USA tour, on your own bike

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Morning all.
I'd like to do a 2/3 week ride in USA but having checked out the cost of motorcycle hire it seems to make more sense to take my own bike. I do, however, like the idea of having some sort of local knowledge and back up when I'm there.

This is exactly what I'm looking for

http://nicksanders.com/cms/adventures/incredible-usa/

but due to work commitments I can't go on this trip. I've been in touch with Nick and he tells me he won't be doing anything similar after next year.

Does anyone know of any other companies n the UK who do anything similar, i.e. arrange it all, transport your bike, do the paperwork, sort out your hotels, arrange back-up and generally make it hassle free?

 

[sven]

Bilco of this parish runs US tours with your own bike.

The Nick Sanders tour looks like a lot of miles each day and a bloody long ride from Baltimore to get to the interesting stuff. Much better to start from somewhere further west such as Denver, Las Vegas or San Francisco. Avoid LA as it's a toilet except for the fantastic Los Angleles Crest Highway.

Check out www.unchainedtours.com

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Terrific, many thanx.

I'll have a look & possibly drop them an e-mail.

Really appreciate it - thanx again.

 

[Paul Rochdale]

Four Grand for a three week trip? Holy Moses. Why do you need to get somebody to do the planning/paperwork for you? Thats all part and parcel of enjoying the experience. There's shedloads of information either on here or on Horizons Unlimited on how to do it. In 2006 I spent three months riding 17,000 miles from coast to coast and back again, and not only rode solo but made all my own arrangements.

So some advice -

1. Two or three weeks only? Rent a bike. It's not cheap flying or shipping a bike over - I've done both - so for such a brief period, rent.

2. Don't consider doing very large mileages. I did a few 500, 600 mile days but 400 was usually enough. Smell the roses. It's not a marathon. If you spend eight or more hours a day riding, you'll be tired day after day and this will spoil the trip. And you won't see anything.

3. Concentrate to a certain areas such as New England, the East Coast, the Trans Pacific Highway or Denver. Get a map of the US and put a big dot on every place you want to visit. At the end see what area has the most dots and head there.

4. Accommodation? Simple. Book the first night and then stop at Motel 6s after that. No need to book, just turn up. I never found anywhere was full and being a rider made no difference.

If you want any specific information, please feel free to contact me.

 

[sven]

We did 3300 miles in 17 days, the longest day being 330 miles and the shortest 130.

Places like Death Valley, Tioga Pass/ Yosemite, Arches NP, Mesa Verde, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon etc. need at least half a day to see, so short days are sometimes necessary.

We spent £7500 including £2300 for the RT from Eaglerider, £1300 for the flights (I cashed in my works airmiles for BA Premium Economy flights). The rest was hotels, fuel, food , beer, $80 for a NP pass, £300 for a helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon, about £300 for ATV rental in Moab and Ouray (brilliant fun) and entry to Alcatraz and Planes of Fame Museum.

There are some places where hotel accommodation is in demand and very expensive, so you should book early e.g. Yosemite, Williams, Kayenta (Momument Valley)

 

[ebbo]

4. Accommodation? Simple. Book the first night and then stop at Motel 6s after that. No need to book, just turn up. I never found anywhere was full and being a rider made no difference.

If you want any specific information, please feel free to contact me.

Motel 6’s Paul, you must find them generally ok then? The only one we stayed in in Las Vegas was pretty poor, doggy smells in one room, smell of smoking in ours, fag burns in all the bedding. You might wonder why we stayed, frankly the though of trying to move again was worse

 

[Rushy]

I bought a GS and then sold it at the end of the trip for $3000 less than I paid for it and I could have sold it ten times over. Thats way cheaper than hiring one and way cheaper than shipping a bike over . PLUS If i had taken my own bike, which I originally wanted to do, it would have had an extra 12,000 miles on her and would've needed over £500+ spending on her when I got her back home.

I got rid by advertising on a couple of US websites a week before the end of my trip stating when and where the bike could be viewed at the end of the trip. A couple of people wanted me to extend my trip and ride/deliver the bike to them in other parts of the US. Food for thought.

In total I spent about the same as Sven but then I stayed for the full 90 days that my tourist visa would allow, I went solo though.

 

[sven]

Motel 6’s Paul, you must find them generally ok then? The only one we stayed in in Las Vegas was pretty poor, doggy smells in one room, smell of smoking in ours, fag burns in all the bedding. You might wonder why we stayed, frankly the though of trying to move again was worse

We stopped in the Motel 6 in Santa Barbara which was newly refurbished and perfectly fine for one night, and also one in Williams, which was OK, nothing special but OK for the money. They're the same standard as Travelodges in this country (which can also vary between OK and pretty poor).

The other budget motel we stayed in was a Super 8 in Yucca Valley which was also basic, but again acceptable for one night and it only cost £30.

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

I appreciate the offer Paul but check out Sven's reply.
Nick Sanders' trip represents the best deal I can find - by a country mile.
If you can find me a similar deal at a similar price, either taking my own bike or renting a 12RT I'll snap your hand off.
The cost of hiring is prohibitively expensive and I can't find a way of taking my own bike, flights, accommodation and back up that comes anywhere near close.

 

[patzx12]

I bought a GS and then sold it at the end of the trip for $3000 less than I paid for it and I could have sold it ten times over. Thats way cheaper than hiring one and way cheaper than shipping a bike over . PLUS If i had taken my own bike, which I originally wanted to do, it would have had an extra 12,000 miles on her and would've needed over £500+ spending on her when I got her back home.

I got rid by advertising on a couple of US websites a week before the end of my trip stating when and where the bike could be viewed at the end of the trip. A couple of people wanted me to extend my trip and ride/deliver the bike to them in other parts of the US. Food for thought.

In total I spent about the same as Sven but then I stayed for the full 90 days that my tourist visa would allow, I went solo though.

You are a smart tourist, how did you arrange insurance ?

 

[sven]

The fixed costs are the bike hire/shipping and your flights.

Everything else you can make as cheap/dear as you want. I went for the cheapest hotels with good reviews on Booking.com/Tripadvisor - you could save money by stopping in more basic places. We ate in some very nice restaurants and went to diners for breakfast instead of eating the very basic but edible breakfasts in the motels (the exception being the disgusting crap in the Holiday Inn Express in Moab which was inedible). Skipping the helicopter flight, ATV trips and Alcatraz would have saved another $900.

The Nick Sanders tour is good value solo as you'll be stopping in basic accommodation (from what I've heard before) and sharing a room. However, all you'll do is ride and a lot of it will be across uninteresting parts of the States getting to the more interesting parts. I really don't see the point of wasting half of your valuable holiday time riding from/to Baltimore You also need to add your food and fuel costs to the price.

Some of the sights you can see from the road e.g. Monument Valley, Pacific Coast Highway, Tioga Pass. However, others you need to take detours to see and even spend time to explore on foot e.g. Grand Canyon, Canyonlands, Death Valley (viewing points), Yosemite, Mesa Verde.

Just my two penneths worth

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

All very interesting and good advice chaps, thanx again.
But as you say the cost of shipping/renting are the expensive bits.

 

[BeachGuy]

New to the group, but had to post

A recent ride that I and my friend from Costa Rica took went like this. I live here in the states and we planned on riding from Orange Beach, AL to Seattle WA and back to Alabama. The big western ride, only problem was my buddy had no bike state side. Here's what we did.

Cost for the bike and trip were as follows:
1. 1996 BMW R1100RS $2500.00 craigslist find with 86,000 miles on it.
2. Tag, Taxes and registration in Alabama $116.00.
3. Two new tires, rear brake pads, new fluids (trany, engine, and lubed finale drive) $316.00.
4. 12 volt auto power outlet $6.00
5. Checked valves, and cleaned K&B air filter, tighten need nuts and bolts. $0.
6. Insurance on the bike for 3 months $40.00.
Total cost to buy bike and get it ready for the trip. $2978.00 US.

Left Orange Beach, AL on Sept 7, 2012 rode through 13 states and returned on October 4, 2012. Total distance traveled 8,200 mile. I rode my 2001 BMW F650GS and Raymond on the R1100RS.

I needed a new chain in Seattle, Washington for the F650GS and the R1100RS needed a new oil sending unit (it was leaking badly). Total cost for the sending unit $26.00.

Raymond and I stayed in inexpensive hotels and eat whatever we wanted. Our daily cost for fuel, smokes, food, hotels (we shared a room, he snores and my feet smell bad, even trade if you ask me) and extras came to $71.50 a day for each of us the entire trip. Both bikes run synthic oil Moble 1 and we needed less than 1 quart for the entire trip.

Five days before we returned to my home we listed the R1100RS in the Mobile and Pensacola craigslist. Raymond returned home to Costa Rica and 4 days later I sold his bike as it was with 96,000+ miles on it for $3,000, and got back $17.00 for my unused insurance.

So, 27 days of travel at $71.50 equals $1930.50 for one person plus the initial price of the bike. Total cost was $4,934.50 (no airfare in this price).

Then sold the bike, so total cost $1930.50, a little planning and you guys can do it too.

Now you ask, can if be done again not knowing anybody local which can do the same thing? Yes I think so. It's not hard to buy, register and tag a bike in the US.

I hope this info helps somebody wanting to ride the US, if you are planning now, I hope its South Florida or South Texas that you are planning on riding this time of year.

Now for the find of the week. No its not mine, don't know the people.
http://tallahassee.craigslist.org/mcy/3455342879.html

BeachGuy
Orange Beach, AL

 

[boatman]

Could be a wee biz angle in there for you as a kind a buy back facilitator
Was your friends insurance expensive as an out of towner?

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Appreciate the thought Beach Guy but it's too much hassle with too many variables for me, being someone who just wants to do a 3 week holiday and doesn't live locally.
1) Time spent sourcing a bike when I get there
2) Time spent fettling the bike
3) Time spent sorting insurance
4) Time spent selling the bike at the end of the trip
5) Unknown sell on price of the bike at the end of the trip, given that I have to sell it before I fly home, leaving zero room for negotiation on my part
6) Variable possibility of breakdown eating into holiday time and money for a relatively high mileage bike vs my relatively low mileage RT.

Certainly sounds like a great idea if you know someone locally who can do all the before and after but I've still yet to see anything representing better value and convenience (for me anyway) than Nick Sanders trip.

I've been in communication with Bilco and am on his mailing list (I think) with a view to doing something in 2014, hopefully.

 

[The Bede]

... First get a quote for shipping, you're pissing in the wind until you know what price mark you're up against and it may be cheaper than you think.

... Try James Cargo for air freight, but you can also go direct to air companies, Martin Air, Lufthansa, United even BA.
... I don't know shipping agents for sea freight, but a quick google will get you started.

... Budget one day for your temporary import procedure. (Send the bike, plan you're arrival for the night before it arrives, simples!)

... Budget half a day to do the re-export.

... It's not as tough as you think and why did you buy the big rufty-tufty adventure bike to leave it at home on your big trip?

... The other comments about accommodation, picking a region etc etc are all good. The worst thing that can happen if you get a proper freight price is you might prove that rental or an inclusive tour is cheaper for your particular circumstances/plans!

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Morning all.
I'd like to do a 2/3 week ride in USA but having checked out the cost of motorcycle hire it seems to make more sense to take my own bike. I do, however, like the idea of having some sort of local knowledge and back up when I'm there.

This is exactly what I'm looking for

http://nicksanders.com/cms/adventures/incredible-usa/

but due to work commitments I can't go on this trip. I've been in touch with Nick and he tells me he won't be doing anything similar after next year.

Does anyone know of any other companies n the UK who do anything similar, i.e. arrange it all, transport your bike, do the paperwork, sort out your hotels, arrange back-up and generally make it hassle free?

Timaloy, I can't pm you but ping me a mail on [email protected] and I can work out some options for you. I have 2 containers going out to the USA next year,can ship your bike there and back It will be hassle free and you can just rock up and enjoy your ride.

 

[Paul Rochdale]

Motel 6’s Paul, you must find them generally ok then? The only one we stayed in in Las Vegas was pretty poor, doggy smells in one room, smell of smoking in ours, fag burns in all the bedding. You might wonder why we stayed, frankly the though of trying to move again was worse

Yes, I often but not always stayed in Motel 6s and always found them clean and cheaper and they are justifiably the best of the budget motels. In 2002 we stayed mainly in Days Inn but these had gone up in price by 2006. In the US they also have what they call 'Mom & Pop' motels which are privately owned and always cheaper still. I had heard horror stories about them as they are often a bit dated and can be less than clean but in my experience, they were fine.

Las Vegas? I stayed in 'Circus Circus' twice, and this is now getting a bit tatty around the edges as it is an early hotel on the Strip. It's also massive with more than a thousand rooms. Hotel rooms in LV are the cheapest in the US as each hotel has it's own casino and this subsidises the accommodation.

Yosemite? We stayed in tented accommodation in Curry Village. You MUST book early.

Stovepipe Wells, Death Valley. Not even a hamlet, SW consists of a gas station, a general store, a motel and a restaurant. Fabulous fabulous place to stay (117f during the day, 100f at midnight) and again you MUST book.

As you ride up to each town/village, you'll be greeted by an array of ugly but useful hoardings advertising the motels. You always pay on arrival.

My 2002 trip, I went to HC Travel and they organised all of the paperwork, flights, insurance, and so on. Having experienced it - and HC Travel were exceptionally good - I would do it myself.

 

[sven]

Yes, I often but not always stayed in Motel 6s and always found them clean and cheaper and they are justifiably the best of the budget motels. In 2002 we stayed mainly in Days Inn but these had gone up in price by 2006. In the US they also have what they call 'Mom & Pop' motels which are privately owned and always cheaper still. I had heard horror stories about them as they are often a bit dated and can be less than clean but in my experience, they were fine.

Las Vegas? I stayed in 'Circus Circus' twice, and this is now getting a bit tatty around the edges as it is an early hotel on the Strip. It's also massive with more than a thousand rooms. Hotel rooms in LV are the cheapest in the US as each hotel has it's own casino and this subsidises the accommodation.

Yosemite? We stayed in tented accommodation in Curry Village. You MUST book early.

Stovepipe Wells, Death Valley. Not even a hamlet, SW consists of a gas station, a general store, a motel and a restaurant. Fabulous fabulous place to stay (117f during the day, 100f at midnight) and again you MUST book.

As you ride up to each town/village, you'll be greeted by an array of ugly but useful hoardings advertising the motels. You always pay on arrival.

My 2002 trip, I went to HC Travel and they organised all of the paperwork, flights, insurance, and so on. Having experienced it - and HC Travel were exceptionally good - I would do it myself.

Yosemite was a toilet - stay at Buck Meadows instead. We only passed through the hamlet of Stovepipe Wells in Death Valley, but enjoyed our stay in Furnace Creek resort

Las Vegas is a complete dump and we only spent 10 minutes taking photos onthe strip, which was 9 minutes too long

 

[Paul Rochdale]

"Las Vegas is a complete dump and we only spent 10 minutes taking photos onthe strip, which was 9 minutes too long"

Oo err, a bit harsh. Las Vegas comes into it's own at night with all the shows down the Strip, the fountains of Bellagio and the galleons of Treasure Island. Even the Venetian comes into it's own after a while. LV is brash, vulgar and bloody hot during the day, and two days of it is enough for most people. Yosemite - Our wooden floored tent with electric lights was fine for us and cool enough to actually get some much needed sleep but yes, it's very popular with tourists.