Traveling to the Rally questions

[catskillsu]

Hi all!

We're looking forward to the June rally! We have three scenarios we're looking at:

1) ride from the Catskills (NYS) west to Oregon and ship the bikes back

2) ship the bikes there and ride back home

3) rent bikes there and fly to/from

Input needed on:

1) Advice about shipping (timing, etc) and recommendations for shippers greatly appreciated.

2) Is there a "better" way to travel (east vs west).

3) Any Easterners planning a caravan?

Thanks for your input!!!!

 

[riderr1150gsadv]

IMHO I'd ship the bikes to OR and then ride back. This way you don't have a deadline to get somewhere unless it is work.... I personally don't like deadlines when riding as it seems that you're 'forced' to get X amount of miles per day in... It is about the journey and not the destination. YMMV
Others will chime in on shippers as I have never done that..

 

[lee]

2) ship the bikes there and ride back home

With this scenario I would worry about the bike arriving a month late.

 

[r0ckrat]

3) rent bikes there and fly to/from



Thanks for your input!!!!

Reserve now, fly in to Portland, pick up and go!

Portland Area Motorcycle Rentals - MotoQuest

Our Portland area motorcycle rentals location offers Harley Davidson, BMW GS and R series motorcycles. Explore the Pacific Northwest, Oregon, and Washington

www.motoquest.com

 

[flyhi2cfar]

I would consider a hybrid of the fly & rent stated above. Especially since you are talking about two bikes as I read it.
Fly in & rent a car to utilize during the rally time; Thursday thru Sunday from PDX for example.
Low cost comparatively, especially on a weekly rate.
No great need for 2 bike rentals ($$$) sitting around the Rally grounds 2 or 3 days, or more.
Then use the "time" before or after the event, depending on your schedule, to rent & RIDE the bikes for THE 5 or 7 days,
that you would be pounding miles to/from NY.
Likely best use of the time/money equation, offering the most riding within the zone of enjoyment... the PNW.

 

[lee]

Fly in & rent a car to utilize during the rally time; Thursday thru Sunday from PDX for example.
Low cost comparatively, especially on a weekly rate.
No great need for 2 bike rentals ($$$) sitting around the Rally grounds 2 or 3 days, or more.
Then use the "time" before or after the event, depending on your schedule, to rent & RIDE the bikes for THE 5 or 7 days,

Good point

 

[rbourey]

Have fun figuring it out.

As noted above, if you're tight for money, flying coach and renting a car is always cheaper than touring on a modern motorcycle - even if you're camping. Gas alone would run about $800/bike round trip - well unless you're running 310s, but that's another thread.

If you're going to fly and rent, I recommend Eagle Rider, who'll get you a new RT or GS with luggage out of Seattle, San Francisco, Denver, or Chicago (or an R18 Transcontinental out of Vegas). If you're limited on time, Seattle and the the Cascades can make for a good 4 days of riding before and 2 after the Rally. For fun, I checked - about $1400 for an RT, fully insured, for 9 days out of Seattle.

That said, as an old guy, I recommend that if you can afford it, ride both ways and make a proper trip of it.

 

[BC1100S]

Ship bikes to La Grande or Baker City, Oregon. Ride to Rally. Ride home. You won't regret it.