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Traveling across the states! Traveling across the states!
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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
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  #1  
Old 30 Sep 2013
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Traveling across the states!
Been thinking about this trip for a while starting in South Carolina and head up the east coast to Maine maybe even into Canada, then head west to Washington and back down through California and Nevada, then through the south back to South Carolina. Pretty much just going around the edge of the states.

I have a UK A2 license, that allows me to ride a bike up 47bhp, I have to hold this for two years before i can get my full license. My question is would i be able to do this trip legally with my license? Has anyone done this trip? any tips? must sees?

This will be my first big trip apart from some local shakedown runs before departure

Cheers
Archie
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  #2  
Old 30 Sep 2013
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Driver licensing is not nearly as stringent in the USA as it is in the UK. In the USA, you can take your test on a 125, then go ride a Hayabusa. Here in the USA, a motorcycle license is an addendum to a car license. In other words, you must have a car license to get a MC license. If you have a UK car license, and any type of motorcycle endorsement, you will be OK.
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  #3  
Old 3 Oct 2013
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Me thinks you will need an international license of some description to make this work. You should be able to check that out at your end to see if you qualify.

To my knowledge graduated licenses ( based on engine displacement ) do not exit in either Canada or the US.

If you get to the trip planning stage I would work out a route, if you want to come into Canada ( plan a route that would bring you up into Canada somewhere north of Great Falls, Montana. ) Both Manitoba & Saskatchewan are big provinces and perfectly straight roads. Things get better in western Alberta and British Columbia.

There are a lot of interesting places to see, you just have to figure out what is important to you.
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Old 3 Oct 2013
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I've rented 1,500cc Harleys several times in the States using my Bermuda driving licence that covers me for motorcycles. The maximum permitted engine size for bikes in Bermuda is 150cc!

The US rental companies only want to see that you have a motorcycle licence. They don't care about any size limitations.
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Old 3 Oct 2013
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If you want to skip the real crap crazy traffic on the east coast(I did) maybe think about the north south route via the Blue Ridge Parkway, then onwards though another NP to Canada and do Deals Gap while on the way

Just a thought
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  #6  
Old 4 Oct 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyT View Post
Here in the USA, a motorcycle license is an addendum to a car license. In other words, you must have a car license to get a MC license.
That is a shame, it would probably be better for motorcyclists in the US and everywhere else if you needed a motorcycle licence to get a car licence.

One possible problem with having a limited licence could be your travel, as in medical insurance will be invalid, they usually require you to have a full licence to cover riding any size bike. It would be best to find out if you can get cover first before booking anything, then decide if it is worth the risk if you are not covered.
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Old 4 Oct 2013
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I've rented motorcycles - and owned a couple - in the U.S. (Dutch citizen, Dutch license)and have never had to show an international driver's license (and have been pulled over enough to qualify as knowledgeable in this field ). An international license is under discussion: a law has been passed in florida, but has been repealed. However, some hire and insurance companies make their own rules :

USA (Florida) compulsory IDP – 1 January 2013
A law was introduced in Florida, USA, on 1 January 2013 requiring all persons who hold a licence issued outside of the US to carry an International Driving Permit along with their national driving licence.

The Governor of Florida repealed this law on 2 April 2013, however, car hire companies and insurance companies can impose their own terms and conditions so you should check with your intended hire/insurance company prior to travel or obtain an IDP as a precautionary measure.

(source: theaa.com)

Engine displacement is no issue. Any license will do....
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