you care? Because of WV Route 7 and OH78 (but especially 7)! Oh, and Morgantown has a ton of stuff to enjoy and is central to a lot more amazing motorcycle roads. But first, you have to get there... By car, I would normally just take 270S from Westerville to 70E to 79S and be done with it in under 3 1/4 hours, but no way was I going to slab that on a motorcycle with the nice weather we had. Instead, I took this route (Google Maps link) which shoots you out of Zanesville down 146E to Cumberland OH, then 340E to 841S to Caldwell OH, 78E to New Martinsville WV and 7E to Morgantown for a total trip time just under 4 hours from Zanesville and under 4 1/2 from Columbus. Was it worth it? Hell yes it was! With a couple caveats... read on... First, let's get 146, 340 and 841 out of the way - they're fun roads with a nice foothills-rhythm to them. I just wouldn't pick any of them as destination roads in of themselves. To me, they're nice connectors to even better riding. 78 isn't bad either, and there are parts of it that will wake you up and catch you unaware if you're not paying attention. There are also speed traps in some of the little villages where you go 55 mph to 25 mph with very little signage, but fortunately I didn't see any cops out patrolling this weekend. All in all the conditions of 146, 340, 841 and 78 were reasonably good, but I was happy to have an ADV-style bike with suspension travel and the ability to accurately carve turn lines between asphalt patches and occasional deceased critters. You also need to watch for hay bale traffic in the farm areas this time of year. But the real excitement is on WV route 7. I rode the section between New Martinsville and Morgantown, but I bet it's even spicier all the way east to Maryland. Go ahead, click on that Google Maps link above and see what I mean. There are chicanes, switchbacks, ridges that fall into turns, river parallels, country farm valleys and wooded canopies. There's even a jet airplane shell mounted on a stand alongside of the road near Cassville. The density of turns is tight and without a specific rhythm, so you absolutely have to be on the ball, picking your lines, committing to them and looking through the turns into the next setup... for the entire 70 miles. There are gas stations along the way, but it's best to fuel up at each end if you have a small tank (not a problem with the DL650). Now I would NOT attempt WV 7 after dusk or before dawn unless you have a death wish, and I don't think it would be fun in the rain, especially with wet autumn leaves on the road. You can't get too confident in the beginning either because it just keeps coming at you. Traffic can spoil the fun, but fortunately you can pass cars throughout the road if you're quick on the throttle and keep your shit together. I returned across this route (this) Sunday morning and was absolutely delighted with the near-absence of traffic vs. the Friday afternoon I had come east across it. You'll also want to bolt everything down really good - my right mirror shook loose from unavoidable potholes near Morgantown but I had everything else nicely battened down. So all in all, I highly recommend this route if you have a desire to check out Morgantown or the roads around it. WV 7 is a joy when the conditions are dry and there is little weekend traffic. Go enjoy it and report back if it met your expectations! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
durk Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 I've rode 7 from New Martinsville to Hundred WV and your right, it is a good time. I have also drove part of 7 in a truck near Morgantown and couldn't help but dream about riding it on the bike. Glad you enjoyed your trip. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie14 Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 Thanks for the suggested route. I know where I am headed on the next day the wife and kids are tied up for the day. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmwnut Posted August 10, 2015 Report Share Posted August 10, 2015 Me and the wife stayed at morgantown four three days and rode each day in a different direction about 150-180 mi loops great town to stay at great roads to ride 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kramerica41 Posted August 13, 2015 Report Share Posted August 13, 2015 I went to school in Morgantown and live in Columbus now. WV-7 is a fun road and so is OH-78, but there are better roads between here and there. Below Wheeling pretty much anything going away/toward the river is good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kramerica41 Posted August 13, 2015 Report Share Posted August 13, 2015 if you're going all the way to motown, you might as well take a day and go down US-219 toward Seneca Rocks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kramerica41 Posted August 13, 2015 Report Share Posted August 13, 2015 just my 2 cents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smccrory Posted August 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2015 if you're going all the way to motown, you might as well take a day and go down US-219 toward Seneca Rocks! Agreed! I've been to Seneca Rocks and Dolly Sods via the annual Romney Camp-and-Ride (May of every year) but I haven't ridden much of 219 yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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