Help needed to buy bike for Baja and Trans Am/Continental Divide trips.
 

Hi there,
Maybe you can help or can put me in touch with someone who can.

I’m British and live in the UK. I wish to ride off-pavement in the Baja California (over Christmas/New Year 2008/09: 3 weeks: 20Dec08 to 10Jan09) and do some/all of the Trans Am Trail and Continental Divide routes (8 weeks: July and August 2009). Being a school teacher allows me to already know my vacation dates.

I would require help with the following so as not to waste valuable time sorting everything when I arrive in the United States:

• Buy a bike
• Register the bike in my name (at a US-address/ your address?).
• Have the bike prepped (Service, tyres, chain/sprockets etc, as appropriate)
• Insure the bike (if it is registered in my name at a US address, this should be quite straight forward)
• Store the bike from its date of purchase to 20Dec08 and also from 10Jan09 to early July 2009.

At the end of August 2009 I would sell the bike again.

For closeness to the Baja, I would ideally like to pick up the bike in Southern California.

I would pay, in advance, for the bike and for any work/ paperwork that needs sorting. Maybe you have such a bike for sale and don’t mind the extra “hassle” to help me.

Ideally, I’m looking for a new(ish), low miles Suzuki DRZ400, either an S or E model. In England I own one of each already, so have all the spare parts/accessories I would need for the trips.

My website (which needs updating) and YouTube movies give a little flavour of what I’m about. Also being a SuperMod on HU hopefully shows I’m reliable/ trustworthy.

So, all in all, not a lot to ask :mchappy:, but possibly you can help. Please reply here or email/PM me if you have any ideas/suggestions.

Thanks for your time.

Ride safely,

Chris

Tat
 

Chris, If you'd care to try a KLR I have an extra. I can have it ready to go by the time you arrive. It is a '92 with 13,000 miles on it. Ready to go means,new tires.chain and sprockets,doo-hickey upgrade and generaly tuned and tested so that I would be satisfied it was up to the task.
I have 3 1992 KLRs. The 1st was bought as a non-runner with no papers.It is slated to be a sidecar tugging farm truck replacement. The 2nd was bought as a 8000 mile non-runner from e-bay at present has 26,000 miles and is my travel-utilabike. The 3rd is the one described above, also a e-bay refugee.
I live about a hundred miles from the eastern end of the T.A.T. I have bought the Tn. and Ms. portions of the route and plan to ride that part this year and do the rest as time allows.

Keep an eye out here for bikes :

classifieds - craigslist

and here :

Motorcycles for Sale - CycleTrader.com

I live in Van Nuys, CA near Los Angeles, about 2.5 hours north of the Baja border. You may use my address for any paperwork needs you might have.

I also have a KLR, that I might consider selling this autumn, in favor of an BMW800GS. She's a Baja veteran in good shape with plenty of touring accessories.

I can also handle bike storage and arrange for maintainance for any other bike purchase you arrange. I am typically on the East Coast for Christmas though, so we may miss each other depending on your schedule.

The DRZ is your best bet
 

Welcome to Disneyland Baja! :rofl: B R I N G mucho pesos amigo.

Hi Chris,

This is my first post on this board so I would like to take this opportunity to say hello to all members here. I don't write much but I have been reading this Board off and on since about 2001( back when the format was diffrent and it was mostly about ride reports.) I would also like to thank the fine folks here for all of their informative posts which I have found quite useful.

As for for your request for assistance in the U.S. perhaps I can help, I don't have a bike for sale, but I do live in San Diego, CA., about 15 miles from the US/Mex boarder. I have a large garage that could be used for pre trip preparations (wrenching) and storage. A CA. address might help for registration and if need be, a place for advance mailing of gear or parts for pick-up before you cross the boarder. Although, most major motorcycle dealerships can be found within a mile or two from my home. I hope this aids you.

Many thanks for your useful input. A guy in LA who has done it before has offered his help and I wish to take him up on it.

I will post again in the future when looking for advice on routes/itineraries.


Ride safely,
Chris