Las Vegas people - are there any good roads to sport ride within less than an hour or so from downtown?
yeah, sort of. Red Rocks area will be the quickest to get to, but likely most crowded. Goes 13 miles all in one direction and loaded with turns and elevation changes. Pavement is not bad. It can be patrolled and it is a tourist area for recreation in and around the hiking and trails. Heading out to the lake mead area and especially the north end can be fun too (heading towards valley of fire), but again lots of campers and trailers. Speed limits can be only 35mph and you can get busted, but sometimes will only be a park service ticket. Still pricey but can be less points. Both areas have taken more than their fair share of bodywork as sacrifices to the pavement gods. Mt Charleston is fun in the summer as you get a bit of reprieve from the heat as you climb up the mountain, but you need to go at a pretty good clip to make the corners any fun and again there are lots of folks recreatin' up there and traffic and cops can be thick(ish). None of these I would say are 'great' but if you time it right (early and weekdays of course are best) you can have a bit of fun and get some good riding in.
The drive up to Oatman was rediculously winding, but it is a couple hour drive by car. But think Tail of the Dragon type road
Best MC road in vegas...Vegas Blvd friday night 11pm....just bounce it off the box and then wheelie for like 15-20ft till the next light. You can do that for an hour and still only go 2 miles. Thats how real playas do