Messages

 

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 

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 :)

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    seriously, just ask Nick Sanders

I'd lend you this one, except its mine and I'll be needing it here     

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.

Thanks shaggs147

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

Thank you Stephen for your advices and recommendations. The way you put it sounds a bit scary 

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     . 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  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.