I've now spoken directly to Progressive on the phone - and told them my exact plans (I don't want to risk having a problem with providing false info) - turns out they will provide cover to 'foreign tourists' - provided you have a bona fide address in the US to give them.
I still have to take out a 12-month policy - but they also said that if I paid two quarterly instalments and then cancelled the cover after 4 months- they would refund any extra I'd paid - minus a $30 dollar admin charge. So it's going to be $188 for the first 3 months, then $193 for the next 3 months - but when I cancel after 4 months I'll get $114.75 back. Thus total cost to me for the 4 months is going to be: $266.25. A much better deal than the $600+ mc/express are quoting for the same time period.
And - this is all above board and includes roadside assistance too!

Don't know how to get similar cover for $95!? But I'm pretty happy to pay the $266.25 for peace of mind for having a fully legit policy.
Got medical/travel cover from 1stop - which is another £135 - but provides up to £10,000,000 of medical expenses - which I sincerely hope will be enough (Though I'm hoping not to have to incur any medical costs...obviously!)

Cheers,

Eryl

I've just spoken to soemone on the phone from Navigator Travel. They have two policies - Voyager and Navigator. BOTH cover motorbike trips (as long as the bike is a mode of transport and not used for sporting reasons.) No extra 25% option is needed or anything. The bike won't be covered and neither will is cover the person I hit, but it covers me personally, all that I'm after really.

I can get with the Navigator option 12 months (including USA) for £264, or 6 months for North America at £160 and 6 months with "rest of the world" for £121. The reason for this si the policy doesn't let you return to the Uk mid policy (which I will be doing) although I don't know how they would know that!

Oh yeah, and BOTH these policies cover scuba diving as standard which is great. They have various add ons should you want to get cover for extra dangerous sports. Just go the wedsite and click - ourpolicies/longstaysingletrip/sports andadventure.

Isn't it nice when things have a happy ending. Ride safe and don't lose your no claims.
:smiliex:

Thanks Mike! I can now concentrate on the fun stuff - like route planning...

Cheers,

Eryl

An American's experience at acquiring wheels
 

I just returned to the US after a few years on the road and had to buy a motorcycle and insurance ASAP to be mobile again.

Actually, I returned to the US last August (2009) after loosing my drivers license riding around Europe. It took me roughly 5 working days to restore my expired Washington state license to a Michigan state issued version of same (with motorcycle endorsement). I used Michigan because my mail the past 3-1/2 years had been going to a brother living there (I grew up in Michigan). I had documents that were good enough to 'prove' state residency. I now have a legal residence as well as a mail address in Michigan, even though I haven't lived here in 25 years. (My brother will tolerate only so much - he says if I can fit through the mail slot I can stay.)

After getting the drivers license and doing a canoe trip with my other brother, I flew off to Bangkok for the winter. On March 31, I flew back to Michigan where all my 'stuff' lived.

In a weeks time with a bit of help with transportation issues, I agreed to purchase a used KLR650 - a common 2nd-hand bike-4-sale in this area, where used dual sport bikes are few and far between.

First step to buy the bike was purchase vehicle insurance. I took a copy of the seller's title to an insurance agency - my brother's agent. In about 10 minutes time, with my Michigan d.l. and specifics on the bike from the title, they sold me a policy with Progressive for $272 for 12 months.

To me, this was inexpensive, but so many variables go into pricing vehicle insurance in the US that it is nearly impossible to directly compare this price with any other kind of bike or person or place of purchase. I just remember I paid nearly twice that 4 years earlier on my BMW650 in Seattle.

My policy was for 100/300 (Property Damage/Personal Liability, in thousand's ) and $5000 personal medical coverage. (I know I had higher PD/PL limits in Washington state when I was working, owned a home and other assets, was a responsible, producing member of society :innocent:

I only need it for 6 months now, so for that, I paid $137. Progressive was mailing the insurance documents to the address on my drivers license (the other bro's house about 100km away). And indeed, at the end of 6 months, I plan to be outside the country again and will just not pay the premium balance (or if I stay 7 months, I'll pay a monthly premium amount and then skip town).

Back to the seller (a Kawasaki dealer), I put the KLR on my credit card:

$3,695.00 '06 KLR650 - 4370 miles
13.00 license plate fee
15.00 title/registration fee
221.00 sales tax

Since the seller was an authorized seller agent (mc shop doing business in Michigan) I let them do their job and drop off the documents to the Michigan DMV, who would then mail them to my address. I completed the deal on April 6; I would receive plates and registration within 14 days. Today is Sunday, April 17, I'm just sitting on my butt, waiting for plates and registration, wondering if the Kawasaki dealer did his job... :confused1:

Otherwise, I'm packed and ready to roll for another 6 months traveling North America. First stop; Rocky Mtn. National Park area of Tennessee/North Carolina. Its spring after all!

Maybe I'll see some of you Euros over here this summer.