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Riding Across The Usa.


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I have been planning to ride from Boston Mass as apposed to the original Boston ,Lincolnshire. Across to San Francisco Cal in August 2017. I need some help and advice with this. Can you suggest a hire company for a bike. I only want to do the ride on an Indian. Had thought about bringing my own Chief over but this could end up being expensive and also the risks of the ride on a 70 year old bike.

 

The only company I can find is eagle rider. Does anyone have any experience with them or recommend another company also run into the extra cost of $800 if I drop it off with their dealerships in another part of the country.

 

Any advice guy's would be gratefully received, would also like to meet up with other rider's on my tour.

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Thank's may end up being easier to take it back. Should be able to ride back over 3 days.

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Thank's may end up being easier to take it back. Should be able to ride back over 3 days.

Three days seems a little ambitious, but I am sure some have done it. Weather and construction are the enemies, and especially traffic in S California.

 

Anyway, the point of my post is that I just thought you might try to find some form of sponsorship. A cross-country trip is a great opportunity for Indian to get a test/review. Who knows, a few phone calls might get you a free bike...

 

If you decide look into a sponsor, be sure to mention this site. Plenty of us are happy to support you any way we can. Cheering for ya!

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Also; be sure to post your route plans here. With folks from all across the nation, we can offer suggestions and provide details (like strong cross winds in Wyoming) for a safer ride.

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Also; be sure to post your route plans here. With folks from all across the nation, we can offer suggestions and provide details (like strong cross winds in Wyoming) for a safer ride.

 

Winds usually out of the north - going east to west, you'll be making a right turn for several hundred miles.

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Three days seems a little ambitious, but I am sure some have done it. Weather and construction are the enemies, and especially traffic in S California.

 

Anyway, the point of my post is that I just thought you might try to find some form of sponsorship. A cross-country trip is a great opportunity for Indian to get a test/review. Who knows, a few phone calls might get you a free bike...

 

If you decide look into a sponsor, be sure to mention this site. Plenty of us are happy to support you any way we can. Cheering for ya!

 

Seem like a good idea on sponsorship but no idea on who to contract and feels a bit cheeky to ask a dealership for a bike ,Cant find any contact details on the indian website and not even been able to find a form to submit for information requests from polaris. Any suggestions?

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Seem like a good idea on sponsorship but no idea on who to contract and feels a bit cheeky to ask a dealership for a bike ,Cant find any contact details on the indian website and not even been able to find a form to submit for information requests from polaris. Any suggestions?

I understand the awkwardness of making the request, but hey, what have you got to lose? I would suggest (with whomever you get hold of) just telling them your plans, and ask if there is anything mutually beneficial you could do in this case.

 

I tried the Indian site yesterday for you, but came up empty as well, but here is a start; Polaris customer service line - 1-877-204-3697. They will not be able to help, but might direct you to someone who can. A dealer might be able to do same, so try contacting a dealer near your starting point in Boston as well. I've just got this weird hunch that you are going to find some kind of assistance if you try. Good luck.

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http://flic.kr/p/PHpvmd

Hopefully this will show the link to the planned route.

Edited by The Shadow
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http://flic.kr/p/Pd2uRs

This should be the route though seem to have difficulty posting onto the site no idea why that is though?

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I recommend circumventing Chicago, but it's difficult since all interstates in that area lead there. It's slow and very dangerous riding due to the congestion.

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20161201_134102_zps56y2fag3.jpg

 

I'd stay away from Chicago area too, went through on previous cross countries and that area could really fuck up your trip!

 

San Mateo to Connecticut was 3857 miles, my over all trip was 4430.

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Yes, CT's route looks LOTS better, unless you are doing the ride during July/August and want to make the Sturgis rally in South Dakota. If you want to make the rally you will need reservations now, and plan on paying triple. However, the Black Hills are my favorite part of this country - beautiful! Just avoid the rally, lol, but I can help you plan a route through the Hills if you go that way. CT's route also avoids I-80 which has some tolls (about $30 coming from Detroit, and lost of construction last summer), and seems to avoid the nightmare of traffic in Southern California.

 

Potential high cross-wind areas I noticed on either route are;

SD Badlands through Sturgis

Wyoming and Nevada, some of Colorado too.

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20161201_134102_zps56y2fag3.jpg

 

I'd stay away from Chicago area too, went through on previous cross countries and that area could really fuck up your trip!

 

San Mateo to Connecticut was 3857 miles, my over all trip was 4430.

 

It may seem counter intuitive - but Interstate 70 through Colorado, from Denver to Grand Junction is a really nice ride.

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My map is a bit skewed. I didn't take the lower 160 rte in CO, I went up Rt 145 through the big boys Mt.Wilson and the like...very pretty ride. Then I turned off onto rt 62 into Ridgeway, nice little town-great food and music beer and such. Then I got onto 550 to 50 like the map depicts.

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It may seem counter intuitive - but Interstate 70 through Colorado, from Denver to Grand Junction is a really nice ride.

Then he wouldn't havbin able to meet some of the kool kidz in Kali.... :grin:

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Then he wouldn't havbin able to meet some of the kool kidz in Kali.... :grin:

definitely some cool kidz in Kali!

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  • 1 month later...

Slight change in plan as there is a great deal on bike for a month in November being $999.00 which is the best deal I can see, but would mean coming over to start at LA and return the bikes there which is no hardship. Can anyone tell me what the weather is likly to be that time of year from 1st November 2017 through to 1st December 2017 ? Still hope to be able to ride coast to coast. But will most likly stick to the lower states but want to sneak up to South Dakota and go to Sturgis and Wounded Knee.

 

What do you guys think or am I asking for trouble leaving it so late in the year. Can cope with ran and a little cold , used to it in England.

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"It's not raining, it's British weather," as we used to say in the Triumph club.

 

I do NOT recommend South Dakota during those months.

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Nov and Dec could have -10 and six feet of snow across the Rockies and the northern plains

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If you do it that late in the year, just stay in Cali/Arizona area.

 

Coast to coast is much better from July to August in the far north.

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