TAT - Bike Rental?

[Bobmiller90]

Hello all,
We're planning a TAT ride (me for the 2nd time, a friend for the first) and we are looking at bike options. We both have bikes - Dorsoduro and WR450 respectively - but we live overseas (UK and Australia).

When i did the TAT in '08 I had my cousin (Winchester, VA) buy me a bike with cash I sent him, but now, as there are going to be 2 of us this isn't going to work.

We have looked at 'official' rentals (they have dirt road exclusions), and at shipping our bikes into the US and then shipping home (holy crap - how much???)

So we're looking for a 3rd option. Are there any people in the US that will rent dirtbikes for the TAT?

It could easily be worth 3-4k US$ per bike to us, excluding shipping back to source. All we would want is a bike that is reliable, capable (DR650, XR650L, KLR650), and kitted out (Big tank, rack, skid plate) and legal. it wouldn't need to be pretty, just able.

Any suggestions / comments?

[Bobmiller90]

- sorry if this is the wrong thread BTW.

[JPSpen]

I certanly haven't heard of anyone who rents out bikes knowing they're going to be taken on the TAT...

That's just asking for it....

Sounds like you need to buy a couple of good used bikes and just sell them after you're done...You probably would come out well ahead on the deal....

Maybe get in touch with a dealer near your starting point. Maybe a few inmates might be willing to hook you up.....One to broker the purchase and another to broker the sale...

Good Luck..

John

[Bobmiller90]

Thanks John,
We did look at the bike purchase, but how is the bike registered (to a foreign citizen?) And then there's insurance, what company would do that? Its all a bit tricky. We're also full time empolyed (and want to stay that way!) so finding a dealer, then a bike, then registration, then insurance - all adds up time-wise.

[ChrisRiedinger]

I cant believe that shipping is more than 3-4k EACH, USD??????

really?

[crazybrit]

1st off, trim your signature down. it takes up half my screen

Originally Posted by Bobmiller90

When i did the TAT in '08 I had my cousin (Winchester, VA) buy me a bike with cash I sent him, but now, as there are going to be 2 of us this isn't going to work.

This isn't an option this time?

We have looked at 'official' rentals (they have dirt road exclusions), and at shipping our bikes into the US and then shipping home (holy crap - how much???)

I expect Admo would rent you a bike from their Wrightwood/CA location but it's not really convenient location wise and I doubt they'd have the big tank, racks setup.

Also are you looking at a one way drop-off?

[red bud]

http://www.gsmmotorent.com/

[Bobmiller90]

Originally Posted by ChrisRiedinger

I cant believe that shipping is more than 3-4k EACH, USD??????

really?

Yep, so to get my Dorso to a UK port, have it shipped to e.g. New Jersey, then freighted to the trailhead, stored for a day or two, then uncrated. After the TAT it would be shipped either from LA, San Francisco or Portland (after being crated) all the way back to the UK. I got a quote in 2008 (when I first did the TAT) for 2600GBP.
I'm not sure but I think shipping from Oz would be even more.

[Bobmiller90]

Originally Posted by JPSpen

I certanly haven't heard of anyone who rents out bikes knowing they're going to be taken on the TAT...

That's just asking for it....

Sounds like you need to buy a couple of good used bikes and just sell them after you're done...You probably would come out well ahead on the deal....

Maybe get in touch with a dealer near your starting point. Maybe a few inmates might be willing to hook you up.....One to broker the purchase and another to broker the sale...

Good Luck..

John

If we could figure a way for a foreign citizen to buy and insure the bike, this would be perfect.
But so far I've not been able to find out how this works.

[Bobmiller90]

Originally Posted by crazybrit

1st off, trim your signature down. it takes up half my screen


This isn't an option this time?


I expect Admo would rent you a bike from their Wrightwood/CA location but it's not really convenient location wise and I doubt they'd have the big tank, racks setup.

Also are you looking at a one way drop-off?

No - he's up to his neck busy and I felt it was a one-off thing last time. Pity really.

Yes - drop-off in LA or Portland or whereever on the west coast.

[crazybrit]

Originally Posted by Bobmiller90

Yes - drop-off in LA or Portland or whereever on the west coast.

I'm happy to help you at the Portland end, whatever that means. Maybe you can find same at the start.

As far as the foreign citizen/bike/insurance stuff. I believe the common advice is to look on the Horizons Unlimited site. Also it'll probably be state specific, some may be easier than others. Nothing will stop you buying the bike, registering (equivalent of DVLA or whatever it's called now) and insuring will be the issues. People do the same all the time where they come to the US and ride around all 50 states on pavement, hence the suggestion to get HU.

[Tompound]

http://advrider.com/forums/showthrea...804107&page=11 post #153

these guys are doing it now and are planning on selling their bikes when done, don't know if this helps but it's a thought