Getting LC GS 1200 ready for America trip

[nathanthepostman]

haha. I've been told I have to wear proper boots this time, but I have found some Rev it boots that look like Cons... Too much time off the bike to be wearing the clumpy stuff.

 

[Packer]

At least need a picture of you riding off on the GS wearing the old gaffer taped ones that you probably can't bear to part with.

 

[kiwirider]

Have fun on the trip Nathan! It sure will be a different experience compared to the postie bike. Another book in the making?
If you get time a ride report would be cool.
Good luck
Wayne

 

[MikeO]

Thanks guys. Hopefully the bike is all good to go. It's served me well so far, touch wood.

I'm shipping with James Cargo which, being an agency, always are a bit more than going straight to the actual boat or airline company. I get confirmation of cost on Thursday. I'd expect around £1200 to get it there. You can do it cheaper if you ship into LA or New York, much cheaper. It's just for various reasons I'm going to fly in and boat it out of New York. All up I'm reckoning on about £2000 there and back. There are cheaper options, but I know the company and it's an easy job of dropping the bike down with them and the next you see of it it's at the airport in the US. They crate it up and you can crate it with all the panniers on, so pretty straight forward. There's a bit of customs work at the other end but last time I did it it took a few hours then you're free to go.

Being there for more than 3 weeks, for me at least, it makes sense to take your own. Rental prices on a GS1200 with someone like Eagle Rider are crazy. Probably twice as much for the time we're there as it's costing to get the bike there. And I like travelling on my own bike; adds to the experience. Plus you know it. Plus no excess to pay for dings and drops. Will hopefully do a bit of trail riding whilst there so a rental bike would be too risky to risk. I've got crash bars on for a reason!

Insurance is with Motorcycle Express, who also do the shipping if you want them to. It's working out about £350 for up to two months, that's fully comp with breakdown cover. Easy done.

And in terms of paperwork it's dead easy with north America; for me that's the appeal. No need for a carnet, all you need to do is email the bike's details over to the authorities to get an EPA Letter of Approval, which is free and allows your bike to stay in the States for a year, though you're not supposed to leave without out. That and an ESTA 3 month visa for yourself and you're good to go.

Will definitely take some pics and stick them in a ride report thread.

A word to the wise about US Customs.

What you're doing is unusual to them and they are very unlikely to be familiar with the procedure. This can cause days of delay (as I found out in Miami in 2004). When I shipped in again (Portland, OR in 2006), I went onto their website and found all the necessary regulations, then printed them out and highlighted the relevant passages. It took ten minutes to clear Customs...

Mike

EDIT - Have a look at this link - scroll down to the sub-heading "Non-Residents" - print that out and highlight it, show it to the Customs chap. You don't need an EPA certificate or anything else - just have the ownership docs with you and you'll be fine.

Do NOT expect your shipping agent at the other end to know what to do - both mine were clueless and were making it up as they went along.

 

[nathanthepostman]

Thanks for the advice Mike. Definitely a good idea printing the rules applying to temporary imports out. I shall do that.

And I have flown into New York with a bike before and from memory it was a bit of a faff clearing it through customs, mainly because the lady on the desk had never done it before. I'm expecting similar this time round.

I did need the EPA though. They won't ship the bike without it, though I do seem to remember not being asked for it at customs. Free to get and worth getting if only to avoid the hassle if anyone asks for it.

Just a few pics from earlier. Starting to pack. Tomorrow, not today the bike heads down to Heathrow.

Picked up a new Primus stove from Cotswold which was in the sale. Handy little carrying kit and comes with pots and frying pan so should be handy. A few sporks as well.

Down to £100. Handy carrying case.

Camping gear. There'll be two of us so we've gone for a 3 man Vango Alpha 3000 also in the sale. Not the best tent but it'll do. And plenty of room inside, plus a handy porch area.

£60 from ebay.

Taking a light sleeping bag and a liner, just in case. More compact than a thicker sleeping bag.

Having said that...

Pack size is reasonable and weighs 5.5 kilos. All the camping gear will go in a Lomo dry bag on the Metal Mule rack on the back. The MM rack sits quite far back, so gives plenty of space for a dry bag and pillion.

The original ARD Case mounting plate didn't fit but luckily the cannister went in a MM rack. Will carry spare oil in it. Never thought I'd get excited by a container but I just appreciate the crafstmanship of Roger's stuff.

Taking a few tools. Mainly just to get the wheels off if need be. Plus a compressor that works off the battery, a few spare nuts and bolts and a tyre repair kit. Anything more than that goes wrong and it's the AA.

Just in case I lose some along the way.

And of course some tie wraps and tape. For the kidnappings, obviously.

A twin USB charger from Cliff at the Adventure Bike Shop

Sporks

Tour guide £2.99 online

A couple of helmets

And that's all I've told her she can take.

 

[MikeO]

Never needed an EPA on either trip - but if it's no hassle to get one it can't hurt. Customs chaps are used to importing 2000 sets of lawn furniture from Guatemala - knowledge of temporary importing a bike is going to stretch their comfort zone...

Have a great time

Did you do a ride report on the Post Bike trip?

 

[kurienp]

....

Did you do a ride report on the Post Bike trip?

http://www.thepostman.org.uk/

 

[nathanthepostman]

This one's probably better. It's the original ride report from ADV Rider. Drags on a bit and goes off subject towards the end.
http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/sydney-to-london-on-a105cc-honda-callled-dot.460631/

 

[Clifton]

Are you taking heated jacket liners or vests?

 

[nathanthepostman]

the other half's taking a hot water bottle if that counts?

 

[Clifton]

LOL yes that counts. It's just I've found heated liners take less luggage room compared to a packing multiple layers to have available for those cool mornings, high altitude, or cool wet days. Obviously you have traveled extensively so you have your system down pat.

 

[nathanthepostman]

It's a good point Clifton and probably they might come in handy. I've never used one before. My system is usually a bit more make-do than that. Looking at the forecasts I'm hoping that we shouldn't experience too cold a weather, or too much rain. Utah and Nevada should still be hot but a little less cooking, and Colorado could be a bit colder and damper. I'm taking waterproofs for the passenger. Last thing I need is her cold and wet on the back. Knowing her she'll probably just ride with the hot water bottle under her jacket.

 

[tanneman]

Reading this with interest. Good choice with the ORS bike. I have been looking at either shipping the bike over to South Africa, hiring one there or buying it and selling it after I'm done. So far the hiring and shipping works out very similar for 3 weeks. But taking your own bike still beats it hands down.

 

[nathanthepostman]

I dropped the bike off at James Cargo's depot near Heathrow today. It goes with all the luggage still on, the key in the ignition and the helmet strapped inside the crate. Next time I see it it'll be in Las Vegas next Thursday.

I found this company today. http://www.bmwoflasvegas.com/rental_information.htm

Its a BMW dealer in Vegas renting GSs for $155 a day, which works out not that much more than it's costing me to fly the bike in and out, and insure it for the month. I'm still glad I'm taking my own. I think it adds a lot to the experience, but if you were just going for a week or so and wanted to rent a bike and ride out to Death Valley or Grand Canyon for a day or two then it's definitely not cost prohibitive.

 

[kurienp]

. Next time I see it it'll be in Las Vegas next Thursday.

Glad that we have to wait only until next Thursday for more updates

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Kendo]

Good luck old fruit. Plenty of pics please and hope to meet up for a cuppa on your return. Ill be thinking of you whilst i have my nose to the grindstone.....

 

[nathanthepostman]

Update

Just a quick update on this; the bike landed Thursday in Las Vegas, as did we. Friday I went over to the airport, found my way to the cargo area, collected paperwork, back to customs for a stamp then back to cargo depot where a big crate was presented to us, a crowbar lent and in about 15 minutes we were on our way. Three days later and we've done about 500 miles, camped two nights, in a motel tonight as the heat has been a bit too much but now we're heading towards Grand Canyon it's starting to cool off. Met a lot of Europeans on rented Harleys today and in organised tours. I'm glad I brought my own. Adds to the experience and helps make a lot of conversations. I'll switch this to a ride report a little later but just a few pics of the trip so far...

The bike went through James Cargo who as an agent use Virgins cargo company so that's where you find your bike. The staff there disposed of the crate. The customs stamp was free, there was just a $60 processing fee to the cargo company. They didn't take cash or card so we had to get a money order from Walmart across the street.

We stayed in a cheapish Motel 6 just off the strip that night then the next morning hit the road. Never was a fan of Vegas, it's just convenient for bringing a bike into as as soon as you leave the airport you're almost straight in the desert, no big cities to navigate.

48 degrees in Death Valley but well worth it. We just took the kit from home so not best dressed for heat but wasn't going to go the tshirt and open faced route, not worth it.

Passenger melting by this point.

It was like this for most of the day. Nice bit of aircon at the Furnace Creek visitor's centre.

Not having a problem getting fuel. Some of it is a bit low octane.

Free camp spot in Death Valley. Hot but great views.

Just incredible rock formations

Too windy to put the tent up for a while as well. Needed rocks to weigh it down.

Leaving Death Valley

A random scouse fellow took this shot. They were on a lads holiday to Vegas and at Hoover dam for a day out.

Later on along Route 66, lots of guys on Harleys.

 

[Clifton]

It'll be nice when you're out of that heat, looks like a great start though!

 

[MikeO]

So - you took all this trouble preparing the bike for this trip, but didn't consider that you might need some specialist clothing for Death Valley in September?

 

[lmg]

Lots of drinking water and ventilated jacket will be fine. Plus get in the pool at the end of each days riding Nathan and you would be fine.

I rode through in 126f heat there and burnt my fingers picking up coins in the lay by near the devils cornfield (taking a bit of Yorkshire with me)

Sent from SYDland......