Need Ideas!

[Ibew_sparky]

This summer myself and 3 others are wanting to ride the west coast. The delima is we live in minnesota and we have limited time to go. I am in need ideas on how to get across the the northern US from Minnesota to the western part of Montana rather quickly and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. We could ride hard across the Dakota’s but we have done it and would prefer not to do it again. Any ideas are appreciated.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Trailering can be an accepted way to cover ground without getting beat up. ::001::

 

[Checkswrecks]

::026:: to the trailering idea. You could even share the driving.


Beyond that, you pay in either time or money. Dirt_Dad and his wife rode from Virginia to Alaska last summer and when they'd run out of time, caught flights home and had the bikes shipped one way. Pretty smart!

 

[RCinNC]

How fast is "rather quickly"? Interstates are usually the fastest, as long as there's an interstate going near where you want to be. For you, it looks like I-94 is your best way to go if burning miles is your main goal. The question is, how many miles a day can you ride? Speaking strictly for myself, 500 miles is about as much as I ever want to ride in a single day, and it's 1300 miles from Minneapolis to the Montana/Washington state line on the interstates. That's just shy of three days at my maximum pace; if you ride further in a day than I do, you'll get there quicker.

The trouble is, interstates suck on a motorcycle; when it comes to crossing big chunks of the country on an interstate, I'd rather be in a car. I've done the "Across the US" a couple times now on a bike, and as I get older, the trailering option sounds better and better. If you're going with a couple other guys you can spell each other at the wheel, and you can easily drive for a solid 12-14 hours a day.

One thing to consider besides a trailer (if you don't have access to one that can haul three bikes) is a U-haul truck. It would take some creative rigging with ratchet straps to secure three bikes in the back of one (or else you build a pallet with a wheel chock for each bike). If you can rig it with just straps, then you wouldn't even need to let the truck sit idle while you were at your destination riding; you could turn it in (and save some money), and then rent another one when you were ready for your return trip. If you wanted to palletize the bikes, you could call ahead to the U-haul drop off point and ask them if you could store your pallets there until you were ready to rent a truck for the return trip. A lot of U-haul places are attached to commercial storage businesses. With three guys sharing the driving, you could easily do 800 miles a day and still have time to get some rest at the end of the day. One added benefit to transporting bikes in a U-haul is that they're definitely secure in the back of one from theft and from the elements.

Expensive? Absolutely. It's definitely cheaper if you already have your own trailer and tow vehicle. If you're like me, you don't have access to that, so renting a truck begins to make sense.

 

[Sierra1]

::026:: on the trailering and sharing the driving. U-Haul has a 12' open trailer that's equipped with stand alone brakes and plenty of tie-downs; works well.

 

[steve68steve]

You could ship the bikes there and fly out. Most expensive option but will maximize your time riding there. I looked into it for a trip from FL to CO this past summer, and it would've been something like $800 ea way to ship the bike, plus a few hundred for round trip airfare. Having a truck, camper, and trailer, I went the cheap option and drove it for just a few hundred bucks in fuel.... but I also wasted 3 -5 precious vacation days driving.


The cost of renting a Uhaul may make shipping and flying look more attractive. Having a few riding buddies to share gas and driving is a factor, too.

 

[Ibew_sparky]

Trailering is tempting but I am the only one with a reliable and large enough truck to handle the trip. That being said I am not all that comfortable with leaving my very expensive truck sitting somewhere... have looked into a uhaul or another rental and they are all similar in price and that price is pretty steel. I think the only logical idea is to hope on the freeway haul a** and push. 500-600 miles. 2-3 days. Probably will have to make that work. I am fine on my ‘15 tenere and one other rider is fine on his ‘14 guzzi stelvio but the third rider on a ‘17 Harley road glide is the complainer!

 

[Checkswrecks]

It's not 2-3 days, it's 3 days each way, which is a week's income. Or of vacation days. Then add the cost of hotel nights, gas, and tires.
And your "quality time" of spending vacation days droning for that extra week, especially if with a complainer, plus how it sets up for the west coast days.


Suddenly, shipping it and flying at least one way is not that much more.

 

[Sierra1]

What about renting a bike from a shop at/near your destination? I think that would be the quickest/easiest, but not sure on the cost. I know it's not the same as riding YOUR bike, but it would give you more time on target.

 

[Ibew_sparky]

It would be a total of 4-6 days correct. We camp the entire way so no hotel cost. Some camp site fees but split 3 ways it’s pretty cheap. Never thought of renting a bike but you would be correct it’s not MY bike. I have some thinking and planning to do.

 

[magic]

I've been following your thread and would like to add a few things. Most Harley dealers rent bikes and have weekly rates that aren't too bad, but you will have to buy their insurance. I have seen ads in some motorcycle magazines for companies that rent other brands also. One problem with doing a fly and rent trip will be getting all your gear there. Helmets, boots, riding gear and camping gear take up a lot of luggage space. You could possibly ship it there UPS ahead of time and then get it home the same way. The U Haul truck ride will not be much fun after driving that far with 3 guys sitting across in the cab. The speed limit in Montana is 80 on the interstate, ND is 75, and Minnesota is 70, so you can make good time. I would ride your own bikes, leave real early the first day and cover as many miles as possible. Staying in hotels on occasion takes less time than setting up camp every night. This will give you more riding time.

 

[Don in Lodi]

How many weeks did you say you had for this trip?

 

[steve68steve]

It's not 2-3 days, it's 3 days each way, which is a week's income. Or of vacation days. Then add the cost of hotel nights, gas, and tires.
And your "quality time" of spending vacation days droning for that extra week, especially if with a complainer, plus how it sets up for the west coast days.


Suddenly, shipping it and flying at least one way is not that much more.

OP: read this reply at least 5 times before you make any decision!

 

[Ibew_sparky]

Good news. When we are going the other 2 riders father is going on vacation to western Montana! We have a 35’ enclosed trailer and now it’s 4 riders possibly 5. So we at least get a ride out there one way. Takes a good chunk out. We are going to alternate drivers and get out there in one shot. Just stop for breaks and gas Going to start in western Montana and go to the coast and head twards Cali! .

 

[Don in Lodi]

Good news. When we are going the other 2 riders father is going on vacation to western Montana! We have a 35’ enclosed trailer and now it’s 4 riders possibly 5. So we at least get a ride out there one way. Takes a good chunk out. We are going to alternate drivers and get out there in one shot. Just stop for breaks and gas Going to start in western Montana and go to the coast and head twards Cali! .

::008::