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Teaser- "Adventure is taking inappropriate Equipment to out of the way places"
- Thread starter beemer01
- Start date
ricochetrider
Out There Somewhere
Great trip- all the adventure, ups & downs, meeting of folks, and scenery one could ask for in a trip- OR- in a report on a trip.
I know what it takes to write up, and post pix for a RR of this scope. Thanks for taking the time to relate your story.
I've really enjoyed reading it.
I must say (speaking for everyone, perhaps?) that the follow-up bit on Thomas was kinda anti-climatic. I'd surely love it if he wrote his bit up, threw in some of his own pix, and added them to your tale. That would definitely round things out nicely!
SO! Thomas, dude- IF you're reading this....
AHEM.
jus sayin.
Tom
I know what it takes to write up, and post pix for a RR of this scope. Thanks for taking the time to relate your story.
I've really enjoyed reading it.
I must say (speaking for everyone, perhaps?) that the follow-up bit on Thomas was kinda anti-climatic. I'd surely love it if he wrote his bit up, threw in some of his own pix, and added them to your tale. That would definitely round things out nicely!
SO! Thomas, dude- IF you're reading this....
AHEM.
jus sayin.
Tom
Great trip- all the adventure, ups & downs, meeting of folks, and scenery one could ask for in a trip- OR- in a report on a trip.
I know what it takes to write up, and post pix for a RR of this scope. Thanks for taking the time to relate your story.
I've really enjoyed reading it.
I must say (speaking for everyone, perhaps?) that the follow-up bit on Thomas was kinda anti-climatic. I'd surely love it if he wrote his bit up, threw in some of his own pix, and added them to your tale. That would definitely round things out nicely!
SO! Thomas, dude- IF you're reading this....
AHEM.
jus sayin.
Tom
Ah, the story is only beginning
I'm sure I cannot match my colleagues prose...but the Irish in me can spin a yarn.As Bryan and Fran may have mentioned I have some Army experience....well ah um about 30 years worth...I think that counts as some doesn't it Been there, done that, have the tee shirt and hat for Desert Storm, Somalia, Iraq #2, Iraq #3, Afghanistan, and 70 some other countries. Though Bryan jokes about me traveling with "a Duce and a Half" my experience is working in small teams that hump what you need for the mission. In this case the hump was the RT....and was I glad it was not me carrying a ruck sack!
My decision to ride the brand spanking new RT was not my original plan. But, plans are good until they are confronted with reality.
An Army buddy, "LW," died in February. We had known each other since 1987-1988. He was the type of friend we all wish for - give you the shirt off this back, drive a 1,000 miles because you were broke down and never bat an eye. LW's family was selling LW's motorcycle to help fund his son's college. So, there was no question as to what to do - I bought LW's motorcycle. Well, I like to think of it as a lease....his son gets it back when he graduates from college.
This raised 2 issues - cash to also buy a GS for the adventure and maintaining domestic tranquility. So, the RT was on.
We worked to kit it out appropriately, I packed an extensive tool kit with items to confront most incidents and queried BMWMOA for the best set up and tires for an RT on such an adventure. Well the operative word regarding my tool kit - it took into consideration "most incidents."
Did I mention I wish Irish - if I didn't have bad luck I would have no luck at all
More to follow.
Been there, done that, have the tee shirt and hat for Desert Storm, Somalia, Iraq #2, Iraq #3, Afghanistan, and 70 some other countries. Though Bryan jokes about me traveling with "a Duce and a Half" my experience is working in small teams that hump what you need for the mission. In this case the hump was the RT....and was I glad it was not me carrying a ruck sack!My decision to ride the brand spanking new RT was not my original plan. But, plans are good until they are confronted with reality.
An Army buddy, "LW," died in February. We had known each other since 1987-1988. He was the type of friend we all wish for - give you the shirt off this back, drive a 1,000 miles because you were broke down and never bat an eye. LW's family was selling LW's motorcycle to help fund his son's college. So, there was no question as to what to do - I bought LW's motorcycle. Well, I like to think of it as a lease....his son gets it back when he graduates from college.
This raised 2 issues - cash to also buy a GS for the adventure and maintaining domestic tranquility. So, the RT was on.
We worked to kit it out appropriately, I packed an extensive tool kit with items to confront most incidents and queried BMWMOA for the best set up and tires for an RT on such an adventure. Well the operative word regarding my tool kit - it took into consideration "most incidents."
Did I mention I wish Irish - if I didn't have bad luck I would have no luck at all
More to follow.
ricochetrider
Out There Somewhere
Hi Thomas,
Sounds like you've led a bit of an adventurous life already, via your career! (My dad was an Army lifer- 30+ years, WWII, Korea, Viet Nam- thanks for your service, BTW)
Anyway, kudos also for keeping the RT in the "Family" as it were. If you have the time to elaborate, it'd be lovely, if not, I understand. Either way, I'm sure the entire experience was just one more "trip of a lifetime"- you have the memories and stories for your personal archives... And that's often enough.
Cheers, sir.
Tom
Sounds like you've led a bit of an adventurous life already, via your career! (My dad was an Army lifer- 30+ years, WWII, Korea, Viet Nam- thanks for your service, BTW)
Anyway, kudos also for keeping the RT in the "Family" as it were. If you have the time to elaborate, it'd be lovely, if not, I understand. Either way, I'm sure the entire experience was just one more "trip of a lifetime"- you have the memories and stories for your personal archives... And that's often enough.
Cheers, sir.
Tom
beemer01
Active member
Toolkit -
"We worked to kit it out appropriately, I packed an extensive tool kit with items to confront most incidents and queried BMWMOA for the best set up and tires for an RT on such an adventure. Well the operative word regarding my tool kit - it took into consideration "most incidents."
I was so humbled by Thomas' Cruz tool kit, customized for the BMW fasteners and bolts, that I set about trying to build my own on my return.
In hindsight, I don't think the TCK 80s were the right tire for the rear on the RT though...the combination of the tire geometry, the width of the tire, the softer rubber compound and the weight of the bike, gear and rider on the jagged gravel of the far North made for a toxic combination.
I ran a Heidi in the rear and liked that big tough beefy center tread to battle the rock demons. In fact I ran all 12,600 miles on that Heidi and apart from being squared off that tire could have run another 3000 miles.
"We worked to kit it out appropriately, I packed an extensive tool kit with items to confront most incidents and queried BMWMOA for the best set up and tires for an RT on such an adventure. Well the operative word regarding my tool kit - it took into consideration "most incidents."
I was so humbled by Thomas' Cruz tool kit, customized for the BMW fasteners and bolts, that I set about trying to build my own on my return.
In hindsight, I don't think the TCK 80s were the right tire for the rear on the RT though...the combination of the tire geometry, the width of the tire, the softer rubber compound and the weight of the bike, gear and rider on the jagged gravel of the far North made for a toxic combination.
I ran a Heidi in the rear and liked that big tough beefy center tread to battle the rock demons. In fact I ran all 12,600 miles on that Heidi and apart from being squared off that tire could have run another 3000 miles.
bipschkaboden
New member
Your first entry had me hooked!
Excellent ride report. I hope to have the time to have that sort of adventure some day. Well honestly, I could do without some parts of "the adventure"
Excellent ride report. I hope to have the time to have that sort of adventure some day. Well honestly, I could do without some parts of "the adventure"
nakwakto00
Adventurist
What a great read! I read with interest at how physical the toll was not only for the bikes but for you too. While I'm pretty adventurous now I'm not sure I'd want to endure that day after day, mile after mile of tough, deep gravel and chloride roads. I do 50-100 mi forest roads, but 300 miles of gravel? Not sure Thank you for yyour ride rereport.
tio jaimito
UJ
M?xico....
Hello B. I have some good haunts down there. My hija is going to school down in GDL and we would have a great welcome there. We would be safer than safe. Tall J from the Full Moon
mckeerobert7
Jumper
beemer01
Active member
Update - 2016 re-assault being planned
Hi folks -
Well, Team Chicago is going to try this again in late May 2016. Bullet points -
1. "We don't have to have the motorcycle discussion again" said me. Both Thomas and Fran agreed without the usual 'point counter point' discussions. Fran just purchased a 2005 R1200GS and Thomas is looking for a very late model WC GS with the lowered suspension.
2. Tires - I'm going straight Heidi K60s front and rear. Every tire is a compromise, but the durability and traction of the Heidi tires won me over. Frankly, the jagged edged un-compacted gravel up there was so abusive in 2014, I think this is the right solution.
We are also very seriously beefing up our tire repair kits and will have not only have the industrial strength gummy worms, extra rubber cement, several internal truck tire patches but will add two suitable inner tubes for the very worst case scenarios we faced on the last trip. Our industrial strength bead breaker is a carpenter's C clamp - which will probably be necessary to break the bead on these stiff sidewalled Heidis should it come to that.
Folks - we are open to any and all suggestions on this front.
3. Fuel - Since Fran's aluminum aux tank met its demise on the Dalton, he's going with a traditional 2.5 gallon plastic gas can, probably strapped to the area where the passenger's seat would be. Thomas will use his tried and proven Rotopax 2 gallon container and Bryan will stick with my Pegpacker system, with modifications to try and stop the leakage I experienced when the 1 gallon cans were filled and I rode rough roads.
4. Food - I'm adding a few more emergency backpacker meals to the equation, taking more jerky and almonds and of course, five hour energy bottles. Via and my Jetboil are staying.
5. Tools - I've built out a pretty complete tool roll after discovering how inadequate the factory tools were when facing real problems alongside the road. I also bought a new digital multimeter for the electrical problems we faced....which will hopefully NOT be necessary this time.
6. Timing - We're pushing our departure back a week to the end of May. The reasons for this are twofold - first I've been foiled in reaching Inuvik twice when the ferrys across the rivers on the Dempster have not been operating due to ice floes on the fast currents. Second, and related to the first item, I'm hoping that operating ferrys will mean operating Semi Truck traffic, which will substantially compact that abundant early season gravel to make for easier riding.
We may also be bringing a newbie, Craig - a Canadian Expat, who can act as a translator as we cris-cross the width of Canada. ;-)
In 2014 we failed to reach several objectives - reaching Inuvik at the end of the Dempster - Taking the Ferry from Haines to Skagway - and riding out to Bella Coola in BC.
This will be my third and probably final effort. I'll take input and suggestions from everyone.
Thanks
Bryan
Hi folks -
Well, Team Chicago is going to try this again in late May 2016. Bullet points -
1. "We don't have to have the motorcycle discussion again" said me. Both Thomas and Fran agreed without the usual 'point counter point' discussions. Fran just purchased a 2005 R1200GS and Thomas is looking for a very late model WC GS with the lowered suspension.
2. Tires - I'm going straight Heidi K60s front and rear. Every tire is a compromise, but the durability and traction of the Heidi tires won me over. Frankly, the jagged edged un-compacted gravel up there was so abusive in 2014, I think this is the right solution.
We are also very seriously beefing up our tire repair kits and will have not only have the industrial strength gummy worms, extra rubber cement, several internal truck tire patches but will add two suitable inner tubes for the very worst case scenarios we faced on the last trip. Our industrial strength bead breaker is a carpenter's C clamp - which will probably be necessary to break the bead on these stiff sidewalled Heidis should it come to that.
Folks - we are open to any and all suggestions on this front.
3. Fuel - Since Fran's aluminum aux tank met its demise on the Dalton, he's going with a traditional 2.5 gallon plastic gas can, probably strapped to the area where the passenger's seat would be. Thomas will use his tried and proven Rotopax 2 gallon container and Bryan will stick with my Pegpacker system, with modifications to try and stop the leakage I experienced when the 1 gallon cans were filled and I rode rough roads.
4. Food - I'm adding a few more emergency backpacker meals to the equation, taking more jerky and almonds and of course, five hour energy bottles. Via and my Jetboil are staying.
5. Tools - I've built out a pretty complete tool roll after discovering how inadequate the factory tools were when facing real problems alongside the road. I also bought a new digital multimeter for the electrical problems we faced....which will hopefully NOT be necessary this time.
6. Timing - We're pushing our departure back a week to the end of May. The reasons for this are twofold - first I've been foiled in reaching Inuvik twice when the ferrys across the rivers on the Dempster have not been operating due to ice floes on the fast currents. Second, and related to the first item, I'm hoping that operating ferrys will mean operating Semi Truck traffic, which will substantially compact that abundant early season gravel to make for easier riding.
We may also be bringing a newbie, Craig - a Canadian Expat, who can act as a translator as we cris-cross the width of Canada. ;-)
In 2014 we failed to reach several objectives - reaching Inuvik at the end of the Dempster - Taking the Ferry from Haines to Skagway - and riding out to Bella Coola in BC.
This will be my third and probably final effort. I'll take input and suggestions from everyone.
Thanks
Bryan
Looking forward to the report. FYI you can get ferry disturbances at any time. We went up on June 21 (the longest day is an excellent time to visit anywhere above the arctic circle) and there was still ferry trouble due to continued debris flow from break up. The Yukon and McKenzie river were at peak flow but there was a lot of rain that year.
Heidis are a good option. That is what we used and they are tough as nails. No flats and got over 20,000 km out of the rear which included the Alaska trip.
Here is the goal!
beemer01
Active member
I completely agree
I have absolutely no idea why Fran thought this was a good idea, apart from getting 30,000 miles out of a tire. Handling was significantly degraded, braking on anything other than hot flat dry pavement was a nightmare. Sometimes the same people who want to prove a point by taking a Triumph Sport bike to Deadhorse, are just focused on being a little different.
2016 trip - Fran is on a 2005 R1200GS, I hope with Heidi K60s fore and aft.
I know that's what I'm using.
I have absolutely no idea why Fran thought this was a good idea, apart from getting 30,000 miles out of a tire. Handling was significantly degraded, braking on anything other than hot flat dry pavement was a nightmare. Sometimes the same people who want to prove a point by taking a Triumph Sport bike to Deadhorse, are just focused on being a little different.
2016 trip - Fran is on a 2005 R1200GS, I hope with Heidi K60s fore and aft.
I know that's what I'm using.
