A friend and I will fly to Miami in mid October and rent bikes for 6 days (an Honda nc700x and an RT BMW). Other than Key West we have no plans yet as to routes. Realistically, we'll be sticking to the pavement and have no great attraction to endless freeway riding unless the destination truly merits it.

Any suggestions as to routes/destinations gratefully received.

Norm

Can't be much help apart from the trip to Key West. A couple of years ago, while in Miami with work, I rented a Harley Softail Heritage for two days. The first day I rode to Plantation Key, and then back to Key Largo for lunch (great crab), then continued as far north as I could get, which isn't actually that far (Angelfish Key). Then I went back to Miami via the 905A, which was amazing. Very little traffic, the road was a bit battered, and passed some weird little backcountry places. Just after crossing the bridge to the mainland, I found a place selling fish sandwiches. The whole area on the mainland side felt a bit like I imagined Cajun swamps, I had a really good day. It was also the first time I had ridden a Heritage, and I absolutely loved the bike. My wife now owns one, but that is another story......
Second day I went to Key West. When I left the hotel in Miami, I decided to go through the city all the way to Florida City instead of taking the freeway. Big mistake, it took me hours, and I ended up riding through places that wouldn't look out of place in an episode of the Walking Dead. A guy tried to sell me drugs while I was filling up at a gas station. Once on the Keys though, the ride was great, though I definitely had the feeling that speeding would be frowned upon. I passed a few cops in cool shades, but none stopped me. Although not an exciting road, it's very scenic and tropical. I loved the bridges, and riding next to a warm ocean on both sides is a very nice experience. Key West is nice enough, in a touristy kind of way, but I didn't hang around there very long. Ernest Hemingway's house is a must-see though. It's amazing, especially if you like cats.
Ride back, I hit a huge traffic jam. Not knowing any better, I cruised past the stationary cars for a mile or so before I saw four dudes on Harley's parked up in the traffic jam. I stopped to say hi, and they informed me that I had been breaking the law by passing stationary vehicles. Now, I had heard that filtering was illegal in a lot of US states (it's very normal and completely legal here in the UK), but I had never taken the idea seriously. You are seriously saying I can't use my bike for one of the purposes I started riding for, the ability to get through heavy traffic? They made me realize that my continuing disdain for this State law could cost me lots of money, and then invited me to ride with them to Key Largo, where they were staying in an hotel. They were from Alabama, and were on their annual bike trip. Once the traffic cleared, they seemed to forget their law-abiding status and lead me on a high-speed ride up the Keys, making me wonder why filtering/lane splitting was allowed in high speed traffic, but not when the traffic was not moving, and thus less dangerous? Two of them had no helmets and wire T shirts and shorts. Once in Key Largo, they invited me for dinner. Turned out they were all gun loving Christian folk; one was a cop, and other three were firemen. One of them was carrying two pistols, the smaller of which had a laser sight fitted. They asked me if I had found Jesus, at which point I decided it was time to ride back to my hotel in Miami. I had a pretty amazing ride back in the dark, the weather is fantastic (hurricanes excepted).
So apart from that, I can't offer any other route advice, except that, when I took the bike back to the rental place, the guy who inspected the bike asked me if I had ridden to Naples on the Tamiami Trail. His reaction to me saying no made me think he was probably a complete dick for not mentioning it when I rented the bike. On the map it looks very straight and flat, so I hadn't given it a second glance. So maybe that is worth investigating.
The ride down to Key West is definitely worth doing, though. I had a great two days, but I am also very glad I did it on a Harley. But maybe that's just the romantic in me.

Thanks, Mr. Jetlag, for taking the time to tell us your interesting story.

Norm

Hi Norm I was over there years ago and went to Boca Nice town and There is a cool Harley custom builder there Cyril Huze