Hi all,
Im headed out on a three week trip with the VFR and some camping gear to Alaska. The route essentially includes riding up through oregon and washington to the canadian border, up through Canada, into alsaka, and a ferry tour back down through alaska back to Bellingham Washington, then returning to California. Planning some side trips along the way as well.
This is my first really long tour out on the VFR, and I am certainly looking forward to it. If any experienced long tour riders have words of advice, I am willing to listen. Headed out on July 2nd. If you are on the route, maybe we can have a beer somewhere.
I am finishing the final add ons to the bike this weekend. Just adding the bracket for a trunk with my own platform to secure the tent, sleeping pad, and bag. I will definitely post a pre-flight picture.
Do post up dates and areas you are staying as there are many VFRD members on the way and we can always get out a bed and maybe some free laundry services....
I completed one check ride last weekend. Camped off of the bike at Fremonts Peak (I am in Sunnyvale CA). Camping gear wise and clothing, I think I am set. My riding suit may need a change as I am a little more fat than when I bought it seven years ago, and it felt a little tight. Probably not sufferable on a long trip. Further, I revealed that adding just a tail bracket and platform to the bike will make my sotroage capacity much more livable. I am currently bringing the hard factory bags, and a tail bag, plus the rack for the sleeping gear.
Once I have the whole thing set up as expected (this weekend) I am going to do one more shake down rally to Lake De Valle in livermore and camp off the bike for the weekend. That should let me know if I have it all straight.
All reports are that the factory trunk rack is the stongest one available. I dont intend to put a trunk on it, and the load will be light, so I think it should be OK. I get it tomorrow, so once it is on this weekend, I will have a clearer idea if my plan is sound.
Excellent trip report Bonus VFR. Kinda makes me second guess the VFR for the trip, but I have ridden her through a lot of bad roads, so "This is happening."
As regards gear on both of my summer tours north of the border I used my electric vest frequently. Good thing to have along for long trips as your resistance starts to wear down after a week or so.
[image: View Post]jmpepper, on 08 June 2011 - 06:22 PM, said:
Excellent trip report Bonus VFR. Kinda makes me second guess the VFR for the trip, but I have ridden her through a lot of bad roads, so "This is happening."
Yea make it happen and ensure tires are inflated to specs. You will be fine but keep an even sharper eye for road conditions. Have you ridden in gravel before?
I have had incedental contact with gravel riding to certian camp sites around California. The longest was probably four or five miles. I ride dirt bikes every so often, so I am not totaly unfamiliar with the tactics of pitloting the road bike on dirt, though I am not a pro by any stretch. I havent dumped it............yet.
Lots of gravel for road repairs ... in some cases tens of miles at a stretch. I am not sure if the kind of dirtier tires for bikes like the Multistrada are any better in the stuff ... just don't know but it may be worth the effort to find out. Somebody on VFRD tried some of these type tires but....???????
These kind of conditions can really cut down your pace but there is a lot of light for a long time :cheerleader:
There is a vfr kootney ride mid July posted here you might be able to link up? Post the route you're taking and maybe people could hook up with you? Can you guess where I'm from?
I'll be heading up there on July 10th myself. Maybe we'll cross paths at some point. I'll be riding a red/black KLR.
Let me know if you're coming through Alberta.
I got a little bored last night so I decided to deploy the Sport Tour goodies I have been collecting over the last couple of months. She looks all touristy now! I'll build the platform on to the rack this weekend for sleeping bag and tent and stuff. Added a Sargent seat, MRA windscreen, Trunk Rack, and a tail bag. Feels like I am riding one of those motorcycles you see on the tour de france.
1) Take pictures and post them up when you get back
2) Try reading http://www.aerostich...cycle-book.html
3) Bring tools. Make a tool kit. I made one with the typical tools, and did a years worth of maintenance with them, proving I could do anything short of valve checks or tire replacement with them.
4) Plan for the unexpected. You will most likely have issues. Be flexible. Be it flat tires or broken chains. My old man went to the 'circle' couple of years ago on a KLR. Broke a chain in the middle of now where. Fortunately, he found a snowmobile chain (or something like that. do snowmobiles have chains? maybe a dirt bike or something far off) that fit the KLR.
5) Good gear! Highly recommend an Aerostich for such a trip. Well worth the money.
[image: View Post]jmpepper, on 10 June 2011 - 06:54 PM, said:
I got a little bored last night so I decided to deploy the Sport Tour goodies I have been collecting over the last couple of months. She looks all touristy now! I'll build the platform on to the rack this weekend for sleeping bag and tent and stuff. Added a Sargent seat, MRA windscreen, Trunk Rack, and a tail bag. Feels like I am riding one of those motorcycles you see on the tour de france.
I had good luck with Scotch Guarding all my soft bags for my Alaska trip. Of course that is all I had except for one waterproof rollup from Wolfman. I always put all the camping gear in one bag.
I am so Jealous :ohmy: Sounds like a blast! I just ran about 50 miles of non pavement last weekend with no issues :bliss: My link,the vfr feels planted on any surface :fing02: Like some said, if you need anything on the way up I am about 45 minutes south of the Canadian border So I can offer a place to stay or a beer before you leave the US :beer:
Hey, I live in skagway, Alaska. Ride down from Whitehorse and alcan highway is worth it for sure. If you make it this way stop in at fire hall for a visit. Can show you around town.
Colin
BonusVFR: I am riding this alone. Couldn�t find anyone to go. Considering most of my friends are married with kids now, the veto authority of certain wives was exercised with great prejudice. That having been said, I have travelled alone extensively on international trips (non-MC) and I have found that it is one of the best ways to make a trip �all-time�. You meet more people, and never have to compromise on what you want to do.
Crazy T: I have made a skeleton tool klt, which includes upgraded versions of all the tools in the Honda tool kit, substituting quality craftsman tools for everything that can be changed. I have also thrown in a number of known useful items like: Zip Ties, tape, etc. I will be going to pick up a tire repair kit as well.
All: I put new tires on the bike about three hundred miles ago. They are Michelin Pilot Road 3's. Supposedly awesome for wet surfaces, but having not tried them out, I won�t be able to support the claim until a little later. They have a very interesting tread pattern. On dry roads, they are quite good.
Festertruck: I will in fact be in Skagway, Alaska on the evening of 14JUL2011. I catch my first boat to Juneau there on the 15th at 7AM.
V-Fore: I will accept that invitation to a beer. I am not sure where you are at, but I will be crossing near Vancouver (west route).
All: I will certainly document the trip to the best of my ability. I am actually thinking of mounting a camera on the bike or something. I will have a laptop, so I can deal with all of the data, bu it might be cool to try to make some kind of video portion to the documentation. Or at least capture live when a moose tries to take me out.
I should have a route decided pretty soon. Using �The Milepost� to construct something, though I am tending to lean toward routes that include better surfaces, for obvious reasons.
V-fore, good video footage. I am thinking if a take a video camera, i can do some kind of video laprse sequence. Condense footage for hours of riding to seconds of video. Any suggestions on the camera? Looks like yours is helmet mounted. Waterproof?
It also just came to mind that I might want to take the Leo Vince exhaust off the bike, and put on the stocker. The photos of that VFR covered in mud got me thinking that carbon fiber cans may not do so well with the elements.