Hi Tyler:

I'm in agreement with Simon (directly above) - I think it would be better for you to ship the motorcycle to Seattle. Here's my rationale:

1,200 miles in 4 days is not going to be a pleasant trip for a new motorcycle rider. First of all, that's pretty hard riding (at least 6 hours in the saddle each day), and second of all, you are not used to the bike, to your riding gear, likely not used to your helmet, and you have no prior experience making long road trips. Even a person with a fast sport tourer (like my ST 1100, which I keep in Europe) will not forecast progress that is faster than 50 MPH on average, after you factor in eating, fuel stops, restroom stops, etc.

My Honda ST1100 presently has 120,000 miles on it. I bought it new and put all those miles on it myself. The bike has a custom saddle (to fit my butt) and I have 3 sets of riding gear, each set worth about $800 to $1,000 - a cold weather set, medium weather set, and hot weather set. Even with a bike that I know very well - and is customized to my taste, with clothing that I know well, I would not consider 1,200 miles in 4 days to be a 'relaxing ride'. Heck, that's transiting, hauling ass, not touring. You were honest enough to write "I haven't really been out on the freeways yet", and let's be realistic, if you want to cover 1,200 miles in 4 days, you will HAVE to do it on the interstates... not the secondary or coastal roads. Long way from home, unfamiliar bike, etc. - not the greatest place to learn how a motorcycle handles when a semi passes you with a crosswind blowing on a wet road.

I am going to assume you bought the bike used. Unless it is a showroom demo with only 1,000 miles on it, you have no idea what is in store for you... what the tires are like, what it rides like, if it has any hidden problems. This is the kind of stuff you want to discover as you ride the bike around your own neighborhood, not after you set out for a destination 1,200 miles away... probably up against a deadline to get home by a certain day due to work or school commitments.

The weather is in transition now (late spring, virtually summer down in LA, still winter up in Seattle), and you would have to carry quite a bit of clothing - at least two sets, one for LA weather and one for the cool end of what could reasonably be expected in OR and WA states - not to mention a good set of raingear. I am going to guess that as a new rider, you probably have a helmet, a single jacket, and a pair of gloves. Period.

If I were you, I would have the thing shipped to you. Call a moving van company, that's probably the easiest way. There may also be companies that specialize in shipping motorcycles. If all else fails, just get the vendor to strap it to a pallet and send it to you by common carrier.

Once the bike arrives at your home in Seattle, you will be able to very carefully inspect it, clean it up, perhaps take it to a local Honda shop and have them give it a mechanical and safety look-over, and then get used to riding it in your own town. Later on, once you have bought a full set of protective clothing, you can set out on smaller tours of your own state, prior to doing a big run up or down the coast.

Michael:

PS: By the time you factor in fuel costs, food costs, hotel costs, possible tolls, and wear and tear on the tires (are they even designed for highway use - or are they knobbies?) etc., shipping the bike is probably no more expensive than riding it home. Plus, it sounds like you have a nice set of parents who are willing to pick up the shipping costs - so, save your touring money to spend on touring WA state later this summer, don't blow it all on a single IronButt ride up the coast.