Ogier le Danois
New member
Nighthawk 250
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New Rider, need advice on getting a bike to ride from west coast to east coast
- Thread starter Stormy
- Start date
Nighthawk 250
Yeah. Really. It's less significant than all the other shit he needs to worry about.
I've ridden loads of different kinds of bikes, and really... I love riding. I can log long miles on a sport bike, a cruiser, a touring bike, etc. Take away the earplugs, remove decent sun, thermal, and wind protection, and anything is going to suck. In my experience, that matters a lot more than bike ergos.
But that's not really even the point. He's talking about a $3K bike budget. That closes off a giant range of choice. In that range, sensible choices might emerge, but a) he'll get at least as much bad advice as good, and b) he won't really be able to reconcile the advice with his preferences til many miles down the road.
If it makes you feel better, I'll soften the statement. Get a sensible bike... there are some poor choices. For example, a top-line sport bike with tires that last 1500 miles probably isn't a good choice. A bike that gets an 80 mile tank range probably isn't a good choice. An old bike might be a poor choice, a previously crashed bike might be a poor choice. A poorly maintained bike might be a poor choice. A heavy bike might be a poor choice. A bike that is much more powerful than the skilset merits might be a poor choice. Any choice will be shitty if you neglect the other stuff, and often day rides and commutes won't really teach you what's important to you on a long ride.
Z3n
Squid.
I love riding too, but I can't ride a cruiser for any significant amount of time before my back is in stitches. Most touring bikes put the windblast straight into my head, which feels fine for short periods of time but after 200 miles, my neck is absolutely wrecked, and it wouldn't be possible to run like that. I prefer touring on supermotos - 1500 miles in 2 days on a DRZ400SM, 800 mile days on a KTM 690 SMC. All I care about is clean windblast and good gear. A high quality helmet makes all the difference in the world.
The thing is - what you just said isn't at all what you said initially. I totally agree with all of the things you've listed. But that's not "the bike is the least important thing in the set"...the bike is only the least important thing to you, because you're able to ride different bikes and not have it be a significant thing. I'm not, so it's very significant to me. He still doesn't know what he can and cannot comfortably ride, he still needs to develop those skills and that comfort with bikes and experience and that's the whole point of everything I've been posting.
He needs to learn to ride a motorcycle before he decides how he's going to ride one across the country. He needs to understand those things first, and we can't teach them, which is why everyone offering him advice is missing the point.
Learning to ride a motorcycle before you ride a motorcycle across the country is kind of essential.
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Ezekiel
_________________________
No training (addressed by MSF)
-As you said
No street experience
-As OP has said, they will get the moto this month and plan to take the trip in August with "practice" rides between then
Hasn't ridden a motorcycle for any distance.
-See above
No mental fortitude to ride for extended periods while staying alert
-Do you know the OP or their mental fortitude? I don't think you do.
No mentioned mechanical experience
-No mention of lack of it either. More importantly, there's tow trucks. This is a good time to mention the AMA offers cheap towing...look into getting it OP
No money to pay for problems should they arise
-You know how much money the OP has? I didn't think so.
No functional plan on route or road types
-A cross country trip is the plan. I'd argue that's all that's needed at this point. The rest will work itself out.
No idea if he even enjoys riding a motorcycle on the street
-I guess they'll find out between now and August
No experience with different types of bikes to understand what would actually be worth riding across the country
-Hence the request for advice. The reality of it is damn near any bike will work, some better than others.
No understanding of how to tell what is wrong with the motorcycle, if anything
-This is like your mechanical thing. The knowledge that you threw a rod isn't going to help you as much as a tow truck will.
No budget for gear or consumables
-The OP mentioned their budget for the bike, but I didn't see a reference to the rest of their budget or funds...did you?
No backup plan should things go wrong in the middle of nowhere
-such as? Things don't go according to plan on a cross country trip, things happen, best to be flexible and deal with things as they appear.
Zen, I'm assuming you've never done a cross country ride. I'm sure you'll come up with more but I'm not going to humor you anymore
I think it boils down to a difference in acceptable levels of risk and planning. Because someone has a different opinion on what is acceptable doesn't make them wrong or less smart than yourself. I honestly believe that at this point, the OP has planned all they need to have planned. The details will fill in the months between now and the actual trip and also yes, on the trip itself. You can't plan for everything and I feel that TOO much planning ruins the adventure and takes away from your option to be flexible. There's a happy medium in there somewhere and that's going to vary from person to person. The point is though it doesn't really matter where that happy medium is for you or I, only for the OP.
OP, PLEASE document this adventure when you take it, I'd love to follow along and it'll be something great to look back on in your life. Best of luck!
-As you said
No street experience
-As OP has said, they will get the moto this month and plan to take the trip in August with "practice" rides between then
Hasn't ridden a motorcycle for any distance.
-See above
No mental fortitude to ride for extended periods while staying alert
-Do you know the OP or their mental fortitude? I don't think you do.
No mentioned mechanical experience
-No mention of lack of it either. More importantly, there's tow trucks. This is a good time to mention the AMA offers cheap towing...look into getting it OP
No money to pay for problems should they arise
-You know how much money the OP has? I didn't think so.
No functional plan on route or road types
-A cross country trip is the plan. I'd argue that's all that's needed at this point. The rest will work itself out.
No idea if he even enjoys riding a motorcycle on the street
-I guess they'll find out between now and August
No experience with different types of bikes to understand what would actually be worth riding across the country
-Hence the request for advice. The reality of it is damn near any bike will work, some better than others.
No understanding of how to tell what is wrong with the motorcycle, if anything
-This is like your mechanical thing. The knowledge that you threw a rod isn't going to help you as much as a tow truck will.
No budget for gear or consumables
-The OP mentioned their budget for the bike, but I didn't see a reference to the rest of their budget or funds...did you?
No backup plan should things go wrong in the middle of nowhere
-such as? Things don't go according to plan on a cross country trip, things happen, best to be flexible and deal with things as they appear.
Zen, I'm assuming you've never done a cross country ride. I'm sure you'll come up with more but I'm not going to humor you anymore
I think it boils down to a difference in acceptable levels of risk and planning. Because someone has a different opinion on what is acceptable doesn't make them wrong or less smart than yourself. I honestly believe that at this point, the OP has planned all they need to have planned. The details will fill in the months between now and the actual trip and also yes, on the trip itself. You can't plan for everything and I feel that TOO much planning ruins the adventure and takes away from your option to be flexible. There's a happy medium in there somewhere and that's going to vary from person to person. The point is though it doesn't really matter where that happy medium is for you or I, only for the OP.
OP, PLEASE document this adventure when you take it, I'd love to follow along and it'll be something great to look back on in your life. Best of luck!
flying_hun
Adverse Selection
- Joined
- May 4, 2005
- Location
- Orinda, CA
- Moto(s)
- A funky red & white Italian named Gianni Cervo! Versys - two of 'em! And an Enfield for laughs.
- BARF perks
- AMA #: 281672
The OP is planning to take 3 weeks to do the trip. THREE - EFFING - WEEKS! He won't have to do 500 miles days. He won't have to slab. He could ride section roads across the plains. He could ride tiny roads once he gets out of town. You could do that trip on Honda step-through. A CT110. Or a scooter. Or a 250 dualsport. Or even a Wing. If it's reasonably reliable and in okay condition, chances are it will make it, and if it doesn't, that will be a great part of the trip too.
One of the best tips I've learned from touring is that the real trip starts when shit goes wrong. If that happens, people will help.
BTW OP, listen to Ezekiel. Joe has ridden lots of different bikes lots of different places. There's a reason why the guy is always smiling.
One of the best tips I've learned from touring is that the real trip starts when shit goes wrong. If that happens, people will help.
BTW OP, listen to Ezekiel. Joe has ridden lots of different bikes lots of different places. There's a reason why the guy is always smiling.
Z3n
Squid.
So basically he has 2-3 months of riding to do before he starts asking these questions. Maybe...learning to ride before he starts riding.
I've taught enough new riders, helped enough friends learn to ride that I know that a 200 mile day is exhausting for most new riders with under 10k on their belt, much less 21 of them back to back.
No mentioned mechanical experience
-No mention of lack of it either. More importantly, there's tow trucks. This is a good time to mention the AMA offers cheap towing...look into getting it OP
You need RV level towing to get bikes towed, and it's not offered in all states, so yeah, look into that.
Budget for bike: 2k. Adjusted to 3k.
The "working it out" part is the part that needs to be worked out. What sort of roads? Long freeway drones? Twisty roads? The shortest mileage? Who knows, he doesn't, cause he needs some riding experience before he can say that.
Maybe worth finding that out before planning a giant trip?
Any motorcycle is capable of making a cross country trip, that doesn't mean every rider is going to be capable of doing that trip on that bike. Again, has to establish those things by learning to ride.
The knowledge that you should have checked the oil before it threw a rod, done some basic mechanical tests, verified the bike was in good working order will prevent you from throwing a rod in the first place, and understanding what is fixable on the side of the road and what ended your trip, with a minimum of cost.
All the more reason he needs to get a bike and establish what he is comfortable with in terms of gear, riding comfort, etc. Aka...learning to ride a motorcycle.
A reasonable amount of cash, a reasonable assurance that the bike is capable f making the trip, etc.
Zen, I'm assuming you've never done a cross country ride. I'm sure you'll come up with more but I'm not going to humor you anymore
I think it boils down to a difference in acceptable levels of risk and planning. Because someone has a different opinion on what is acceptable doesn't make them wrong or less smart than yourself. I honestly believe that at this point, the OP has planned all they need to have planned. The details will fill in the months between now and the actual trip and also yes, on the trip itself. You can't plan for everything and I feel that TOO much planning ruins the adventure and takes away from your option to be flexible. There's a happy medium in there somewhere and that's going to vary from person to person. The point is though it doesn't really matter where that happy medium is for you or I, only for the OP.
OP, PLEASE document this adventure when you take it, I'd love to follow along and it'll be something great to look back on in your life. Best of luck!
I've done 5k miles in a week before, somewhere in the 400k range of lifetime miles, 60 bikes owned, fly and rides from all over the country back to the bay area, 10 years riding, do my own mechanical work, 8 years of track riding, couple years of racing, blah blah blah.
Oh, and I build bikes for people coming in from overseas to tour on. That...might be relevant experience here? Yeah, I think it's relevant.
The OP understands literally nothing of the risks of riding a motorcycle yet, which is why he needs to learn to ride a motorcycle before he plans on riding a motorcycle across the country. Your experience with these things are completely meaningless because you are not him. Once he establishes a reasonable amount of experience, the circumstances change, but right now he doesn't even know what he needs to start riding, let alone to have an adventure riding across the country. There's a variance for every person in the right amount of planning (i don't tend to plan long trips at all), but the OP doesn't have the experience to make that determination yet, and...needs to learn to ride a motorcycle.
Everyone loves these threads because they want to see an awesome ride report, I get that, but there's very little anyone can do here should something bad happen on his adventure, and everyone who encouraged him to make a risky decision at that point bears some responsibility for pushing him towards that.
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GAJ
Well-known member
The OP is planning to take 3 weeks to do the trip. THREE - EFFING - WEEKS! He won't have to do 500 miles days. He won't have to slab. He could ride section roads across the plains. He could ride tiny roads once he gets out of town. You could do that trip on Honda step-through. A CT110. Or a scooter. Or a 250 dualsport. Or even a Wing. If it's reasonably reliable and in okay condition, chances are it will make it, and if it doesn't, that will be a great part of the trip too.
One of the best tips I've learned from touring is that the real trip starts when shit goes wrong. If that happens, people will help.
BTW OP, listen to Ezekiel. Joe has ridden lots of different bikes lots of different places. There's a reason why the guy is always smiling.
Three weeks means 150 miles per day or thereabouts will get it done.
rodr
Well-known member
You'll have some challenges either way. Trying to sell a bike with out-of-state registration in a hurry from your hotel room may not be easy.
I'd say look at various options and stay flexible. Get into a couple of moto forums in the NY area, make some friends, look for opportunities. Riders do look out for each other. Maybe someone wants a particular kind of bike and would buy it from you when you get there. Maybe someone wants to ride it back for you. Maybe someone with a good rep over there has a good deal on a bike you want and you could afford to own two bikes for a short time. Also shipping cross-country might turn out to be affordable.
Good luck with whatever you do, and have fun!
louemc
New member
The OP is planning to take 3 weeks to do the trip. THREE - EFFING - WEEKS! He won't have to do 500 miles days. He won't have to slab. He could ride section roads across the plains. He could ride tiny roads once he gets out of town. You could do that trip on Honda step-through. A CT110. Or a scooter. Or a 250 dualsport. Or even a Wing. If it's reasonably reliable and in okay condition, chances are it will make it, and if it doesn't, that will be a great part of the trip too.
One of the best tips I've learned from touring is that the real trip starts when shit goes wrong. If that happens, people will help.
BTW OP, listen to Ezekiel. Joe has ridden lots of different bikes lots of different places. There's a reason why the guy is always smiling.
Pure Gold
And...Of course I don't know squat about OP, but OP has dirt experience...That beats the crap out non dirt experience.
And It's safe to assume OP has driven a car, and..rode in a car before driving...
So the highways and bi-ways aren't a foreign land.
sckego
doesn't like crashing
I had 8 months / 7k miles of experience when I flew halfway across the country to buy a bike and rode it 1100 miles home in 28 hours (in the middle of January, 30*F weather, and shitty gear). If OP can compress his learning to ride into half of that time (4 months) and keep the same or more actual miles logged, he'll be well ahead of me when I did that ride.
OP, I'll say it again: this sounds like a great goal. Don't skimp on preparation or training, and don't think it'll be easy the whole time... but it'll all be worth it in the end. Motorcycle touring is awesome, and you definitely have enough time to get up to speed between now and August.
Z3n
Squid.
I had 8 months / 7k miles of experience when I flew halfway across the country to buy a bike and rode it 1100 miles home in 28 hours (in the middle of January, 30*F weather, and shitty gear). If OP can compress his learning to ride into half of that time (4 months) and keep the same or more actual miles logged, he'll be well ahead of me when I did that ride.
OP, I'll say it again: this sounds like a great goal. Don't skimp on preparation or training, and don't think it'll be easy the whole time... but it'll all be worth it in the end. Motorcycle touring is awesome, and you definitely have enough time to get up to speed between now and August.
I did San Diego to SF in a day, via San Luis Obispo, about 2 weeks after completing MSF, on a Ninja 250. I survived, but nearly binned it a few times. It wasn't a good idea. It was a good adventure (because I survived without crashing), but that didn't make it any less of a terrible idea.
I'm with everyone else on the motorcycle touring is awesome front, but part of it being awesome is having a good time on a motorcycle you like, on roads you like, at a pace you're comforatble with, and before you can determine those things you have to ride a motorcycle at least a little bit.
sckego
doesn't like crashing
2 weeks != 4 months
I think a lot of the naysayers are somehow ignoring the fact that this dude has MONTHS to learn and prepare. Trust me, if he said he was going to do it in two weeks, I'd be right there with you screaming "BAD IDEA!". But 4 months is TON of time if you're dedicated to getting miles and experience under your belt.
Ezekiel
_________________________
Z3n
Squid.
I agree - it's just that finding a bike, getting it rideable, and verifying that it's going to make it takes time. Same with handling any potential issues with a cheapish used bike. And purchases of gear, etc. And then without knowing anything else about the OP, I'm going to assume he works a 9-5, so riding time would be mostly limited to commute + weekend, which means basically doing nothing but riding. I racked up that sort of mileage in my first few months of riding, but not everyone ends up diving in and riding every time they have a free moment, some people just enjoy bikes at a different pace, and doing something like a cross country ride requires a bit more prep if you're not as into it off the bat.
Also, that trip had a fraction of the overall distance of doing a cross country trip. The longer mileage in one day was probably more dangerous in a single shot, but is much less risky over the long run than novice rider across constant new roads/environments for 21 days.
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louemc
New member
Your showing a lack of knowing squat.
OP has some dirt experience...A day on dirt could conservatively be cramming in a 1000 days of pavement, in comparison.
You don't know OP's physical state of condition...And it is common as can be for the first two days on a bike to create sore spots, and tired bodies, and then the bodies get in the comfort zone...
and the following days are no more tired and sore, there.
I've done two week tours so many times, I don't trust my memory to give a number.
I lived on my bike for four and a half Months of all day riding, day after day.
After 60 years of doing the two wheeled thing...I'm thinkin You haven't done enough..To be a voice of experience.
Z3n
Squid.
So, you posting on the internet bequeaths the OP and all the rest of us with your wealth of experience?
Oh wait, no, that's not how it works, and you continually give out terrible advice to many people because you have completely forgotten what it's like to be a new rider. I said "most new riders", if the OP addresses that area, there's still a lot of other landmines in his current plan that need to be addressed that you will ignore, of course.
Tell me, lou, how many motorcyclists have you personally shepherded through the first few thousand miles in the last 2 years?
Edit: Look, no one's going to say motorcycles aren't dangerous. Rather than whitewashing and being all optimistic about things, let's be realistic, assume the OP isn't the next incarnation of Steve McQueen, and realize that we should probably err on the side of safety and making sure the OP takes things seriously vs. assuming that he's actually a world class offroad rider who's just randomly decided to go a bunch of assholes on the internet for advice on riding across the country. For most normal riders, they're going to be dramatically under-prepared for a cross country ride after only 3 months of riding, so the most reasonable approach should be to encourage him to learn to ride first, figure out what he likes about riding, what he likes about his bike, and make a recommendation accordingly, rather than blindly encouraging him to buy a goldwing or a concours as a first bike on the assumption that he is the one in a hundred rider before he strikes out for the opposite coast.
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louemc
New member
So, you posting on the internet bequeaths the OP and all the rest of us with your wealth of experience?
Oh wait, no, that's not how it works, and you continually give out terrible advice to many people because you have completely forgotten what it's like to be a new rider. I said "most new riders", if the OP addresses that area, there's still a lot of other landmines in his current plan that need to be addressed that you will ignore, of course.
Tell me, lou, how many motorcyclists have you personally shepherded through the first few thousand miles in the last 2 years?
Edit: Look, no one's going to say motorcycles aren't dangerous. Rather than whitewashing and being all optimistic about things, let's be realistic, assume the OP isn't the next incarnation of Steve McQueen, and realize that we should probably err on the side of safety and making sure the OP takes things seriously vs. assuming that he's actually a world class offroad rider who's just randomly decided to go a bunch of assholes on the internet for advice on riding across the country.
Umm, since you're sure my advice is bad advice and You think you know what I do and don't remember of my first days and months of riding...
It's pointless to tell Ya.
But for anyone else reading...Those first minutes, and hours, and days..Were so incredible, (first bike was a kick start 650 Triumph) Just starting it and going around the block, (that's two level streets and two Holy shit steep streets) In a built on a base of a mountain city called Juneau Alaska.
I remember those moments like they were, right now.
My best drinking Bud,s Mom was a Nurse, she had just bought a new Pontiac Bonnie...and he could drive it...I challenged him to a short drag race on hard packed snow...Cause I had been doing hard starts on hard packed snow, and it was fun to hang the rear wheel out.
I forgot how it was?
Z3n
Squid.
New riders: Go out and race your friend's cars, cause Lou did it and it turned out just fine.
This is what I'm saying when I say you've forgotten. You remember the times you tempted fate and came out alive, and you don't give the same attention to the times you could have ended up splattered across the front of a car.
I ask again: How many new riders have you helped through their first few thousand miles in the last 2 years? I've done it with roughly half a dozen people. 2 out of the 6 had the potential to do a cross country ride in the first 3 months of riding and have a reasonable chance of completing it, the rest...well, it would be super questionable. I wouldn't recommend a cross country trip for most within the first 3 months of riding - it can be done, it can also end really badly, and chances are you'll have a better time doing it after a year or so of riding, with some 1000 mile weekends in there first, so you know what you want out of the trip - are you an iron butt guy, a backroad guy, a dirt trails and adventure guy, what's your style? You don't know until you start riding.
This is what I'm saying when I say you've forgotten. You remember the times you tempted fate and came out alive, and you don't give the same attention to the times you could have ended up splattered across the front of a car.
I ask again: How many new riders have you helped through their first few thousand miles in the last 2 years? I've done it with roughly half a dozen people. 2 out of the 6 had the potential to do a cross country ride in the first 3 months of riding and have a reasonable chance of completing it, the rest...well, it would be super questionable. I wouldn't recommend a cross country trip for most within the first 3 months of riding - it can be done, it can also end really badly, and chances are you'll have a better time doing it after a year or so of riding, with some 1000 mile weekends in there first, so you know what you want out of the trip - are you an iron butt guy, a backroad guy, a dirt trails and adventure guy, what's your style? You don't know until you start riding.
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Brown81
Well-known member
Haven't read the thread but just popping in to say:
DO IT.
DO IT.
Z3n
Squid.
This fucking place.