Guided motorcycle tour USA
Discussion
Try to talk your friend out of a guided tour. Your halve the cost, and have twice the fun - eat what you want, do what you want, when you want. No waiting around for "Deidre and Pete" who dawdle at every right turn as they have not figured out that you can turn on red in certain places.
Whilst i've never toured on a bike in the states, i've done it multiple times in a car, both for work and holidays, for months on end.
Touring the states is the easiest thing. If it was somewhere a little bit more niche like non-english speaking, off-roading, or terrible roads, then i would recommend it.
Lonely Planet book for destinations, tripadvisor website for hotels and local area recommendations, google maps for planning A to B. Only takes a couple of evenings work (if that), and a bash of the credit card.
Hotels, lodges, and motels are a breeze due to american customer service - calling them or emailing them will get you the answers you need quickly about parking.
Breakdown services are straightforward with the right level of insurance - again due to american customer service. A tour would be utilising the same thing.
If you suffer cancellations, then a quick hotels.com or equivalent and your find somewhere easily.
Death valley even in September or October is insane. Even with the A/C cranked to the lowest it was warm in the car with just two of us.
Whilst i've never toured on a bike in the states, i've done it multiple times in a car, both for work and holidays, for months on end.
Touring the states is the easiest thing. If it was somewhere a little bit more niche like non-english speaking, off-roading, or terrible roads, then i would recommend it.
Lonely Planet book for destinations, tripadvisor website for hotels and local area recommendations, google maps for planning A to B. Only takes a couple of evenings work (if that), and a bash of the credit card.
Hotels, lodges, and motels are a breeze due to american customer service - calling them or emailing them will get you the answers you need quickly about parking.
Breakdown services are straightforward with the right level of insurance - again due to american customer service. A tour would be utilising the same thing.
If you suffer cancellations, then a quick hotels.com or equivalent and your find somewhere easily.
Death valley even in September or October is insane. Even with the A/C cranked to the lowest it was warm in the car with just two of us.
Never understand the thing with a guided tour - nowadays with GPS and an iphone to book your stay overs.....why tie yourself to someone elses plan? Toured in Africa and only ever gone solo, even there...in the US where its developed and safe there's no way I'd want to be on someone elses tour!
And get a lid out there - but you can carry them on. I've flown business to Cape Town in Motocross boots and carrying an Arai X4 (makes you the coolest dude on the plane....in my head anyway!!!!!)
And get a lid out there - but you can carry them on. I've flown business to Cape Town in Motocross boots and carrying an Arai X4 (makes you the coolest dude on the plane....in my head anyway!!!!!)
RemaL said:
Bob i'm doing my best to talk my mate out of it and when he sees how much it will cost I think he will as well.
I'm happy to arrange the trip. Would ensure I can get the bikes, book the flights, and arrange a reasonable distance for riding each day. some more some less.
Is your friend just scared of the unknown? or being stuck with the same person?I'm happy to arrange the trip. Would ensure I can get the bikes, book the flights, and arrange a reasonable distance for riding each day. some more some less.
Being British/English you instantly make friends in the USA (depending on your ethnicity lately.....).. or was when i was there.. mostly mid-20's females..
Good luck.
BobSaunders said:
RemaL said:
Bob i'm doing my best to talk my mate out of it and when he sees how much it will cost I think he will as well.
I'm happy to arrange the trip. Would ensure I can get the bikes, book the flights, and arrange a reasonable distance for riding each day. some more some less.
Is your friend just scared of the unknown? or being stuck with the same person?I'm happy to arrange the trip. Would ensure I can get the bikes, book the flights, and arrange a reasonable distance for riding each day. some more some less.
Being British/English you instantly make friends in the USA (depending on your ethnicity lately.....).. or was when i was there.. mostly mid-20's females..
Good luck.
i've toured Europe a few times and book groups to le mans so will be happy to do this again. I think he;s not looked into how much it's going to cost. which from looking is going to be 4-6k for 2 weeks 1 person per bike.
I have told him i've seen return to LAX from Heathrow for just over a grand. hire bikes at $1200 for the 2 weeks. just food drink and hotels after that . plus buying a few extra clothes and a open faced lid i would take
RemaL said:
I think he;s not looked into how much it's going to cost. which from looking is going to be 4-6k for 2 weeks 1 person per bike.
When we went, a guided tour came in at just shy of £5k for two of us on one bike without flights.DIYing, it dropped to sub-£3k.
Bike rental is a niche market so costs more.....add a tour guide it gets borderline stupid money for what it is.
American friends of mine use this site to plan their routes https://www.wikiloc.com/ it has both on road and off road trails as well as 4x4, mountain biking and hiking routes
Alicatt1 said:
American friends of mine use this site to plan their routes https://www.wikiloc.com/ it has both on road and off road trails as well as 4x4, mountain biking and hiking routes
stunning and thanks for the link matt
Crossflow Kid said:
PS For the bike, I found a little indy rental place called Escape Eagles, two blocks off Las Vegas Blvd behind Treasure Island.
$900 for two weeks unlimited rental of the Harley which with the exchange rate at the time meant we paid around £45 a day. No mileage limit and no restrictions.
Beware places like the much-acclaimed Eagle Riders: they sometimes include a fee to go inter-State and some don't allow passage through Death Valley at all.
You might also be tied to a Saturday pick up and a Friday drop off which in turn might tie you into more expensive flights.
Just sent them a email off as I found them $900 for two weeks unlimited rental of the Harley which with the exchange rate at the time meant we paid around £45 a day. No mileage limit and no restrictions.
Beware places like the much-acclaimed Eagle Riders: they sometimes include a fee to go inter-State and some don't allow passage through Death Valley at all.
You might also be tied to a Saturday pick up and a Friday drop off which in turn might tie you into more expensive flights.
coming up to needing to book this. Mates still unsure on the guided self guided no matter how much I talk to him.
I'm working out the numbers and prices and once he see's the different he will change his mind.
I'm posting this up as we went to the NEC show and talked to loads of people about touring including eagle riders who where helpful if not pushing for guided tours.
I want this booked up soon so hoping to make more headway
You could always rent an Indian - Roadmaster or Chieftain; most of the rental places that do Harleys (like EagleRider) will do Indians too now. Better heritage than a Harley (1901 vs 1903 
), same broad outline as a Harley, but a little quicker, handles (a lot) better, stops better, lots smoother etc. I know someone on here has done the US on a Roadmaster and rated it. I know you say you didn't fancy the idea of touring on a Harley, but my Indian has certainly never been left behind in the company of other 'proper' touring machines even through the twistiest of twisties - and I don't get aches and pains after a few hours; in fact I don't get aches and pains at all and can ride all day...which is probably what you want in the US. You'd find the big Indians are surprisingly chuckable for bikes of their size. The [immense!] weight is carried very low, the bars are wide, and the ground clearance is very good really.
), same broad outline as a Harley, but a little quicker, handles (a lot) better, stops better, lots smoother etc. I know someone on here has done the US on a Roadmaster and rated it. I know you say you didn't fancy the idea of touring on a Harley, but my Indian has certainly never been left behind in the company of other 'proper' touring machines even through the twistiest of twisties - and I don't get aches and pains after a few hours; in fact I don't get aches and pains at all and can ride all day...which is probably what you want in the US. You'd find the big Indians are surprisingly chuckable for bikes of their size. The [immense!] weight is carried very low, the bars are wide, and the ground clearance is very good really. 
Sorry if I have not posted but since I first posted this I never gave the hairy thing a real thought. now it's got to be a Harley. And what i've been pricing up
As someone said US road trip and Harley is a must. sort of. And now I agree. thinking big sofa type RoadGlide, Electra glide etc..
As someone said US road trip and Harley is a must. sort of. And now I agree. thinking big sofa type RoadGlide, Electra glide etc..
Just a update 1 week today and i'm off to LA to start my Wild west biking tour with Eagle riders. We are going a few days early and staying a few days later in vegas to enjoy the trip and do some sightseeing at the time time.
Next Thurs going to Petersen Auto Museum which looks cool before the trip starts
https://www.petersen.org/
I will update when i can. And see how I get on on the HD Street Glide. As people said if your doing this then a HD is almost a must do. Which I agree on
Never been to the West coast before. US many times but Florida and new york areas
Can't wait
Next Thurs going to Petersen Auto Museum which looks cool before the trip starts
https://www.petersen.org/
I will update when i can. And see how I get on on the HD Street Glide. As people said if your doing this then a HD is almost a must do. Which I agree on
Never been to the West coast before. US many times but Florida and new york areas
Can't wait
RemaL said:
Just a update 1 week today and i'm off to LA to start my Wild west biking tour with Eagle riders. We are going a few days early and staying a few days later in vegas to enjoy the trip and do some sightseeing at the time time.
Next Thurs going to Petersen Auto Museum which looks cool before the trip starts
https://www.petersen.org/
I will update when i can. And see how I get on on the HD Street Glide. As people said if your doing this then a HD is almost a must do. Which I agree on
Never been to the West coast before. US many times but Florida and new york areas
Can't wait
Packed your chaps ??? Have fun fella and be sure to write a report on your return ...Next Thurs going to Petersen Auto Museum which looks cool before the trip starts
https://www.petersen.org/
I will update when i can. And see how I get on on the HD Street Glide. As people said if your doing this then a HD is almost a must do. Which I agree on
Never been to the West coast before. US many times but Florida and new york areas
Can't wait
dibblecorse said:
RemaL said:
Just a update 1 week today and i'm off to LA to start my Wild west biking tour with Eagle riders. We are going a few days early and staying a few days later in vegas to enjoy the trip and do some sightseeing at the time time.
Next Thurs going to Petersen Auto Museum which looks cool before the trip starts
https://www.petersen.org/
I will update when i can. And see how I get on on the HD Street Glide. As people said if your doing this then a HD is almost a must do. Which I agree on
Never been to the West coast before. US many times but Florida and new york areas
Can't wait
Packed your chaps ??? Have fun fella and be sure to write a report on your return ...Next Thurs going to Petersen Auto Museum which looks cool before the trip starts
https://www.petersen.org/
I will update when i can. And see how I get on on the HD Street Glide. As people said if your doing this then a HD is almost a must do. Which I agree on
Never been to the West coast before. US many times but Florida and new york areas
Can't wait
And will do
RemaL said:
Just a update 1 week today and i'm off to LA to start my Wild west biking tour with Eagle riders. We are going a few days early and staying a few days later in vegas to enjoy the trip and do some sightseeing at the time time.
Next Thurs going to Petersen Auto Museum which looks cool before the trip starts
https://www.petersen.org/
Make sure you also do the Vault tour at the Petersen. They have far more cars that they can possibly display at any one time so they rotate the display. I was there a couple of weeks ago and one gallery/floor was dedicated to Porsche, another to Japanese cars, and another to a couple of low-riders. So a lot of the historic stuff and all the hot rods usually there weren't on general display; also the hot-wheels stuff was only in the Vault. In fact most of the really interesting stuff was in the vault...unless you're a Porsche fan.Next Thurs going to Petersen Auto Museum which looks cool before the trip starts
https://www.petersen.org/
...and I still think you should have hired an Indian - quicker and better handling that any Harley
A few points from me:
California and New York are the only states that allow filtering
As said, some states like Illinois where I am dont require a helmet.. but that doesnt mean you shouldnt wear one. The standard of driving over here is questionable at best - their driving test is basically a trip around the block and if you dont kill anyone you pass...
Typically roads in America are arrow straight so its more about having a bike that is comfortable that can cover the huge distances.
Make sure it has a comfy seat - I know a guy who set off on a road trip and had to get a different seat express shipped to a hotel he had booked on route cause his rear was broken from so much time spend on the road.
Taking your helmet as carry on isnt a problem, I do it all the time. I bought one of these which works well:
https://www.amazon.com/MOTO-D-MD-HELMET-CASE-Motor...
Sounds like you will have a blast, best of luck with it!
California and New York are the only states that allow filtering
As said, some states like Illinois where I am dont require a helmet.. but that doesnt mean you shouldnt wear one. The standard of driving over here is questionable at best - their driving test is basically a trip around the block and if you dont kill anyone you pass...
Typically roads in America are arrow straight so its more about having a bike that is comfortable that can cover the huge distances.
Make sure it has a comfy seat - I know a guy who set off on a road trip and had to get a different seat express shipped to a hotel he had booked on route cause his rear was broken from so much time spend on the road.
Taking your helmet as carry on isnt a problem, I do it all the time. I bought one of these which works well:
https://www.amazon.com/MOTO-D-MD-HELMET-CASE-Motor...
Sounds like you will have a blast, best of luck with it!
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