I want to do the Trans-America Trail...

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

The Trans-America Trail is a route across the USA, mostly offroad. It's been mapped out by a bloke over there taking in fire roads, gravel roads, some more serious offroad-y type stuff running from Tennessee in the East and finishing nearly 5,000 miles later on the West Coast in Oregon.

I've had it in the back of my mind to see some of the USA having done a couple of tourist trips to the East and West Coast but wanted to see some 'real' America in some of the smaller towns. I was speaking to a bloke at a wedding earlier in the year who had done a road trip a few years back who thoroughly recommended going inland and meeting people rather than going to the usual cities.

Here's a rough guide to the route of the trail (the red dots show the route)

https://www.transamtrail.com/about/trans-am_map3.gif

There is a website here all about the trail

https://www.transamtrail.com

Some of the photos from the site

https://www.transamtrail.com/gallery/picofmonth/picofmonth-061202.jpg

https://www.transamtrail.com/gallery/images-lrg/gallery-01/motorrad0072.jpg

https://www.transamtrail.com/gallery/images-lrg/gallery-02/pict0038.jpg

https://www.transamtrail.com/gallery/images-lrg/gallery-03/12.jpg

I think it looks too good not to do! There's a bit of everything, snow, forest and desert.

There's a cracking ride report on ADV Rider

The only real issue I have is the bike

a) What bike to use?

b) What to do, buy one out there, or ship one over? I can think of pro's and con's of both but what do you think?

And finally, does anyone want to come with me? Very Happy

tatters · Exxon Valdez Joined: 04 Jan 2004 Karma :

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

KLR650 or DR650, probably as they are common and cheap.

Maybe TE610,

The problem with buying is finding somebody who will allow you to use their address to register the bike and to buy insurance from.

Its supposed to be difficult to ship to the US but I know at least 4 riders who did it from Japan and Korea, a RoRo company goes to the US via portsmouth. Canada is supposed to be recomended.

Go with you? depends how long it will take tbh and when, though there are various immigration things I don't like about the USA having to give all 10 of your finger prints for example!. Though Africa just researching it is turning out to be a massive headache (have or had a trek for 2011 planned for Africa).

Also depends on how exactly you are going to do it hostels/motels or camping.
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tatters · Exxon Valdez Joined: 04 Jan 2004 Karma :

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

Tatters, definitely up for going - might not be until next year though. I saw the trail site sometime last year but only thought today about putting thoughts into actions.

Some parts of the trail aren't really passable until end of June until early September. Based on that at a push I could probably get enough cash together by the summer if you are dying to go this year.

Itchy, I would be planning on camping mostly, hardly worth doing something like that then spending the nights in motels all the time. A few nights in a motel with a hot shower etc wouldn't go amiss though.

tatters · Exxon Valdez Joined: 04 Jan 2004 Karma :

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

Right, 2011 it is Thumbs Up

silky666 · Captain Rulebook Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Karma :

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

silky666 · Captain Rulebook Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Karma :

Just ran it past the missus and she nodded and shrugged "as long as you get health insurance ".
From that I have determined that 1) I can go .. and 2) Its nice that she is thinking of my welfare Smile

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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

If I could manage the time away from work, definitely. I've read quite a few TAT reports on advrider too. Look out for the one with the TE610 and XR650 I think it is - the TE610 got sold to 'fishfood', think it was owned by bigdog, reddog or something.

Given the choice, I'd definitely go for a TE610 - as I've gone on about many times before, reckon it's about the best mix of dirt and distance ability you can get.

Wave2k · G's Stalker Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Karma :

How long are we talking time wise, 4 weeks ?
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CaPo · Scooby Slapper Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Karma :

How much would something like this cost roughly all in?

michael j · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Karma :

This looks awesome.
Going to have to check out costs before I commit.
Thumbs Up

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

I estimate it will be £3000 or there abouts. based on my research in 2009.

Shipping your own bike £1K there and back (lose about the same if you buy and sell). but you get a familiar bike AND can bring your equipment along for the ride rather than buy there.

£500 airfare
£200~£300 insurance health and road

£20-£35 daily spend (more money = more comfort Geoff spent £28 a day in the USA a combo of camping, motels and friends' homes)

£2.8-£3.5K if you add in a contingency fund also consumables like tyres etc.
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tatters · Exxon Valdez Joined: 04 Jan 2004 Karma :

were did you get your shipping quote from? l tryed to get a few quotes for my R100GS a few months ago and cheapest was around £2k for a return.

I would worry too much about getting bike insurance as there was a posted on the HUBB about a company that offers monthly insurance for travelers, think it worked out around £50 a month.
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..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

Blimey, £2k Shocked

tatters · Exxon Valdez Joined: 04 Jan 2004 Karma :

michael j · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Karma :

What about bike hire?

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

If I were able to do it, doing it on my KTM would certainly make sense.
When the pound was doing better, buying a bike their and getting it shipped back could also have made sense Smile

.

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

I'd definitely prefer coming away from the trip with a bike to use in future trips. Also, being able to prep the bike before the trip would definitely be an advantage.

However, buying a bike one end and selling it the other end for a little loss wouldn't be so bad but then we'd be faced with the pressure of finding a bike quickly and then waiting to sell it again.

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

One definite thing I'd considered in the past is to arrange buying an appropriate bike of an advrider or similar member well ahead of time, ready farkled up. Then collect, ride and ship it home. Could well end up not too badly off in total compared to other options as stuff still tends to be a bit cheaper over there (have to play with taxes a little Smile

).

Quite like to a baja trip too - watch the race, then do as much as the same route as you can after when it's all quitened)

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

I had a thought, in that there used to be a bloke who sent a 20ft container to the US every year, in that why not just share a 20ft container?.

In that while I was in Korea I was told a 20ft container cost $2300 (cost price not inc handling) to ship from Korea to anywhere in Europe.

HK a container costs £1600, I suspect bar us being in the UK it would cost £1800 max, shared between 5 people = £360 each way.

AND we can sell any excess container space to other riders or people who want to move stuff.
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

I was just thinking along those lines too - did a google search but didn't find any obvious answers to price.