Drive an RX3 1/2 way around the USA - NEED HELP

[CMCinternational]

Hello GSR -

Thanks so much for replying to my thread. I will make some more comments and answer a couple of your questions.

WHY THE RX3:
The reason for this is price. I set my budget at $5,000 for the whole trip, which would include the price of the motorcycle. So, for $3,999, I would have a new moto in which to perform this trip. I understand the RX3 has it limitations, as all motos do, but this is probably the one that would make it. The other contender is the ROYAL ENFIELD - HYMALAYAN. Which is a simliar bike in size and hp (ie: 25hp). I agree a bigger bike such as a KTM or DR or KLR might be a better bike, but I am have not been able to find one that I felt good about yet.

The second thing was is to push this Chinese bike and see if it can do it. That is part of the main reason. I want to see how hard I can push myself (as I have never been on a ride like this) and I would like to push the moto. I do follow some people on instagram who are folks from Central and South America and they seem to do just find with the moto. I follow others in India who have the HIMALAYAN and they have lots of success with the bike.

I have looked at the Suzuki VStrom 650 which would work. I would like to look at that Kawi Versyss 300 yet and see what that is like. Maybe that can work, but the budget is $5,000. However, I may have to finance something bigger. I am not interested in a BMW or a 1200 sized bike. Not for a first trip and with so much inexperience.

PRACTICE RIDE:
that is a good piece of advice and something I did not consider. Thanks for point that out. Once I get all the gear and moto, that is something that my wife and I will do.

TIME FRAME FOR RIDE:
I was initially considering Feburary, but now have reconsidered to a later time such as April 2020. It will be too cold in the areas I wish to see, and would be too cool driving back through NE, MO, IA, and MN. Not that it could not be done, I just don't want to add the risk of cold and potentially snow.

LIMITED CARRYING GEAR:
This is what I am wondering. I think what you had mentioned was s good idea, get the moto, try it out and see what it is like. That's the best idea.

CAMPING IDEAS:
You made some good points about NOT leaving food in the tents. Something I had forgotten about. Good catch!
Haning the bags was a good idea as well.

You made a couple of points which I have noted in my travel notes.
Thanks for pointing out a couple of things I have missed.

Best,
Sky

[DanKearney]

The RX3 can do it no problem. One of the guys who rode down Baja with us a couple of years ago was taller than 6' and at least 250 lbs. He rode 2-up with his petite wife the entire trip. Never had trouble keeping up with the rest of us. The stock RX3 tires are fine for the trip you suggest. I used them on fire roads in Colorado with no problem. Check CraigsList in your area. Used RX3's pop up from time to time at a good discount over new. If you get the bike brand-new be sure to take it on a long weekend shakedown ride before you leave on your trip.

I don't see any advantage to changing out the inner tubes beforehand. Carry a spare rear tube and a patch kit (With appropriate tools)

Yes the factory plastic side panniers will leak a bit in the rain. My top case never leaked. Put your clothes in plastic bags in them and you'll be fine.

If you've already got a smart phone, I suggest the free Maps.me app. All maps can be downloaded for offline use and it is a good map program.

There's a large RX3 forum on chinariders.net with good info: http://www.chinariders.net/forumdisplay.php?f=136

Good Luck,

Dan K.

[CMCinternational]

Dan -
Thanks for the tips and post!!!

[ChinaV]

You live in America and have access to an almost unlimited supply of quality Japanese used machinery. I can think of at least a dozen choices that are better than the RX3.

Too many questions that have been answered hundreds of times in lots of other forums. ADVRider is a good place to find all those answers.

I'll answer one of them... Water. A good Camelback with a 3 liter bladder is enough to keep 2 people alive. You most likely will have access to water at least one or two times per day. You can save a ton of money by filling up your camelback at gas stations with ice or hotels with ice machines. My wife and I spent a few months touring the USA by motorcycle and spent almost nothing on water.

[ChinaV]

One more thing.... anything over 4000 feet of elevation in California could have snow in April. The road to Yosemite from the West side didn't open until the end of June this year. It's very common for the really good roads in the Sierras to be closed into May due to the snow.