Goldwing across USA

[nudemetalz]

Heya,

Mrs Nudie and I are saving for a trip to New Orleans to see an Aunt of mine and also going to visit New York.

We've come up with the idea of flying to Los Angeles and hiring a Leadwing 1800 to ride there. Yes, I know it's 3-5,000 kms but we believe it would be a trip of a lifetime.

Question is, has anyone here ever done that before?

[nudemetalz]

No-one that adventurous, huh ??
Did some research, you can hire one for approx US$80-90 per day. Not too bad I thought.

Mrs says, "Are you sure you can ride one of those?"
I said "Hey, it won't be much heavy than the Guzzi....." :rofl:

[imdying]

Can my wife an I come? (we'd get our own bike :lol:)

[Drum]

It is a long term dream of mine to do just that.

You lucky buggers!

[paturoa]

Yes but not on a bike.

Mrs P & I flew into LA (she has relations near San Diego and in Alabama).

Well we went and bought and old LTD station wagon for $400 US. I did a little work on it including a couple of tyres (I don't remember the price but do remember laughing at how cheap they were).

The trip... We went up the coast to north of SF and then inland to see the air show at Reno (fly bys by B52, U2, SR71, B1B etc). Did a little touring (gambling) around there and back down thru both national parks (big trees & bears, but only saw the trees). I snoozed, and should have done Edwards AFB, and then back down to LA.

We did the LA thing and then went for a little drive to Florida and back in the LTD.

We did quite a few detours along the way. Did just over 10,000 miles and sold the cage for $450 to a dealer in LA. Saw all of the standard tourist things - go to them too. Also planned it to see a Space Shuttle launch, awesome!

We stayed in syndicated motels. They were clean, tatty, cheap and no fleas.

Trying to get a plan together to do it again with the kids in a couple of years in a winebago (sp?)

[Timber020]

I have driven across the states a few times, the only thing thats a real stopper is weather, winter is serious in much of the states. Lakes as warm as blood in summer were a foot thick frozen in winter. If you hug the southern states in winter you should be okay, but once you head north or altitude, cold stuff will start.
Bikes are a little dangerous to ride on the right because you dont have any indicator to remind you like sitting on the wrong side in a car when your driving. I only got caught out once in a car but when on a bike the screw ups were more frequent.

[shafty]

Date: 1994
Reason: Who CAres
Plan: Pick up a new GL1500 and Escapade cargo trailer from Huntington Beach, CA and see the States!

We did 30,000 ++ Miles, staying mainly at www.koa.com 's - which are awesome, with about a night a week in a Motel 8 or Motel 6. That took 3.5 months, and we decided to buy new as it was too hard back then to buy 2nd hand.

It cost a bunch, but WTF, we had a ball.

We became Members of www.GWRRA.com so info was freely avail and we met a bunch of neat people at the Wing Ding in New Mexico, from which we had many many offers of accomodation etc etc. We also paid a small fee to be "Members" of the National Park system, so discounted camping in places like Yosemite.

With GWRRA you get a Members book of (then) 60,000 members, and our approach was not to impose, but to call a local member when we reached a new Motorcamp, and say "Hey, we're from NZ, can you recommend some good roads, route, sightseeing in the area" - we met some awesome people that way.

Do it.

No one can take it off you once you've done it!!

[Waylander]

Probably good to get something like a goldwing. You get to the central plains and all those straight featureless roads get to you find yourself easily doubling the speed limit on anything with real speed to it.

[paturoa]

We went in September and the weather was excellent. Very much like it is now.

[nudemetalz]

Thanks for all of the advice.
We're keen to do it alright.

[ratast]

Hi nudie family, Did this few years back. Going East out of Los Angeles you hit the express ways. You can avoid these by dropping South to San Diego and getting on Highway 8. Out past Yuma to Tucson and on to Tombstone and the gunfight at O.K.corral. Spend a night in Bisbee down near the boarder, an old mining town. Lot of riding in the desert as you ride through New Mexico and into Texas. Try and avoid running into the tumbeling tumble weeds. El Paso in front of you, big Harley dealership there and very busy boarder crossing. Give the boarder a miss but you may get lucky at the H.D. dealership and score a free burger. Get onto 10 and follow down to San Antonio. Worth 2 days stop over with the Alamo one of must sees. Give Houston a deliberate miss unless you enjoy riding in busy express ways. Head to Sugarland and onto Galvenston to catch the ferry over to Port Bolivar. Lot of Hurricane damage down here but you can follow coast into Louisiana and stay in one of the Cajuntowns which will have you short distance from the Big Easy. Are you riding back same way or want to follow Mississippi to Memphis then swing west. Know a good scenic route if going that way. Cheers Ratast

[nudemetalz]

Hi Ratast,

Thanks for your invaluable input.
Taken all of this into account. We're looking at least 12 months away, but I'm already making enquiries about the bike hireage. Better to start early.

It will be the trip of a lifetime for sure :)

Cheers,
NDMz

PS - unsure now whether it'll be a Goldie or a big H-D now.
Something about "Travellin' the Route 66" on Hog makes it just that much more romantic !!

[Grub]

What are the economics of buying instead of renting? US$90 would start to mount up and some of the buys look to be pretty good. Of course, you don't know what you're getting if you buy off embay and the dealers have their margin ... just mind-dumping really

[doc]

Hi Ratast,

Thanks for your invaluable input.
Taken all of this into account. We're looking at least 12 months away, but I'm already making enquiries about the bike hireage. Better to start early.

It will be the trip of a lifetime for sure :)
What about the guzzi rusting while you are away. I could unrust it accasionally if you want.

Cheers,
NDMz

PS - unsure now whether it'll be a Goldie or a big H-D now.
Something about "Travellin' the Route 66" on Hog makes it just that much more romantic !!
What about the guzzi rusting while you are away. I could unrust it accasionally if you want.

[nudemetalz]

What are the economics of buying instead of renting? US$90 would start to mount up and some of the buys look to be pretty good. Of course, you don't know what you're getting if you buy off embay and the dealers have their margin ... just mind-dumping really

I guess with renting you have support if the bike becomes a hassle and then you don't have the problem of resale when it's time to leave.
We're looking at approx 4 weeks (possibly longer)....approx $2700, US of course. Not much of an H-D or GW1500/1800 for that price.



What about the guzzi rusting while you are away. I could unrust it accasionally if you want.
...and...errr, Doc I'll keep that in mind.... ;)

[doc]

...and...errr, Doc I'll keep that in mind.... ;)
I won't be charging the earth. Just a reasonable recompence for my trouble.

[ratast]

Hi, if you thinking about going in the summer say about mid July 2008, I organise trips to U.S. every year taking our own bikes over. Possible there would be room availible. Cost you about N.Z. $ 2000.00 for your bike. Wellington- California return. We go for 6 weeks . Third Party and Comprehensive Insurance approx. from U.S. $500.00. Still got places this year packing up bikes late May. Cheers Ratast