Boston Mangler

If so, what is the appropriate section?

After i do a few test runs and am comfortable with the setup and packing arrangements, i am going to tear the bike down to the frame and put it all back together to learn it.

Very good point. As of now, we have 2 tentative weekend test runs planned in Death Valley in October and December. I have been accused of overpacking too. Of course, until said accuser needs a tool i have! Good info. I originally wanted the K60 front, but when i went to order, they were on backorder so i went with 2nd best. Front will most definitely be changed to a K60 before the trip, especially after reading your RR last night and seeing how well they did,! THANKS

Planning, testing, and more planning.. Only got about 3000 miles of seat time on it so far and I need to stop riding it like a Sportbike on the pavement and a dirtbike on the dirt and learn to ride it for what it is... I'm don't with hospital trips this year! Going to do as many somewhat local camping trips with the bike fully loaded as shake down runs and testing all the gear. How to pack best, what works, what doesn't, etc... I'm new to this whole big bike thing and don't want to be learning about it on a month long trip! Hahaha... That and I'm just using that as an excuse to get out and ride more! Oh, and Riding the pee out of my KTM!

Good Stuff! Thanks for sharing!

Great Writeup! Good job on the trek! Look forward to hearing more!

For Clothes and soft items i need to keep dry, i use a pair (one on the top of each side pannier) North Face Base Camp Duffles. I have used these bags for year, and although not sold as "waterproof" they are as close as you can get, and very very durable!

I went with the Best Rest Cycle Pump for on board compressor and flat repairs. Complete with their patch and plug kit. All packages up nice and small and fits in Pannier. Also went with the Adv Designs tool kit, that comes with every single tool needed for anything that might need to be done on bike. Considerably cheaper than trying to source some of the weird funky tool separately.

Posted: http://dualsport-sd.com/forums/index.php?/topic/18594-my-2015-arctic-circledenaliyellowstonemoabzion-adventure/#entry179291

I've always been a fan of my Garmin 276c for almost 12 years. It finally took a crap on me, and before finding out i could have it refurbished for short $, i "upgraded" to a Montana 650T. Cool unit, but has some drawbacks compared to the 276C. Mounted it to the GS the same was as the KTM, and hardwired it to the bike so it is being charged while i ride. For a secondary navigation system, and for more of an exploratory device off of ebay, These are very cool because they have their own internal GPS inside, are wifi compatible, and don't require a SIM card, or a cell service subscription and if preloaded, all of the topo maps can be viewed on the go, in the middle of no where using the internal GPS. Advantage of the toughpad, is it basically gives me a full computer on the go with wifi capabilities, and mapping. Disadvantage of the toughtpad is its big and heavy, and not sure i want that weight on the top of my tank bag for 9000 miles. I use their ToughBOOK computers at work extensively and they are left in the sun all day for months at a time, so i know it can handle the heat and sun without issued. Still unsure if this will be used during "The trip" (will do several local camping runs to test), or just scrap that idea and throw it on eBay for gas money!

My fuel capacity should be sufficient, but my riding partner will be on a GS800 and has about 75-100 mile less range. I added 2 MSR bottles for a total of an extra 1/2 gallon spare. Not much, but better than nothing. I installed the fuel bottles on the opposite side of the exhaust for obvious reasons. The 1200s are known to consume oil, and its considered normal, so i added a spare container that holds 2 quarts.

Only deficiency i found on this bike, was the stock suspension for offroad when fully loaded. Fixed that by installing the Ohlins Mechatronic setup properly sprung for my weight.

For tires, i went with the Heidendau K60 Rear and the Continental TKC80 for the front based on my needs. I will be doing lots of local testing and trial and error with these before "The Trip" and change if needed. Based on my research, this is the hot setup though.

When i went to add the additional armor for the vulnerable cylinder heads in case of a drop, or off, i noticed minor oil seeping from both heads. Rather than have to disassemble it later to fix, i did it before hand and replace the cylinder head gaskets and rubber grommets on both sides. Very easy job.

I added Black Dog extra storage bags on the crash bars for easily accessible snacks, and stuff i may need quickly instead of digging through the luggage. Also added Wunderlich under seat bags for additional tools to get the weight low on the bike.

Very Impressed with the quality and function of the Black Dog Cycle works skidplate and footpegs. Full coverage of the entire exhaust. Comparison pics to stock skidplate.

Thanks Dan! I appreciate your knowledge as well, and letting me pick your brain already!

I'll come up with something else new and exciting for 2016!

Also, i lost my unlimited free webspace for hosting pics and such. What would you all recommend for free picture hosting? Thanks

Roger That.. I dont see a "Planning" section here.. Where would be appropriate? Thanks

Hey Guys This was my first time doing an actual "organized event". For those unfamiliar, every year the Big Bear Trail riders hold a D37 dual sport event. They do an easy route, an adventure route, and a hard route, and whoever completes the hard route earns a pretty cool plaque. Having done woods racing back east for a long time, although its been awhile, i signed up for the Saturday "Hard Route" wanting my damn plaque! Oh... I got my plaque alright, but...... Cut and pasted report for the event!: Well... Everyone knows I don't crash often, but when I do it's pretty fawking epic!!! First crash on my KTM was one for the record books. Ride started at 6am sharp.. About a 50 bike cluster heading right for Gold Mountain which was basically obstacle #1 out of 9.. We waited a few and headed out after the masses cleared.. 3 of us got to a scene out of the Erzenberg Rodeo.. Bike and riders flying everywhere.. We picked our lines, pinned it through the chaos and checked out.. Was a cool bonsai dash to checkpoint #1, no issues.. After checkpoint 1 we did the Famous Malcolm Smith trail (also known as Redondo Ridge) followed by White Mountain (both good stuff).. Smooth sailing, hauling ass.. We were going at a good clip, and some dude came by us like we were stopped! More on that later... Checkpoint 2, Dan #1s Husky wouldn't start. Spent a lot of time trying to diagnose it and turns out the rubber boot connecting the throttle body to the motor was completely shredded and unable to fix.. Me and Dan #2 decided to make some tracks and make up some lost time. A little further along. Dust was insane.. I told him to go ahead and I was gonna hang back a little until his dust settled.. I suddenly found myself riding in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of people I didn't know and don't remember getting there .. Odd... Carried on.. Did check point 3 and feasted like a starving homeless man on cookies that they had at the check point.. Did the John Bull boulder garden and coming out of it, met with a group of folks taking a break.. One of them says, are you sure you're alright, that crash looked gnarly.. WTF? Oh look, my hand guard, clutch lever, bling Rekluse cover, and all plastics on both sides were trashed! Oh oh... Adrenaline wore off, sharp pain omin left shoulder and my hip.. No bueno.. Limped it about 30 miles back to the starting paint to let them know I was done... About 1000 yards away from start point ran out of gas.. Had to push it rest of way.. Once in the convention center, the group that had had mechanicals and whatever were there hanging out.. Nice guy from the club offered me some gas and i was able to get back to the house. Was sore, nothing too major, figured i wiped out a little. Tossed bike in garage, quick shower, took a nap. Woke up in EXCRUCIATING pain in my left shoulder, to the point of tears. Texted Dan #2 letting him know what happened, and he replied "I am also at the ER right now, i will come get you when i am done". Long story short, apparently right after i crashed, he went head on with a jeep, luckily just graising it, and dislocated his thumb. This portion of the trails was supposed to be bikes only. Went to the hospital in Big Bear, got Xrays, checked negative, got CT scan of head, checked negative. Got back to house, bike wasn't too bad, but every piece of plastic on it had deep scratches, meaning it kart wheeled good. Helmet had a small hole in it, guessing from a rock. And my one piece Fox Titan armor has one of the shoulder pads ground down to about 1/2 the original thickness, and a big dent in the spine protector.. Fast forward a few days.. Get back to SD, go to doctors, get MRI. Doctor said in his whole career, he hasnt seen a Labrum torn that bad. Basically shredded it, and also a slight tear to my rotator cuff and a hairline fracture of my humorous where the ball smashed into the socket. Got surgery scheduled for Tuesday.. Moral of story hear, is 1) Don't leave your riding partner, 2) all gear all the time (almost took my one piece armor off due to heat), and 3) dont skimp on your helmet! Had a brand new Shoei VXF, and having it fit properly and being a high quality helmet probably saved my life! I still have NO CLUE what happened with the crash, how i got my bike started afterwards, and how i even got to John Bull. Weird.. I made it a total of just over 100 miles and still had a blast, and definitely doing it again next year! As for the guy that hauled ass past us, it was none other than Ty Davis! Here is a pic of the plaque i got at the awards ceremony! Bawahahaha! Good Time!

That part was fairly easy, the 1/2 long hills of loose shale / cobble type rocks is what totally kicked my arse!!!

Yes I said street.. Assuming they started there and going to be adding the cool dirt stuff soon too. They simply can't ignore the share market the KTMs are owning and can bet ya $1 they hard at work figuring out how to break into it! Yamaha Also.. There WILL be a nice badass Jap dual sport in the US within the next few years!

I'm not sure about that.. Honda has been bringing some weird things to the US later in their street market