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New to BMW!

steven1050

New member
Hey guys and gals!
After owning a 1995, 2008, 2010 and 2018 Honda Goldwing and logging a bunch of miles over the years, I finally crossed the road into BMW land. I purchased my first BMW last week; a 2023 GS 1250 Adventure, Triple Black. I'm very excited about taking this bike for a ride after it warms up a bit. I'm in eastern Washington and planning a ride to Anchorage in June. I'd love to hear from some of you who have done the trip and also the best places to buy BMW accessories. I'm all ears so please direct me to web sites, tell me your experiences and the dos and don'ts of this ride.

I have purchased Helibars, some highway pegs, and looking at the Touratech 20" windshield. I had the dealer install a Garmin and some Clearwater lights. and bought the BMW side bags with the bike. One thing I've found out rather quickly is that BMW stuff is expensive... but I'm not telling you anything you don't already know!

I tend to buy practical items rather than just attractive stuff. I am really in the market for a belly ban and also some wind deflectors. Anyone have suggestions? In a week or so I'm going to ride over to the Seattle Touratech store and see what they have.

All suggestions and advice welcome. Thank you.

Steven
 
Welcome to the club from Newfoundland. Definitely spend a little time deciding what you think you need/want for the bike. No doubt plenty of folks on here will have good info for you for suitable products. Personally my offroad bikes are KTM's so I'm no help as you already have Clearwaters.
 
We used to live in Fairbanks and made the trip back and forth several times. Plan for bugs, plan for for a great deal of rain (our ride up to the Yukon last June was one of the wettest we ever made…. Both directions). You may have frost in the mornings and near 80 in the afternoon. Plan to go up one route and back another. Hitting Jasper/Bnaff National Parks is well worth any extra time it may take. Lodging can be an issue. Motels can fill up early so even if you plan to stay in motels every night you should take the basics needed to camp. Reservations can help but do tie you to a schedule that perhaps doesn’t work.

Why Anchorague? Unless you have an overarching reason to be there it is not a place where I would recommend spending much time. Just another city in my experience. Consider Dust 2 Dawson in Dawson City in the Yukon (https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/...ead-the-first-post-before-signing-up.1619293/), or the Kenai Peninsula, go to Valdez and take a tour boat to the Columbia Glacier, ride thru the train tunnel to Whittier, ride the White Pass to Skagway or the Chilkat Pass to Haines (one of the world’s great rides in my opinion), use that GSA and ride the Denali HWY, Top of the World HWY, or the road to Manely Hotsprings and see Denali NP. Many options, enjoy your trip.
 
Voni and I rode to Haines right after the road had first been paved in 1991. Every time I am asked what is my all time favorite motorcycle road I tell the questioner that it is the road from Haines Junction to Haines.
 
This always gets me in trouble, but the first aftermarket product I would invest in for your bike, especially if riding to Alaska, is premium suspension. There are many good suppliers.

Below is the state sign of Alaska and NW Canada:

DCP00250-X2.jpg


Whenever you see those little orange flags, slow down!

I'd also invest in a good set of 50/50 tires. The traction in construction zones degrades significantly when it rains.

Also slow down whenever you see wildlife....

DCP00187-L.jpg


Take the Cassiar Highway and camp...

DCP00208-XL.jpg


Last... don't take too much junk! I like the Aerostich Tank Panniers (Competition Size) to help balance the load.

DCP00241-XL.jpg
 
How much time do you have?

I think he means Alaska will keep U busy for as long as U got... :brow

My favorite recommendations depending on your wallet & calendar:

Gotta go check out Talkeetna...
https://denalibrewing.com/ is a quaint community off the main highway.

On the east side of Denali Highway - worth every penny!!!
Do ride the Denali Highway across the state; in either direction. Very good scenery... :nod
https://www.lodgeatblackrapids.com/

Up near Fairbanks - very Cool & Friendly.
https://malemutesaloon.com/

Worth a drive by and a good lunch stop fer sure.
http://www.chatanikalodge.com/gallery.html

Bernie Karl, proprietor & imagineer, is one very interesting Alaskan!
https://chenahotsprings.com/
Cheena-hot-springs.jpeg

Hope U thoroughly enjoy your new Motorrad ADVenture machine, Steve!


Happy Trails whenever U can - Ciao!
HSV-Karen & HSV-Phil
USN-Ret'd —--&-— USAF-Ret’d

'09 F650GS-twin - '14 K-GT
'82 R100CS ——— '75 R90S
’08 CRF230L —--— ’09 KLX250S
'16 R1200RS —-— ’05 Vespa 200L
:beer
 
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