| Author | Message | ||
     Buelldualsport |
Yes sir Great Plan Just need to determine what needs to be where. Should be semi-eacy as the nightly stops are are planned. | ||
| Rotorhead |
For the spare parts deal I'm going to keep an eye on Ebay for cheap parts. Not crash parts!! Most the FT spare parts list: tires, belts, stators, voltage regulators, bearings, can be possibly purchased from Al @ american sport bike for maybe a "if we don't use it we can return it" for some big high$$ parts? As we get closer ask could we for a sponsor to lone with the intent to buy if we use it. I'm down with the AT thru-hiker logistics. It works like a charm. You'll never have to do laundry the whole trip!! If we need to cache large items I do have close friends in Fairbanks who are not afraid to deliver down a remote road. I've been down a few remote roads in odd countries with them. Fairbanks does have second day air available and the HD/Buell dealer I bought my Uly. Not to insult anyone, what skills does everyone bring to the team; mechanic, navigation, logistics, tech geek, bright idea guy. If FT comes he's got the Ox position secured. I nominate Tom for the bright idea guy!!! I do all my own wrenching on my ULY. I've done everything but rotate a engine. I like to do my own navigating but I have a crooked crayon that way I spend more time in the seat. "I'm not lost, I'm right here." I know this is a long way off but hell it gives me something to plan for. I'm still planning to do a Key West - Prudoe Bay ride and may incorporate it into this ride or do it a year earlier in 09. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Don't forget, I bring a healthy dose of "what the hell!".  Think of me as a 30,000ft big picture guy. I don't know how to accomplish the fine details, but I can help form a plan of attack on how to get things done. | ||
| Roostre |
I'm a middle of the road mechanic, getting good at plugging Syncs and I can change a tire out pretty quick. I'm a map nerd, but no nav expert. Jerry-rigging skills are quite good. My job is technical but electric power systems have little to do with motorcycling. (Thank goodness!) My plan is to take my toyhauler to Seattle where I'll leave it during the event. (From northern Utah.) Other riders are welcome to spots in the trailer as long as they last. I should be able to fit 4 bikes comfortably. This of course means I will be riding back from Anchorage to Seattle when all is said and done. My "what the hell!" factor is quite high also!  | ||
| Buelldualsport |
Mechanical, navigation, communications(text and voice), geek (computer and electronics), fine details (real anal, and lost of practice with NASCAR Teams) skills. Have been accused of being able to 'out McGiver McGiver' making thing fit when they were not designed to do do. (Message edited by buelldualsport on July 07, 2008) | ||
| Rotorhead |
They issue "what the hell" at the Canadian boarder! They look at your license plate and give you just the right dose. I you run out they will give you more at the AK boarder. I have some of those McGiver skills. I work for the do more with less US Army. By trade I'm a helicopter mechanic where you can't pull over when it breaks anal retentive details. BTW don't cross at Coutts, AB I have had issues along with many others crossing there. | ||
| Buelldualsport |
Yep, it is really hard to stop and repair things that do not work in a bird. Went into the Gulf of Mexico in one of the two (2) seat bubble front helos, when the main rotor quit. Pilot Auto rotated until we hit the water, the floats made a nice hole in the water, the bubble canopy went completely under water and just popped right back up to the surface. Can you say WOW. Floated in the Gulf until the Crew Boat from the Drilling Rig came and towed us to the rig. Crane lifted the bird up to the helo deck, and big sky crane (Sikorski sp ??) came by and took the little bird back to the air field. Glad we had life vests and a hand held radio. Sorry for the memory lane stroll. Ride em | ||
| Nutsosane |
That's it. I can contain myself no-more. Have any of you ridden a Uly at speed on dirt/gravel for any extended amount of time? I'm talkin about 40-50 mph for 50 miles, through the undulating twists and turns. I have ridden my Uly's off road and can tell you that while possible it isn't fun for very long. I applaud your enthusiasm but your reality is being encroached by frivolity. That 17" round profile front tire just loves the gravel turns don't it. those of you spooning a 160 distanzia on the rear looking forward to doin it in a parking lot away from pneumatic tools? If you're taking this as an opportunity to see AK and enjoy the ride then great, but competing...maybe completing is more appropriate. tell ya what, I'll haul my DS bike down to your local dirt sections to see these ALCAN defying skills for myself. If I can't keep up I'll buy the keg for MBVI. Now I'm not a total A55hole and love my Uly like no other, but I understand its limitations and mine. NUTS | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Most of the run isn't dirt. I did 40-60MPH for 30-40 miles and enjoyed the hell out of myself. I'm no off road super freak, but I don't see anything that would prevent this from being done by a Uly. People have done the same run on far less off road friendly machinery. | ||
| Marinus |
Got back from the 2008 Winter AlCan rally this past February. To the extent that the 2010 Summer AlCan uses the same roads (Cassiar, Klondike,Alaska, and Dempster Highways), they're all _highways_, not logging roads, and not skidder tracks. There's time for a bit more practice riding gravel on the Uly between now and then. I think it'll be fine on the Uly. The challenging part of the 5000 miles will be the distances, not the surfaces, IMHO. | ||
| Rotorhead |
I have ridden my ULY over 40,000 miles in 2 years and taken it off road any chance I get. To take a guess at off road mileage I would say around 8,000ish. Not to toot my horn but I have done three SS1000 rides and this spring road 7500 miles in 12 days. The ULY is my first street bike so I had to learn how to ride on the street instead of the dirt. To me the ULY handles off road like a dirt bike with the tires flat and the beads broken. I agree that it will be a physical challenge but the roads that they have run for the ALCAN both winter and summer are not twisty single lane fire roads. I have been down most of these roads in AK YT and BC these are the daily use primary roads not logging back woods trails. They are mostly paved or run a crush and where they are dirt/gravel they are graded and well maintained. The worst parts are where there is fresh grading. It would be easy to maintain 50 MPH over a 400 mile day. I have bombed up the haul road north of the Yukon river at over 100MPH in my Subaru. I would ask you to read how a TSD rally works and rethink your opinion on the abilities of the ULY in such an event. BTW I have manually spooned on 2 sets of distanzias and a set of MT60's it's the easy part. Getting the bead to seat is the hard part. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I guess part of the question is whether we are "touring" or "competing". I wouldn't have any illusions about "competing", but others might have a different viewpoint. | ||
| Nutsosane |
Again, I have no intentions of disrespect. If the ALCAN is what you want to do, then best of luck. Fatty, I think you've got the right idea. Rally(sort of) on! NUTS | ||
| Buelldualsport |
Personally, this is a ride of a life time, what better way to see the ALCAN highway than with a group of like minded folks (Buell Riders). It is a vacation away from the everyday life, and yes a Uly can/will make the trip. Nuts, you are welcome to your own opinions, which are like part of the human body, everyone has one, but it is sometime better to keep it to yourself. And yes, I have wrestled a 500 + heavy bike in loose gravel, deep mud and sugar sand and have lived to talk about it. Come along and enjoy the ride on whatever bike you choose. YRMV | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
everyone has one Some don't, but they end up full of shit. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Think a 9 primary swap might be good? | ||
| Nutsosane |
BDS, PM sent. NUTS | ||
| Rotorhead |
The 9 primary would be something to seriously consider. It would free up the use of the low range and have the ability to steer with the throttle better off road. Yeah the ULY will already drift but with a 9 primary it will be much more responsive to 1/2 WOT and closed throttle for engine braking. I'll work with my ECM to get the engine breaking to be better too. one thing the ZTL break isn't good for is loose traction breaking. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Would we need to consider a mid run oil change? | ||
| Buelldualsport |
Possibly at the end of day 4 or 5, close to halfway. Good idea (Message edited by BuellDualSport on July 07, 2008) | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
What's the cell service look like? Anyone got access to a Sat phone? We could rent one: http://www.satellitephonestore.com/ | ||
| Buelldualsport |
Sat Phone will be the choice. Have already started a Dialogue with a Sat phone supplier. (Message edited by BuellDualSport on July 08, 2008) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Rotorhead, What do you use on your seat to keep your arse happy? | ||
| Buelldualsport |
Maybe we can get a "Deal" from Al on the XB9 Primary Gearing set | ||
| Rotorhead |
I have a skinny boney butt so I take preventive Advil before and after long riding days. I have a 06 low seat and I have found it to work great. Around the 600 mile mark it starts to wear out. On hot sweaty days it is the bicycle shorts that save the day. the shorts keep the monkey butt away. I've thought about the Airhawk but can't fork over the money for it. I figure the cost of the airhawk is about a 1000 miles in gas or a new rear tire. | ||
| Buelldualsport |
Under Armor has a set of "compressor shorts" that do a great job on keeping the monkey away. Little gold bond in the morning and all is well Ride Em (Message edited by BuellDualSport on July 08, 2008) | ||
| Chrisrogers3 |
Well, I've been reading the thread and looking at the website and I am in. I can bring to the table mapreading (6 years of it as a scout in the army) as well as wrenching. As far as competing, I will be thrilled to finish. Concern Aux fuel tanks, I am assuming they are needed unless spare fuel is allowed in the gear trucks. How bad are these roads really? Some are stating dressers have taken the trip, other are stating mud, sand, gravel, snow. IMO if the roads are that bad, we should probably look at our front suspension real close. I am afraid we may blow some seals and be SOL. Not that I have heard of the rear shock being troublesome, it may be a good idea to carry a spare as well. (sort of an expect the worst, hope the best). We may want to invest in a couple gallons of loctite and J.B. weld as well  Go ahead and laugh about the J.B. weld but it doesnt take a lot of force to crack a primary cover and the oil vanishes REAL quick. My primary cover got cracked about 2500 miles ago and yes the J.B. weld is still holding up just fine! It at least sounds like we will have the bearing thing figured out by trip time so hopefully failed/spun bearings wont be an issue, but you wont catch me on the trip without a spare axle, bearing, and wheel either. Having a full spare rear and front wheel setup will also make changing tires out a bit easier. I've never used the stuff, but tire slime seems like it would be a good idea. Anyway just a few points I thought I would bring up. | ||
| Buelldualsport |
Chris: Welcome aboard Spares will need to be coordinated between all of the Team Uly riders. Your suggestions are great. We have the electronic gear (radios, GPS, S.P.O.T., Laptop with Wirless/network card and are working on a Sat Phone Deal). As time approaches, we will send you the GPS to get fimilar with its functions, as well as programming the "Trip Sheet" that will be available on a daily basis. We will have to determine the need for additional fuel. Possibly a couple or MSR bottles in the tank/rear bag? Enjoy the trip tom Buells to Alaska ALCAN 5000 2010 | ||
| Buelldualsport |
ALCAN Spares Stock ECM per-flashed VR Stator Rear Wheel Bearing Front Wheel Bearings Clutch Cable Throttle Cables Both Levers Brake/Shift Levers Belt per bike Rear Drive Pulley w/bolts Rear Brake Pads Front Brake Pads Grips (a least three pair) Bulbs Fuses Misc Nuts and Bolts Add to this list as necessary Have an Excel Spreadsheet that we can utilize to keep track of suggestions/recommendations Thanks Buells to Alaska ALCAN 5000 2010 | ||
| Chrisrogers3 |
Engine Isolator Spare pegs Handlebars (my experience with these is they bend all to easy). May be a great idea to invest in some guards for the oil cooler/VR/exhaust and headlights if you dont already have them. |
