Leave with a friend on the west coast, fly back in spring-summer (cheap ticket) and ride back east, heck of a vacation. You're not going to be riding it in the NE till March anyway.
In the 3 weeks I've been here for interviews, etc, I'd say there have been 10 days of rideable weather. :) I've ridden at 29 *F in California. I might ride it back, though, after the fellowship. Planning on starting medical school in Fall 2016, could be a fun "Last summer off till I retire" adventure.
I have been told my other that this gentlemen is reliable good and at a fair price. He is a private truck driver named Larry (209) 495-3729.
I have no personal experience with him just reports from others.
Motorcycle trailer is not heavy. What kind of car do you have? Take southern route of I10 then turn north east of the Appalachian mountain range so mostly gentle grades. Forget I70 or I80 just asking for weather troubles and steep grades in the Rockies.
I'll give him a call.
I've got an '86 BMW 325es. So quite small. Can theoretically haul 2000 pounds, though. The trailer hitches for them are a little funky and kinda expensive, they bolt to the bumpers (which are moveable on pistons for damping) and the spare tire well. They are only rated for 50 pounds of tongue force. Seems like a good way to cause serious damage with a "parking by feel" level of bump too.
I'm figuring that by time I get a trailer and hitch on, plus the extra gas and brake wear on the car, cost might be close to equal to just shipping it, and it cuts down drive time (55 mph vs 80 mph). Also changes the drive from kinda fun to purely a grind.
With a big enough u-haul, put the bike in it, with all your other stuff, and put the car on a trailer behind it.....
Sounds awful. Don't have much stuff to start with, and $1 a mile isn't good either. :P
