Going across the US

[Adam_P]

Right, as my life gradually plods ever onwards I've finally decided that one of the things on my 'to do' list in my life really needs ticking off before I get a: fatter and b: older.

So, with that in mind, I want to travel across the US on a bike. Ideally (and iconically) it'd be a Harley (Yes, I know! ) But I really don't mind it being something else.

Now, the way I see it, I have two options.
I organise and arrange everything myself, which will basically involve hiring of said bike, plotting some sort of route (dependent on how long I have) and maybe one or two hotel bookings. But mostly it'll be pitching upsomewhere and finding cheap lodgings from day to day etc.

Or...

Going with a tour company, pay a lump sum, just take clothes and spending money and travel across on a pre arranged route, still seeing sights etc, but not exploring maybe quite as far as I would if I went by myself.

So, the question I put to the BCF touring massive is...

What do you think? Any ideas, advice, links etc.

I have some money saved up already and my credit card has some left too just in case I need it. But, it'll be more than likely than I'll plan it around work sometime next year, with 07 being an outside bet. I really want to do it asap, but finance and timescales will be deciding factors about that.

Thanks
AP
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Colin McRae MBE 1968 - 2007 RIP
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God is imaginary

[EuropeanNC30R...]

Sod the tour company, do it yourself and hire a harley

[Keen]

I've been planning a trip like this myself and to be honest I never even considered doing it with a tour company until now....

I'm sure it would be a laugh still, but lets be honest, its cheating.

I haven't looked into it in detail, but I think you can get a bike shipped over there for about 400 quid. We're planning a long one, all the way round if possible so I think it would still be cheaper to do it that way rather than renting. Suppose it depends on the suitability of your bike (hornet in my case, think it would handle it nicely). But thats how Dan Walsh did it (personal hero of mine).

There's this site, www.horizonsunlimited.com that has tons of information on touring, rentals, shipping and theres even like a database of bikers who'll let tourers stay with them if you email em... might be worth checking out

Theres a couple of goods books about touring america that I keep meaning to buy but I can't remember titles, I'll post it when I remember.
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"he who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man"- Dr. Johnson

[colin1]

hiring a bike to go across the whole of america wd cost a fortune.

buy one, ride across america, then sell it

I would use ebay to do this

If you are gonna do coast to coast, you might as well get a proper touring bike like a gold wing

american ebay motorbike listings
https://motors.listings.ebay.com/Motorcycles_W0QQcatrefZC4QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQsacatZ6024QQsamcmZ6024QQsocmdZListingItemList

just get the zip code of the place in america you want to start, and you can look for bikes in that area

some of the 'custom built' motorbikes (choppers) look good

most are expensive but not all
https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/No-Reserve-2001-Custom-Built-Chopper-Rowe-rigid_W0QQitemZ4597229148QQcategoryZ10062QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[EuropeanNC30R...]

The problem with buying a bike is, if you're going legit, you've got to insure it while you're out there and then sell it in a big hurry when you've finished.

I've read somewhere that most yank insurance companies can be reluctant to insure foreigners with no fixed US address.

Not sure I'd fancy riding a goldwing through redneck country either, you may as well take pink plastic sandals and ask nsr-andy to break you in before you go.

[Dom]

I can't see the point in using a tour company for that kind of trip, personally. I mean it's easy enough to find out about individual places you want to go for yourself and you wouldn't have the freedom to just say to yourself "that road looks good, I'll take it and see where it goes" if you did an on-the-rails kind of tour.
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Photos and that

[Keen]

[Mrs Kickstart]

Hi,

I would go for the hire a bike as at least if it packs up you get a replacement. Buying could be a nightmare.

A tour compnay would be more restrictive but would mean less planning and some will hump all the gear from place to place for you.

I think I would go it alone in the USA, its not like there is a lanuage barrier and you could take a small tent in case you cant find a B&B.

Regards
C

[colin1]

[EuropeanNC30R...]

Breakdown cover could be an issue as well, Harley's aren't exactly known for their bullet-proof reliability. With a newish hire bike (that probably has breakdown as part of the deal) at least you're giving yourself a fighting chance.

[Keen]

[AceRimmer]

Ian Wright did a show going across America. It's on Men and Motors on Thursday at 9pm. Might be of interest if you haven't seen it.

[Dazbo666]

[Jman]

you can freight your own bike over there for around £500 (from southampton to california), check out horizonunlimited.com for a list of trusted sea and air freight companies, but i'm not sure how insurance would work.

generally speaking its a safe place, but you might want to avoid looking like a tourist in the dogiest parts of larger cities....

some suggestions for things to do:
eat a stack of pancakes smothered in golden syrup with strawberries and crispy bacon on top.
pikes peak in colorado springs. action kicks of on july 1st this year.
cruise the pacific coast highway north from san diego, through LA to san francisco. there are plenty of inland hills and corners if you get bored of the blistering pace of the highway.
AMA visits daytona (banking, big speeds) in march (best get there quick ) and the road america (concrete walls, overbanding) in july.
cruise new yorks grid, be sure to pay a visit at the sidewalk bar.
eat fresh cajun catfish and warm cornbread anywhere in the south, but preferably from a family owned joint.


also, other internet contacts woth checking out are:
www.gamct.com
www.hctravel.com
www.edelweissbike.com
www.chromecaballeros.com
www.gobajaridin.com
www.chrishaines.com

[Jman]

i suppose a good bit of advice would be not to obsess over the complications/possible complications. just decide where you want to visit, how you want to get there and just do it

[McJamweasel]

I've actually been looking into doing this for a while now.

If you go with a guided tour it will cost you twice what it would if you did it on your own.

You can hire a big Harley for $750 a week in peak season ($500 or so off season), add in a bit for one way hire and you're sorted.

Choose a vague route based on branches for the hire company you're going with, take a map and enjoy.

These seem to be the biggest hire places, Moturis are a bit cheaper but Eagle Rider have more branches and bikes to choose from.

https://www.moturis.com/html/index.html
https://www.eaglerider.com/
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BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[biker-dj]

Don't know if it will be of any help but on the Holiday programme on BBC1 at 7pm today - Charley Boorman does a bike trip accross Nevada, obviously it's not going to show much but might give you some ideas, tips etc
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Ride with the music!

[stinkwheel]

A lot of hire companies wont let you take their bikes out of the state, just watch for that.

If you're going to get a harley, get a modern fuel-injected one for that sort of distance. I rented a heritage softail classic which looks like a 'proper' harley and is supposed to be pretty reliable.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[biker-dj]

Just watched Holiday programme average hire price they quoted was £72 per day or £444 per week, not sure if that was for the 2006 R6 they showed or another slightly cheaper sports 600. Good luck with planning your trip and I hope it comes off for you
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Ride with the music!

[andyshing]

[Mik_RX125]