| Author | Message | ||
     Mnrider |
Looks like they made good time through Canada. I'm used to the 40 degrees and rain! Wish I was there! | ||
| Thumper74 |
Rain and 40 degrees was our ride to MB in 2008! | ||
| Ljm |
Hm. Looks like they are at Tok again. Wonder if they will turn south to God's Country? If you all come to the Kenai, we'll be in Seward Saturday and Sunday. PM if you are headed our way. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I wanna know what the forgot in Tok.. I cant wait to hear the story | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
From Facebook Update about Mike Farrenkopf and George Ells: George's carburetor is all gunked up. They were not able to get it fixed road side. After trying for so long the battery died. Mike left some things and locked his stuff and George's bike to a tree. The rode for 3 hours two up into Fairbanks where they looked for a Uhaul rental. They closed about 10 minutes before they got into Fairbanks. So they started looking for a hotel. They were either book or really expensive. now its a adventure for sure | ||
| Iamike |
Hope they get moving soon. I need to see more pics from that area. I need to get up there someday. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Long over due update: Mike Farrenkopf and George Ells were able to get the tires switched and in good running condition! It was only a $20 part from a KTM/Yamaha dealer with no labor charge. Molly Willer and I got to talk to the for almost 20 minutes last night (that is considered a long phone call) they spirits are back up and they are ready to get back to their adventure. Thats all the important stuff, more when I know something! | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
Good to hear they're back on the road  | ||
| Pookawa |
I can't wait to hear his write-up after he returns (likes / dislikes / lessons learned). Making me think of this trip next year. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
it looks like they left Fairbanks... and then went back according to his Spot tracker. Wonder whats up now.... I bet they may be a little stressed | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I can't wait to hear the story... they went north on the Dalton to Cold Foot and then turned around and headed back south... DAMN I WISH I KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON!! I hope they are OK | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
From Facebook after finally getting everything back in order (new tires, both bikes running), they headed north towards Prudhoe Bay and the arctic circle. Half an hour north of Fairbanks, George's chain broke. Mike went back to town to get the part to fix it. Once it was fixed and they were on there way again, they decided it was a "suicide mission" because George's bike is over loaded and things would only keep breaking. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
more from Facebook Ditching what they don't need, and they are heading north to the arctic circle for a day trip. They will spend tonight in a hostile then head south to Denali National Park. That is all I know for now. So please send good thoughts as they are slightly discouraged about their amazing trip! | ||
| Ljm |
Speaking as a guy who lives here and has been all those places, they are missing the best part of Alaska for the worst part. The Dalton Hwy. is very similar to, well, that part of your anatomy just south of your belt, around the back there. Fairbanks and south is scenic and relatively civilized. And while the roads are heavily frost heaved. If you talk to them, suggest the Kenai Peninsula, dinner in Seward at Ray's, a ride out to the Homer Spit, and back the Eastern route to the Canada border. | ||
| Slowride |
I was wondering about the added weight on the KLR. I too have a 2009 KLR and one of the things I was reading during some of my research about long distance riding was to limit the use of hard luggage and definitely upgrade the spring and use longer suspension links as well as progressive springs on the front. Some of the symptoms that extra weight can cause is breaking the chain, busted shocks and collapsed connecting points with the frame. Another words... run light, lighter than you think you are comfortable with and you can travel the world on the stock KLR. | ||
| Iamike |
Since there wasn't any discussion of the prep for the trip we didn't hear what was done. With ADV and other discussion boards there is a ton of info from people who have done trips like this so I would hope they did some research before they took on a major ride like this one. It is a tough call when packing because you want to be comfortable and safe but a smaller bike can be overloaded. I am amazed at the people who do 2-up trips on KLRs. I don't even like to ride my big bikes with a passenger. | ||
| Sekalilgai |
bump | ||
| Iamike |
bump + | ||
| Iamike |
Another day and they'll be back in the States. Can't wait for the RR. | ||
| No_rice |
badump bump | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Well... they are about to cross the border into Michigan. They are about 500 miles from home + or - ... but it looks like they have been at the crossing for about a hour our so... They may be getting a cavity search... LOL | ||
| Etennuly |
Oooh cavities. I don't like cavities. The dentist keeps filling them in a painful kind of way. Mikey, I hope all is going well.  I want to read your conclusions on this trip! | ||
| No_rice |
lmao | ||
| Doerman |
They're across and at Country Kitchen for a late lunch. Either that or the u-Haul across the street to rent a truck because they are totally fed up with riding.  Cavity fillin' - is my bet. | ||
| Luftkoph |
I was on my fist load back across the border and saw them at the duty free shop in canada,stopped and went in to say hey,they were oggaling the liquor in the duty free,no doubt for a well deserved celebration. | ||
| No_rice |
good to hear they have actually been spotted! | ||
| Doerman |
They'll be home for supper. What an awesome journey! I've really enjoyed following on the SpotTracker | ||
| Mikef5000 |
Wow! It was amazing reading this thread! I'll never do a trip like this without an internet device again! I wish I could reply to individual posts, but they'd go on forever! There will be a RR, but for now to answer some questions regarding our issues: Issue #1: My Wheel Bearing: Mark saved the day with the bearings 45 minutes away! I broke down on a Friday, so I was thinking we would be stuck till UPS could arrive Monday, but no! George took off with part numbers in hand, and I stayed with the bike. In no time flat I had the Uly hanging from a tree, wheel removed, and all of the remaining bearing bits but the second half of the outer race removed. George made it back with a couple of bearings, but no puller. Apparently no shop in town (and he went to 3) had a blind bearing puller in stock. Didn't matter, we used the knowledge of "hardened steel = brittle steel" and were able to crack the bearing race in two places, so it came right out in two pieces. The wheel and swing-arm were a bit chewed up, but the bearing went in tight, and everything fit back together just fine. It was a 4 hour delay I believe... I can't thank Mark enough for that one! Issue #2: Georges No-Spark: We gassed up in Tok, AK and headed north. About a half an hour later he sputtered out on the side of the road. Assuming it was bad gas, we added some fuel treatment, in the end, we had no luck and ended up killing his battery. Tried push starting, but it wasn't even trying to start. I unloaded my Kayak bags of camping gear so I could shift my back-seat-gas-tank over to the top of a side pannier, and we locked the KLR to a tree off the side of the road and headed North for a city. 3 hours later, we arrive at U-haul of Fairbanks... ten minutes after closing! Ended up staying in a hostel, and getting the truck first thing in the morning. LOTS more details in the middle here that I'll get into in the RR, but it turns out his spark plug cap went bad. The actual plug on the end of the spark plug wire, that clicks on the spark plug! We replaced the resistor inside with no luck, it was the actual cap. Northern Powersports hooked us up with a Suzuki part that was identical, and we were rolling again! Issue 3: Georges Chain: With his bike more overloaded now that ever before (more details later) we set off to hit the arctic circle! Half an hour north of town he stopped on the side of the road. I spun around and got back to him; he pointed at a lump in the road 50 ft back and said "that would be my chain". Turns out he blew out his masterlink. We found the main link, but not the plate or clip. It was Sunday, so all shops were closed, but our tire change guy had chain and masterlink kits. I flew to his place and picked up a new masterlink kit, and I headed back to George on the side of the road. Back on the road again! But now afternoon, we decided to turn back and try again the next day. Those were our three catastrophic issues, all solved with accessible and inexpensive parts! Very lucky! We each have our set of non-catastrophic issues; we both needed new batteries in Alaska (both 2009's, disappointing), my front rotor is pulsing like a mother, I've blown a fork seal, and my rear base gasket is leaking again. But what the heck, we did 2 years worth of mileage in a month, small issues were expected. (Plus my bike's still under warranty!  ) We'll I've highlighted all the negatives here, but let me tell you, there was more to the trip than that. Look for the ride report coming up for all the details! It was one hell of an adventure! | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Can't wait to see the pics! When are you going to have a slide show at your house? | ||
| Mikef5000 |
Trip Vitals: 10 states 7 provinces ~10,500 miles (~17,000 km) 4 weeks 18 nights tent camping 7 nights hotels / bed & breakfasts 2 nights "RV" 1 night hostel Highest elevation: 10,947 ft on Beartooth Pass Highest latitued: 67° 15' 23" N in Coldfoot, AK (North of the Arctic Circle) Great Lakes touched: Superior, Michigan, Huron Longest Day: 635 miles (1021 km) 1175 pictures |
