USA tour, on your own bike

[Sgt Bilco]

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.

.

We never use chains like Motel 6 unless we absolutely have to. They are soulless and all the feckin same so the Mom and Pop motels are the way to go IMHO The vast majority are cheap and clean and you are keeping a small local business going. Also, having your bike outside your room is great

 

[Paul Rochdale]

Oh I don't bother about 'soul'. They were clean, reliable and just what I wanted, and the bike was just outside the window. I just wanted a bed for the night. Good M&P motels too. Shame so few motels did breakfasts though. Once in a while, coffee. If I was lucky a Danish Pastry or a doughnut. I tended to start riding at 7 or 8 then stop at a Subway but a baguette seemed odd for a breakfast. I used to fill up a Gatorade bottle with ice cubes, then fill with water. That would keep me going on a hot day.

If you haven't guessed already, I love the US and will go back one day. The people are tremendous and amongst the friendliest and kindest I've ever met.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

If you haven't guessed already, I love the US and will go back one day. The people are tremendous and amongst the friendliest and kindest I've ever met.

 

[BeachGuy]

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?

Forgive my yank accent, but what is a wee biz angle?
As for Insurance on the bike it was insured for the book value that the Insurance company had. Needed VIN of the bike, a valid motorcycle endorsement on his driver license. Cost was $160 for a year. It was insured for everything, thief, collision, and comprehensive and road side assistance. Paid for it on a quarterly payment system. No problems with him as a tourist with a valid visa and I registered the bike here in Alabama in his name.

If I can answer any other questions just ask. I known a few Europeans who have bought bikes on Ebay on the East Coast, road them to the West coast and sold them there. Then flew home. It'll take a little more research but doable.

BeachGuy

 

[Earache]

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.....

I'd be happy to help you out with buying and selling a bike if ya want - as well as prepping the bike for cross USA trip. I do 2-3 cross country tours each year and can help you out with the routing, hotels, etc. Save the money that would be spent on a tour company and spend it on better hotels instead. You're more than welcome to join in on one of our tours for a portion - or all of it.

I've ridden in all of the lower 48 states and have traveled extensively in most as well - both on bikes and while working.

Email me at [email protected] if you'd like to discuss or just post away here on the forum.

Have helped out a few others here on UKGS'er in the past and would be happy to help others out in the future.

 

[Schtum]

Have helped out a few others here on UKGS'er in the past and would be happy to help others out in the future.

As one of the guys who Eric has helped out, I can vouch for this Merkin...

 

[Earache]

As one of the guys who Eric has helped out, I can vouch for this Merkin...

And I promise no 115F / 98% humidity days. And fewer miles per day as well.

I think it'd be great if 2-3 guys went together on a bike and each took it for a few weeks over the course of a year or so. It'd be really cheap then.

I have storage and maintenance available at no charge should a few guys want to do this. I can get tires mounted, oil changed and routine maintenance done at no charge other than for the parts required.

Timaloy just needs to make a list of things he'd like to see while here and I could make a route by filling in the spaces in between with suggestions of things to see and do as well as the best riding areas.

 

[Schtum]

And I promise no 115F / 98% humidity days. And fewer miles per day as well.

Bah - lightweight....! I'd probably never have done 1000 miles in 24 hours if it hadn't been for you.....

 

[Earache]

Bah - lightweight....! I'd probably never have done 1000 miles in 24 hours if it hadn't been for you.....

Timaloy is gonna have three weeks versus our one week - makes a big difference, of course.
The big mile days across Kansas don't bother me. I kinda enjoy it at times... in a sick and twisted sort of way
Given more time, there's a lot better ways to do it.

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

I'd be happy to help you out with buying and selling a bike if ya want - as well as prepping the bike for cross USA trip. I do 2-3 cross country tours each year and can help you out with the routing, hotels, etc. Save the money that would be spent on a tour company and spend it on better hotels instead. You're more than welcome to join in on one of our tours for a portion - or all of it.

I've ridden in all of the lower 48 states and have traveled extensively in most as well - both on bikes and while working.

Email me at [email protected] if you'd like to discuss or just post away here on the forum.

Have helped out a few others here on UKGS'er in the past and would be happy to help others out in the future.

Cheers Eric, I really appreciate the offer. I'm going to e-mail Bilco & see whether we can maybe sort something out regarding shipping my bike across. Once that's been done I may well be back looking for help in sorting out routes/suggestions.

Thanx again for your kind offer. I'm very grateful.

 

[Colban]

Forgive my yank accent, but what is a wee biz angle?BeachGuy

You'll have to forgive Symon;he's Scottish.
What he means is that there is a potential business opportunity in providing services to non US riders who dont want the cost of renting a bike when travelling in the States.
The cost/hassle of shipping a bike can be high so i have seriously considered the buy-then-sell option in the past.
I'm liking the idea of a "time-share" bike as an alternative to the buy/sell approach.

 

[Earache]

I'm liking the idea of a "time-share" bike as an alternative to the buy/sell approach.

Look here and search for the bike you'd be interested in;

http://claz.org/

It'll give you an idea of how much the bikes are going for and where they are located, along with seller's contact info.

I'd be happy to help anyone out with buying a bike if it's located in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, West Virginia or within 300 miles of Indianapolis.

 

[Earache]

Thanx again for your kind offer. I'm very grateful.

No problem. If I can help out in any way, just give me a shout.

Eric

 

[boatman]

You'll have to forgive Symon;he's Scottish.
What he means is that there is a potential business opportunity in providing services to non US riders who dont want the cost of renting a bike when travelling in the States.
The cost/hassle of shipping a bike can be high so i have seriously considered the buy-then-sell option in the past.
I'm liking the idea of a "time-share" bike as an alternative to the buy/sell approach.

Hey ho COL nae wuner yev nae palz
(Wee bit of scottish patois there )
Sorry about the inarticulate english there gentlemen, but in my defence i skived off to fish for trout the day they were teaching english (that seemed very much more important at the time)

 

[BeachGuy]

Boatman,

I'd bugger off and go fishing for the day too. We don't teach English in our schools at all, we learned what is called English through Television, and if you saw the trash that is on the TV you wouldn't recognize it as English either.

I'm located in the southern part of the US and if I can help anybody locate or check out a bike for a ride stateside let me know.

BeachGuy

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

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.

E-mail sent. Though it was only AFTER I'd hit the 'send' button that I realised that we've already chatted about 2014. Looking forward to getting some details a little nearer the time......

You have got me on your mailing list haven't you?