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Adam_P |
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Adam_P World Chat Champion
Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Karma :
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Posted: 17:22 - 14 Dec 2005 Post subject: Going across the US |
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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 ____________________ Colin McRae MBE 1968 - 2007 RIP
Orwell Rolls in his Grave
God is imaginary |
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EuropeanNC30R... |
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EuropeanNC30R... Gay Hairdresser
Joined: 20 Jun 2002 Karma :
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Posted: 17:43 - 14 Dec 2005 Post subject: |
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Sod the tour company, do it yourself and hire a harley |
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Keen |
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Keen World Chat Champion
Joined: 03 Apr 2002 Karma :
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Posted: 02:18 - 15 Dec 2005 Post subject: |
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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. ____________________ "he who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man"- Dr. Johnson |
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colin1 |
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colin1 Captain Safety
Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :
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EuropeanNC30R... |
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EuropeanNC30R... Gay Hairdresser
Joined: 20 Jun 2002 Karma :
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Dom |
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Dom World Chat Champion
Joined: 06 Sep 2004 Karma :
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Posted: 12:33 - 15 Dec 2005 Post subject: |
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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. ____________________ Photos and that |
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Keen |
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Keen World Chat Champion
Joined: 03 Apr 2002 Karma :
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Mrs Kickstart |
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Mrs Kickstart Brolly Dolly
Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Karma :
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colin1 |
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colin1 Captain Safety
Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :
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EuropeanNC30R... |
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EuropeanNC30R... Gay Hairdresser
Joined: 20 Jun 2002 Karma :
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Keen |
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Keen World Chat Champion
Joined: 03 Apr 2002 Karma :
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AceRimmer |
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AceRimmer Renault 5 Driver
Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Karma :
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Dazbo666 |
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Dazbo666 World Chat Champion
Joined: 06 Jun 2004 Karma :
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Jman |
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Jman Borekit Bruiser
Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Karma :
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Posted: 15:48 - 23 Feb 2006 Post subject: |
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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 |
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Jman |
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Jman Borekit Bruiser
Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Karma :
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Posted: 15:55 - 23 Feb 2006 Post subject: |
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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 |
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McJamweasel |
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McJamweasel BCF Junkie
Joined: 22 Mar 2002 Karma :
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Posted: 14:56 - 27 Feb 2006 Post subject: |
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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/ ____________________ BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse. |
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biker-dj |
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biker-dj Spanner Monkey
Joined: 10 Apr 2005 Karma :
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Posted: 17:24 - 27 Feb 2006 Post subject: |
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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 ____________________ Ride with the music! |
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stinkwheel |
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stinkwheel Bovine Proctologist
Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :
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Posted: 19:57 - 27 Feb 2006 Post subject: |
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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. ____________________ “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. |
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biker-dj |
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biker-dj Spanner Monkey
Joined: 10 Apr 2005 Karma :
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Posted: 20:23 - 27 Feb 2006 Post subject: |
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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 ____________________ Ride with the music! |
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andyshing |
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andyshing Derestricted Danger
Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Karma :
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Mik_RX125 |
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Mik_RX125 Nitrous Nuisance
Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Karma :
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 18 years, 104 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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