Trans America Trail
 

can anyone give advice on riding the TAT, planning my first overseas ride in 2016, will need to hire a bike as well (F800/R1200) any advice appreciated..
Even consider joining an organised ride if it exists...

I am going on August 10. I rode around the USA a bit last year and asked a lot about the TAT. Surprisingly there does not seem to be an organised tour at the moment (great business opportunity for any Americans reading!) and to hire a bike for such a trip would be extremely expensive and highly doubtful if it is available formally, might find someone willing to do it but then you are taking the big risk that it is good enough for the trip.

A mate bought a bike in Tennessee in 2011 on a temporary 30 day plate but it is slightly dodgy if the plate runs out of time before you complete it which happened to him and he was lucky to get it on a ship back to the UK without getting into trouble.

Best way is to take your own bike. I took mine over on a ship last year,never again!not as straightforward as the travel agents suggest and a lot of hidden expenses. This time I am flying it out to Montreal (USA does not accept bikes as they are dangerous cargo) from Heathrow, cost £787 which is cheaper than by ship which is nominally £595 but add 50% for all the extras like Port Charges (£100) and a Federally licensed "Escort Agency" (not the type of escort agency you are thinking of right now I am afraid) who charge you £100 to "escort" your bike 100 metres off the dockside and a tonnne of other money making BS! No air is the way to go and you get a great rate on your own ticket if you fly on the same plane.

Some info here:


The Trans-Am Trail | TransAmTrail


The TAT Preparation Thread-the logistical side of it | Adventure Rider


and dont forget to look at the TCAT (Trans Canada Adventure Trail) here:


http://www.graveltravel.ca/index.php...-trail&catid=1

I've ridden the TAT twice now (and in 2016 you'll most likely have the brand new route to follow, if you are getting Sam Correro's maps/tracks).

The first time I did it on a XT660Z Tenere I shipped over from the UK in 2008/09, while this past summer I rode the new route on a US registered CB500X with the Rally Raid Adventure kit fitted...

While there is a lot of distance and fast open going to ride on the TAT route, you will curse having something as physically large and heavy as a GS 800, never mind a 1200. Sure it can be done, but it won't be a lot of fun - especially if it gets muddy - while some of the more technical rocky and washed out sections you get in Utah, Nevada and Oregon will be very hard work on a big adventure bike.

People have ridden the TAT (or as much of it that they feel comfortable) on anything from a Honda CUB to a 1200GS - but I would suggest the sweet spot is something around the 650cc thumper mark - giving you enough speed and comfort for the longer open sections (there is quite a lot of tarmac initially for example), while still being manageable on the more technical and soft sand dirt sections.

Something like a KTM 690 is a great bike for the TAT (or if you're buying in the US, the DR650/KLR650/XR650L)... However, having just ridden across the country and back again on the CB500X-RR, I know which bike I'd choose ;o)

http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/u...psssb6kxfa.jpg

It really is the perfect all-road all-terrain travel bike in my opinion.

Jx

I agree with Jmo in that a GS 800 or larger is going to wear you down when things get technical. I have a 990 adventure and have been riding it in the dirt since 2007, however, I'm tired of fighting the 600pound weight so I scaled down to a 300lb 690 KTM Enduro. The TAT needs to be done on a large thumper in the 650CC range.