Planning a trip across Canada/USA.. help please
 

Hi Guys...

Just booked flights to the USA in Jul and I'm planing to buy a bike and ride it from Canada to San Francisco via Sturgis Bike week in South Dakota.

I have a couple of things to sort out

1. Buying a quality used bike that I can freight back home with me (Has to be pre-1989)
2. Whether I should even try an buy a Canadian Bike or whether I should just get one in the US

If anyone has experience with buying used Harly Davidsons, sturgis Bike week or recomendations chime in.

At the moment I am arriving in LA on 30 Jul and departing SanFrancisco on 15 Aug.. the rest is blank


Steve

Hi Rotorhead,

A couple points, US bikes run in miles, Canadian bikes are in kilometers. And I wouldn't buy a bike at Sturgis, it will be overpriced and in the madhouse that is Sturgis you won't be able to give it a fair test ride. Try looking at the Cycletrader magazine or website Buy Sell New and Used Motorcycles for Sale at CycleTrader.com for ideas on prices and locations of the type of bike you want.

Bobkat

15 days?
 

Hello Steve;

Am I reading your message right. You intend to land in LA drive to sturgis and back to San Fran in 15 days and also tour Canada?

While I admire a man with a plan I think that you might want to buy a map and look at the size of the area and the things to see on the way.

As a true blue Canadian I don't want to discourage anyone from seeing my country however I would suggest that you either allow a bit more time, say an extra month or two, or just enjoy a couple of the U.S. states that you wil be traveling through.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Whatever you do I hope you have a blast.

Rick

Hey Steve
Not sure about the time you've alloted for this trip but in terms of distances versus travel time just as a "for instance", if I decided to go from my home town which is in Eastern Ontario it would take me 3 full days of travel just to leave my province going West............If I wanted to end up in British Columbia it would take over a week to get there if I traveled a 1000 kilometres a day.......and that's without rain and other problems occurring...........as far as going to Sturgis, you had better buy a bike elsewhere as Sturgis is a bit "overwhelming" to say the least............the last thing you want to do is try and bargain with most people at that rally...............whatever you decide have a great ride!...........give yourself tons of time!
Krusty

LOL...

Plan 1. Fly into LA connect to Regina in Canada meet a buddy then ride to Sturgis (2 days) and then ride to San Francisco (7days) to export the bike.

Plan 2. Fly to LA, connect to Sturgis, get the bike, spend 1 week at Sturgis and 1 week riding to SF

Plan 3. Buy the Bike via ebay 2-3 months in advance get it checked by a local dealer and shipped to a dealer in either Regina or Sturgis where I'll pick it up

Plan 4. Rent a bike

Australian Bikes are KM/Hr so a Canadian spec would be good otherwise I'll have to swap out the speedo.

Sturgis would be a mad-house to pick up a bike during this time. Renting might be a good alternative to the whole registration/shipping issues, but will be costly, and you won't have the bike in the end. Actually, it should cost you a couple thousand dollars US for that time frame, depending on rental model, a far less amount than buying one. You can always look while you are here and if you buy one, just export it. The rental will give you piece of mind considering the time frame.

Buy In Regina
 

All of your plans sound like they could work.

Having never gone to Sturgis I would tend to listen to the advise against trying to buy there.

If your buddy in Regina is willing to look around for you, and why not there's not all that much else to do in Regina at this time of year, the prices there are fairly resonable. There is no sales tax if you buy privatley in Canada and if you use your friends address you can register it which in Saskatchewan which includes insurance as well.

Or as Simon says you can always rent right out of L.A.. All said and done this might be the cheapest as it might not cost all that much more than shipping your new (used) bike home.

Enjoy

Rick

If you buy privately in Saskatchewan, you WILL pay the 6% provincial sales tax at the time of registration. However, the first $3,000 is tax free.

An average motorcycle can be insured in Saskatchewan for $65/month. The province's insurance system is such that the government is the insurance company (Saskatchewan Government Insurance, AKA SGI) and therefore your insurance and registration are one in the same.

Buying a used Harley is in itself a precarious undertaking. Ripoffs are common.

Buying a pre-89 Harley is really a precarious undertaking. Harleys built before mid- 1984 are junk.....or worse.

Buying a Harley in the US, while in Australia is really asking to get ripped off.

Buying a Harley at Sturgis is something you shouldn't even consider. For example: A 1988 FXR with approx 60,000 miles and in good shape will sell for approx $6000 - $8000 in the US. At Sturgis, the same bike in similar condition will sell for $10000. Of course, at Sturgis, its so noisy you can't hear yourself think. How noisy is it? Most of the time, you can't hear the engine running on your own bike.

There aren't any easy answers.