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I did it in ‘017 by myself... there are two seasons in the north… Winter and construction… Don’t expect to get your Electraglide much over 50 miles an hour… If you do you will beat your bike and yourself up… Never ever pass a gas station with the lights on and that has fuel… The next ones might not… When you’re ready to get off the road and take a break, or you want to go into a gas station or restaurant… None of the parking lots outside the cities are paved And usually are in very poor repair, plan your ingress and your egress well…And I highly suggest that you never ride into something that you can’t ride out of… Backing up on that loose gravel, can be a bitch…
...construction zones can be very long… If you pull up to one and the traffic is stopped, just pass all the cars and become the lead vehicle… All the construction zone people will expect you to do that… If you’re tail end Charlie, and the traffic is moving, I would suggest you stop at the flagger, pull over and let that lineup go and become the lead vehicle of the next crew… If you’re in a construction zone, especially the seal coated ones that Have just been finished, and you see a tractor-trailer coming toward you… Pull over to the right and get off the road and stop with your hazards on… When he comes by, you will be blind…
Don’t worry about bears, they hate you more than you hate them… make sure you head out with brand new tires, and get your service in Anchorage, not Fairbanks… Make sure you stop in Fairbanks and get a T-shirt… When you’re staying in Fairbanks overnight, make sure you get up in the middle of the night and see how much daylight there is if you’re there on the longest day of the year… Alaskans are some of the nicest people I have ever met… I went up through Deas lake and came back out through Edmonton…
Make sure you’re a hog member and get the unlimited hog towing… If you break down they will take you to the closest Harley Davidson dealer… And that could be 1500 miles away… Or you’re towing company might end up taking you to the closest guy that calls himself a mechanic…
The road from destruction bay in the Yukon… To Toq Alaska… Is a 250 mile blacktop bitch slap… Plan to go slow… I strongly recommend that you do not set your travel days based on 60/70 mph… Do it on 50 mph... I booked all of my motels with bookings.com, and it worked out really well… I even got my place in Deas Lake through it… Do not plan on using your cell phone very much… There have been recommendations to get a satellite phone, I didn’t do that, but I would the next time I went... It could save you a lot of grief if something happens to the bike… If you don’t know how to repair a tubeless tire, learn before you go… I never had to, but I had a hand pump, and tire repair kit if I needed it… You see a lot of motorcycles up there with extra tires… Personally I think that’s a waste of space, as long as you have new ones when you leave.
if I made a mistake, it was not taking my ADV gear, I took my Harley riding cloths... Take money, nothing up there is cheap
Start by reading this… It’s the beginning of my northern trip when I was in Vancouver….
A friend congratulated me for coming out of LDR retirement. LOL!
Here is an update:
Pinball would like to go to Utah/Alaska with me.
TCK ..... the same.
So it appears, there will/may be 3 of us.
Here are some PIXs of these guys.
Pinball and I have already gone around the USA and in and out of Canada 6 times. We took 7 weeks as I would fly my wife out to where we were and Pinball would fly back to his girl.
TCK, we have ridden in CA and FL and some places between like Ohio I think........don't recall. Anyway....
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Me Left - Pinball Right.
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. Torrential downpours. After the 3rd time we said F IT! Left our rain gear OFF since it was not cold. Pinball in the background.
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Me LT and TCK Rt. I think that was Huntington Beach CA.
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. Key West. TCK left. Me right.
Last edited by BuzzCap7; Jun 4, 2021 at 04:23 PM.
Reason: License Plate Blacked Out.
THANKS PA1195. That is helping me and as u can clearly see my friend, others as well.
Keep'er coming!!! (Likely not the 1st time u heard that. )
Update Again Mates: Don't mean to turn this into a blog.
A friend just texted me and said he is going to see if he can join us. This guys name is Deek. <-- HE taught me MORE abt riding than ANYONE EVER!!!!! I have LDR'd with him MORE than ANYONE EVER!!!
Once, he and I left Columbia SC coming back from wherever, likely the Dragon, and we did 2 UP riding (side by side) ALL THE WAY!!! EVEN the OFF ramps. (Not the on ramps. That and merging would be too dangerous.)
He is also an EXPERT with firearms. Like a walking encyclopedia, is FAST but more important ACCURATE!!!
Anyway...........here is Deek.
.
These guys are the ones I usually ride with for about 13-14 yrs. Deek is FAR RT. Deek far right. Me, with helmet.
Hey @BuzzCap7, how come it always looks like it's raining, or is, when you're out for a ride ? Is your last name "McCloudy ?" I have a friend, I know that's a stretch, and it seems like every time we ride together it rains. It's to a point we ride when he's working. LOL. Appears you are getting some good info for your trip. Hope it all goes well with your plans to go. And be prepared to be able to do some easy repairs, like fixing a flat.
I left Michigan headed for AK 21 years ago tomorrow (6/5/'00).
I had planned that trip for '99 and two of my cousins asked me to wait until '00 and said they'd go with me.
Well, by late '99 both backed out on the trip so I was then planning a solo trip.
My wife's best friend's husband asked if I'd like company for the trip (he didn't even have a bike at that time) and I said "sure"!
By spring '00 he had purchased a '99 Dyna Low Rider and had contacted a friend in N.M and he agreed to meet us near Regina, SK, Canada.
The three of us rode together to Anchorage, then on to Denali Nat'l Park where I left them and headed on to Fairbanks.
The guy from N.M didn't have as much vacation time so they left Fairbanks in 6/22/00 and it was agreed that my friend would visit a friend in Boise for a couple of weeks and I would pick him up on my way back to the Sturgis Rally.
We had all decided that on the return trip we were going take the ferry out of Haines, AK down to Bellingham, WA since it made more sense (money and comfort wise) since we had already seen the scenery going northbound.
If you take the ferry. make (pre) arrangements for a cabin unless you're prepared and capable of setting/sleeping in a chair or perhaps in your sleeping bag if you can find a spot.
During the entire trip, mechanical issues was my bike having to go to the dealership for a "no start problem" that turned out to be ground wire (on the inside primary case) and the guy from N.M. having a loose wire to his tail light!
Ooopsies.....I lost one of my "whip" antennas somewhere on the Al-Can Hwy and my friend stopped at the Yukon sign, slipped on the gravels and dropped his bike
I will say that while riding solo may seem more interesting or challenging, having someone to help you in case you take a spill or have a mechanical problem can come in might handy and the the other plus is in sharing motel/campground costs.
The last suggestions that I would make is that in addition to what has already been given:
1. Clear protective 3M film is cheap. cover as much of your paint as you can.
2. Carry a piece of siphon hose rolled up in your tool kit (You can always buy gas from someone if you need it).
3. Make sure that your bike is "road ready" with fresh tires and a new battery.
4. Spray wash your bike frequently if you can. The "silt" will stick to everything and it sets up like concrete!
We had all decided that on the return trip we were going take the ferry out of Haines, AK down to Bellingham, WA since it made more sense (money and comfort wise) since we had already seen the scenery going northbound.
The last suggestions that I would make is that in addition to what has already been given:
1. Clear protective 3M film is cheap. cover as much of your paint as you can.
2. Carry a piece of siphon hose rolled up in your tool kit (You can always buy gas from someone if you need it).
3. Make sure that your bike is "road ready" with fresh tires and a new battery.
4. Spray wash your bike frequently if you can. The "silt" will stick to everything and it sets up like concrete!
Im retired, time has no beginning and no end. My brother in law still works, but got the time off for this ride. Because of the time exploring Alaska, I’m leaving the option open for the Haines to Bellingham route. I used to work Alaska, so the inside passage would be a great part of the tour for him and save us several days.
I like the protective film idea, will do it. Especially under saddlebags, front fender, Hwy bars and other exposed to gravel places.
Carry a siphon hose 3’ now. Also taking a Reda can each.
Thanks for your tips and experience. I’ve ridden around the Kenai peninsula and the Fairbanks rides on rented Harley’s, but, never made the trip across Canada.
Hey @BuzzCap7, how come it always looks like it's raining, or is, when you're out for a ride ? Is your last name "McCloudy ?" I have a friend, I know that's a stretch, and it seems like every time we ride together it rains. It's to a point we ride when he's working. LOL. Appears you are getting some good info for your trip. Hope it all goes well with your plans to go. And be prepared to be able to do some easy repairs, like fixing a flat.
Hi ww stoPPie, YES regarding the rain. Or so it would seem. I LOVE LOVE LOVE riding in the rain tho. The guys you saw there actually joked abt it raining anytime I join them. ALSO (get this) I have an app like EVERYONE else on my cell. <-- Radar. And I call it for the group every day when we travel overnight. They started to call me Weatherman. LOL!
YES, the info here is FAR beyond my expectations. Sheesh! This info is so GREAT, it makes you WANT to go to Alaska. LOL!
I can actually do some repairs. I just dislike it. I used to work on cars when I was younger. I just have grown to dislike it.
I do carry a compressor and Stop N Go kit if I or someone I am with needs it.
Good advice is always ww stoPPie, thanks!!
Originally Posted by itsdug
Looks like this is building up to be a great adventure!
OH MY goodness itsdug. YES! YES! YES! I am VERY surprised!!!!!! You can say THAT again.
Originally Posted by 2AMGuy
Lots of good advice on this thread.
We had all decided that on the return trip we were going take the ferry out of Haines, AK down to Bellingham, WA since it made more sense (money and comfort wise) since we had already seen the scenery going northbound.
If you take the ferry. make (pre) arrangements for a cabin unless you're prepared and capable of setting/sleeping in a chair or perhaps in your sleeping bag if you can find a spot.
I will say that while riding solo may seem more interesting or challenging, having someone to help you in case you take a spill or have a mechanical problem can come in might handy and the the other plus is in sharing motel/campground costs.
The last suggestions that I would make is that in addition to what has already been given:
1. Clear protective 3M film is cheap. cover as much of your paint as you can.
2. Carry a piece of siphon hose rolled up in your tool kit (You can always buy gas from someone if you need it).
3. Make sure that your bike is "road ready" with fresh tires and a new battery.
4. Spray wash your bike frequently if you can. The "silt" will stick to everything and it sets up like concrete!
Hi 2AMG, it has been a long time since we talked that I can recall. GOOD post too!
YES, the advice (thx to u n the others willing to share) it has been GREAT!!!
Interesting abt ferrying back. Don't think we will. BUT worthy further consideration. And YES, reservations are a must.
Nope. not any more my friend. I now sleep with a CPAP. So sleeping upside down and backwards hanging from a spinning fan or whatever that I was able to do when I was younger my wife was quite surprised….I can no longer do. I am pretty close to 70 y.o.
3M film? Hmmmm. Doubt it but worth checking into. I'm getting a new bike after the ride so.....I have little to no concern on its trade in value. It will be what it will be.
Road ready? Absolutely, 100%, yes! It is funny you said that because that is exactly what I I have been thinking about lately.
There is a guy by the Harley dealership that is a veteran and when I took my tires off and if they had any meat left over on them, I would make sure he got them for free. That is exactly part of my plan. Very good!
Spray wash my bike frequently? I seriously, seriously doubt it. If someone in the group is complaining about how crappy their bike looks, then maybe we will pull behind the hotel and wash them down. But to me, it does not matter how dirty it gets. Besides I like riding in the rain so hopefully it will take a lot of the dirt off. LOL
Great information 2AMG like the other chaps. Greatly appreciated!
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