Trans America Trial
 

Good evening all,

I'm considering doing the Trans America Trail. I'm from the UK and ride an F650 here which I'm sure would be more than capable, but rather than ship the bike to the US, I'm considering buying/arranging to view a bike online for collection when I land (Drz, KLE, WR, XR??). I can fly into New York, ride the TAT and then sell it when i get to wherever funds will allow and fly home? LA with any luck..

Can anyone shed any light on how difficult this would be. What's required for a UK citizen to ride a US bike? Insurance? Test? Tax?

Thanks in advance! Any :helpsmilie: appreciated!

Hi,

I am on the early planning of such trip myself.

My original plan was to fly to the East coast and buy two (second hand) XT250s, ride about 4 months and sell them of bring them back to the UK.
I trawled through various DMV websites in various States on the East coast. All require a proof of address to register the bike at your name. As a non-resident it is rather tricky. Those with a local friend could probably get that sorted.
I just read a book from two British (non residents!) lads who bought a car near NY for travelling. They had no address. The DMV lady told them to open a PO box at the post office and they were able to use that as “proof of address”! However not all DMV ladies might be that accommodating!

So after further consideration, I think we will ship our bikes to the US instead. With the pound so low at the moment, I may not save that much money on buying and selling fast (i.e. at big discount) 2 bikes locally. Also, finding 2 second hand XT250s where we land, in adequate conditions, and then selling them together, won’t be easy!
Also when I take into consideration the various mods/ preps I would need, for the bikes: luggage frame, adequate tyres, HD tubes, new chain, sprockets etc… ). When all is taken into account, I am not sure it would save me that much money.

Motorcycle Express seems to offer motorcycle insurance at the same time, so that could be handy. I also looked at the deal with Canada Airline.

Anyway, this is as far as I got, considering my trip won’t happen until next year.

Maria41...cger....&....Wgaf......if the three of you, as individuals, are interested in riding the TAT in North America, I believe I may be able to assist you, and ride along, as your North American guide (ha ha ha ha ha)

I own a cottage just outside Ramsey, on the Isle of man, and get over there a few times a year to ride the green zones on the Isle.

Rather than ship your bikes over to the USA, an alternative might be for ME to buy the bikes you need/want.......load them onto my flatbed trailer, along with my own bike....either a 2017 Honda CRF250L-Rally, or a 2017 Suzuki V-Strom 650XT.......as I have both of those bikes, and the one I would choose to ride would depend on what the three of you choose as riding bikes.

The "smart" money is on a 250cc bike, like an XT250, etc. Larger bikes do not do as well on the more remote/rough sections of the TAT.

Anyway, load all four bikes onto my trailer, and drive them out to the East Coast, and pick you three Brits up at the airport....get us all settled in near the start of the TAT.....leave my pickup and trailer somewhere secure...and then we all ride the TAT from the East Coast to the West Coast, ending at my place in Western Washington, where I can then take all of you to the airport in Seattle.

I can either sell the three bikes that you were using, or keep them for your future use, etc, etc, etc.

What do all of you think ?

Thanks MilesATW for the offer but that does not really fit with my plans.


I want to spend 4 or 5 months exploring the USA (and a bit of Mexico); and the TAT and continental divide trail are on the cards; but at a leisurely rate. I plan to get on and off to explore many other places/states/national parks on the way.


So not really just a few weeks TAT blast.


I agree a 250 is the ideal size for trails. Shipping may be expensive but all in all, our bikes are already set up for big trips (they were superb last summer across Russia and central Asia) ... although replacing my husband old TTR250 by a more recent XT would be great ...

Maria41....understood, and that makes sense. Then allow me to alter my offer.....how about if I find either one bike for your husband to use, or...two bikes for both of you to use, and you can either buy them over here.......or allow me to buy them for you....or you can rent them from me...for as long as you want/need to do your riding over here.

Here is the thing, Maria41....I am old, retired...and can afford this. I retired at age 47, and am simply waiting for my wife to retire 8 years from now. She rides her own bikes too. But during the past 16 years since I retired, I have ridden on all 7 continents, have amassed more than 2 million miles on bikes...over the course of 47 years of riding....documented, verified, and certified by the IBA and AMA, so I am more than willing to go out of my way to assist fellow traveling riders.

It is what I enjoy.

Like I said earlier, I own a cottage on Isle of Man, so I understand the need/desire to have your own bike available to you when traveling in foreign lands.

If I can be of ANY assistance, you just let me know.

TAT
 

Many thanks MilesATW
Having just returned from Bolivia i will need to start planning next years adventure as i have another one planned later on this year, i have since purchased a Honda Rally to possibly ride the TAT next year my thoughts are to fly the bike over ride the TAT then look to store the bike until the following year, that way spreading the cost. If any one else wants to hook up and make a plan please give me a shout.
regards Tim

Tim, I just picked up my 2017 Honda CRF250...Rally...today. Put about 40 miles on it, and it is now sitting inside my bedroom (large master bedroom with double french doors), so I can be close to it, and study it, as I spent an additional $ 850.00 on accessories today.

That is the bike I will be riding on the TAT, and can do the TAT both this year, and next year, and heck......every year thereafter, if others want to join in.

So....I am in. And Tim, if you need a very secure place to store your bike over here, I will offer my place. Once you see it, you will agree it is the best option for you, which includes free rides to and from the airport in Seattle or Portland.

TAT Reccomendation from the UK
 

We did the TAT from the uk in 2011. We sent our crated bikes by Fedex to Memphis Tennessee. It cost around