Your idea of a medium sized engine, (650 to 750), is a good choice for island usage.
My 650 DR and 750 aero have each been hauling sidecars around this island for 2 & 1/2 years now and are still going strong. 18 thousand miles on the DR 650 with Ural, and 16 thousand on the Honda with Kenner.
Other opinions are correct about speeds on the freeways. These machines can do it but You are using most of the throttle to do so. If I stay at 60 or lower I average 40 miles per gallon on both machines. Maybe a bit lower on the DR since I just lowered the final drive ratio again. The upside of the DR is that there are almost no roads or trails that it cannot negotiate. The more civilized Honda is the more comfortable machine though.
Both are very well suited to Island life.
You might want to take a look around at this linked site, lots of info about hauling trailers including with a motorcycle:
http://www.motocampers.com/forums/index.php
We have done both the silverwing and the Burgman, I feel that the Burgman is the better scooter. Our Kenna sidecar works well on either of these and comes with bike specific NOT universal mounts however, I think you would be much better off with a heavier more powerfull bike for the USA. Perhaps not so much when you get it back home. A trailer can be nice as well, My wife and I put 150K on a Honda GL1100 Goldwing with a sidecar often pulling a tent trailer. The GL1100 only lacked power for this at high altitued or fighting strong head winds. If I were going to do this now I would pick up a used Honda GL1800 Goldwing and run our Kenna double sidecar on it. While the GL1800 seems like a large bike, it is not a problem with the sidecar and as you will not be working it as hard as a smaller bike the fuel mileage may end up about the same but with less maintenace issues with the bike. The GL1800 can also take a car tire on the stock rear wheel which will save you a lot on tires.
We could have a rig set up for you to fly in, get some training and then do your trip in reverse as we are on the west coast.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
866-638-1793
Of course I don't know if it's even remotely feasible, but what's the possibility of purchasing 2 sidecar outfits? Time is a possible factor in this.
Unit #1 as Jay mentions, a full-on cruising rig suitable for any highway, interstate or whatever for your U.S.A tour. This could also pull a trailer as needed for sake of creature comforts.
Then either trade it in on another more suitable unit to take back to Samoa, or possibly if finances allow, leave it with one of the relatives to sell for you when you return, and purchase another rig to take back with you?
If you got a good used rig at a good price for the tour you would most likely recover the very large part of your investment. Certainly some part can be 'charged off' to a tremendous opportunity and marvelous experience, as being a very worthwhile expense. Then once you guys get back home to Samoa you're seasoned veterans and have a smaller oufit much more suited to the roads and terrain in the islands.
Win-Win situation if the almighty dollar - cash flow allows it.
RichardMc4 - 12/30/2012 12:12 PM
It sounds good. Where in Florida will you start from? I maybe able to help. Sorry I am not a hole shooter.
Just wanted to day how happy I am to see you're still here Richard. The ural is gone and its still throu tears that I'm conditioning myself to get the Honda ready. Getting ready to have everything checked out and I will put photos here if allowed.
Glad to see you Richard
Sandi 🙂 🙂
lastly - many mfg will be jerks and void the warrantee with a sidecar
so new is probably better - but -
i always want to have the bigs worked out before i go on trips - i try and avoid major work before trips
to
Thank you to all for your time and consideration on this.
For Jay G., I had wistfully considered this very thing, as you seem to spend a lot of time and effort helping others. Unfortunately, we don't have any containers packed from the east coast, only the west coast.
I had been thinking about the custom trees voiding a warrantee, I didn't consider that adding a hack would also.
We have lots of work yet to do on this, and a lot of extra planning, the link for motocampers was great, thanks so much again to all.
soifua,
Michael
Hauling a trailer - I've not done this myself and the friends who did all told me that it can be a near death experience. Be wary I'd suggest.
Staying off the interstates is the only way to travel as far as I am concerned. My wife and I did 13 states, West of the Mississippi, in 6 weeks and only hit a freeway once. We met the nicest people, had the finest time, and want to do it again. There's something about the back roads that keep people slower, safer, and happier in my experience. Loads of friendly help if you do get in trouble and the local cuisine is tremendous. Catfish and Hushpuppies in a small restaurant in Louisiana was superb!! Texas, however, is a whole nother ballgame. Plan on at least two days to get across and I didn't find the people there all that friendly.
Another friend of mine and I covered the Southwest in depth and loved the roads but the weather can be atrocious. We were rained on, hard rain like a monsoon, for a week straight and didn't get dried out until we hit my daughter's place in Colorado.
Just my .02 worth but I'd suggest a second bike as opposed to a trailer. A really good trailer will cost as much as a bike anyway and is a lot easier to sell later on. Trailers are a specialty and finding a buyer, or a use for it later on, would be a pain in the rear.
If I were going to make your trip I'd start finding folks along the line to hook up with. I call it riding the grub line. Local folks in the local area to help or simply enjoy the tales of the road with. If you were coming through here I'd offer a spare room, meals, and probably ride part of the way with you in and out of here. It would not be the first time we've had company that we'd never met before and really enjoyed it.
Did tour in the land of the little people myself and certainly understand the being mad part - I still get a tad miffed at times but my kids say I am really quite mellow now - :-0.
Be well bro
Steve
my experience: If you have not the right company home, then start by yourself, you will met the right company on your way.
And for sure my best friends I made in that way, even found my wife and new country by that.
Sven
I ended up with about 25 years experience hauling a heavy 27' travel trailer around the western U.S.A., west of the ole Miss. I strongly agree that one MUST get in some practice and travel time before setting off on a journey because it's a whole different ball game. No scrimping on the system, only the best will do! Braking is entirely different, every aspect of driving is different. Adding to that a lack of prior experience with an outfit means that there's going to be a steep learning curve. Some time must be allowed for getting to know the rig inside and out and how it handles in every situation, especially when you're hauling the most precious cargo in the world!
Hi Michaelh, advise from a Aussie, buy the biggest and best machine your budget will allow. Get on it and ride !!! simple.
If you worry about everything that can go wrong you will never do it ! If something goes wrong, someone will help you. More so on a outfit than a solo.
Until you have ridden the Nullarbor you have been nowhere ! http://www.nullarbornet.com.au/
I like the way you think Kimbo!!
