Ok guys, for those of you waiting from my previous thread I have completed my blog, updated my pics, and I am ready to share a few things.
As far as the blog, have you ever heard the expression "It's 90% done - and only 90% to go"? Another favorite expression I have used for years is "Perfect is the enemy of good enough."
First, for other readers and future Alaska researchers, this thread is a continuation of my previous thread, "Houston to Fairbanks and Return on the same set of tires!"
Quick summary - my trip was 29 days and 11,480 miles and I did not change tires (Michelin Anakee 2s)
FRONT TIRE
After discussing my rear tire Randyo asked about my front tire. As you would expect it is in better shape than the rear. However, after washing the bike the other day and taking some pics I noticed the front tire has the first signs of cupping or scalloping. I have always kept my front tires just a little overinflated (+2-4 psi) to prevent this but I traveled from hot Texas into cool Canada and only checked my tire pressures about weekly and pumped them up about twice. My front was about 36 or 37 psi once. So I think it probably went a lot of miles in a short period of time and was at spec or a little lower. So now it is cupping. Will probably ride it locally for a while and replace it before I go on any kind of trip.
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CHAIN
I put a new chain and sprockets on before I left. I used PJ1 lube at the end of every day (with an exception or 2). I would put it up on the centerstand and start it up in 1st gear and spray the chain while it idled around. Note: Sometimes you need help since when you are loaded down the rear will sit heavy. Several times I asked people to help me hold the front down while I did this.
At the end of this trip the chain looks filthy, covered in grime, and I haven't cleaned it yet. The sprockets look ok and the chain looks ok from the rear (centered on the teeth, no visible wear).
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Of note, I did move up to a 16 tooth front sprocket on the theory that I would save some amount of gas expense by having fewer engine rpms over that kind of distance. Of course I can't quantify that but I have to say I really do like the slightly taller gearing on the bike. I ride virtually exclusively on the road and the taller gearing fits it much more like a street bike.
One thing I did not expect was so many little rocks and stones flying up into my radiator. Look at this:
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Side note: I did enter all my gas fillups into a spreadsheet and the total trip cost me right at $1000 for gas. I haven't added up food or lodging yet.
So many thoughts...
There is another thread about rough running ("Need help on the road" I think). I experienced the same thing - progressively worse skipping or cutting out at a slightly slack throttle. At lower speeds and gears it was maddening. Would come and go. Of all the things I changed and replaced I did not change the fuel filter. Bike had ~14k miles when I left, now has almost 28k. I ran a can of SeaFoam thru it in Canada and didn't see any real effect. Later I ran a can of STP Fuel Injector Cleaner and after several tanks the skipping cleared up and it ran perfectly the last several days of the trip. Still not completely sure what it was or if the STP fixed it.
There was a tip I read about not adding any farkles or changing anything right before a major trip without a good test ride. I did a long ride and a final fully loaded test ride before I left. But I never could figure out the NEP Cruise Control thingie so I ordered a Vista Cruise Control. It went on fine a few days before I left and seemed to work. Later found out it wouldn't hold the throttle firmly. Seems the tiny little allen screws weren't adjusted enough. Whatever the issue was it never did work right and was a complete waste. Even my Cramp Buster wouldn't grip tightly and hold a throttle position so I basically didn't have any throttle assistance at all. It's funny how minor little things can be such aggravations on a long trip...
Along those lines ensure your rear view mirrors are adjusted perfectly for you and are locked down. Another major pet peeve - mirrors not in the right position when you really need them.
Put some effort into your music collection. Add some "books on tape" or some podcasts you have not heard before or something. A trip to Alaska will give you LOTS of time to think and listen to stuff.
Logs/journals/blogs - Take some time and figure out how to record events of the day. Unless you routinely take long bike trips a trip to Alaska is likely a lifetime achievement ("bucket list") - figure out some way to record stuff. Your days will be so full of scenery, towns, places you ate, people you talked to - after a few days your head just spins. That's the fun of traveling, but on a trip like this you will forget tons of stuff.
I brought a little netbook and unloaded my pics from both cameras every day (so the date/time stamps were recorded correctly). And I also opened the Garmin Mapsource program and downloaded my GPS tracklog every day or so. Now I can zoom into a track and see where I stopped and what day and time it was, and compare that to the date/time of a certain photo and know EXACTLY where that photo was taken. Major convenience!
There are a couple other issues to discuss but I want them in their own thread.
Ok, enough thoughts for now. Bring your questions and comments and I will do my best to answer them.
Oh, and my blog is located here:
Houston to Fairbanks - A Motorcycle Adventure
I hope you find it useful.
Jerry in Houston
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As far as the blog, have you ever heard the expression "It's 90% done - and only 90% to go"? Another favorite expression I have used for years is "Perfect is the enemy of good enough."
First, for other readers and future Alaska researchers, this thread is a continuation of my previous thread, "Houston to Fairbanks and Return on the same set of tires!"
Quick summary - my trip was 29 days and 11,480 miles and I did not change tires (Michelin Anakee 2s)
FRONT TIRE
After discussing my rear tire Randyo asked about my front tire. As you would expect it is in better shape than the rear. However, after washing the bike the other day and taking some pics I noticed the front tire has the first signs of cupping or scalloping. I have always kept my front tires just a little overinflated (+2-4 psi) to prevent this but I traveled from hot Texas into cool Canada and only checked my tire pressures about weekly and pumped them up about twice. My front was about 36 or 37 psi once. So I think it probably went a lot of miles in a short period of time and was at spec or a little lower. So now it is cupping. Will probably ride it locally for a while and replace it before I go on any kind of trip.
CHAIN
I put a new chain and sprockets on before I left. I used PJ1 lube at the end of every day (with an exception or 2). I would put it up on the centerstand and start it up in 1st gear and spray the chain while it idled around. Note: Sometimes you need help since when you are loaded down the rear will sit heavy. Several times I asked people to help me hold the front down while I did this.
At the end of this trip the chain looks filthy, covered in grime, and I haven't cleaned it yet. The sprockets look ok and the chain looks ok from the rear (centered on the teeth, no visible wear).
Of note, I did move up to a 16 tooth front sprocket on the theory that I would save some amount of gas expense by having fewer engine rpms over that kind of distance. Of course I can't quantify that but I have to say I really do like the slightly taller gearing on the bike. I ride virtually exclusively on the road and the taller gearing fits it much more like a street bike.
One thing I did not expect was so many little rocks and stones flying up into my radiator. Look at this:
Side note: I did enter all my gas fillups into a spreadsheet and the total trip cost me right at $1000 for gas. I haven't added up food or lodging yet.
So many thoughts...
There is another thread about rough running ("Need help on the road" I think). I experienced the same thing - progressively worse skipping or cutting out at a slightly slack throttle. At lower speeds and gears it was maddening. Would come and go. Of all the things I changed and replaced I did not change the fuel filter. Bike had ~14k miles when I left, now has almost 28k. I ran a can of SeaFoam thru it in Canada and didn't see any real effect. Later I ran a can of STP Fuel Injector Cleaner and after several tanks the skipping cleared up and it ran perfectly the last several days of the trip. Still not completely sure what it was or if the STP fixed it.
There was a tip I read about not adding any farkles or changing anything right before a major trip without a good test ride. I did a long ride and a final fully loaded test ride before I left. But I never could figure out the NEP Cruise Control thingie so I ordered a Vista Cruise Control. It went on fine a few days before I left and seemed to work. Later found out it wouldn't hold the throttle firmly. Seems the tiny little allen screws weren't adjusted enough. Whatever the issue was it never did work right and was a complete waste. Even my Cramp Buster wouldn't grip tightly and hold a throttle position so I basically didn't have any throttle assistance at all. It's funny how minor little things can be such aggravations on a long trip...
Along those lines ensure your rear view mirrors are adjusted perfectly for you and are locked down. Another major pet peeve - mirrors not in the right position when you really need them.
Put some effort into your music collection. Add some "books on tape" or some podcasts you have not heard before or something. A trip to Alaska will give you LOTS of time to think and listen to stuff.
Logs/journals/blogs - Take some time and figure out how to record events of the day. Unless you routinely take long bike trips a trip to Alaska is likely a lifetime achievement ("bucket list") - figure out some way to record stuff. Your days will be so full of scenery, towns, places you ate, people you talked to - after a few days your head just spins. That's the fun of traveling, but on a trip like this you will forget tons of stuff.
I brought a little netbook and unloaded my pics from both cameras every day (so the date/time stamps were recorded correctly). And I also opened the Garmin Mapsource program and downloaded my GPS tracklog every day or so. Now I can zoom into a track and see where I stopped and what day and time it was, and compare that to the date/time of a certain photo and know EXACTLY where that photo was taken. Major convenience!
There are a couple other issues to discuss but I want them in their own thread.
Ok, enough thoughts for now. Bring your questions and comments and I will do my best to answer them.
Oh, and my blog is located here:
Houston to Fairbanks - A Motorcycle Adventure
I hope you find it useful.
Jerry in Houston
