Allen's SPOT (http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=00A4NOlizH0ARzAsQBIJNe4yz3L2EGuUv)
Karla's SPOT (http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=07Dh199MPDqJWr2PGo7v32Yqzf2pcnaA8)
~~~~~~~~~~
Not actually a ride "report" yet, but it will be soon starting.
I'll be updating equipment packed, route planned, etc..... Right now I think we're at 6 bikes heading up, leaving on July 9th....28 days on the road is what we've got planned for this TRIP OF A LIFETIME.
My wife, Melony, will be riding with me, 2-up, on the Super Tenere. The bike has 21,000 miles on it, and I've just completed a suspension overhaul. Installed a Cogent Dynamics rear shock, stiffer Eibach springs and heavier oil in the forks. It has the general engine guards, skid-plate, etc....but we're in the process of another major modification, the fabrication and installation of a trailer hitch in order to pull a small cargo trailer. This is a LAST MINUTE decision, to say the least... We've packed everything on the bike that we'd be carrying for the trip, but after re-evaluation, and a discussion with a fellow adventure rider on trailer towing, we made this decision.
Decisions, decisions....TRAILERS....WOW those things are $$$$$$$$.............but quess what? Harbor Freight has one with good reviews...purchase made, assembly starts tonight.
http://www.harborfreight.com/600-lb-auto-200-lb-motorcycle-capacity-78-in-tag-along-trailer-62644.html
I'll be ordering larger wheels for it, only comes with 8in. wheels.....I think 12in would make it to tall, so 10in wheels will be ordered today, unless someone has a better suggestion. :-\
Anyway...updates on progress, and full ride-reports coming soon.
Quote from: Al Goodwin on June 26, 2016, 07:45:21 AMAnyway...updates on progress, and full ride-reports coming soon.
Looking forward to this.... very jealous too!
Quote from: Al Goodwin on June 26, 2016, 07:45:21 AMHarbor Freight has one with good reviews...purchase made, assembly starts tonight.
I've been wondering about these trailers. I may ride over and watch, if that's okay.
What are you using for a hitch.
With the trailer, go with the bike to harbor freight, ask to pull one out before you decide on tire height.
Remember that you will have 2-3" of rear sag with gear and passenger.
Also buy 2 spare tires. Not necessarily the rims, just the tires as you can strap them to the top of the carrier if needed.
Quote from: Yankee Dog on June 26, 2016, 12:42:56 PM
What are you using for a hitch.
Melony has a friend that's a master-welder/fabricator. He came out and looked it over well, took some measurements and he said he could do it.....He'll just bring all his welding/cutting stuff to the house, said that way he'd have the bike there.
He supposed to do it tomorrow, Tuesday.
Quote from: 01YZF6 on June 26, 2016, 04:26:13 PM
With the trailer, go with the bike to harbor freight, ask to pull one out before you decide on tire height.
Remember that you will have 2-3" of rear sag with gear and passenger.
Also buy 2 spare tires. Not necessarily the rims, just the tires as you can strap them to the top of the carrier if needed.
I thought about just carrying the 8in wheels and tires as spares, the ones I'll be replacing....thoughts?
Quote from: Al Goodwin on June 27, 2016, 02:05:13 PM
Quote from: 01YZF6 on June 26, 2016, 04:26:13 PM
With the trailer, go with the bike to harbor freight, ask to pull one out before you decide on tire height.
Remember that you will have 2-3" of rear sag with gear and passenger.
Also buy 2 spare tires. Not necessarily the rims, just the tires as you can strap them to the top of the carrier if needed.
I thought about just carrying the 8in wheels and tires as spares, the ones I'll be replacing....thoughts?
If you put on larger wheels and carry the 8" wheels for spares you will have to replace both if one goes flat. I'd get the same size spares as what you put on it. I can't image those tire are very expensive.
You could do that too. They are not hard to swap. 4 bolts. The reason I said just the tires is because you will probably have tire spoons kit right? Walmart mini 12v air compressor too?
OK....scratching the trailer for this trip. Instead of rushing the hitch build and all, we'll just pack it all up on the bike like we'd originally planned....it'll be loaded well, but we've all seen bikes packed up more than what we'll have ours.
I'll work on the trailer and hitch between now and when we leave, but we'll not pull it this trip, just not enough time for proper R&D on the set-up.
I'm off work Friday-Monday this weekend, and we'll have it ALL packed up by Monday night. I work next Tuesday-Friday then we leave on Saturday, July 9th.
Standbye for updates, packing list, etc.....
Definitely looking forward to this one!!
Quote from: Al Goodwin on June 29, 2016, 01:57:38 PM
OK....scratching the trailer for this trip.
Damn. Now I've got to repack since I won't be able to sneak stuff to that trailer :-\
Proposed route....
.https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Cullman,+AL/Deadhorse,+Prudhoe+Bay,+AK/59.6691927,-151.6567466/62.5393663,-144.7930701/60.9565467,-138.0352885/55.66434,-128.7020289/53.2284112,-119.9784517/51.4867361,-116.2493793/48.71209,-114.8047028/34.6778986,-90.4524064/@50.3549749,-111.7713722,5z/data=!4m52!4m51!1m20!1m1!1s0x8889cbbe05ed7657:0xc735bb0a138d505f!2m2!1d-86.8436124!2d34.1748208!3m4!1m2!1d-137.2526028!2d63.5403548!3s0x514f0e50e5aa8bc3:0x3d8dc4a63e943a95!3m4!1m2!1d-136.2488473!2d62.0327854!3s0x515185e954cc3c3d:0x23c34a11637a30e4!3m4!1m2!1d-136.8675103!2d63.4302394!3s0x514fa6b5f9641a8b:0xc93bbffd4ad0c9f!1m5!1m1!1s0x512077009926947f:0x1d228d1ae7281c59!2m2!1d-148.4597191!2d70.2001996!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m15!3m4!1m2!1d-103.9383744!2d44.2285315!3s0x5332b60fac5373a1:0x98bde59b59beb6ad!3m4!1m2!1d-103.4986673!2d44.0271153!3s0x877d4d0a82dd562f:0xfd46f2362a4ba08d!3m4!1m2!1d-102.5052885!2d43.7543657!3s0x877db457f9d9371b:0x5f8485aed57b2d4!1m0!3e0?hl=en
Group will be headed out 9am Saturday morning, July 9th.....Waffle House Hwy. 157 exit North end of Cullman.
Fresh oil change, and good looking over, fresh battery, new brake pads.....the bike is ready. Still may need some suspension tweeking since this'll be the first loaded trip on the new suspension. I'm riding it loaded up and ready to work and back this week, it's a 70+ mile round-trip commute...so I'll have it all worked out by Saturday morning.
Are you guys planning to meet up for a send off breakfast before KSU at 9?
The route looks amazing and I look forward to hearing about the adventure over a couple Sam Adams Oktoberfests this fall!
I hadn't realized just how long of a trip it was going to be but nearly 11,000 mile!! I hope one day to accomplish something this epic!
Quote from: Fencejumper09 on July 06, 2016, 08:37:30 AM
Are you guys planning to meet up for a send off breakfast before KSU at 9?
The route looks amazing and I look forward to hearing about the adventure over a couple Sam Adams Oktoberfests this fall!
I hadn't realized just how long of a trip it was going to be but nearly 11,000 mile!! I hope one day to accomplish something this epic!
Probably a short break for a quick breakfast/coffee.
Ya'll have fun. Take lots of pics.
They had a good send off this morning. Buzz, Ken, Randy, and I all wished them well!
(https://photos.smugmug.com/RFP9/i-m5mtfST/0/L/RFP9%20%281%29-L.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/RFP9/i-8wzPtPV/0/L/RFP9%20%282%29-L.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/RFP9/i-94cW6Hz/0/L/RFP9%20%283%29-L.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/RFP9/i-9TK36Gs/0/L/RFP9%20%284%29-L.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/RFP9/i-JVFJcZQ/0/L/RFP9%20%285%29-L.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/RFP9/i-chqXgk9/0/L/RFP9%20%287%29-L.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/RFP9/i-DG7VmzQ/0/L/RFP9%20%286%29-L.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/RFP9/i-cWNg5Nk/0/L/RFP9%20%288%29-L.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/RFP9/i-Rz6TS34/0/L/RFP9%20%289%29-L.jpg)
(http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/xx202/KrisCook/Karla%20day%201_zpsqgvb8zap.jpg) (http://s756.photobucket.com/user/KrisCook/media/Karla%20day%201_zpsqgvb8zap.jpg.html)
(http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/xx202/KrisCook/Karla%20day%201%20convo_zps4wjw3zez.png) (http://s756.photobucket.com/user/KrisCook/media/Karla%20day%201%20convo_zps4wjw3zez.png.html)
That must be why they lost so much time in Paducah.
Looks like Karla forgot to turn on her SPOT ... Allen's SPOT shows them almost in Iowa
Quote from: Nice Goat on July 10, 2016, 11:22:36 AM
Looks like Karla forgot to turn on her SPOT ... Allen's SPOT shows them almost in Iowa
Yes. looks like she did.
The area they are into now is some of the flattest, most boringest riding I have ever done in my life.
Just glad the lever was the only issue for Day 1.
Group shot before departure:
(http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss4/kdtrull/20160709_092337_zpsaa7galgn.jpg) (http://s556.photobucket.com/user/kdtrull/media/20160709_092337_zpsaa7galgn.jpg.html)
Not to make light of their troubles, this sticker is one of my favorites Glenn has come up with. He presented it to Al and it was promptly installed.
(http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss4/kdtrull/20160709_091945_zpsks2aeigg.jpg) (http://s556.photobucket.com/user/kdtrull/media/20160709_091945_zpsks2aeigg.jpg.html)
(http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss4/kdtrull/20160709_091949_zpshnotgpfq.jpg) (http://s556.photobucket.com/user/kdtrull/media/20160709_091949_zpshnotgpfq.jpg.html)
GLHF Everyone.
How do you turn Allen's Spot on. I have Karla's but it's off.
Allen posted his link on FB but forgot to post it on BR. Here it is:
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=00A4NOlizH0ARzAsQBIJNe4yz3L2EGuUv (http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=00A4NOlizH0ARzAsQBIJNe4yz3L2EGuUv)
Quote from: Nice Goat on July 10, 2016, 10:13:33 AM
That must be why they lost so much time in Paducah.
Nope. Paducah was an hour and a half at Steak 'n Shake :o
The clutch lever was about two miles out from camp. Tony gave me a push and I limped in to camp in 1st and 2nd gear. Just happened to have a spare in my pack :D
But only ONE spare so no more drops for me. I guess the head banging slip in the shower won't count since the bike wasn't there :)
love watching this unfold. safe n speedy all of you.😃
Quote from: Chitza on July 10, 2016, 06:05:16 PM
Quote from: Nice Goat on July 10, 2016, 10:13:33 AM
That must be why they lost so much time in Paducah.
Nope. Paducah was an hour and a half at Steak 'n Shake :o
The clutch lever was about two miles out from camp. Tony gave me a push and I limped in to camp in 1st and 2nd gear. Just happened to have a spare in my pack :D
But only ONE spare so no more drops for me. I guess the head banging slip in the shower won't count since the bike wasn't there :)
Wear your helmet in the shower next time :)
If I was in your shoes, I'd be looking for another lever just in case. Maybe order one and have it delivered to a future stop or campground.
Quote from: Brian A on July 10, 2016, 11:33:12 AM
Quote from: Nice Goat on July 10, 2016, 11:22:36 AM
Looks like Karla forgot to turn on her SPOT ... Allen's SPOT shows them almost in Iowa
Yes. looks like she did.
The area they are into now is some of the flattest, most boringest riding I have ever done in my life.
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160711/cab4e908a2aed3476ed1ea4a905e673b.jpg)
State of emergency in Estevan due to flooding ... might want to go around
So exciting!
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160712/a9ef6323ffe05836ef82aba0d47c8b2f.png)
All was well in Estevan. We asked Border Patrol. We are in for the night. It just got dark about an hour and a half ago.
Stolen from Melanie's FB page and re-posted here.
(https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13627036_1164398963627383_1535649064804558711_n.jpg?oh=c0bf51b120d6c4a727766c0bac792b33&oe=5830FA1C)
.
(https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13654185_1164398973627382_5988993767722004328_n.jpg?oh=818bec314be47762f7bf65b1dbb65d7c&oe=57FBA37A)
Cold and wet for 3 days but all is well. For fun, look at the radar for the geographical area of our SPOTs :)
Adventures like y'all are experiencing, make me look forward to retirement. Keep the pictures coming.
They have been gone 80 hours, and just completed 2,000 miles. :o
Quote from: Nice Goat on July 12, 2016, 05:06:05 PM
They have been gone 80 hours, and just completed 2,000 miles. :o
Slackers...........
(http://advrider.com/styles/advrider_smilies/peepwall.gif)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160713/d5d2fa3a4e78f5cb56732f49fdfe6773.jpg)(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160713/7695314146a22bf35bef6a54fdbfc4fe.jpg)(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160713/659a717c9ed759e826a47dae92fea99f.jpg)
Just a few so far. Mostly we've seen corn and soybean fields. The adventure continues........
Thanks Tony! I am following along and use Google street view to see various places you guys stop for gas, food, etc.
I can't believe that my friends are only three hours away from Dawson Creek and the start of the Alaska Highway.
I'm so happy and jealous at the same time!
Made Dawson Creek. Mile marker 0 of the Alaska Highway.
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160714/8689b9ecb1ccdc6ec6971e196d78434d.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160714/3b33259bb4ca0307b43dcf26846e6526.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160714/c762065db297937e369b9603e36001bb.jpg)
Edited to help post photos
Y'all are moving right along. Stay safe and have fun.
Awesomesauce!
I hope that they sleep in late ... maybe even spend an extra night there. I'm sure that they are exhausted. They rode 2,650 miles in less than 4-1/2 days. That's badass, in my book, but it wears you down.
Get some rest, friends, and be safe. Only 1,653 miles to the Arctic Circle sign on the Dalton Highway...
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Arctic_Circle_sign.jpg/320px-Arctic_Circle_sign.jpg)
Only 3 years, 11 Months, 1 week, and 2 days till retirement and I can do things like this.... Not that I'm counting but you know......... Frigging Awesome!!!
I am jealous I am not following along in person but still enjoying the ride through the post. Y'all ride safe and enjoy the ride!
Fox Lake Campground, Yukon Territory. How DO they manage without Internet.
Quote from: Yankee Dog on July 16, 2016, 07:56:10 AM
Fox Lake Campground, Yukon Territory. How DO they manage without Internet.
Texting while driving is definitely NOT a problem where we're riding 8)
From Allen:
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160718/fdbeada043f3a8b23f5646080e01bd8b.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160718/3cb22fbfb9d1da599fae1577f0751d0a.jpg)
Alaska Border, top of the world highway.
WOW WOW WOW
This is so cool. I wish ya'll the best.
Quick update.......6600 miles +/-.....hotel room to dry out after 7 hours of grueling 45 degree RAIN....AGAIN !!!!!!
IN Houston, BC
Melony and I will take a short, 375+/- ride tomorrow, then Jasper and Banff parks the next day.
We had the...uh....pleasureo f riding thru a HAIL STORM today, only a mile before our exit off the interstate, we rode it out, large marble size HAIL HURTS even through your jackets and gloves.
Riding through a hail storm somewhere in Wyoming......I wasn't recording when it first hit, and by the time I started the video it had calmed down a bit. At first they were large marble sized,,
.