Trans America Trail (TAT)

[EMTFERN17]

I want to ride the TAT next year. I purchased a new KTM 500EXC F for the ride. My plan is to drive to Oregon then ride to The east cost. I am planning on taking a month off from work in July and August. Unless I find a riding partner, I’ll ride it alone. I am also planning on going as light as possible and stay at a hotel every night.

I’ve ridden my 1200 GSA to dead horse Alaska last year and rode the complete Continental Divide this year so now I am looking for my next adventure.

I would love any info or tips from people that have ridden it before. What to expect, what is a good plan and where cool places to check out.

Thanks

 

[thedub]

I am also planning on going as light as possible and stay at a hotel every night.

This part sounds expensive.

What's your plan to get back? The logistics of the return trip always put me off of point-to-point rides.

 

[EMTFERN17]

I don’t mind the expense if it means getting decent rest and saves me the bulk and weight of the camping gear. At least that’s what I am thinking now. I may change my plan later.

I am looking into flying back home and shipping the bike back. Not sure yet. Still looking into that.

 

[berth]

How safe is it riding it solo?

It's a long time in the backcountry alone, isn't it? Even if you're hitting civilization each night.

 

[thedub]

I am looking into flying back home and shipping the bike back. Not sure yet. Still looking into that.

That sounds pretty painless.

How safe is it riding it solo?

It's a long time in the backcountry alone, isn't it? Even if you're hitting civilization each night.

Other than the existing risk of riding a motorcycle, what exactly would be unsafe about it? You think he's going to encounter packs of wild wolves or bandits or what?

 

[budman]

Sounds like big fun...!!!

I am a hotel guy too..:laughing
Nothing wrong with it... not the full outdoor experience, but I do agree on the bike being less loaded making the ride a little better.

Not everyone is as bad ass as Wiles.
Check his latest thread in the ADV forum for some good tips on stuff to bring.

 

[Guoseph]

Once you are East of Colorado there isn't much you need a 500exc for. Unless you are just going for completion. I am thinking of the TAT at some point as well but would probably try to connect it to various BDR's out west to make a semi loop out of it.

 

[thedub]

Once you are East of Colorado there isn't much you need a 500exc for. Unless you are just going for completion. I am thinking of the TAT at some point as well but would probably try to connect it to various BDR's out west to make a semi loop out of it.

Good point, and good idea.

 

[berth]

Other than the existing risk of riding a motorcycle, what exactly would be unsafe about it? You think he's going to encounter packs of wild wolves or bandits or what?

I think that the risk of riding a motorcycle exacerbated by bad "road" with questionable to non-existent traction may catch up to him aided by the fact that the road has the time between passing other vehicles measured in days instead of seconds, minutes, or hours along with bad cell reception.

 

[usedtobefast]

I did the TAT starting in CO and rode to OR, basically the best parts.

I'm sure you've read all about this, but the TAT on the East Coast is getting a bit odd. The "Real" TAT starts in TN ... and is kind of boring until you get to CO. So guys have worked out 2 different starting points by the Atlantic ocean so you can really go ocean-to-ocean. And they have added some pretty cool East Coast stuff in now.

Let's see, tips:
- totally agree on your hotel vs. camp plan. Leave all that bulky camping crap in the garage! Lighter bike, better rest, shower each night, best option!
- the KTM 500 is way overkill ... a Suzuki DR650 is a perfect bike for this ride ... even a KTM 690 is way overkill. But only bad thing with your 500 is you are racking up a ton of miles on your bike and you will need to do a bit more maint along the way (more frequent oil changes).
- the TAT route is very dirt road like, mostly easy ... so the "cross country adventure" is kind of cool, but the actually riding is a bit dull. A more fun riding adventure might be put the KTM 500 on a hitch carrier and SUV it out ... spend ~2 weeks in Idaho and ~2 weeks in Colorado and you could ride some awesome amazing trails.
- work in an off day here and there, do maintenance, fix stuff, rest/relax
- have a back up GPS. We did this trip with 3 guys and actually needed all 3 systems to help us sort things out. But you probably have all this sorted from your other trips.
- Going in July/August there will probably be several Colorado passes still snowed in. Seems Sept is a safer month to go through CO.
- Don't plan on finding stuff you want for your moto along the way. Like a rear tire, or the oil you like, etc. We needed a rear tire, stopped in a town that supposedly had a good moto shop, they had 1 18" rear tire that was a sand knobby and kind of skinny (bike was an XR650R). Best bet is if you have any friends/relatives along the route ... ship stuff there so you get tire refreshes you want, extra parts, etc.
- ADV Rider is full of wonderful TAT stories ... stopping in at dealers or repair places and they bend over backwards for you ... not our experience. One place we stopped at ~4pm on a Sat ... was told they couldn't look at our problem, but they could on Tuesday morning. Another welding situation, guy did a basic welding job, $175. Ouchie mama! Where are those ADV stories about the small repair shop guy that used to ride BSA's around the desert so he fixed your bike for nothing and then fixed you dinner!

 

[ScottRNelson]

Other than the existing risk of riding a motorcycle, what exactly would be unsafe about it? You think he's going to encounter packs of wild wolves or bandits or what?

If you crash, break down, get injured, or otherwise can't keep riding, it might be days before someone comes along who can help you.

Last week on this ride, I met a guy who couldn't get his truck started and was waiting for someone to come by who could help jump start him. He was 40 miles from the nearest town. He knew that traffic through that area only came by every two or three hours and was prepared to sleep there overnight if nobody came by that day. The two of us on motorcycles couldn't offer any help. Twenty miles further down the road I stopped a guy in a truck and mentioned that he should be on the lookout for the other guy needing help.

I ride solo at least half of the time, but I try to be with somebody else on the more remote rides. The TAT is day after day of remote riding, so the risk increases.

 

[thedub]

If you crash, break down, get injured, or otherwise can't keep riding, it might be days before someone comes along who can help you.

If your plan is just to sit there there in the dirt for days and wait for help to happen by, then yes, riding alone is probably more dangerous for you.

But obviously that's not what you do.

You carry enough tools/spares/supplies to hopefully get you back to civilization in case of mechanical failure.

In case of injury the most valuable thing your riding partners can do is go for help. Luckily they can be replaced with technology. Carry an inReach/SPOT, satellite phone, EPIRB or whatever makes you feel comfortable.

If you suffer a minor injury, you are still going to have to ride yourself out of there, regardless if you are alone or not. If it's a major injury and you are far from help, well, you might be fucked anyway. So just ride conservatively and make damn sure you don't go flying over the handlebars and break your back.

Riding alone doesn't increase your chances of crashing or breaking down; it just limits your options on how to remedy the situation. And therefore requires some extra considerations in your planning, preparations, and decisions.

 

[EMTFERN17]

Thank you so much guys. Love the input.
I may wait till September and I kind of knew about how boring it may be after I get passed the Rockies. But it’s kind of a bucket list thing to cross the US on a Moto. I always carry an InReach with me so if I am really broken down (mechanical or injury), I can call for help to come and help me. I figured that the 500 may be too much (people have done the TAT on Groms ��) but I also want to use this bike for some BDR and start to explore the sierras and what ever else I can go ride off the beaten path. I got into adventure riding and just want to ride ��

Thank you for the advise of taking days off the bike for maintenance and recovery. I need to look into how long before oil changes/ regular wear maintenance and start to plan on having those things available along the trip.

 

[HadesOmega]

I want to ride the TAT next year. I purchased a new KTM 500EXC F for the ride. My plan is to drive to Oregon then ride to The east cost. I am planning on taking a month off from work in July and August. Unless I find a riding partner, I’ll ride it alone. I am also planning on going as light as possible and stay at a hotel every night.

I’ve ridden my 1200 GSA to dead horse Alaska last year and rode the complete Continental Divide this year so now I am looking for my next adventure.

I would love any info or tips from people that have ridden it before. What to expect, what is a good plan and where cool places to check out.

Thanks

Oh another TAT thread. So for one thing you are riding the TAT in the wrong direction, it's suppose to ridden from east to west from NC to Oregon. So if you do want to ride the TAT that Sam Correro made it's going to be all backwards. Like if you wanted to do the rollchart I don't think you could because you'd have to flip the directions somehow I guess you could roll the chart backwards. Also I think I left in end May and came back in July. There was one section i couldn't do because it had too much snow in Colorado, the snow plower was plowing it when i got there so I just bypassed it.

As for the hotels Sam actually designed it so you can stay in hotels along they way. They also have TAT stops where nice people will let you stay on their property and use their facilities. I camped like 90% of the time though because I'm poor, there's tons of places to camp if you are away from civilization. I found some awesome places to camp like where one of the very few cold water geysers in the world were. If you plan to only do hotels then you'd better plan accordingly. I guess one advantage of travelling with someone is you can split hotel costs.
On Sam's maps he lists where all the towns and hotels are. He wasn't a camping kinda guy and I'll tell you after a while camping gets old.

You better be ready for all sorts of weather also.

Also in my opinion you would be better off taking your R1200GSA instead of a light dual sport. The KTM 500 is overkill for the TAT. In my opinion the best bike for the TAT is KLR650 or DR650. It's not hard riding that much until you get to like Utah and Colorado, my favorite sections Oh yeah when you get to North Carolina you gotta ride Tail of the Dragon, that is an awesome road. Won't disappoint.

What I did was ride from San Jose to North Carolina where the TAT starts and rode home from there on the TAT. I went sight seeing along the way the dirty kind. It took me 40 days, 20 to get there 20 to get back home. I finished 80% of the TAT also I stopped at Idaho. I'll probably go back to Idaho sometime and probably do both the TAT and BDR. I heard the Idaho BDR is cake. I heard the Oregon section is all kinda messed up, you'll have to kinda just make it across Oregon somehow. I wound up riding with someone in a KLR650 along the way also which was cool. Plan to have to replace a tire or two also, you'll probably go through at least a rear. I went through 3 rears and a front but that's like round trip though.


If you've got time you can watch my videos.

https://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=516380&highlight=Trans+America+Trail

https://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=513314

 

[ScottRNelson]

In my opinion the best bike for the TAT is KLR650 or DR650.

Why does the XR650L always get left out? :x

 

[usedtobefast]

Oh, forgot to mention, we rented a Penske moving truck (way nicer trucks than Uhaul) ... got the one with the super long slide out ramp ... hauled them to where we started, turned in truck, rode bikes back.

That was a nice road trip and we had lots of time to talk about plans and finalized stuff on the truck part of the trip.

But if you are going solo, and doing the bike first (west to east), then probably makes sense to ship the bike back and fly back when you are done.

 

[HadesOmega]

Oh, forgot to mention, we rented a Penske moving truck (way nicer trucks than Uhaul) ... got the one with the super long slide out ramp ... hauled them to where we started, turned in truck, rode bikes back.

That was a nice road trip and we had lots of time to talk about plans and finalized stuff on the truck part of the trip.

But if you are going solo, and doing the bike first (west to east), then probably makes sense to ship the bike back and fly back when you are done.

That's a good idea how much did it cost to do that? I thought about shipping my bike but just said screw it I'm gonna just ride out there haha. Did everyone just split the cost of the rental?

Also about going solo on the R1200GSA could you pick that bike up if you dropped it? That's one concern I have if I am riding solo is if I could pick the bike up if I dropped it.

 

[usedtobefast]

That's a good idea how much did it cost to do that? I thought about shipping my bike but just said screw it I'm gonna just ride out there haha. Did everyone just split the cost of the rental?

The truck rental was just under $1000, so about $333 a person. Plus gas. We looked at shipping but that was ~$600 per bike and then we need someone to receive them ... and the delivery dates & times often shift around. And then we'd have to pay airfare to fly out to meet the bikes.

So truck rental was easier/cheaper way to go for us. And the moving companies are well set up for 1 way rentals.

Enterprise can rent a pickup truck and you can do a one way rental, sometimes that isn't too bad $$$ wise. Like $85/day plus maybe a $100 one way fee (those one way fees vary based on where Enterprise wants cars to be I guess). So around $400 to get to Colorado, something like that.

 

[EMTFERN17]

So one of the reasons for buying the 500 exc was because it’s the most powerful / lightest bike that I looked into. And one of my concerns is fatigue from riding on the dirt. I noticed that I was way more tired at the end of the day when I rode 200 miles of the Continental Devide than when I rode to Alaska. On there Eason would be that the bike being light, I would have an easier time of picking it up if I dropped it on technical terrain.

Which reminds me to ask.
How technical is the terrain? How far between fuel stops (I am adding a 4 gallon tank)? How long are the highway miles? What where the hardest parts?

 

[HadesOmega]

The truck rental was just under $1000, so about $333 a person. Plus gas. We looked at shipping but that was ~$600 per bike and then we need someone to receive them ... and the delivery dates & times often shift around. And then we'd have to pay airfare to fly out to meet the bikes.

So truck rental was easier/cheaper way to go for us. And the moving companies are well set up for 1 way rentals.

Enterprise can rent a pickup truck and you can do a one way rental, sometimes that isn't too bad $$$ wise. Like $85/day plus maybe a $100 one way fee (those one way fees vary based on where Enterprise wants cars to be I guess). So around $400 to get to Colorado, something like that.

So enterprise you can do a one way rental for pickups? I think that was going to be my original plan but I know for Uhaul they only have pickups for in town rentals plus you gotta pay the miles and fuel.