I am planning a trip to Alaska in the second half of June 2015 on my 2011 C14 which by then will still have less than 4000km/2500mi on it. I know the C14 is not the best bike to ride on the Dalton Highway in Alaska but it is all I have :cheesy: . I live in Canada, in Calgary, Alberta. I want to make the trip with the minimum possible reasonable bike maintenance (during the trip). The distance from Calgary to Deadhorse and back is about 8500km/5300mi. I am looking for any advises of how to prepare my C14 for this trip. I am planning to install brand new Michelin PR4 GT tires prior leaving and I hope that they will last enough to return home safe. I had about 13 000km/8000mi on my previous set of Michelin PR3s B-spec (on my previous, same model and year C14 on which I made about 30 000 km/19000mi) so I believe that the PR4s GT being designed for heavy ST bikes should do the job. I will change the engine oil with high quality Castrol Power RS 4T synthetic oil just prior leaving and not changing it while on the trip. I will also change the final gear oil. I plan to bring additional tool set, small compressor, flat tire repair set, spare fuses, spare bulbs, duct tape and wire :wink: for emergency repairs. I am considering to purchase a small emergency jump start device (any ideas?). I will have a CB Radio with me as there is no cellphone coverage there. While riding to and from Alaska I will sleep in a tent which means that the bike will be heavily loaded with camping/cocking gear. While in Alaska I will sleep in hotels/motels. I am planning to temporary leave the camping/cooking gear in a hotel in Fairbanks which will reduce the load on the bike and hopefully make it easier to handle thru the bad paved portions of the Dalton Highway. This is the plan so far. Any advice you guys can give is highly appreciated. I am mostly looking for advices in the technical part as the long ride comfort is more of a personal think. Thank you in advance.
Have you done anything like this before, especially on this type of bike?
(http://motoquest.smugmug.com/Destinations/Alaska/Dalton-Highway/P1030715/791336072_AeXk9-M.jpg)
Photo by Motoquest: "When riding up the Dalton, be prepared for this...." (http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/route-planning/dalton-highway-alaska-26465#post277136)
I'm not saying it's not possible, Goldwings have managed it, but I would caution you against underestimating the Dalton Highway. Seriously think twice before using this bike. Things rarely go perfectly on the Dalton and that's fine, it's all part of adventure travel. However, I would strongly suggest you swap your GTR for something more appropriate for riding in loose gravel and particularly wet, sticky, slick mud - something like a dual sport dirt/adventure bike - a GS/KLR type of bike.
Our GTR's are too heavy, have poor ground clearance and reduced suspension travel, as well as the wrong tyres. You will trash it on those highways even if the weather and conditions stay favourable. If you must, then take your GTR as far as Anchorage and then hire a dual sport for just that portion of the trip. Check out MotoQuest (http://www.motoquesttours.com) and Alaska Motorcycle Adventures (http://www.rentalaska.com).
You must assume sloppy mud so some form of off-road tyre is a must unless you're an off-road riding GOD, whether it's a full off road tyre or a combination - I've never seen a GTR with knobblies but I would love to see that! Then comes the dilemma of carrying tyres because you'll wear them down just getting there. Check out Adventure Cycle Works (http://www.advcycleworks.com/) (Fairbanks) for your forward tyre planning and other spares, repairs and packages. Sending them in advance saves you carrying them all the way there. Make sure your bike is serviceable before you get on the Dalton... again ADV Cycleworks is the palce to go.
If you can, take a riding buddy, there's much more safety and security in numbers, especially if something goes tits up. But if you're like me you probbly ride solo. So if you're going solo, especially if you're going solo, even if you do ride with a friend, make sure you have an emergency plan. At a minimum you should have is SPOT satellite tracking device with search and rescue and medical evacuation. Whatever bike you use you'll want to bring the tools and kit necessary to do minor repairs with the main focus on repairing punctures. Bring a spare inner tube even if it's a tubeless tyre as it may save you - obviously you'll need prior knowledge and practice, not just theoretical, of doing all this before you go - don't wait until you're by the side of a muddy road in freezing rain with 18-wheeler trucks buzzing past you blowing their horns to figure out how to remove the wheel and repair a tyre/tube. Usual repair items include gaffer tape, cable ties, coat hanger wire, quick steel and a pair of mole grips make good emergency levers/pegs.
(http://rickmcd.smugmug.com/Travel/Home-to-Alaska/CIMG0660resize/92777812_c32dW-M.jpg)
There are long 240mile stretches without petrol stations so bring a spare fuel can but don't let the vibrations a grit rub a hole in it if it's a cheap plastic one... (Rotopax are good, albeit expensive) and bring a siphon hose just in case. Naturally bring sufficient food and water, but remember there is hardly anywhere to stop along the way and portions of it you are strictly not allowed to camp. If your bike has a chain bring plenty of lube and hose down and clean your radiator and air intakes whenever possible because the muddy spray clogs the radiator and air filters causing bikes to overheat, suffocate and die. Keep the bike and kit as light as possible and as low as possible. Bring a mossie head net and spray!
Slow down and give yourself plenty of time to complete the Dalton safely: beware of animals, lorries and tiredness. The sun doesn't go down so it's tempting to ride on and on and become fatigued, thereby making all these prior elements extremely dangerous. Bikers die on the Dalton. I don't say any of this to put you off but to press upon you the seriousness with which you must approach riding the Dalton. I'm not speaking from personal experience... yet... but I'm planning to ride up to Prudhoe Bay myself on a North American leg of a RTW trip I have in the pipework for 2016 so I've looked into this a bit too. Check out ADVrider (http://www.advrider.com) and HorizonsUnlimited (http://www.horizonsunlimited.com) for more up-2-date local information, advice and ride reports. Lots of good books on Amazon too but The Milepost (http://www.milepost.com/) is usually highly reccomonded. Here is my early Google map (https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zzna10aXdNIY.k-HMolscHRsE) of the Dalton Highway with some of the fuel stops and camping/non camping locations.
Goodluck and Bon Voyage comrade!
:cool:
WOW tchinkov. Im impressed you want to do that route on a GTR/C14. :yes:
Stephen.. Great reply. I think you have covered everything there. :clap:
Steven, you forgot to mention bobble hat and scarf!!
Colin
Thank you Stephen for your advices and recommendations. The way you put it sounds a bit scary :undecided:
Quote from: tchinkov on December 09, 2014, 05:56:37 PM
Thank you Stephen for your advices and recommendations. The way you put it sounds a bit scary :undecided:
I didn't say any of it to put you off mate. I want you to go for it and post up your ride report here. Just try to make informed choices. There's no reason why you can't do it on a GTR - it'd just be really tough on you and the bike. I know I wouldn't do it on a GTR!
Scary is a huge part of adventure travel IMHO - I want to do it myself so I'd be a hypocrite if I said anything different. Lots of people have ridden up and down the Dalton without any problems - some are lucky and don't even get a puncture.
My advice is just to be prepared and go with the right mentality. Above all do your research before you attempt it - and you've started that already.
That is a very impressive and informative reply to the original question.
After reading all that all I would add is a toilet roll.....
Quote from: tchinkov on December 09, 2014, 01:15:29 AMspare fuses, ...spare bulbs... I am considering to purchase a small emergency jump start device (any ideas?). CB Radio...
Fuses and bulbs are a great idea - they always go when you least expect it. Learn how to chabge them as they can be a PITA the first time... (harder in the dark! A CB radio qould be nifty too, especially if your on the truckers frequency... any major problems and you could wave one down with care? tow strap is useful too.
I have a connector on my BMW F800GS that I found invaluable in Mongolia and Siberia. It's called BikeStart and they sell them at Nippy Normans, Wunderlich and Motorworks. It's basically a waterproof heavy duty female jump start socket - £15 (http://www.nippynormans.com/products/camping-travel/item/bikestart-system-socket-bas-bs10)that attaches to the bike with heavy duty cable connected directly to the battery. With a set of jump leads £18 (http://www.nippynormans.com/products/f650stf650csf650gsf650-dakar/item/bikestart-booster-cables-plugcrock-clips-bas-bs16) with the corresponding male socket. They save you stripping down your bike to get to the battery if it dies. It's saved my skin on more than one occasion.
(http://www.wunderlichamerica.com/mm5/graphics/00000001/2024568a.jpg)
Thanks again Stephen, I do have similar setup on my bike but I am thinking of something to help me to be self sufficient.
like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/171442934164?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Great post and reply. Would be a great adventure, good luck and keep us all posted if you go ahead with it, whatever bike you decide to take.
Thanks shaggs147
TBH tchinkov , what you need for that type of adventure is a bike that is designed for those kind of expected conditions, and a proven track record of successfully completing such a journey....................
One of these is what you need...better than a GS :yes: seriously, just ask Nick Sanders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPrkzQ1x960
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCHWsSRWMkc
I'd lend you this one, except its mine and I'll be needing it here :mfr_lol:
(http://i336.photobucket.com/albums/n326/oldeconey/2014-09-17103321_zps24050254.jpg) (http://s336.photobucket.com/user/oldeconey/media/2014-09-17103321_zps24050254.jpg.html)
Quote from: O.C. on December 10, 2014, 09:37:56 AM
TBH tchinkov , what you need for that type of adventure is a bike that is designed for those kind of expected conditions, and a proven track record of successfully completing such a journey....................
One of these is what you need...better than a GS :yes: seriously, just ask Nick Sanders
I'd lend you this one, except its mine and I'll be needing it here :mfr_lol:
Thanks O.C.
The Tenere is a very capable bike and much more appropriate for a trip like this, no doubt.
Unfortunately while I wish I could afford to own two bikes I still prefer the GTR as the only bike in my garage.
Quote from: tchinkov on December 09, 2014, 08:19:33 PM
like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/171442934164?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
If you're worried that your battery dying because of it's age, the best thing to do is just replace it before you leave. I'd say jump leads would be sufficient but that's a neat bit of kit and not very heavy, so if you do decide to take it at least it has double use - great to charge your electronic devices. I thought you was thinking about one of those massive booster packs that the AA have.
Quote from: O.C. on December 10, 2014, 09:37:56 AMTBH tchinkov , what you need for that type of adventure is a bike that is designed for those kind of expected conditions, and a proven track record of successfully completing such a journey....................
One of these is what you need...better than a GS :yes: seriously, just ask Nick Sanders
I won't say what I think of Nick Sanders, suffice to say I don't think much of him. It's not a question of 'need'... any bike can do almost anything you ask of it, some just do things a bit easier than others. You don't
need a big heavy bike. Nathan Milward on his 110cc postie bike who rode from Oz to London. And Ed March and Rachel Lasham who are currently riding up to Prudhoe Bay on a pair of Honda C90s - www.wanderonahonda.co.uk (http://wanderonahonda.co.uk/) are testament to the smaller bikes.
Not saying you need a smaller bike and there is nothing wrong with that Super Tenere but it falls perfectly into that I-need-a-huge-bike myth promoted by the big brands. Nick Sanders, despite my views, is highly experienced and an accomplished adventure rider with lots of off-road miles under his belt. So he could easily handle that monster in the mud - he made a name for himself using his R1 in this way (as did Sjaak Lucassen, whom I prefer BTW). Many of these so called 'adventure' bikes are just over hyped
adventure styled road bikes IMHO.
Ride whatever you want, whatever makes you happy, if that's a GTR then do it; just be aware of it's limitations and how that will probably end up limiting what you do and where you go. On your own you will struggle to pick up a fully laden bike, especially in mud. I struggled with my smaller, albeit not much smaller, F800 GS. Even with proper technique just thinking about heaving up a loaded SuperTen or a GTR, in mud, with zero traction, gives me nightmares, LOL! The first few times are a novelty but it soon becomes tiresome.
It's clear that here we have a classic case of confusing capability with suitability.
I'm not advocating that tchinkov immediately purchases a Super Tenere to compliment his GTR, my point is that for this type of biking adventure the superb GTR may not be the most appropriate choice of machine.
I've never met Nick Sanders and certainly have no cause to 'wave a flag' on his behalf, he does however seem to be something of a benchmark rider with regard to, shall we say more unusual biking adventures, BTW SS you will see that it is Alf England motorcycles not Nick Sanders who are commenting about the quality of machine build within the Super Tenere ~ even after such an arduous trip.
I've happily owned 3 GTRs from the original 2008 model up to and including the 2010 model and all were excellent machines, but each with their limitations.
Quote from: O.C. on December 10, 2014, 09:21:59 PM
I'm not advocating that tchinkov immediately purchases a Super Tenere to compliment his GTR, my point is that for this type of biking adventure the superb GTR may not be the most appropriate choice of machine.
I've never met Nick Sanders and certainly have no cause to 'wave a flag' on his behalf, he does however seem to be something of a benchmark rider with regard to, shall we say more unusual biking adventures, BTW SS you will see that it is Alf England motorcycles not Nick Sanders who are commenting about the quality of machine build within the Super Tenere ~ even after such an arduous trip.
I've happily owned 3 GTRs from the original 2008 model up to and including the 2010 model and all were excellent machines, but each with their limitations.
I know your not advocating tchinkov buy another bike to compliment his GTR and I agree the superb GTR may not be the most appropriate choice of machines. I have no doubt whatsoever about the quality of the Super Tenere, my point is not that it won't do it, my point is that even this bike could be considered inappropriate. But more to the point that 'we' don't 'need' big bikes to have an awesome adventure.
:wink:
I like the super Tenere! And I also like the the GS but I believe the Super T is more cost effective. In fact when this summer my previous 2011 GTR with 30 000 km on it was totaled by the insurance company I was very close to replace it with a Super T. I found one in very good condition, 2013 model. The owner was selling it after just one trip from Calgary to Deadhorse. It was very nicely equipped with everything necessary for the trip to Alaska, and the price was right. I was very, very tempted... But I decided that if I will have only one bike it will be the GTR! I purchased one that was exactly the same as my previous - same year, same colour with only 1800 km on it. The insurance let me take all the accessories I had installed on the old bike, including the OEM panniers. Now I have the same bike, but much younger in terms of mileage, I have two sets of panniers, and I paid $1000 less for the new bike than what the insurance paid me for the old one. One day if I can afford a second bike it will be Super Tenere or R1200 GS for sure. Until then I will have to figure the best way to manage adventure riding with sport tourer :)
tchinkov I.m sure that you will have a great adventue, and one that hopefully you will report back on so that we can all be jealous of ....I already am :yes:
Quote from: Stephen.Stallebrass on December 10, 2014, 10:08:12 PM
I know your not advocating tchinkov buy another bike to compliment his GTR and I agree the superb GTR may not be the most appropriate choice of machines. I have no doubt whatsoever about the quality of the Super Tenere, my point is not that it won't do it, my point is that even this bike could be considered inappropriate. But more to the point that 'we' don't 'need' big bikes to have an awesome adventure.
:wink:
Exactly..and to clarify you will see that the GTR is some 40Kg heavier than the S10 ..QED
Quote from: O.C. on December 11, 2014, 07:18:31 AM
tchinkov I.m sure that you will have a great adventue, and one that hopefully you will report back on so that we can all be jealous of ....I already am :yes:
:punk: :biker3:
Crikey :eek: :eek: ... that sounds like a proper adventure ! Listen to Mr SS .. he talks huge dollops of good sense :yes: :yes: Good luck if you go and if you survive please show us all your photos !
:biker3: