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390 Posts
Knowing about when and where you are going would help.
If you plan on doing the Dalton, or you are going to Fairbanks, you can do your bike maintenance, change tires, etc at Adventure Cycleworks. They can help you out 24/7. Also sell or recommend which tires that you need for your bike, etc.
If you are on a 650, you should not need to carry gas unless you head up to Deadhorse. If your are on a 1000, a little extra gas may be a good thing to have, but you will not necessarily need it. Ride on the top half of the tank.
Running the Dalton or other dirt would be totally different than just going to Anchorage. So, depending on what you are planning.....
Staying on paved roads - (you will still get into plenty of dirt, gravel) Anakee's worked good for me. I even used them on the MacKenzie and Laird, but had good weather. Dalton or Dempster, I would want a better dirt tire on the front. Will need it if the weather turns bad.
Rain gear - make sure that it is in good condition and that it will keep you dry for days at a time. Also good for an extra layer.
Electrics just in case. I was back by the end of May, but we had many cold days.
Get some Canada currency after crossing the border. Has never been a problem in the past. Most restaurants, motels, and gas stations accept credit cards. The farther north that you go (larger towns an exception) the fewer gas stations that accept credit cards. Usually even with credit cards your have to pay for gas inside. Sometimes "prepay" because it is a US card.
Everything cost more. Plan on $150 - $200 a day while traveling.
Watch out for the frost heaves in the Yukon. They will get you just like the topes in Mexico. Slow down for them.
Road hazards are usually well marked, or over marked. Every little bump in the road is flagged.
Watch for animals on the road, moose, deer, bear, etc.
Go around instead of through Edmonton and Calgary.
DO NOT miss the Ice Fields Parkway (Jasper, Banff) Avoid going through Calgary. Tourist area so do not plan on staying over night unless you like spending lots of money. Go all the way through in one day.
Coastal mountains are the best riding areas. Hyder is a good detour. I stayed in Stewart, BC.
Anything east of the Rockies (Edmonton,Calgary, etc.) is mostly flat and boring. Mainly just travel days. Plan on slowing down when you get into the mountain area.
KNOW where the next gas station is. Check with the locals, DO NOT depend on a map. Daily mileage will depend upon the location of the next gas. Sometimes you can make it, sometimes you need to overnight and start again the next morning. 450 miles is a good day.
Leave early in the morning and stop early in the afternoon. More wild life in the morning. More available motel rooms in the early afternoon.
Don't tease the wildlife. Most will be bigger than you and can do some serious damage.
Any specific questions, send me a pm.
If you plan on doing the Dalton, or you are going to Fairbanks, you can do your bike maintenance, change tires, etc at Adventure Cycleworks. They can help you out 24/7. Also sell or recommend which tires that you need for your bike, etc.
If you are on a 650, you should not need to carry gas unless you head up to Deadhorse. If your are on a 1000, a little extra gas may be a good thing to have, but you will not necessarily need it. Ride on the top half of the tank.
Running the Dalton or other dirt would be totally different than just going to Anchorage. So, depending on what you are planning.....
Staying on paved roads - (you will still get into plenty of dirt, gravel) Anakee's worked good for me. I even used them on the MacKenzie and Laird, but had good weather. Dalton or Dempster, I would want a better dirt tire on the front. Will need it if the weather turns bad.
Rain gear - make sure that it is in good condition and that it will keep you dry for days at a time. Also good for an extra layer.
Electrics just in case. I was back by the end of May, but we had many cold days.
Get some Canada currency after crossing the border. Has never been a problem in the past. Most restaurants, motels, and gas stations accept credit cards. The farther north that you go (larger towns an exception) the fewer gas stations that accept credit cards. Usually even with credit cards your have to pay for gas inside. Sometimes "prepay" because it is a US card.
Everything cost more. Plan on $150 - $200 a day while traveling.
Watch out for the frost heaves in the Yukon. They will get you just like the topes in Mexico. Slow down for them.
Road hazards are usually well marked, or over marked. Every little bump in the road is flagged.
Watch for animals on the road, moose, deer, bear, etc.
Go around instead of through Edmonton and Calgary.
DO NOT miss the Ice Fields Parkway (Jasper, Banff) Avoid going through Calgary. Tourist area so do not plan on staying over night unless you like spending lots of money. Go all the way through in one day.
Coastal mountains are the best riding areas. Hyder is a good detour. I stayed in Stewart, BC.
Anything east of the Rockies (Edmonton,Calgary, etc.) is mostly flat and boring. Mainly just travel days. Plan on slowing down when you get into the mountain area.
KNOW where the next gas station is. Check with the locals, DO NOT depend on a map. Daily mileage will depend upon the location of the next gas. Sometimes you can make it, sometimes you need to overnight and start again the next morning. 450 miles is a good day.
Leave early in the morning and stop early in the afternoon. More wild life in the morning. More available motel rooms in the early afternoon.
Don't tease the wildlife. Most will be bigger than you and can do some serious damage.
Any specific questions, send me a pm.