Now this is what I call a ride

[Finn]

An american friend and I are planning to cross the US on bikes. East coast to west - the long way. We figure we'll cover about 10,000 k's and we'll do it in about 5 weeks. Target time is July - August this year. We're in the early stages of planning the trip but the most difficult part is deciding what type of bike to do it on. Don't really want a tourer and we've been looking at a couple of BMW 1200r's.

Give us some ideas please.

[Fishy]

How about a GN250? FXR150? :apumpin:

[Lazy7]

nice. you should come down to the BMW shop in new market and check them out. they got pretty much all the bikes there just waiting for a test ride.

i personally dont like the way they look. but for comfort and reliability you probably cant fault them

[Scouse]

do it on a harley fatboy

[Finn]

do it on a harley fatboy

Stop calling me fatboy. I like beer okay!

[Fishy]

Street Magic?

[Finn]

Street Magic?

Yeah, we'd look like Dumb & Dumber.

[Buster]

Rode from auckland to bluff and back the other week on my 250. 3900kms in 10 days. I thing you will knock ot over easily in 5 weeks with all those straight roads:sleep: Even tho i hate them, why dont you do it on a harley?

[Cajun]

Well depends if the bmw are good, for touring, little heavy, and not great if you wanna start pushing hard. But all in all good bikes, easy to ride, and plenty of storage space with the hard bags

Personally if i was looking at touring the states, it would be on a hog, they are designed for the country.

[Fishy]

Pit bike? 50cc one.

[Scouse]

what about one of those new ZX14 Kwaka's they will be out by then

[Finn]

Pit bike? 50cc one.

Pit in Swedish means dick. Those bikes are named appropriately.

[Finn]

Well depends if the bmw are good, for touring, little heavy, and not great if you wanna start pushing hard. But all in all good bikes, easy to ride, and plenty of storage space with the hard bags

Personally if i was looking at touring the states, it would be on a hog, they are designed for the country.

The K1200R is a little heavy but it sure doesn't feel like it when you're on it. The touring accessories are fantastic and they provide really good road side assist.

[Fishy]

How about a couple of mini choppers? :scooter: :scooter: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Scouse]

bring your mate from the states over here and watch the long way round DVD and save some cash

[miSTa]

Personally, doing a trip across the USA requires a Harley - its part of the experience.

[Buster]

Personally, doing a trip across the USA requires a Harley - its part of the experience.
My thoughts exactly. Its not just the ride its the whole experience. I think the harley davidson service would be top notch over there. Get right into it.

[Lou Girardin]

Get a couple of VRods, at least the good ole boys don't shoot them on sight.
I can put you onto the Harley rentals.

[Finn]

We thought about Harley's but both agreed that they don't really suit our riding style. Might consider a V-Rod but would want to test ride one first.

[pritch]

We thought about Harley's but both agreed that they don't really suit our riding style. Might consider a V-Rod but would want to test ride one first.

They get good write ups; they go, they handle, and they stop.
Alas, apparently they are not sure footed at the front end on wet roads.
This latter slowed my enthusiasm somewhat.

A really important item on a long range tourer is tank range. Most Harleys don't shine in that department.

Don't over look the Honda Deauville. Short on excitement, long on common sense.

.

[Damon]

A mate and I were going to do an easy rider trip for a couple of months just trippin around but he ended up moving to the UK for his girlfirend <_< but this is the one time it's ok to ride a Harley.

[Sniper]

I hate their guts, but go with a hog mate. Its like Cajun said, they are designed for it.

[Deviant Esq]

I'd have to suggest doing it on a Harley as well. Made for the journey. And more likely to chat to more of the locals... :whistle:

[outlawtorn]

I'd have to suggest doing it on a Harley as well. Made for the journey. And more likely to chat to more of the locals... :whistle:
ditto that, I would do it on a HD, the locals will respond more to you and when they find out that you are a Kiwi travelling across their "great" country on their own home made HD's they will have you in for a feed and some free accomodation......

[ZeroIndex]

With all the straight roads, you'll get in some well deserved Wheelie time, so get a GSXR1000 and make us proud :p

[The Stranger]

If it were me it would be a Harley.

Otherwise a Yamaha FJR1300, might as well have some power and reliability.

[outlawtorn]

You should defintely do it on Harley's, you know the whole born to be wild thang?? Get there and hire some big ass long range HD FLTRSTHDFRC Ultra Wide Dyna Classic TRSC with all the accessories and shitloads of tassles and somewhere to fly the american flag from......

[kiwifruit]

i do agree, harleys would be the "done" thing
vrods are the pick of the bunch, obvisouly

[Fishy]

I don't care what bloody country it is, don't ride a bloody harley!! YUK!! Finn if you need help if you are gonna hire something thats gonna break down within the first 1000k's, handle's like a bag of half stale dog shit, sounds like a fart from jabba the hutts arse, and is a slow as a stoned snail. FUCK THAT!!

Go 1000cc JAP sports bikes and no other :niceone:

IMO anyway

[Lou Girardin]

I don't care what bloody country it is, don't ride a bloody harley!! YUK!! Finn if you need help if you are gonna hire something thats gonna break down within the first 1000k's, handle's like a bag of half stale dog shit, sounds like a fart from jabba the hutts arse, and is a slow as a stoned snail. FUCK THAT!!

Go 1000cc JAP sports bikes and no other :niceone:

IMO anyway

Obviously ridden a few then?

Ask WT what Vrods are like over the Taka's.

[Fishy]

Obviously ridden a few then?

Ask WT what Vrods are like over the Taka's.

I've ridden 1 and that was enough, I've heard that V Rods are the best of the lot but still....YUK. No way man, not my cup of tea.

[Lou Girardin]

I've ridden 1 and that was enough, I've heard that V Rods are the best of the lot but still....YUK. No way man, not my cup of tea.

You did it all wrong. First you need to wear chaps and a leather vest (minimum). A half helmet and down at least 5 pints before a ride. Then head along Tamaki Dr on a stinking hot afternoon.
Then it starts to make sense.

[Toast]

May as well do it on a Harley, you won't be tackling many corners for the most part of it.

[LXS]

I'd be thinking along the lines of a Hayabusa or zzr1100

[Timber020]

The US is HUGE.

Actually its Huge with a big chunk of Massive stuck on its side with a double order of fucking big.

I have driven across the US 3 times from coast to coast. Im no fan of harleys but they are the creation of the environment that they are produced in.Its big interstates that cross the US. You can go hours without corners. Backroading is often not an option and cops can be real asses about speeding over there (says he with 3 warrents out for his arrest in the US for speeding). Even I would go for a harley or something in the touring line as its going to be a long tour.

The states are awesome, the people are great and really friendly. Its damn hot in July/august in most places.

[Fishy]

You did it all wrong. First you need to wear chaps and a leather vest (minimum). A half helmet and down at least 5 pints before a ride. Then head along Tamaki Dr on a stinking hot afternoon.
Then it starts to make sense.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Oh no, it gets worse

[Mooch]

You've really go to do the tour on Harleys !. Only way to see those trans USA highways

[T.I.E]

seen the programme, dam don't wanna be pissing them off over there. and i believe their cars can move too.
man when in rome.
i'm not a fan of hogs, but you know you have too. even for only half the journey.

[Lou Girardin]

Get an Ultra Classic, hook up your ipod and wind up it to 'ears bleeding', have a beer in the cup holder and some chilled ones in the top box, set the cruise and you're in Merkin biking heaven.

[tracyprier]

Well for my 2 cents I'd say that if you decide not to go the HD route then go Beemer :)

Long distances are what they are made for, I'd look at either an RT or if you think you might get a bit adventurous then a GS.

Personally I'd forget a sports bike for that distance (ok that Dutch guy Sjaak is riding the world on an R1 but we all know the Dutch are mad) and before anyone rips my head off for saying that, it wasn't meant to be an anti-sprotbike thing but more of a horses-for-courses thing.

If you go with HD then don't mess about, get a Road King :)

[Madness]

It would have to be a big hairy-assed tourer. The ZX-14 will only lead to an open invitation to any Sherriff's Deputies to pull you over for a look.
Enjoy the trip by blending in on a big FLHTCUI with all the options (microwave, DVD player & Hair-dryer etc etc):ride:

[BEAMER89]

If your going to do a long, once in a lifetime tour of the states, you might as well do it in comfit. Do it on a bloody BMW!!! You cant beat them.:banana:

[Troll]

I don't care what bloody country it is, don't ride a bloody harley!! YUK!! Finn if you need help if you are gonna hire something thats gonna break down within the first 1000k's, handle's like a bag of half stale dog shit, sounds like a fart from jabba the hutts arse, and is a slow as a stoned snail. FUCK THAT!!



IMO anyway


have ridden around the states on a harley, it did not break down, it did the job it was designed to do

you are talking total bollix

there are only two real choices for the states a harley or a gold wing, you have long distances and comfort and carrying capacity are a hell of a lot more useful than razor sharp handling or the ability to do 150 mph

of the bikes on the open road I saw 50% were gold wings, about 30% harleys, 10% bmw's and sport bikes made up the rest

[JMemonic]

Finn I was going to do something similar around the same time but my plans have changed, I had a heap of info sorted but now have deleted most of it but these links might be of use to you

http://www.geocities.com/terryfitzmaurice/

http://www.usatourist.com/english/tips/maps.html#map

Cycle trader (http://www.cycletrader.com)

As for renting it will be way cheaper to buy then sell/ship home than rent