I got a quote online from 'progressive', $75 USD for a year. That's.. much cheaper than the UK. :-)

The plan is to get a flight at the end of the week to SF, get on a bike ASAP, and then drive East:

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This route I put together quickly based on a quick look at a map and a guide book, it's probably not the best. Any suggestions welcome. Ideally I would have started a little earlier in the summer, but, that's life, I had work to do. The idea is to spend a few weeks in the states, couchsurfing or wild camping with the occasional hotel, then head to Mexico. I'll try to get more information on how registration works.

Here are some photos from my last trip to Iran. I'm a little anxious. I know how things work in Iran, but no idea what to expect in the USA :-):

https://goo.gl/photos/DpEkJ34wid9w11b28

Probably will look for a DR650, but maybe something like this not bad, and less money: https://sacramento.craigslist.org/mcy/5219139453.html

Ah, is there anything in particular to take as spares? Tire repair tools, spanners/screwdrivers/pump, chain lube, brake pads, spare bulbs, spare levers.. sprockets maybe?

That is very cheap for insurance!

If you can take the time I highly recommend riding round the Sierra Nevada, Yosemite and that whole area. Utah is a delight if you have time. Grand Canyon great site for a quick stop over. To make fast time, Interstate 80 or highway 50 are best. Once in Colorado weather will play into things. By late October anything can happen so pay attention or you could get stuck there for the Winter!!

Check in at DRriders forum for all things DR650.
I would pack spare pick up coil (aka ignitor), 2 spare front sprockets, start with NEW DID X ring chain & sprockets, good tire tools and bead breaker of some kind, spare rear pads, HID headlight kit:http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/MO...rcycle-HID-Kit
(stock 55W light pathetic), 35W, 3000K color, single H-4 bulb kit. DDM HID 3 times brighter, cheap.

Good basic tool kit. Bulbs can be bought anywhere south. I like Dupont Teflon lube for chain but on the road I use 90 wt. gear oil, cheap and sold everywhere. It makes a mess but does a good job on chain. Off road i use NO LUBE AT ALL.

If you start with new DID X ring chain, no need to carry spare chain as that one will go 20,000 miles if you swap in new front sprocket every 8K miles or so.

Things to buy NEW before you start:
New chain/sprockets (and 2 spare front sprockets)
New Battery
New tires and tubes (think about packing a spare rear tire once off into Mexico)
2 NEW spare tubes
New brake pads front & rear (service brakes system)
fresh oil and filter (bring 2 spare oil filters or buy re-usable type)
Carb O ring kit

For one stop shopping all things DR650 try:
Parts + Accessories + Performance = ProCycle
Not the cheapest but good service and very knowledgable staff.

Maybe we should swap notes. - I've just done much of your USA route but have Iran on my list for next year and know nothing about it.

Mollydog is right about the places to visit but Yosemite and Yellowstone are really high (up to 10,000ft in places) and the weather is not getting any better. We had temperatures down to just above freezing and with rain, fog etc riding around the parks wasn't as much fun as it might have been back in the summer. It won't be long, if it hasn't happened already, before they're snowed in.

Arizona, Utah, New Mexico etc are a different matter - they're still high (5000ft) but still just about visitable atm. It is getting cold at night though. By now the Grand Canyon might actually have some space in the campgrounds!

Most of Sept. and October this year we continue to have "heat wave" temps and full drought conditions. Not really Fall like yet. 80F to 100F in Yosemite area except highest areas.

By end of October that should change but would not bet on it. At altitude, nights are getting colder now, but still HOT Noon to 5pm. Central valley over 100F for last two months in many places, off and on. Should shift soon ... I hope.

With the first true major storm it's likely several Sierra passes will close due to snow, but main passes will be kept cleared and open for a while yet. Fall is BEST time to ride our Sierra ... beautiful! I've been riding it 25 years!


Fall Colors near Bridgeport, CA, foot of Sierra.

Colorado is a different league to California, colder, higher, more severe weather, TONS of snow.

Once South of Grand Canyon you generally are good down to Mexican border weather wise. But even the Desert can freeze. Probably won't happen until well into November or later.

Quick update. I flew into lax on Friday night, and today bought a dr650 in Bakersfield. You can probably still see the add on Craigslist. Bike looks good, owned by a mechanic, some good aftermarket parts too, and he have me a discount, can use his address for the title.

About the exhaust, if it worth refitting the original? He has it still. It's heavier but quieter. He said it's uses less fuel with this one, as it creates less back pressure. Makes sense. Can't take both so should decide now. Quite is good. Opinions?

Hey David,
The bike looks good! I would keep the FMF exhaust. It's lighter weight than stock and not too loud. If it's too noisy for you, then put stock pipe back on. You'll need NEW gasket for pipe/header join point.

Regards the FMF ... keep close eye on rivets and screws holding it together. FMF have a BAD reputation for coming apart. Any screws you can remove and Loc Tite them ... DO IT. The rivets can also vibrate out over time. It you re-rivet a lose rivet in time, no problem. I've seen them ALL fall out. Head's up.

I noticed he lowered suspension. If you are 5'5" or shorter ... then this could be good. If you're taller, I would put it back to stock setting. When you lower the DR you lose suspension travel. (about in inch or so) But no big deal, up to you.

Did seller use a lowering link or use the method Suzuki outlines in owners manual for lowering the DR650? Either way, no big deal.

I notice he did not say anything about modifying suspension. It needs it. But it's expensive and may take time. If you leave it stock, you may have to crank rear shock preload up A LOT to carry you and your gear. Rebound damping is not great on stock shock ... but with luck it will get you there ... and back.

Front fork springs are too light. But adding spacers (for preload) can help. New heavier springs for forks and shock is best solution. (if you have time and money) ProCycle (in Oregon) has ALL this stuff in stock.

Also, he said he opened the air box. I hope he changed Carb jetting to match. Once you open air box and add a free flowing pipe like the FMF ... the bike needs a different needle and bigger main jet. If he's a mechanic, he'll know this and probably did all of this already.

Find out what main jet you have, what needle and what position the clip is in. Should use stock pilot jet. Did he add an extended fuel screw? For S. America this is a MUST HAVE.

All this sort of info is on DR Riders forum. Sign up and start asking. The owner of ProCycle is there everyday. Very helpful and likes to help travelers. (Jeff)

The tank, bark busters, rear rack and skid plate are great ... but man ... you will need a SEAT. That stock seat will cripple you. I'm not joking. It's bad.
Cheapest/quickest would be Seat Concept (not very good, IMO) or buy one off someone on the forum. I run a Corbin. Love it. 10 hour days, day after day.

That chain looks OLD ... at 19K miles I'm guessing it's the original? I hope not!
Most stock chains only go 14K miles ... so unless you can confirm you've got a new-ish chain ... then don't leave USA without NEW CHAIN and NEW SPROCKETS! Worn out chains/sprockets are number ONE show stopper for inexperienced noob travelers down South.

Pro Cycle has fast shipping ... (or ride up there!) DID 525 X Ring chain a must.
JT sprockets. Buy 2 spare front sprockets.

Good luck, see you on the forum.

Hi Molly :-)

Actually all those things are already done on the bike. Reworked suspension, Corbin seat, jetting etc.

The bike is comfortable, that seat is remarkable.. can ride all day with no suffering. Suspension seems to respond more like a road bike than a trail bike, firmer. Bike has power to spare, even at 70mph, 8000ft and on a steep incline. I could definitely get by with less. I like minimalism and the gas mileage. Maybe the dr350 would have been the bike for me, but I don't think it gets much better milage. Klr250 seems to have smaller dimensions. Also finding a good one, set up, is probably not easy.

I drove up the coast to SF, across to Reno, tonight in mammoth, tomorrow las Vegas. Apart from Bakersfield have been staying with people from couchsurfing, and a couple of nights sleeping rough, outside. Was chilly.

https://goo.gl/photos/YEpKAUBPWCfB8VbFA

Here is cold, looking at the weather forecast for next week, I think I missed the window on Utah, which is a shame. So I'll head South I guess. Any tips which is the best way to take to Mexico city?

I drove to Las Vegas, then drove back to SF where I sold the bike to another member on the HUBB. I missed out on Southern Utah, but the weather was too cold that week.. next time. I then got on a flight to Colombia, and now I've rented a place in Medellin and I'm getting some work done. I'll get a bike here at some point and do some travelling.

https://goo.gl/photos/YEpKAUBPWCfB8VbFA

In answer to my orginal question..

Traffic does move very fast on the Highways on West Coast, often the traffic moves at 75mph+ (120kph). At less than 70mph you will be the slowest on the road.

I met a guy on a 100cc Honda in Las Vegas that had travelled from Canada. So it's possible.

When I put the screen (fairing) back on the DR650, I started to see the value of a bigger bike. You can cruise at 90mph. That's a kick, especially on the long straight roads like the 395. Fairings seem to make lots of noise though, so I can't listen to stuff on my earplugs. Maybe if the fairing is really big, but then such bikes are usually heavy and not suitable for poor roads (not a problem in the USA.)

Without a fairing, I find going over 60mph isn't much fun, the wind is pressing against you all the time. And then having 50hp+ just sitting there, drinking fuel, is kind of pointless. In that case 20hp is plenty, I think. In fact I enjoyed the 13hp on the GS125. High speed cruising is fun, but not a necessity, in my opinion, and means a heavier more expensive bike, and more fuel/tires/chain/oil. Guess it depends why you are on a bike in the first place.