The TAT

[SteveW]

Well...I've just sent for the "Prep for the TAT" DVD.
It's been on my wish list for a few years. I really need to pull my figure out and make it happen.....next year.
Nobody I know has the Inclination/Time/Money to do it.
I don't fancy buying a bike in the States, I would ship one out. I would want to get the the bike over here a few months before departure so I could properly prep it.
So, anyone with any relevant info and advice please get in touch.

[chrisjk]

ADVRider is the best place to look for folk with TAT experience.

[Brenhden]

How long does it take to ride the TAT?

[PHILinFRANCE]

Steve i'll sell you my dog then i can come with you :woohoo: hope you get there mate and i'll start doing the lotto :S

[Redmurty]

the whole TAT takes about 5 weeks I believe, Can't do it next year got to take the Mrs to Africa :pinch:

cheers Spud

[SteveW]

I've just taken the dog for a walk, a great time to ponder life's complexities...when the leather runs smooth on the passenger seat.......
I think I've already got the bike for it....GS800.
Especially as right now my embryo plan would be to ship to New York and then ride to the start of the TAT, the GS800 is a good and comfy road bike.

[special one]

It's on my to do list, hopefully sooner rather than later.
From what I've read, 3 weeks is a good amount of time to do it in.

[Nickw909]

The TAT is a great experience, nothing overly technical, but it can get very muddy in Mississippi/Arkansas/Oklahoma and Nevada has lots of fesh-fesh and rocks, lots and lots and lots of rocks. Its the journey as a whole that makes it 'epic' as our 'Merican cousins would say.

I did it last year, starting out from Tellico Plains in the middle of August. Here's my summary to give you an idea, it can be done in less that 3 weeks if you go light and fast.

Day 1 - 287 miles. Tellico Plains to Lawrenceburg
Day 2 - 249 miles. Lawrenceburg to Oxford
Day 3 - 229 miles. Oxford to Clarendon
Day 4 - 207 miles. Clarendon to TAT Shak
Day 5 - 211 miles. TAT Shak to Hanging Rock Campsite
Day 6 - 216 miles. Hanging Rock Campsite to Newkirk
Day 7 - 201 miles. Newkirk to Buffalo
Day 8 - 273 miles. Buffalo to Black Mesa State Park
Day 9 - 208 miles. Black Mesa State Park to La Veta
Day 10 - 180 miles. La Veta to Salida
Day 11 - 184 miles. Salida to Lake City
Day 12 - 55 miles. Lake City to Silverton
Day 13 - 150 miles. Silverton to 3 Step Hideaway.
Day 14 - 78 miles. 3 Step Hideaway to Moab
Day 15 - 144 miles. White Rim Trail
Day 16 - 80 miles. Moab to Green River
Day 17 - 0 miles. Day off
Day 18 - 142 miles. Green River to Salina
Day 19 - 184 miles. Salina to Border Inn
Day 20 - 142 miles. Border Inn to Preston
Day 21 - 211 miles. Preston to Battle Mountain
Day 22 - 212 miles. Battle Mountain to Denio Junction
Day 23 - 180 miles. Denio Junctio to Lakeview
Day 24 - 186 miles. Lakeview to Cresent
Day 25 - 217 miles. Cresent to Wolf Creek
Day 26 - 110 miles. Wolf Creek to Port Orford

Total : 4536 miles.

I was on a KTM 690, I personally wouldn't take anything bigger than a 650 single. The DRZ-400 is probably most common bike you will see on the TAT.

If you going to just do the TAT then I would travel very light, no camping gear. the TAT maps from Sam at transamtrail.com are based around staying in motels.

The route has had quite an update over the last year, it now starts in North Carolina and the Utah section is almost completely different, it no longer passes through the washes and canyons which is a shame as this was one of the highlights of my trip.

There are several side trips that can be done, the White Rim Trail in Moab is well worth it.

If you do consider a smaller bike then look at air-freight into Atlanta, your then only a short distance from the start of the TAT.




Have a great trip, it's well worth it!


Nick.

[SteveW]

I've ordered maps and GPS maps from Kevin Glasset.
I don't want to camp, too much kit.
I've heard that 400-690 singles are the best.
I don't want to use my KLX450 or my 450exc....just really because of comfort on the long hard packed sections and 5000 miles is a bit too far on these bikes without the obvious servicing requirements.
I fancy my GS800....but do you really think it's too big?
I've also got a DRZ 400e, not as easy to carry luggage as the "S"

[Schoe000]

I did the Tat last summer on a DRZ400s. I did it in 18 days riding about 8 hours a day. I would class myself as an average Trf Rider. The first 3000 miles are in my humble opinion not really worth doing. Boring mainly surfaced agricultural roads, if I was doing it again I would start in New Mexico. There are some interesting excursions down to the Grand Canyon or up to the Bonneville Salt Flats. If you go in the summer the racing is on.

I rode with an American on a 650 BMS and he really struggled in the mud. Another guy was on a Dr 350 and he was flying.