Seeking Forum Members Advice

Igofar

Igofar

Site Supporter
Joined
Jan 8, 2011
Messages
7,015
Location
Arizona
Bike
2023 Honda CT125A
I may have just been gifted a 2015 Kawasaki Versys 650LT with less than 800 miles on it from my nephew.
Here's the problem....
The bike is 800 miles away, and the cold weather is difficult to deal with since my Spine surgery.
Heck, riding is still difficult to deal with since my Spine surgery.
Doctor still not too keen on me riding as it is, much less 800 miles in one trip.
Not sure I'm up for an 800 mile road trip on a small motorcycle.
Thought about transport companies, but they want way too much money, and can't quote a pick up, or delivery date, past 2-3 weeks for either etc.
I can fly to where the bike is, and try and ride it home, but I keep hearing the doctor's voice in the back of my head, about not having a helmet on my head for extended periods of time etc.
I could fly there, and purchase a Cargo van from Budget truck rentals, one way, but then I'm paying about $1400 dollars for the rental, with gas on top of that.
Since its in California, most of the truck companies won't rent trucks "one way" leaving California, without asking almost triple the normal cost.
So, what do I do?
Fly in, and ride it home, and call it an adventure?
Or something else?
Ideas and comments welcome.
I have to pick it up before he moves in a month or so.
:WCP1:
 
I would rent a small trailer, pull it out there in your own car/truck, and trailer it back. You're out the days to do it, but your only paying for a few days trailer rental, gas, and a few days overnight in a motel. And you'll be comfy in your own car. Not uber cheap, but worth it considering what you're getting it for.

If I were on that side of the country, I'd offer to help.
 
Would putting it on a train as freight be a possibility in the USA?
Or maybe advertise for a trucker coming back from near your nephew without a full load could help you out ?
 
One of the forum members could pick it up and deliver it to you?
If I remember, @Bones hauled his from Fl to MA in the back of his pickup truck.

Steve
 
Where is your nephew located? I am guessing it is not close to me, (Atlanta area)but some other person in my situation ( kinda half retired) might be willing to ride it over to you, just for expenses. Probably wouldn't cost more than a cheap airline ticket and a few nights motel stays.
 
Where's the bike located? Maybe someone on the site lives there and has access to a trailer and would do you a favor for travel expenses... or, if your vehicle has a trailer hitch just do as others have stated and rent a trailer.

You could ride it.. break the trip up in several increments based on how you feel.. Heck, maybe your son can meet you half way w/trailer.

Or, just sell the darn thing if you don't have any business on it anyway... :oops:
 
What Mellow said - where is it? I bet someone lives close enough and would be willing to help out.

Odie1
 
If a trailer would work, I would rent an enclosed one. It is winter and you never know what kind of weather you will run into.

Also consider a small rental van from Penske. You can get one as a local one way rental. You pick it up in one location, and drop it off at a another close by. The rental is unlimited milage. I did this when I lived in CA and moved to UT. Picked up the van in CA. Moved my stuff to UT and just drove the empty van back to CA. Dropped it off at the next town over. The gas milage of the empty van was about the same that my truck would have gotten pulling an empty trailer. It was a 3 day rental.

Just an option to think about.
 
snowmoer said:
If a trailer would work, I would rent an enclosed one. It is winter and you never know what kind of weather you will run into.

Also consider a small rental van from Penske. You can get one as a local one way rental. You pick it up in one location, and drop it off at a another close by. The rental is unlimited milage. I did this when I lived in CA and moved to UT. Picked up the van in CA. Moved my stuff to UT and just drove the empty van back to CA. Dropped it off at the next town over. The gas milage of the empty van was about the same that my truck would have gotten pulling an empty trailer. It was a 3 day rental.

Just an option to think about.
Click to expand...
Rental vans over $100 a day plus over $1 a mile.
 
Mellow said:
Or, just sell the darn thing if you don't have any business on it anyway... :oops:
Click to expand...
Not an easy option to consider, but practical. You/he might consider just selling it out there. If you're just holding on to it for him, then why spend the money to move it if you'll just have to do it again to get it back to him wherever he ends up? It's not the only 2015 Versys 650LT in the world. He can buy another if/when he really wants one.

If you plan to own it, and realistically speaking for you, if you did get it back to your place, would you ride it regularly? Is it a bike you REALLY want to have in your garage? Bikes don't age well from sentiment. If it will serve a purpose that no other does, then okay. If not, sell it.

Let us know how it goes!
 
jdmccright said:
Not an easy option to consider, but practical. You/he might consider just selling it out there. If you're just holding on to it for him, then why spend the money to move it if you'll just have to do it again to get it back to him wherever he ends up? It's not the only 2015 Versys 650LT in the world. He can buy another if/when he really wants one.

If you plan to own it, and realistically speaking for you, if you did get it back to your place, would you ride it regularly? Is it a bike you REALLY want to have in your garage? Bikes don't age well from sentiment. If it will serve a purpose that no other does, then okay. If not, sell it.

Let us know how it goes!
Click to expand...
Sold my ST after my spine surgery, because I was not going to plan on doing any more long distance stuff.
Still enjoy riding daily, just 100-200 mile days so far.
Can still ride the RoadKing, the Yamaha SR400, and the CT125 daily.
I've gone from 6 bikes down to three (so far) so yes, I was planning on using the Versys to try and extend my days a little further, thinking it would be a much smaller, lighter, ST etc.
You can never have enough bikes.
I'm going on almost 70 bikes now ;)
 
Well this kind of resolved itself.
The bike is safe in a secure garage, on a battery tender, until spring, when the weather warms up.
I will mail a roadside repair/travel kit, tools, plug kit, etc.
Then fly down there for free on my wife’s frequent flyer miles, flush the fluids, give everything an OCD once over, take a shakedown ride to Alice’s, stop by Stan’s donuts, then take the long way home along the coast highway, through San Diego, then take 8 into Arizona, avoiding Phoenix traffic, then home to Tucson.
Being retired, who cares how many days it will take, it’s the journey not the destination right?
This will give me a couple months to start building up my muscles again doing short daily rides.
And…..I will carry my IGOFAR license plate with me on the trip.
:WCP1:
 
Igofar said:
Well this kind of resolved itself.
The bike is safe in a secure garage, on a battery tender, until spring, when the weather warms up.
I will mail a roadside repair/travel kit, tools, plug kit, etc.
Then fly down there for free on my wife’s frequent flyer miles, flush the fluids, give everything an OCD once over, take a shakedown ride to Alice’s, stop by Stan’s donuts, then take the long way home along the coast highway, through San Diego, then take 8 into Arizona, avoiding Phoenix traffic, then home to Tucson.
Being retired, who cares how many days it will take, it’s the journey not the destination right?
This will give me a couple months to start building up my muscles again doing short daily rides.
And…..I will carry my IGOFAR license plate with me on the trip.
:WCP1:
Click to expand...
Atta boy :thumb:!!
 
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