7 May 2014 status

24 days

Other than having oil changed just before departure, the bike is ready. I finally broke down and bought a Shoei modular full coverage helmet. I have never owned a helmet that cost this much but it is worth ever penny. The quality is fantastic and everything works so smoothly. The optics for the clear visor and drop down sun visor are amazing compared to my cheaper helmets. It is heavier and a bit larger than my other helmets but that is due to the extra protection in the liner. I installed my CB headset and it seems to be a workable solution but won’t know for sure until I get on the road with Jim.

This will be the last post on my AK2 Prep Blog. I am starting a new Blog dedicated only to the AK2 trip and will post the link to the map tracking link shortly.

Once I get started I probably will not post on Facebook for the trip duration. I will put all pictures and daily updates on the AK2 Blog only. I will have limited time in the evening and don’t want to spend valuable drinking time trying to upload via a slow wifi connection somewhere.

Thanks to everyone showing interest in this trip and hope you enjoy reading about our adventures.

AK2 Status 04-23-14

38 days to go. Finally finished with all the upgrades I wanted to make to the bike. Here is the total list:

1. Replaced Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM - Yamaha in this case) skid plate with heavy duty AltRider plate

2. Installed AltRider Crash Bars (much more protection than OEM version)

3. Installed OEM hard-shell bags

4. Replaced OEM back luggage plate with bigger and more robust AltRider plate that includes storage under the plate

5. Replaced small OEM windshield with tall CalSci windshield (with quick disconnect knobs)

6. Installed OEM side wind deflectors

7. Installed metal screen headlight protector

8. Installed front fender mud guard extension

9. Installed gas tank side and top rubber protection

10. Installed 1 gallon auxiliary gas tank and locking mount (RotoPax) on top of back luggage plate

11. Installed ThrottleMaster lock

12. Installed Garmin Nuvi 665 GPS Quick Disconnect mount, power and external Antenna

13. Installed mount for SPOT Satellite tracker

14. Installed mount for Midland Citizen Band (CB) radio with power and remote push to talk

15. Installed mount for GoPro Hero2 camera

16. Installed cup holder (have to have my morning coffee)

17. Installed AltRider large side kick stand pad

18. Shipped new Heidenau K60 (semi-knobby) tires to friends in Tumwater, WA (will have them installed prior to ferry to Anchorage, AK)

I’ve put 2250 miles on the Yamaha Super Tenere XT1200Z since I got it 4 months ago. I’ve taken a couple of 400 to 600 mile trips and so far I’m very happy with the way it rides on the highway even with a load of bags on the back. Not as comfortable as my Harley Davidson Ultra Classic that I used on AK1 but pretty close. It sure is easier to handle at slower speeds where the HD is like riding a cantankerous old bull especially when it is loaded down.

Just to rehash my reasons for changing bikes; it was primarily due to what I learned on AK1. Although the great majority of the 8,000+ mile ride will be on paved roads, the 500 mile roundtrip ride up and beyond the Arctic Circle on the Dalton Highway (Ice Road Truckers Haul Rode) can be treacherous. Very likely that we will run into wet/muddy roads, loose/deep gravel and big trucks running at high speed. In addition, I’ve already seen what can happen on the Alaska Highway (ALCAN 1400 miles) with wash-outs and the temporary fixes they use to keep the traffic moving. I decided I wanted a bike made for those conditions rather than try to get the HD over miles of mud and gravel. I lucked out and bought a bike that does them both very well. I’ve ridden the Tenere on deep loose gravel at 50+ mph and it never feels like it will go down. Even rode through mud and water crossing. The HD would have been down for sure (with me riding it anyway). Jim will still be riding his HD Limited but he is a few years younger than I am and wouldn’t be caught riding anything but an HD. It will be interesting to see how the bikes compare after this trip.

I’ve completed an AK2 checklist of the items I plan on taking with me on the bike. It is much shorter than the AK1 list and I am still trimming it down. Heavy gear and tools will go in the side hard-shell bags. I will use several waterproof bags on the back passenger seat/luggage rack. These bags are made by Watershed and we use them on our rafting trips out West. I’ve proven they can be underwater for over an hour and not leak. My 400 mile trip two weeks ago to NW Arkansas let me find the best way to tie the bags on the back using quick release straps. I’ve got a friend that had a serious crash when a strap came loose and jammed in the rear wheel so I’m pretty paranoid about doing this right.

Still have to do some administrative tasks. I have to get a Canadian endorsement on my motorcycle insurance (they check at the border!). We are making some hotel reservations in Fairbanks because we will stage there until the weather is good for the run to the Arctic Circle. Make appointments at dealers in Olympia, WA to service bikes and install my new tires (Harley Davidson and Yamaha dealers).

More later.

AK2 Status 14 Apr 2014

 

47 days to go. Installed a few more items on the bike; AltRider rear rack, RotoPax 1 gallon fuel tank with locking mount and headlight protector. Have ordered front fender mud guard extender (due in any day). That should be the last items I will install prior to leaving. I’ve ordered new knobby tires (K60’s) to be shipped to my friends in Tumwater, WA where we will stay for two days prior to catching the ferry to AK. Both Jim and I will have our bikes serviced there and I will have the new tires mounted.

I had recently received a recall notice on the Yamaha Super Tenere for a faulty headlight harness that could cause a fire. After leaving the bike in the garage for several weeks while the Yamaha dealer ordered and received the part I finally was told to bring it to Searcy to be installed (dealer where I bought the bike). I also had enrolled in a raft swift water rescue (SWR) class that was being held on the Kings River in Northwest AR this past weekend. I combined the two events by taking vacation on Friday and riding to Searcy for the Yamaha fix then continuing on to the Kings River for the SWR class. We spent Friday evening, all day Saturday and Sunday morning either in class or up to our necks in cold water in the Kings River swimming in swift current, rescuing swimmers and flipping rafts. Forecast for Sunday afternoon was for up to 3 inches of rain in the NW AR area so I decided to return to Little Rock ahead of the storm. 420 miles round trip and I got to try out different techniques of loading the bike and securing the waterproof bags I will use on the AK2 trip.

Bike rode great even with several heavy bags tied to the rear rack. The wind was brutal with the coming storm but the Tenere cut through the gusts and didn’t get blown off line to much. It certainly will out run my Harley Davidson and acceleration is exceptional for passing slow cagers (motorcycle jargon for cars). I have been concerned about not having an electric cruise control (HD has it and it is great) but the Throttle Master lock I installed does a good job of letting me rest my right arm and hand so feel it will be acceptable.

I did determine that I must practice packing the bike because the side hard-shell bags are not accessible once I tie on the soft bags on the rack. Although I can get the soft bags off quickly it is still a pain. I need to have the items I will use regularly so I can get to them; i.e. windshield cleaner, different gloves, hat, sunscreen, maps, etc. I have a medium size tank bag I used on the past trip but it isn’t waterproof and fills up quickly. Have to work that one out.

Finally, I rode for 243 miles going up and 177 miles on the return trip. These are very light days compared to what we will do on the AK2 ride (400 to 700 miles a day and maybe go for the 1000 mile Iron Butt). My butt did get tired and my right hand would sometimes start to tingle (caused by pinched nerves from setting too long in same position) but I was able to get into several different positions that helped. My experience from AK1 was that it takes a few days to get in the long haul mode but when you do the miles start to melt away, especially where you have great scenic views.

I’m ready to get going!!

 

 

AK2 status - 28 Mar 2014

Coming up on 2 months to launch date. Making final adjustments to the bike configuration. I recently received a Yamaha recall notice for the Super Tenere. It seems that the headlight connection can fail and cause an electrical fire so I was told not to ride the bike until it is fixed. I have the part on order from the Dealer but it may be a week or more before I can get it installed.

Since last status report I’ve ordered an AltRider heavy aluminum back luggage rack which will replace the plastic OEM rack. This gives a much stronger base for securing my baggage plus this is where I will mount my spare gasoline jug. Speaking of which I have also ordered a 1 Gallon gasoline RotoPax and locking mount. They are both due in on 1 Apr. The RotoPax system is the premier way to mount spare gasoline onto motorcycles, ATVs, etc. I will only carry gasoline in the bottle while in Alaska and on the ALCAN back to British Columbia. I don’t feel comfortable with a plastic jug of gasoline strapped to the back of my bike while doing 70+ mph on the interslab even though the advertisement shows a car driving over the jug with no problem. One of the rack picture shows the OEM plastic rack on top of the AltRider rack.

I recently sold my Harley Davidson to my son and this included some of the gear I had expected to take on the trip. Primarily the light weight rain suit I used last trip. I usually ride in full gear which includes FirstGear armored jacket and pants; both of which double as heavy weight rain protection. This works great up North and in the mountains but crossing the mid-west in June is hot and I will have to get a light weight suit before I leave. It must pack up small since space is always a consideration.

Another area of focus is the helmet to take on the trip. During AK1 I used a ¾ open faced helmet with drop down clear shield with an integral CB headset and mic. I would use a neoprene face cover in the cold areas. I have at least 10 helmets including small summer half helmets and a full coverage modular version. I like the modular helmet during the winter but it will be way too hot during the run across the prairie. In addition it restricts my peripheral vision while in heavy city traffic. The half helmet doesn’t provide enough protection or warmth. The main reason I like the ¾ helmet is it does not fog up in high humidity or rain. I could spring for around $500+ for a Shoei modular helmet that is not supposed to fog but I still don’t like the vision restriction of the full helmet. My only issue with the ¾ is the wind noise. I have already mounted my CB headset in the ¾ helmet I used last trip but will probably not be totally decided on which helmet to use until the day I leave.

This month I will start to do practice loading to determine what I will take and what I will leave behind. My Tenere has tubeless tires so I have a tubeless tire repair kit and a manual foot pump. I hate taking the bulky foot pump and they make light weight battery powered air pumps but I want to be free of having to depend on battery power if possible. I still need to get tire irons just in case I have to take off a tire and put on an internal patch or even install a tube (which I will also take). This all may seem to be overkill but there are several good forums on the internet talking about what to take on adventure bike trips to Alaska. Help can be a long way off and very expensive. Flats are all too common on the gravel roads and better to be prepared to fix a flat than wait for hours or days for a tow truck at $1500 minimum charge.

I still have a few more items to get for the bike then hope I’m done:

1              Headlight Lens protector – either clear plastic or metal mesh

2              Front fender mud guard – to keep Dalton Hwy mud off front of engine and headers

3              Front fork guards – to keep Dalton Hwy mud off front fork and protect seals

4              K-60 front and rear tires – to be mounted in Seattle WA prior to ferry to AK

That’s it for now, 64 days and counting!

 

 

Video upload again

Evidently when I upload a video in a blog post it is considered just a series of pictures therefore the stepping video appearance. I uploaded the videos into a dedicated video section in my blog and it appears to work. I'm still trying to figure this out so please bear with me.

I have shared the videos to the public so I assume if anyone goes to my basic Blog page you can get to the videos.

Thanks

8 Mar 14 status

Today went for a 50 mile ride to try different approaches to take video and pictures. After searching for an inexpensive camera that uses AA batteries I found a Nikon for $85 at Best Buy. Using AA batteries frees me from having to charge another battery every night. 20 Megapixels and takes great pictures. The 2 pics of my bike were taken with the Nikon at Emerald Park above the AR River. The other 2 pics were taken with the GoPro mounted on the bike. I also took several videos to see if the bike vibration would impact the video. I was amazed by the quality. I could never mount the GoPro on my Harley Davidson due to massive vibration in the video. The Tenere is so smooth the video is perfect. This is a test of uploading pics and video. I need to find a way to decrease the size of the video files I'm sure.

AK2 status 2 Mar 14

Three months till AK2 begins. If you read my blog on AK1 you understand that this is the 2^nd attempt to ride my motorcycle to Alaska and points North; i.e. Arctic Circle. I actually started getting serious about this trip last Dec 2013. Jim, my riding partner, and I decided we needed to make our Washington to Alaska Ferry reservations about 6 months in advance to ensure we got a cabin on the ferry. We are going in reverse this time compared to AK1 trip. The ferry is the only hard date we have to make so we are riding to Washington, catch the ferry to Alaska and then the rest of the trip has no set schedule.

About this same time I started to reconsider what motorcycle I should use for this trip. Although the Harley Davidson is a great touring bike, it sucks on anything resembling dirt, mud or gravel. All of which we will encounter on the Dalton Highway to the Arctic Circle and occasionally on the Alaska Highway (ALCAN) back to the USA.  During AK1 most of the riders we encountered were on Dual-Sport bikes such as the BMW R1200GS or the V-STROM. I started researching the possible bikes and finally selected a Yamaha XT1200Z Super Tenere for the trip. This is the Yamaha knock-off of the BMW but at half the price. It has a good reputation and I’ve had a number of Yamahas over the years and like them.

Since buying the bike on 24 Dec 2013 (Christmas present to myself) I’ve made several improvements getting the bike ready for the trip:

1 Added AltRider Crash Bars – Very good chance this bike will be laid down sometime on the trip and this protects the radiator and electrics which are under the side panels.

2 Added Heavy Duty AltRider Skid Plate - Protects bottom of engine against rocks.

3 Larger windshield – Calsci – Protects me!

4 Added throttle lock

5 Added large hardshell saddle bags

6 Installed mounts and power for Garmin Zumo 665 GPS and SPOT personal satellite locator

7 Added larger foot on side kick stand – for soft ground

8 Purchased CB radio and helmet headset

9 Added side wind deflectors

10 Installed power outlet for heated jacket & gloves

 

I’ve put 1500 miles on the bike in two months including a 600 mile round trip to Tulsa. I’ve had it on several gravel roads and a deep water crossing on a logging road. Bike rides great, is 300+ pounds lighter than the HD and twice as fast. It has Anti-Lock Brake System, several modes of traction control and a touring/sport power mode select. It is also much easier to handle due to a low CG and less weight.

I will use this blog to provide status of my preparation up to launch day. I will then start a new blog for the trip. I will use this blog to experiment with uploading pictures, text and maybe video. Will be using a small ASUS laptop instead of my iPad this trip. It will be used to store/upload pics and video plus for blog text. I also need to get a better camera (cheap one using AA batteries but large megapixels). I also need to make arrangements for a tire change to semi-knobby tires in Washington. Lots to do and 3 months will fly by.

Here are some pictures of the bike and a map of our planned route. More to come as date gets nearer. BTW this is the first post using the ASUS laptop. Looks like it will work.