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Help needed to buy bike for Baja and Trans Am/Continental Divide trips. Help needed to buy bike for Baja and Trans Am/Continental Divide trips.
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  #1  
Old 29 Apr 2008
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Help needed to buy bike for Baja and Trans Am/Continental Divide trips.
Hi there,
Maybe you can help or can put me in touch with someone who can.

I’m British and live in the UK. I wish to ride off-pavement in the Baja California (over Christmas/New Year 2008/09: 3 weeks: 20Dec08 to 10Jan09) and do some/all of the Trans Am Trail and Continental Divide routes (8 weeks: July and August 2009). Being a school teacher allows me to already know my vacation dates.

I would require help with the following so as not to waste valuable time sorting everything when I arrive in the United States:
  • Buy a bike
  • Register the bike in my name (at a US-address/ your address?).
  • Have the bike prepped (Service, tyres, chain/sprockets etc, as appropriate)
  • Insure the bike (if it is registered in my name at a US address, this should be quite straight forward)
  • Store the bike from its date of purchase to 20Dec08 and also from 10Jan09 to early July 2009.

At the end of August 2009 I would sell the bike again.

For closeness to the Baja, I would ideally like to pick up the bike in Southern California.

I would pay, in advance, for the bike and for any work/ paperwork that needs sorting. Maybe you have such a bike for sale and don’t mind the extra “hassle” to help me.

Ideally, I’m looking for a new(ish), low miles Suzuki DRZ400, either an S or E model. In England I own one of each already, so have all the spare parts/accessories I would need for the trips.

My website (which needs updating) and YouTube movies give a little flavour of what I’m about. Also being a SuperMod on HU hopefully shows I’m reliable/ trustworthy.

So, all in all, not a lot to ask , but possibly you can help. Please reply here or email/PM me if you have any ideas/suggestions.

Thanks for your time.

Ride safely,

Chris
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  #2  
Old 29 Apr 2008
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Location: Nicholasville,Ky.U.S.A.
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Tat
Chris, If you'd care to try a KLR I have an extra. I can have it ready to go by the time you arrive. It is a '92 with 13,000 miles on it. Ready to go means,new tires.chain and sprockets,doo-hickey upgrade and generaly tuned and tested so that I would be satisfied it was up to the task.
I have 3 1992 KLRs. The 1st was bought as a non-runner with no papers.It is slated to be a sidecar tugging farm truck replacement. The 2nd was bought as a 8000 mile non-runner from e-bay at present has 26,000 miles and is my travel-utilabike. The 3rd is the one described above, also a e-bay refugee.
I live about a hundred miles from the eastern end of the T.A.T. I have bought the Tn. and Ms. portions of the route and plan to ride that part this year and do the rest as time allows.
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  #3  
Old 2 May 2008
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Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Posts: 27
Keep an eye out here for bikes :

classifieds - craigslist

and here :

Motorcycles for Sale - CycleTrader.com

I live in Van Nuys, CA near Los Angeles, about 2.5 hours north of the Baja border. You may use my address for any paperwork needs you might have.

I also have a KLR, that I might consider selling this autumn, in favor of an BMW800GS. She's a Baja veteran in good shape with plenty of touring accessories.

I can also handle bike storage and arrange for maintainance for any other bike purchase you arrange. I am typically on the East Coast for Christmas though, so we may miss each other depending on your schedule.
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  #4  
Old 3 May 2008
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The DRZ is your best bet
Welcome to Disneyland Baja! B R I N G mucho pesos amigo.
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Last edited by mollydog; 26 Mar 2009 at 18:35.
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  #5  
Old 12 May 2008
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Location: socal
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Hi Chris,

This is my first post on this board so I would like to take this opportunity to say hello to all members here. I don't write much but I have been reading this Board off and on since about 2001( back when the format was diffrent and it was mostly about ride reports.) I would also like to thank the fine folks here for all of their informative posts which I have found quite useful.

As for for your request for assistance in the U.S. perhaps I can help, I don't have a bike for sale, but I do live in San Diego, CA., about 15 miles from the US/Mex boarder. I have a large garage that could be used for pre trip preparations (wrenching) and storage. A CA. address might help for registration and if need be, a place for advance mailing of gear or parts for pick-up before you cross the boarder. Although, most major motorcycle dealerships can be found within a mile or two from my home. I hope this aids you.
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  #6  
Old 12 May 2008
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Many thanks for your useful input. A guy in LA who has done it before has offered his help and I wish to take him up on it.

I will post again in the future when looking for advice on routes/itineraries.


Ride safely,
Chris
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