renting or buying?
 

This is for the future.i hope!
I would like to tour some part of North America but with such a vast continent there is much to choose. So bearing in mind i would hope to have 3 weeks and a limited budget
a) would it be better to buy a bike or rent one?
If i buy would it be best with a large cc bikes of will smaller ones do?
b)seeing i tend to like photography and not a mile pounder what areas do you suggest?
I might add i don't mind camping but would be unsure if to use motels is better and easier than buying all the camping gear over there.....assuming i can have it all ready for when i arrive?
I do understand that this seems a bit vague....but im unsure which place to start.......so would value your opinions
Thanks

USA trip
 

Get to Montana and start with Yellowstone and Glacier and then head south thru Colorado. Look on craigslist.com to get an idea of bike costs. And search this site as this same question seems to get asked alot. Cheap gas, cheap dollars, friendly people here.

Northern Arizona and southern Utah offer some spectacular sites for photography, too. Two can't miss places are Canyon de Chelly (pronounced "shay") and Monument Valley on the Navajo Reservation. There will be others chiming in, too.

For 3 weeks, renting will be the best deal, just because you wouldn't have the registration/insurance/etc. hassles that go with buying, especially from out of country. However, don't go overboard with the whole hog (pun intended) of a full-dressed Harley, due to your budget. However, I am not sure about a good place to suggest.

Also, where are you planning to land? (this will help determine a place to rent and route to ride)

Motels can be found for reasonable cost, but some are quite expensive depending on location and quality, but camping would be the best as far as keeping costs down. But, it sounds like you are like me, and would rather have the convenience of a motel over saving money (disclaimer-my opinion, nothing against camping before you fellow members bombard me with how outrageous I sound, etc!)

I'm not against camping, but i am concerned ill waste time buying all the gear and untested before i set out,different if you lived there all the while.
As to where to land it would depend upon where i chose to explore.
at the moment im trying to gather ideas and then make a decision....hopefully for next year.
i woiuld be hoping in the late summer.and i did also consider new england....but im ready to be persuaded lol
thanks folks for replying

Here is an example of a motorcycle rental place out of L.A. Don't know anything about them, and don't even know if they are reputable, but this is why I think it would be cheaper to rent than to buy:

Motorcycle Tours , Motorcycle Rentals & Motorcycle Vacations

They have a 750cc Honda Magna for about $600/week. Keep in mind there are always add-ons to the price (i.e. taxes, insurance, etc) but you can rent a bike for about $2k USD vs. purchasing one with an unknown reliability.

I think the east would be a nice place to visit, but haven't really been there touring, so don't know where to recommend if you wanted to ride that side of the country, and renting a bike, etc.

Just search for motorcycle rental places in a possible city you would want to land and start off in.