Hi, thanks for the advise!

we're still planning, so alot can change between now and next year, but we thought we should start thinking about it now. I'm leaning more towards plastic lockable luggage now... its more money but the peace of mind and benefit of leaving stuff safe on the bike will probably be worth it.

We'd also like to do canada as well, and even south america (at least mexico, especially since my girlfriends spanish) but we can't go everywhere! we really want to get up to alaska as well. We heard theres a ferry from near seattle that takes you up through the glaciers, that would be perfect.

The route changes everytime we look at the map, but basically we hope to start in new york, go up to boston and across to niagara falls, along the lakes then down towards mt rushmore and on to yellowstone, then back up to seattle, see alaska, come down the coast through california, up through las vegas and the grand canyon then to salt lake city and down again through new mexico (I want to see roswell) then across texas, new orleans, finishing in Florida where would stay for a while and ride down to the keys. We both studied in gainesville FL last year so we have friends to stay with in ft lauderdale/ miami. Then back up to new york and home! we thought 3/4 months would be a good amount of time? to be honest I have no idea how long it will take yet but we don't want to rush, we'd like to stop and take time to enjoy the places, not just burn through.

anywhere else we should see?

I'm not sure about what bike yet, we wont be goign off road so I'm thinking any sensible 600, possible a fazer or an sv650? i don't want a trials style bike because it would be nice to have a comfy low seat, but I also considered a yamaha szr660, because it has the reliable yamaha big single engine... any suggestiosn for a good bike? i can't help thinking it should be done on a harley, even just an 883 sportster but they aren't cheap!