Alaska trip from Kentucky
Alaska trip from Kentucky
I am thinking about doing a trip to Alaska to Kentucky next year. Has anyone of htis board made the trip and what are the roads like? I don't want to be riding my Harley on gravel roads and stuff. I need some insight on the road conditions and what I can expect. If the roads are bad i might be an old metric bike to make the trip on.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Lakeland Florida
Alaska Trip
If you are really interested in going there go to themilepost.com website. This website will give you full access to all the info you need when you buy the magazine. It still has a lot of info for free. Since last year,when you buy the mag, you have complete access to an electronic version as well. In my opinion you can't go there without it!
Tom
Tom
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 508
Likes: 0
From: Southeast, TN
Made this trip 3 years ago from Chattanooga and absolutely loved it.
I was gone for 5 weeks(should have planned for 6 weeks) and would go again. At that time the roads were good except for the last 150 to 200 miles on the Alcan which was being worked on.
When they work on the road they tear it up completely.
Start out with new tires and expect to change the rear when you get there before starting back.
You must plan your overnight stops on the Alcan because lodging may be up to 200 miles apart.
I didn't see darkness for about 3 weeks.
PM me and I will give you my cell phone if you would like to discuss.
Yes, I would go again. By the way, I was riding an Ultra and the trip for me was over 14,000 miles.
I was gone for 5 weeks(should have planned for 6 weeks) and would go again. At that time the roads were good except for the last 150 to 200 miles on the Alcan which was being worked on.
When they work on the road they tear it up completely.
Start out with new tires and expect to change the rear when you get there before starting back.
You must plan your overnight stops on the Alcan because lodging may be up to 200 miles apart.
I didn't see darkness for about 3 weeks.
PM me and I will give you my cell phone if you would like to discuss.
Yes, I would go again. By the way, I was riding an Ultra and the trip for me was over 14,000 miles.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 647
Likes: 5
From: Snohomish WA
Thats a 8000 mile round trip avg. 500 miles a day for 16 days .Doesn't sound like fun to me, no time to see anything i would want a month to do that ride.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 659
Likes: 1
From: Alaska
I am thinking about doing a trip to Alaska to Kentucky next year. Has anyone of htis board made the trip and what are the roads like? I don't want to be riding my Harley on gravel roads and stuff. I need some insight on the road conditions and what I can expect. If the roads are bad i might be an old metric bike to make the trip on.
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 471
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake City, UT
I rode there from Salt Lake City in 2008. It took us 23 days for the roundtrip, about 9300 miles. After being really timid in the construction zones, we discovered after time that the gravel sections were actually smoother than some sections of pavement! Riding the AlCan is not going to demolish your bike. However, it will test the limits of your suspension. In 2008, there was only one section of really awful pavement. It was the last 90 miles in the Yukon before reaching the AK border. Big potholes and frost heaves. BUT - most are very well marked with neon pink paint and little marker flags. When you see neon pink, slow down and be on the lookout.
Seriously, we would have been out on the street if not for the Milepost. We used that thing every day. Don't go without it!
PS - Get some good rain gear. If/when I go back, I'm wearing one of those one-piece suits the BMW guys have.
PPS - At construction zones, motorcycles are encouraged to go and often "waved" to the front of a line of cars/RV's/18-wheelers. Don't be shy...just go.
Seriously, we would have been out on the street if not for the Milepost. We used that thing every day. Don't go without it!
PS - Get some good rain gear. If/when I go back, I'm wearing one of those one-piece suits the BMW guys have.
PPS - At construction zones, motorcycles are encouraged to go and often "waved" to the front of a line of cars/RV's/18-wheelers. Don't be shy...just go.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake City, UT
Like Dan (Black Bastard) said... we did it in 23 days, but I would have loved to have another week.
Last edited by the reverend; May 5, 2010 at 08:10 PM.
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