Welcome Ria,

I have been researching to buy a bike in the USA to travel the Americas the last few months and have some tips for you.

It is possible to buy as a foreigner but it divers from state to state. I have noticed that having a address to register the bike is very usefull.

California is a good place to start, like mountainman said, because there are many good bikes for sale and it is quite easy to register over there. There are other states where it is even easier.

A good place to look for bikes are also: www.bikefinds.com and our friends on www.advrider.com

Greetings and respect for riding your bicycle through Africa.

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Luc

Hi guys

Thanks for the replies. Really encouraging replies that have me more amped about this trip!

Are any states on the East Coast easier?

Many thanks
Ria

Vermont is easy to register a bike.

As far as where to buy check eBay, Craigslist, AdvRider, etc.

You can get a KLR650 for under $2,000

Traveling in the US you will need a bigger bike than a 250, you could do it on a 250 but I think you would be happier on a 650 of bigger bike... plus some areas are so boring you probably will want to get to your destination quicker LOL

Good luck

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John C.

Ria,

Vermont is easy because you don't have to live there to register. Florida seems to be easy to. Don't know the exact details about either states or other states down the East coast but perhaps other travellers can help you on your way.

Ofcourse a 250 is doable, people travel the world on even smaller bikes. I wanted to do the Americas on a 125 honda but people advised me to get a bigger bike. I'm going to take their advice and will be getting a bigger bike, suzuki DR650. It will give me the secure feeling that I won't be restricted/bound by anything.

In the end, you must do what suites you best and take the bike that gives you the best feeling for your trip.

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Luc

You could do it with a 250 but a 650 would be much much more suitable.

Just a note on Washington State, easy to buy and you do not even need a local address, (but it would help so you can use mine). We do have a "sales tax" that will hit you for 8%. If it was me I would check out Oregon where they do not have a sales tax.

My two cents

Hey... that sounds like an awesome ride... good luck with it.

Do you have an image for which states you would be riding through?

No disrespect to any of my neighbors, but some places in the US are more interesting for motorcycles than others.... and different bikes are better suited to different regions (west cost, mountains (rockies and apalachian), central plains, etc...).

A 250cc street bike would be a blast for New England, Southeastern US, or the West Coast (slower speed limits and twisty fun roads)... it would by MUCH less fun in the grain belt (higher speed limits (70 or 75 MPH) and straighter roads...

Also, Getting up and over the mountains in the east and the west will require a bit of power.

I've ridden a Vstrom 650 most of the way across the country 4 times, and it has been the perfect bike... fun in the twisties, not too uncomfotable doing 90 MPH through Nebraska (sorry to my Nebraskan friends, but I really neaded to get back to Detroit, so I sped though your homes).

Still, it's almost 500 lbs wet. If you want light, a KLR 650 is a good choice (as mentioned earlier), but can be a little bit twitchy at higher speeds.


As somone else said, get what will make you happy, and a 250 is doable, just maybe not the most comfortable for long days in the saddle (to give you some perspective, it's about 4,500 km from New York City to Los Angeles... by expressway).

Anyway, what ever you pick, if you're in Minnesotta, drop me a note, and I'll treat ya to a cool beverage to help you on the way

Safe riding!