Hi there,

I´m new to this forum and I plan for a round trip USA somewhen in 2016. I have strolled 2 days through this fine resource of hepful information and I want to thank eveyone contributing and sharing their experiences.

Still, the´re some questions left. I would like to take my caffinated old beemer to the U.S.:



So my focus is not off road, but sticky tarmac, not Interstates but throughroutes and twisties. Apart from riding, hints re interesting locations, good bars, perhaps some music gigs and suchlike things are most welcome.

The bike is 1978 made, thus it seems to be a bit problematic to get a full cover insurance rather than just a liability police. Are there any insurance companies allowing full cover for a bike older than 30 years?

Since airfreight nowadays gets more and more complicated, it´s moste likely see transport, back and forth GER / USA (or BEL / USA). I found quite good critics re the German based INTERFRACHT, somebody here could reccommend this company?

The route would start in NYC, going north west via Binghampton and Elk and Sproul State Forest to Akront / Ohio, then proceedding to Chicago. From there via St.Louis to Denver, further through Utah and Yosemite to San Fancisco.

From S.F. to Santa. Barbara, Vegas, Grand Canyon, to Flagstaff. Then through Tonto National Forest and via Alubquerque, Amarillo, Oklahoma City and Little Rock to Memphis.

From Memphis via Jackson to New Orleans, from there via Tallahassee to Orlanda (with the then opened Ace Cafe - you see, I ride a caff...), further via Daytona Beach and Macon to Atlanta, then via Chattanooga to Nashville.

From Nashville via Lenoir City and hrough the Tail of the Dragon, further through the Great Smokies to Townsend and Gatlinburg, heading east through the Harmon Area and along the Cane river towards Roan Mountain.

From Roan Mountain via Boone and New River State Park towards Mouth of Wilson, from there proceeding further north via Tazewell and Twin Falls STate Park to Beckley.

From Beckley via Babcock State Park and Mt. Nebo to Summersville. Then further east via Richwood and Slaty Fork to Cumberland.

From Cumberland through the Appalachians to Lewistown. Further on via Milroy and the White Mountains to Sunbry, Mt. Carmel and Hamburg to proceed further on back to New York.

All in all some 15TKM, for which I would plan ish 8 weeks, with some spare time if needed.

With such routing, would I miss some nearby fine rides or locations?

Having gotten used to it, Black Tea with Milk is not that popular and easy to get in the States?

Any reccommendations on good motels / hotel en route? Would I get fully synthetic 15W50 and 75W140 hypoid oils in the U.S.? I would also reckon to need replacement for at least my rear tyre, are Continental tyres of the type CRA2 available in the States?

What would be the best time of the year, May/June or Oct/ Sept.?

Sorry for keeping you busy, I promise to supply all relevant tour info for those who might be interested taking their caff to America and revving it over there.

If like minded riders should be out there, call in perhaps we can do a stretch together.

brgds

Hanns

Hi Hanns and welcome.

I'm doing more or less your route this year but in reverse (and missing out the Florida bit. We looked carefully at May / June but we've gone for Sept / Oct for a number of reasons - some personal and some family but mainly because we thought we'd probably feel more enthusiastic arranging things through the summer rather than at the tail end of winter.

I can't really help much with the bike issues because we bought a bike in the States to get round the shipping problems. There is a recent thread about cheap airfreighting to / from Canada that might be worth a look. I wouldn't worry too much about the availability of oils and tyres in the US. If you can't get them there there's something wrong.

I'm sure someone based in the US will be able to advise on insurance. It is a subject that comes up regularly though and there's a lot of stuff if you search through the archives.

Nice bike btw

Hi backofbeyond,

thanks for your reply, the 'flowers', and wishing you a swell journey.

As to tyres, I would not bother too much re brand as one can´t go really fast all through the US, however, the CRA2 types a radial tyres, the only one afaik for narrow rims (3,00x18 rear and 2,50x18 front on the red beemer) classic bikes have. I would not wish to ride a mixture of radial / diagonal. I´ll check with the manufacturers directly, if such tyres are supplied overseas. Also, since those rubbers are the best I ever had on an older bike, I just would like to stay with em. If no luck, I then would change the complete set for BT45 or equivilant once the rear one is worn out.

As the beemer is air cooled I would not prefer a too thin base oil, such as perhaps 5/50. In Germany you would get 15/50 fully synthetic easily at quite a number of shops, but not anymore as a regular option at fuelstations nor at motorway services. I´ll have an extra litre in my tankbag to be safe between intervalls (ish 8K), but would wish to make an oil change with filter enroute.

I´ll check with shops along my plotted way and I could also live with a 10/50 or 10/60 if necessary.

Next week I´ll check re insurance and shipping and share what I´ll get to know.

tara

Hanns

Hanns, nice bike!

You should visit the ADVRider forum, there are a lot more US riders there, and regional subfora where locals can advise you on places to ride/stay/visit. Have a great trip!

Dobryy den' Motoreiter,

thanks for your advice, I now have registered also to ADVRider and got in touch with them locals.

brgds

Hanns