My 2015 Arctic Circle/Denali/Yellowstone/Moab/Zion Adventure

[Boston Mangler 0]

Hey Guys.

I was recently able to sell my East Coast house, and did alright doing so. Now i have the funds for a new bike and an Epic Adventure I’ve always wanted to have/do!

I’d like to share not just the trip, but the bike choice/build, preparation, and planning with you.

A good friend and I, are doing our dream Arctic Circle trip next summer. I thought it would be cool to document the choosing of the bike, the why, the building of the bike, the gear, the logistics, and of course, the PICTURES!

This thread will be updated with route tweaks, logistical stuff, bike prep, pictures, and any other stuff that changes. Comments and feedback are welcome of course!!

Will be leaving San Diego July 25th and Returning August 25th of 2015.

The MAIN (there will be many secondary) destinations we will be hitting are:

· Arctic Circle / Ocean via Dalton Highway to Prudhoe Bay. Tour to the very tip to dip feet! J

· Denali National Park

· Alaskan Highway through Canada

· Yellowstone National Park (on return home)

· Moab (on return home)

· Zion National Park (on return home)

Plan is primarily off the grid camping once we get north of Washington (staying with friends on the journey from SD to WA).

I’ve been an off the grid camper a majority of my life with backpacking, primarily in cold weather/snow but never done so off of a motorcycle. This will be a whole new experience for me in that regards.

I have made a rough itinerary, but this is an “Adventure” so I don’t want to be tied down by preset rules or guidelines. I’ve crunched the number several different ways for rough mileage and times of travel estimates, so that will be a guideline. Ballparking 9500 miles if we ride the entire thing.

Based on rough itinerary, we will be “moving” a total of 21 days, leaving 9 days as a buffer in case of mechanical issues, injuries, or if we just come across a place we want to hang out for a while longer, or just flat out of we want/need a break/rest. More on the itinerary later…. J

THE BIKE!

I’m a big dude, 6’4” 270lbs with many nagging aches and pains in various parts of my body from old racing injuries. Bike and ergonomics have to be setup almost perfect for me to be comfortable for any length of time. I’ve always oogled the BMW 1200’s but never even considered buying one, due to my love of cheap uber reliable Japanese motorcycles.

Took a friends 1200 GSA out for a spin not all that long ago, and was amazed at not only how comfortable it was, but how well it handled! Took all of 3 weeks for me to; sell off my street bike, road race bike, and supermoto race bike, to start shopping for a GS.

I was up in the air between the new fancy more powerful water boxer, or the old tried and trued oil cooled. I decided on the old reliable, as the new water boxer, is just that, too new, and untested.

Before I pulled the trigger and purchased one, I did a lot of research on similar bikes, and ultimately decided on the GS Adventure based on the world proven reliability many times over, insane aftermarket support, and more importantly, the bike just FITS me! I chose the Adventure over the normal GS for the crazy fuel capacity (this bike will be used on long distance trips only, no starbucks, hahaha) and the lower first gear for off road.

The search was fairly easy. Found a 2011 GSA with only 12.5K miles on it right here in San Diego, owned by an old doctor that only rode it to Julian and back for pie. He had all the records from the dealer, and recently just had the pricey 12k service done! He was 6’4” also, and already installed the taller bars and risers. Other than that, the bike was BONE STOCK! Was a no brainer…

Prepping the bike for long trips….

Right after buying it, I did the change go through, fluid change etc… Loaded it up and headed north to Central Cal. Bike handled amazing, but had several draw backs. The stock seat was atrocious and hurt after less than 150 miles. Also, the stock suspension was NOT up to the task of the decent off-roading we were trying to do in Pozo CA.

Got back home, did some research and ordered a Sargent seat, and Ohlins Suspension setup for my weight. This bike has the ESA suspension which stands for Electronic Suspension Adjustment, or something of that nature. There are 2 options here. Either replace with the standard Ohlins, or go big and get what they called their “Mechantronic” system, which has its own ECU and works with the factory BMW ESA system.

I have had nothing but amazing results with Ohlins stuff in all of my Road Race bikes, and Dan Kyle at Kyle Racing (Biggest Ohlins Dealer in US) has been amazing helping me set them up.

I called Dan and told him exactly what I was doing with the bike, how much I weighed, and what I wanted. He sent me the entire system already sprung for my weight, riding off road, and luggage.

I got to put about 1000 miles on the Sargent seat, and the difference between stock was baffling, did a 500 mile ride, only stopping for gas, and it was a pleasure to be in it.

Unfortunately, right after I installed the Ohlins, I had my big crash on the KTM, so I still haven’t even got to test that yet. L

Again, the reason I went with the GSA was the insane aftermarket support. Below is a list of mods I have done, or am in the process of doing to prepare the bike for this (and many others) trip. Most are self-explanatory, but I will detail the others later:

2011 BMW 1200 GS Adventure

· Stock 8.7 Gallon Tank @ 37 MPG = 320 Mile Range +/-

· Ohlins Mechatronic Suspension setup heavy

· RKA Luggage 24.5L Shiloh Tank Bag (wired to charge electronics while riding)

· OEM Aluminum Panniers

· Black Dog Cycle work Skidplate

· Black Dog Lower and Wider Footpegs

· Black Dog Crash Bar Bags

· Wunderlich Underseat Bags

· Sargent Seat with Air Hawk on top

· Adventure Designs Additional Engine Protection

· Adventure Designs Highway Pegs

· Rigid Industries 6-inch Single Row Specter LED light mounted to forks (over 3000 lumens)

· OEM HD Aux Lights

· FZ-1 Fuze Block to run auxiliary items

· Touratech 2 Quart Oil Bottle Mounted to Left Rear Pannier

· Touratech Spare Fuel Bottle holder mounted to Right Rear Pannier (holds ½ gallon)

· Touratech Headlight Guard

· Misc Touratch Protection/Farkle pieces covering vital components

· Front Tire: Continental TKC80

· Rear Tire: Heidenau K6 Skout

· RG Racing Final Drive Skidplate and Bumper Puck

· HELD Rear underseat bag

· OEM Heated Grips (go ahead and poke fun, they are awesome! Hahahaha

Next was the riding gear. Some I had, some I bought. A lot of it will get dual duty on the KTM also, but a few niceties for long trips were added.

Riding Gear:

· Schuberth C3 Pro Modular Helmet with SRC Comm System (same as riding partner)

· Klim Badlands Pro Jacket and Pants

· North Face Denali Fleece Liner for colder temps

· Alpinestars Toucan Goretex Boots

· LD Comfort Moto Undies

· STILL TRYING TO FIND PERFECT GLOVES AND SOCKS

I still have all of my camping gear from when I used to backpack a lot in the winter back home. Most of it is still in great shape, but I was due for a new tent, and sleeping surface. I’m Going to try out one of those new light weight cots.

Sleeping

· Mountain Hardware EV2 4 Season Tent

· 15 Year old LL Bean -20 Mummy Bag

· Luxury Light Cot

· REI Stuff Pillow

Cooking / Food / Water (had most of this, no need to change or upgrade)

· Jet Boil (been using this for years, tried and true)

· 4 Extra Jet Boil Food Canisters

· Mountain House Freeze Dried Meals

· Various CLIF Bars

· MSR 10L (2.6 gallons) Dromedary Water Bladder

· 100L water bladder in jacket

· LifeStraw filter system in case supplies run out and need to drink straight from a source

I am kinda of a gadget geek, so some of this is silly, but some of this will be cool to have along and test out. Here is a list of my electronics.

Electronics:

· Primary GPS: Garmin Montana 650T with Touratch dampening mount, hardwired to bike

· Backup GPS: Panasonic Toughpad FZ-A1 with standalone internal GPS and various mapping software installed

· Backup Battery/Jump starter or electronics charger: Antigravity XP1

· SPOT Tracker

· iPhone 5S

· Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5S Digital Camera, rechargeable via USB

Itinerary:

Iternary July 25^th to August 25th

July 25^th = Day 1 : San Diego to Roseville CA (Lake Tahoe) = 516 Miles

July 26^th = Day 3: Rosevile CA to Florence Oregon = 510 Miles

July 27^th = Day 3 Florence Oregon to Anacortis WA = 422 Miles

July 28^th = Day 4: Anacortes WA to Quensel BC = 438 Miles

July 29^th = Day 5: Quensel BC to Dawson Creek = 326 Miles

July 30^th = Day 6: Dawson Creek to Liard Hot Springs = 472 Miles

July 31^st = : Liard Hot Springs to Whitehorse Yukon Territory = 403 Miles

August 1^st = Day 8: Whitehorse YT to Tok AK= 387 Miles

August 2^nd =Day 9: Tok AK to Denali National Park = 323 Miles

August 3^rd = Day 10: Denali Park to Cold Foot = 375 Miles

August 4^th = Day 11: Coldfoot to Dead Horse = 240 Miles

August 5^th = Day 12: Dead Horse to Coldfoot = 240 Miles

August 6^th = Day 13: Coldfoot to Tok = 457 Miles

August 7^th = Day 14: Tok to Whitehorse = 387 Miles

August 8^th = Day 15: Whitehorse to Liard Hot Springs = 403 Miles

August 9^th = Day 16: Liard Hot Springs to Dawson Creek = 472 Miles

August 10^th = Day 17: Calgary to Glacia National Park = 290 Miles

August 11^th = Day 18: Glacia National Park to Yellowstone National Park = 485 Miles

August 12^th = Day 19: Yellowstone National Park to Zion = 483 Miles

August 13^th = Day 20: Zion to Home = 480 Miles

This is first draft, leaving us 12 days of "Do Whatever" free time and will adjust accordingly.

LOTS OF UPDATES AND SOME PICTURES COMING SOON! ROUGH draft of itinerary almost done, and will post

Still working on spare parts collection and list.

Attached are a few pics from the day i brought it home bone stock.

[Afry 1]

Check out the Micro Start, charges your phone, laptop etc and can jump start your bike and back up flashlight in a tiny package...

Whoops never mind you got that!

[Boston Mangler 0]

Check out the Micro Start, charges your phone, laptop etc and can jump start your bike and back up flashlight in a tiny package...

Whoops never mind you got that!

[Dan Diego 40]

You're gonna do great. Looks like you've it almost all figured out, and that's a good thing. You can't overplan for a ride like this.

Another bennie of posting here: Quite a few of the guys (Arnie, Randy) have done these rides and can provide some useful input.

Arnie will ensure you hit every good bar in Alaska and Canada.

[Oracle 195]

Wow, this is going to be awesome....hold off till 2016 and I'll come with you...???

[Boston Mangler 0]

Wow, this is going to be awesome....hold off till 2016 and I'll come with you...???

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

[Boston Mangler 0]

You're gonna do great. Looks like you've it almost all figured out, and that's a good thing. You can't overplan for a ride like this.

Another bennie of posting here: Quite a few of the guys (Arnie, Randy) have done these rides and can provide some useful input.

Arnie will ensure you hit every good bar in Alaska and Canada.

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

[Boston Mangler 0]

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.

[Boston Mangler 0]

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.

[Boston Mangler 0]

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.

[Boston Mangler 0]

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.

[Boston Mangler 0]

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.

[Boston Mangler 0]

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.

[Boston Mangler 0]

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!

[Boston Mangler 0]

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.

[Boston Mangler 0]

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!

[Bagstr 287]

And, What will you be doing while waiting to start the trip??

Edited for coherence

[Boston Mangler 0]

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!

[Dress4Less 162]

Cool Mangler...this should be EPIC! Can't wait for the upcoming posts/pics/updates!

[Dan Diego 40]

DanRider and I did two pre-rides to test all of our gear. We fully packed our bikes as if we were heading to Alaska and went to Joshua Tree and the infamous hillbilly camping trip.

That's where we figured out what was needed and what wasn't. As well as how the bikes tracked with the extra weight.

Those test rides proved to be invaluable. (Though I still believe Dan overpacked.)

Planning, testing, and more planning..

Only got about 3000 miles of seat time on it so far...

Cool Mangler...this should be EPIC! Can't wait for the upcoming posts/pics/updates!

[Dan Diego 40]

Dan and I used the K60s for the entire ride. I am am almost at 11k miles on my set and have a good 1,500 miles left on the rear; the front still looks new.

When I return from Baja later this month, I will install a new K60 rear.

If you don't wanna bother with swapping tires mid-ride, you might want to consider a K60 up front, as well.

As you can tell, I was extremely impressed with the Heidenau tires.

For tires, i went with the Heidendau K60 Rear and the Continental TKC80 for the front based on my needs.

[Boston Mangler 0]

DanRider and I did two pre-rides to test all of our gear. We fully packed our bikes as if we were heading to Alaska and went to Joshua Tree and the infamous hillbilly camping trip.

That's where we figured out what was needed and what wasn't. As well as how the bikes tracked with the extra weight.

Those test rides proved to be invaluable. (Though I still believe Dan overpacked.)

Planning, testing, and more planning..

Only got about 3000 miles of seat time on it so far...

Cool Mangler...this should be EPIC! Can't wait for the upcoming posts/pics/updates!

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!

Dan and I used the K60s for the entire ride. I am am almost at 11k miles on my set and have a good 1,500 miles left on the rear; the front still looks new.

When I return from Baja later this month, I will install a new K60 rear.

If you don't wanna bother with swapping tires mid-ride, you might want to consider a K60 up front, as well.

As you can tell, I was extremely impressed with the Heidenau tires.

For tires, i went with the Heidendau K60 Rear and the Continental TKC80 for the front based on my needs.

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

[Boston Mangler 0]

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.

[Dan Diego 40]

10 do's and don't's of riding the Dalton.

#7: Do NOT take a 1200GS.

OK, maybe I made that up...

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/travel-hints-and-tips/ten-do-s-don-t-71602-2

[Vacman 0]

One addition:

Keep an eye on campsaver or similar and you should be able to get one for around $75.