My son is 15 now and will turn 16 next Easter 2014.

As a birthday present I plan to fund his MC driver's licence, which in Europe is called "A1"; he will then use his own money (and my advice) to buy himself a bike.

In Europe, "A1" is for 16y.o.,  125cc, 15hp motorcycles. Requires a written exam and a riding test.

Then comes "A2", for 18 y.o., no cc limit but 34 hp (just recently upgraded to 48 hp), another exam & riding test.

After riding on his "A2", one may wish to upgrade to "A3", which is unlimited.

PLAN:

In 2016 my son will graduate from High School and I plan a 3, 4, 5, whatever week long holiday to celebrate (I will probably be retired by then unless a war breaks out)

I would like to rent two bikes, one for him, one for myself (and wifey  ) and ride our money's worth wherever possible, the more, the merrier.

Unfortunately, even if he does pass his "A2" exams, bureocracy has it that his new licence won't be ready for some time yet...

Question: Could my son rent a [what capacity / cc] bike (with my credit card) in the US and ride with us?
Frankly, not only do I doubt there's not much available to rent as a 125cc, I do not believe you can ride "Coast to Coast" cruising at 50-55mph all day long...  

Advice ? What do your State / Federal laws say about this ?

I did a quick search for Kentucky.....and here is what I found for young drivers with a license from another place:

Out-of-State Permit Holders
•A valid permit holder from another state must be at least 16 years of age to drive in Kentucky.
•Must be accompanied by a licensed adult at least 21 years of age.
•Driving is restricted between 12 midnight and 6:00 a.m. for those drivers who are under age 18.

I don't see any restrictions on size of the motorcycle based on age....not sure if your propoed route would take you anywhere near Kentucky!  In most instances if you are obeying the traffic laws, not breaking the speed limit, have proper mufflers and equipment, are driving safely, and blendiing with traffic......you will never be stopped.  Few officers would ever give your son any problems if he was driving safely and with traveling with his father.  

if you can get any kind of license for him that he can have in his pocket, one that would indicate he has passed a proficiency test & could ride a bike there, then id feel pretty good about him not getting in a big mess here. just a receipt showing he passed the test & is waiting for it to come in the mail would be proof enough. in texas there are learners permits, must ride with licensed rider 21 or over in sight. idk how thats sposed to help, but thats the law.

PS Thanks Pine !  

I had also inquired with Eagleriders, for riding two-up I would need the Electra Gluide, and at $120/day plus insurance etc...   $12thousand for a 60 day ride  

An 883 would be around $70/day plus the same expenses.

I could even crate my own Savage and ship it over, but would need to clear US Customs...  
Not sure if it would really be worth the effort unless it was a 60-90-day trip (90 days being the max duration for a Tourist Passport Stamp under the Visa-Waiver Program)

... I might as well fly in and buy myself a used bike... insure it as required, and sell it away as I fly out ...  

mpescatori wrote on 07/01/13 at 07:15:35:


Yeah for $12K you buy three rather used nice bikes.. ride.. and sell before heading out, and come out waaaay ahead.  Theres a bunch of Suzuki C50's on ebay @ under $6k.

Just to make it more of a challenge, do something like they do on the Cable Television show Top Gear.  Give eveybody $ 1,000 to buy a used motorcycle and gear.....and then document the travel and repairs along the way.  You could make it a requirement that it be an S540 or LS650.

If it was Top Gear....they would throw in a race or challenge every few days......or make you convert the motorcycle to a boat when you reach the other coast!    

mpescatori wrote on 07/01/13 at 07:15:35:
Back in '82 I flew into London, taxied to a dealer, rode out with a 500cc Silverwing.  Sold it back to him five weeks later.  Far cheaper than renting.

mpescatori wrote on 07/01/13 at 11:18:31:



cause every 18yo boy needs to go to vegas......  

Grand Canyon
New Orleans

Skip Death Valley.... nothing but hot. Stick your head in a pizza oven.. same experience.