US tour, got any tips?

[Macktheknife]

So I am off to the States this March for a bit of a ride, and I know many of you have done similar things, so hearing some of your experiences and advice could be really helpful.

The trip will begin and end in Seattle, a friend and I will be riding south to meet up with another mate in San Francisco, then on to Las Vegas and Death Valley then on to Texas and across the southern states to Miami, then up the coast to New York. From there I hope to carry on to the great lakes and down as far as Colorado and follow the Rockies up to Seattle and fly home again.

If any of you have any relevant points of interest or hints and tips then I would really welcome it.
I am especially interested in insurance info or specific routes to take (or avoid). I will try to post a map of the proposed route for interests sake later.
Cheers all,
Mack

[sunhuntin]

TAKE LOTS OF PHOTOS!

and remember to ride on the other side of the road.

[Romeo]

Watch your mouth in the South - and if you're an atheist, don't mention it ;].

Sounds like fun, good luck with it!

[86GSXR]

Wow, what a great trip, you'll love it! It would pay to get comprehensive insurance for everything, especially for accident and injury. I did it by car a couple of years ago, and if your looking for cheap accomadation there's a few decent camping sites, and the rest stops on the interstates have vouchers for budget motels. And yep, keep the centreline on your left. Enjoy

[Waylander]

Do NOT speed even a little when going through Arkansas and Louisiana. Cops there are more than happy to pull over vehicles with out of state plates any chance they get so don't give them a reason.

[Harry33]

Make sure you get medical insurance before you leave if you get injured (touch wood you don't) you'd be fucked if you don't. In Canada you can turn right on a red light not sure if it's the same in the states you might want to check that out. If people beep their horns I guess theres your answer.
Remember to tip when dinning in resturants otherwise you get the stink eye or worse. Might want to take a size bigger pants cause they generally make big meals. Which should one day help us out because thanks to the fatties we will one day get bigger airplane seats. lol

[yungatart]

You can turn right on a red in US. Give way to pedestrians, they sue the arse off you over there.
Go to Fremont St in Vegas at night, way way better than losing your money in a casino. Beale St Memphis is a must!
Stay off the Interstate....boring!

[Badjelly]

Get a Harley, obviously. But don't ride it outside the States: like American Football, they don't transplant well.

[Stirts]

Watch out for these!!!!!

[Hitcher]

Buy a helmet cam. The Hitchers are planning a North American motorcycling jaunt in July/August, and a helmet cam is on my shopping list.

[jrandom]

Fookin neow, Mack! Mean!



I've had that in the back of my mind as something to do someday for years.

What will you be riding?

When I do it, it'll have to be on an FXDWG.

[Macktheknife]

Fookin neow, Mack! Mean!



I've had that in the back of my mind as something to do someday for years.

What will you be riding?

When I do it, it'll have to be on an FXDWG.

I always thought that stood for 'fixed wing' but I guess not, lol.

No in fact I will be riding a 2001 Kawasaki Concours that I just bought, it is currently hiding in a mates garage in Seattle.
See pics.
He is taking care of a couple of little additions for me before I get there.
I am so bloody excited about this trip, I feel like a kid at Christmas, filled up with candy and red soda, drunk on eggnog and stuffed with brandycake. I am just preparing some maps and stuff now to share/tease you lot with.

[Macktheknife]

Watch out for these!!!!!

Jeez woman, don't do that to me!
that is so scary my eyes didn't open again for 30 secs!
Not your sister is it? sorry.

this is what the first half of the ride looks like... with some adjustments still to make.

[Stirts]

Jeez woman, don't do that to me!
that is so scary my eyes didn't open again for 30 secs!
Not your sister is it? sorry.

Only if you feed her after mid-night

feck...I didn't say that out loud did I?......*be afraid...be very afraid*

this is what the first half of the ride looks like... with some adjustments still to make.

OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!! me lost for words *shhhhhhh me knows that's not hard* THAT MAKES ME SO BLOODY JEALOUS!!!!!!! Oh you are just gonna have an absolute blast.

I think we should make you do some sort of challenge for each stop.....hmmmmm........pranks on yanks?

[Macktheknife]

.hmmmmm........pranks on yanks?

Not in the South! they are not known for their sense of humour! You ever seen Deliverance?

Seriously though, I am planning on getting thousands of photo's, some video, and doing a trip journal for posterity.
The second half of the tour is yet to be mapped, it takes me a while cause I'm not familiar with it.