Guided motorcycle tour USA
Discussion
I have been asked by a old friends (almost family) if I would like to go on a tour of the USA ( he want's to do something that includes Las Vegas, Death valley and the grand canyon areas). This will be for the Autumn 18. So thinking Sept/Oct time.
I'm happy to fly over, hire a bike and do what we want but he wants to go with a Guided tour so that's fine by me.
So a few hopefully simple questions.
1) I don't want a borrowed lid. What do I need to do for taking mine over for flights. And is it worth buying a open face, flip front instead of my Arai RX7-GP. If I can buy over there that may help a little.
2) Any companys people would recommend using.
3) What bike would be best. I don't really want a Harley. I know they have more choices. Was thinking Gold wing? I know they are heavy just wanted something I can cruise along and be comfy and enjoy the ride.
So what's our suggestions.
I'm happy to fly over, hire a bike and do what we want but he wants to go with a Guided tour so that's fine by me.
So a few hopefully simple questions.
1) I don't want a borrowed lid. What do I need to do for taking mine over for flights. And is it worth buying a open face, flip front instead of my Arai RX7-GP. If I can buy over there that may help a little.
2) Any companys people would recommend using.
3) What bike would be best. I don't really want a Harley. I know they have more choices. Was thinking Gold wing? I know they are heavy just wanted something I can cruise along and be comfy and enjoy the ride.
So what's our suggestions.
A friend of mine used Eagle Riders when he was in Las Vegas, really rated them, obviously big on Harleys, but they do have other bikes as well:
http://www.eaglerider.com/motorcycle-tours?gclid=C...
They offer guides and you can pick up in one place and drop off in another which is handy.
http://www.eaglerider.com/motorcycle-tours?gclid=C...
They offer guides and you can pick up in one place and drop off in another which is handy.
Hi,
another vote for Eagle Rider. They are franchised right across the US so you are never too far away from one if you have any issue.
I have done coast to coast a couple of times so if you need any specific advice, give me a shout.
As another poster said, take your helmet as carry-on luggage. You can buy a decent size helmet bag that you can put other stuff in.
Harleys are absolutely the bike of choice in the US - people (even non-bikers) are very passionate about the brand. I went for the Road King as it is a great cruiser. Last time did 3.5k miles in 2 weeks (Orlando to LA). Neither bike nor rider missed a beat.
Rod
another vote for Eagle Rider. They are franchised right across the US so you are never too far away from one if you have any issue.
I have done coast to coast a couple of times so if you need any specific advice, give me a shout.
As another poster said, take your helmet as carry-on luggage. You can buy a decent size helmet bag that you can put other stuff in.
Harleys are absolutely the bike of choice in the US - people (even non-bikers) are very passionate about the brand. I went for the Road King as it is a great cruiser. Last time did 3.5k miles in 2 weeks (Orlando to LA). Neither bike nor rider missed a beat.
Rod
Krikkit said:
This is going to sound like a daft question, but surely doing a bike tour in the US is about doing it on a big Harley?
Why? I know people who live and ride in the US. Do Iron Butt rallies in the US (11k in 10d ays etc..) about 15% may ride Harleys. I may change by mind but it's not the first bike I would want for a tour personally
RemaL said:
Krikkit said:
This is going to sound like a daft question, but surely doing a bike tour in the US is about doing it on a big Harley?
Why? I know people who live and ride in the US. Do Iron Butt rallies in the US (11k in 10d ays etc..) about 15% may ride Harleys. I may change by mind but it's not the first bike I would want for a tour personally
Something like an Electra Glide is obviously way out of its element mincing around the North Circular but a big US tour is what it's made for.
It's not like you can get your knee down in Death Valley unless you run over a cow's skull and fall off
Big fairing, stereo, giant bags, cruise control etc. Get yourself all 'Muricaned up for the experience.
We used 'White Rose Tours' for a fabulous Northern Spain tour and have another European trip booked for this year with them.
They do a USA tour which includes bikes of your choice.
Very well organised, great route planning, superb hotels and great food.
www.motorcycletours.co.uk
They do a USA tour which includes bikes of your choice.
Very well organised, great route planning, superb hotels and great food.
www.motorcycletours.co.uk
We did Vegas, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Death Valley, Yosemite, Tioga Pass, San Francisco, the PCH to LA then back to Vegas over two weeks in 2014.
Think long and hard about going on a guided tour.
We didn't and it literally halved the cost and made it all much more of an experience as we were totally on our own. Maybe that doesn't appeal but for us, there's nothing worse than a bossy tour guide and a bunch of new found "friends"
Hotels and motels are dead easy to book online, navigation is so easy a child could do it and as well as saving loads you get to choose where you go, where you stop and how fast you go between the two.
Planning a route is simple enough - just look at Eagle Rider's itinerary and the hotels they're using. It's not rocket science to figure out where the best routes are.
You don't need a shiny support van for all your luggage. If you're taking that much stuff you're on the wrong kind of holiday.
We hired an Electra Glide Classic and although not the most refined piece of machinery ever built, it was perfect for the job, plus being able to tell the grand children "I rode Route 66 on a Honda" just doesn't work.
PM me if you want more details.
Think long and hard about going on a guided tour.
We didn't and it literally halved the cost and made it all much more of an experience as we were totally on our own. Maybe that doesn't appeal but for us, there's nothing worse than a bossy tour guide and a bunch of new found "friends"
Hotels and motels are dead easy to book online, navigation is so easy a child could do it and as well as saving loads you get to choose where you go, where you stop and how fast you go between the two.
Planning a route is simple enough - just look at Eagle Rider's itinerary and the hotels they're using. It's not rocket science to figure out where the best routes are.
You don't need a shiny support van for all your luggage. If you're taking that much stuff you're on the wrong kind of holiday.
We hired an Electra Glide Classic and although not the most refined piece of machinery ever built, it was perfect for the job, plus being able to tell the grand children "I rode Route 66 on a Honda" just doesn't work.
PM me if you want more details.
We both used open face lids with good (ballistic grade) eye protection and neck tubes pulled up to keep the dust out as required.
In a full face helmet, in Arizona, at midday, in the summer months, you will die.
You could purchase over there (i brought back a Shoei Hornet, priced the same as UK but in dollars so the exchange rate made it a bargain.
They have some very good bike shops, the issue might be if they don't have your size your whole trip falls apart.
In a full face helmet, in Arizona, at midday, in the summer months, you will die.
You could purchase over there (i brought back a Shoei Hornet, priced the same as UK but in dollars so the exchange rate made it a bargain.
They have some very good bike shops, the issue might be if they don't have your size your whole trip falls apart.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 4th April 14:38
HD Adam said:
RemaL said:
Krikkit said:
This is going to sound like a daft question, but surely doing a bike tour in the US is about doing it on a big Harley?
Why? I know people who live and ride in the US. Do Iron Butt rallies in the US (11k in 10d ays etc..) about 15% may ride Harleys. I may change by mind but it's not the first bike I would want for a tour personally
Crossflow Kid said:
We did Vegas, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Death Valley, Yosemite, Tioga Pass, San Francisco, the PCH to LA then back to Vegas over two weeks in 2014.
Think long and hard about going on a guided tour.
We didn't and it literally halved the cost and made it all much more of an experience as we were totally on our own. Maybe that doesn't appeal but for us, there's nothing worse than a bossy tour guide and a bunch of new found "friends"
Hotels and motels are dead easy to book online, navigation is so easy a child could do it and as well as saving loads you get to choose where you go, where you stop and how fast you go between the two.
Planning a route is simple enough - just look at Eagle Rider's itinerary and the hotels they're using. It's not rocket science to figure out where the best routes are.
You don't need a shiny support van for all your luggage. If you're taking that much stuff you're on the wrong kind of holiday.
We hired an Electra Glide Classic and although not the most refined piece of machinery ever built, it was perfect for the job, plus being able to tell the grand children "I rode Route 66 on a Honda" just doesn't work.
PM me if you want more details.
I've toured Europe on bikes and cars. I book the ferry and then go where the weather is nice and never had a issue with booking hotels and B&B's. Think long and hard about going on a guided tour.
We didn't and it literally halved the cost and made it all much more of an experience as we were totally on our own. Maybe that doesn't appeal but for us, there's nothing worse than a bossy tour guide and a bunch of new found "friends"
Hotels and motels are dead easy to book online, navigation is so easy a child could do it and as well as saving loads you get to choose where you go, where you stop and how fast you go between the two.
Planning a route is simple enough - just look at Eagle Rider's itinerary and the hotels they're using. It's not rocket science to figure out where the best routes are.
You don't need a shiny support van for all your luggage. If you're taking that much stuff you're on the wrong kind of holiday.
We hired an Electra Glide Classic and although not the most refined piece of machinery ever built, it was perfect for the job, plus being able to tell the grand children "I rode Route 66 on a Honda" just doesn't work.
PM me if you want more details.
I would be happy with Guided or not.
and thanks for the feedback so far it's been great.
As for I rode a Route 66. I never go further than that. As I said i'm no Anti Harley just would rather not. I think the only thing that I would ride would tbe the Electra glide as posted.
Maybe I can get my son's of anarchy patch and assless chaps as well
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.
$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.
5ohmustang said:
Krikkit said:
This is going to sound like a daft question, but surely doing a bike tour in the US is about doing it on a big Harley?
Exactly it's all part of the experience.It's not like you're buying the bike.
yea i've turned to the idea of a Harley for the tour of the US. Planning on going to the NEC show see other thread and seeing what guided tours can provide but i'm still more up for booking flights, bikes and doing my own thing but my friend i'm going with still wants to look at the guided tour.
I'm looking at flying to LAX, having a bike sorted beforehand and working out beforehand miles and approx places and miles to go and just go as the days go.
I'm looking at flying to LAX, having a bike sorted beforehand and working out beforehand miles and approx places and miles to go and just go as the days go.
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