American advice?

[mnkyboy]

Hey

I'm going to the states for a month to chill and do some riding. Was contemplating buying a cheapie and hoping for the best.

I want to know what I'm gonna need legal wise for a bike (rego insurance etc)

That and some good riding roads from LA for a month.

Cheers

[DrunkenMistake]

If noone can answer off the bat,
Send a PM to
Tigertim20 hes currently in Colorado with his partners Family, but he will be able to give you a really good indication of current prices etc etc

[Vacquer0]

Let me know what state and a few details and I will try to put something together for you from here.

I'm in Montana now. Might be starting work at a Bike Dealership this week and have access to better info.

You can e-mail or call whatever works for you.

[Stormdragon]

The state you purchase in is going to be important. Some require insurance, and some don't. While you may be planning on getting insurance, and thinking the requirement or lack thereof is no big deal, it can be since you're not a 'Murican. Make sure you have an international drivers license, and call or e-mail ahead to a couple insurance companies to make sure they can accommodate you. Or else make sure that your New Zealand insurance covers you, and that you have papers saying such.

If you buy and ride in California, you will need registration, and insurance. I'd also recommend uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage since we have a lot of people running around without insurance. Helmets are mandatory, but you can split lanes, (as long as you don't annoy the cops when doing so) and a right turn on a red is legal unless specifically prohibited. U-turns are allowed as well. Yay.

As far as roads in Smell-A, most are a little too well known. So there's plenty of traffic and weekend enforcement. There's the Angeles Crest, whichever one it is that goes past the Rock Store, (look for youTube videos with the name Rnicky Mouse) Ortega Highway, and Hwy 33. A day trip South through Idilwyld to Palm Springs, or even farther to Borrego Springs or Palomar Mountain is always fun. (Heading North to my neck of the woods is even better though. :laugh: )

Pay the $20 at the Pashnit (http://pashnit.com/) website and get access to all their maps, or pick up a set of Mad Maps (http://www.madmaps.com/) for other possibilities.

[tigertim20]

Hey

I'm going to the states for a month to chill and do some riding. Was contemplating buying a cheapie and hoping for the best.

I want to know what I'm gonna need legal wise for a bike (rego insurance etc)

That and some good riding roads from LA for a month.

Cheers

tis a bit to think about. my observations so far
roads here are fucking big, looking at 6 lane highways for an hour, before it reduces to two lanes each way for another hour before you get anywhere decent from a city. no one wears decent gear. every one on the road is a mad cunt. bikes (or cars) do not require a wof or equivalent in most states.
Buying a bike will be fine, but because many dont worry about wofs etc, you cant be gauranteed a safe bike with good tyres brakes etc. My suggestion would be contact a dealer, and talk to them about buying a bike on the proviso that they agree to buy it back for a minimum agreed price, provided you dont damage it.

also look into your insurance etc. if youre over here for one month, your NZ licence will suffice for the duration of your trip.

good luck and god speed, and for god sakes, be damned carefull, im not joking man, at 11pm, on the interstate on a tuesday night, there were more cars in EACH of the FIVE lanes travellling in my direction, as Ive seen on the entire welly motorway at 5pm rush hour on a thursday. LA seems quite nice though, had a bit of time there.

[Stormdragon]

at 11pm, on the interstate on a tuesday night, there were more cars in EACH of the FIVE lanes travellling in my direction, as Ive seen on the entire welly motorway at 5pm rush hour on a thursday. LA seems quite nice though, had a bit of time there.

Yes, if you can survive the traffic in LA or the bay area, you're good to go anywhere in the world. Even Italy. :laugh:

[GPS MAN]

Yes, if you can survive the traffic in LA or the bay area, you're good to go anywhere in the world. Even Italy. :laugh:

You are 100% right about that:scooter:

[ducatijim]

[QUOTE=Stormdragon;1130104398]The state you purchase in is going to be important. QUOTE]

Is it not a problem then buying and registering a bike when only a visitor without a stateside address?
This is a big issue in Orstralia and thought the Us would have been even harder?

[ducatijim]

Yes, if you can survive the traffic in LA or the bay area, you're good to go anywhere in the world. Even Italy. :laugh:

And i thought Sydney was a challenge.....maybe I better not go any further afield then!!!:facepalm:

[scumdog]

Yes, if you can survive the traffic in LA or the bay area, you're good to go anywhere in the world. Even Italy. :laugh:

And watch for 'road gators':yes:

[BMWST?]

Hey

I'm going to the states for a month to chill and do some riding. Was contemplating buying a cheapie and hoping for the best.

I want to know what I'm gonna need legal wise for a bike (rego insurance etc)

That and some good riding roads from LA for a month.

Cheers

you need to go here (http://www.advrider.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=57)

[Gremlin]

Using these guys for my insurance while in USA and Canada for 6 weeks (currently doing it). I shipped my bike over though, about 2 months in the container.

http://motorcycleexpress.com/pages/USInsurance/

Didn't find LA traffic too bad, SF was a bit harder, rush hour, navigating 3 different highways into CBD, some at 70mph... was a bit challenging. Much easier out in countryside.

Currently in Wyoming, crossing over to South Dakota tomorrow, for Sturgis :wings:

[scumdog]

Currently in Wyoming, crossing over to South Dakota tomorrow, for Sturgis :wings:

Great, I was there last year - if you go down the main drag (not the one where the bikes park-up) there is Roscoz Steakhouse, on Lazelle St from memory, good tucker and cold beer = call in to the outside bat and say g'day from me and normajeane.

[Vacquer0]

If I can be of help here in the states let me know. I am in Montana not on the coast, though. At some point I'd like to be setup for Riders that need a couch/garage for a layover but place is not fancy. Just a farkin worker bee but I know how to keep beer cold.

The Dealership I work at just set up a group of riders we call "Team Great Britain" with some custom dual-sports for doing a tour of the Continental Divide. Not positive of the route. I'll do what I can.

[sinfull]

If I can be of help here in the states let me know. I am in Montana not on the coast, though. At some point I'd like to be setup for Riders that need a couch/garage for a layover but place is not fancy. Just a farkin worker bee but I know how to keep beer cold.

The Dealership I work at just set up a group of riders we call "Team Great Britain" with some custom dual-sports for doing a tour of the Continental Divide. Not positive of the route. I'll do what I can. Just added this thread as a subscibed ! Couple of us in our local social club are making noises about coming your way in a year or three !
Looking outside the square, Sure, do the Usual "Buy a bike over there to bring home", but rather than do things like Sturgis (chaps with caps), we'd rather find like minded individuals/social clubs throughout the states, that we can aim for on our travels, forge relationships and offer returned favours of hospitallity and where/what needs to be seen/done in that area !
Know (most) who travel just NZs Highways miss the true New Zealand and it'd be a shame to travel that far to spend months just riding the highways from state to state !

[Vacquer0]

I am hoping to plan a holiday in NZ next year. I'd like to see as much as I can from a bike during our winter your summer. Gonna start scrapin together money as I can. We'll see.

I'll call ahead so you can have an extra shipment of beer made so I don't run ya short.:yes:

[sinfull]

I am hoping to plan a holiday in NZ next year. I'd like to see as much as I can from a bike during our winter your summer. Gonna start scrapin together money as I can. We'll see.

I'll call ahead so you can have an extra shipment of beer made so I don't run ya short.:yes:
We never run out Vac hahaha

We're (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Otaki-Social-Riders/248579084997#!/pages/Otaki-Social-Riders/248579084997?sk=info) Down in the lower north mate, about an hour from Wellington (Interisland sailing)

Not sure, but I think flying in from the states you'd have arrive in Auckland, but I think we could probably help if you wanted to base yourself down this end of the north Island and spread throughout the country from here !

We have a 2 week group ride planned for Feb/March 2012 (dates not in concrete yet) taking in 90% of the south Island, if ya can make it happen that quick ?
Won't be a back packer ride, we're gettin a bit long in the tooth for sleeping on the ground !

[Vacquer0]

Sounds great but I doubt I will have built enough time at work. Have to work around other people, too. If I wait a little longer might have another week to play. May not matter, might not want to leave. That and who knows what this group of retarded psychos we call a government has in store for us all.

As far as a pack trip, I try not to wake up in the dirt unless it was a really good party. I am getting older and have learned to value room service or at least the company of a "breasted companion". Hope that is politically correct.

Shouldn't have brought it up now i want to leave now. Gonna go for a spin.

Thanks

[scumdog]

As far as a pack trip, I try not to wake up in the dirt unless it was a really good party. I am getting older and have learned to value room service or at least the company of a "breasted companion". Hope that is politically correct.

Shouldn't have brought it up now i want to leave now. Gonna go for a spin.

Thanks

Get down here and you'll have a bed:yes:

But you have to provide your own breasted companion..:msn-wink:

[Vacquer0]

I have a couple questions about licensing in NZ if anyone has time. First regarding your normal bike licensing it is a graduated process, ie: L-plates for six months and so forth. How does that affect a tourist wanting to ride NZ?

Here is another one, I ride a stock bike one-handed. Here in the states I received my FIRST full license ever 2 years ago due to the different state. "Faked" it the rest of my life. My thought were/are I will ride til they lock me up. OneArmBandit has explained his difficulties in acquiring the proper piece of paper in NZ. Any thoughts or links to info.

The time I spend on my bike is what keeps me sane. Hard to explain the importance.

[sinfull]

Hard to explain the importance. Not to some !

Think you'll find You'll be able to holiday over here just fine on your US licence, will go have a nosey and see if i cant find you some info/links on the nz licencing site !~

Sounds like a BMW K series man for our roads, steer them things with ya dick if ya were ambidickturous

http://www.newzealand.com/int/article/driving-in-new-zealand/

http://busway.co.nz/licence/residents-visitors/driving-nz.html

[Vacquer0]

Many thanks. Good stuff.

[ducatijim]

Very interesting, good advice.