A weekend Baja ride: Tecate to Mikes Sky Rancho...the hard way

Kickin’ it with The Kug: A Mostly Orange Story: Tecate to Mikes Sky Rancho, May 18-19, 2013

Friday’s post on the San Diego Adventure Rider site (http://dualsport-sd.com/) started innocently enough: “Last Minute Mikes Sky Ranch 5-18-19-13 -- Easy Ride: Break in new bikes and rebuilds.” Ken (The Kug, "Coog") had installed a reserve tank on his KTM 450 MXC and wanted to try it out.

The message stated: “Meet and leave Tecate, CA at the Mini Mart 9 AM Sat. Easy ride to break in rebuilds and a new bike. Fully prepared Baja savvy, easy ride, no racing, crashing, stopping to smell the roses ride. Chance of Drizzle Sat AM so dress for the weather.”

Mikes Sky Rancho: Call from US: 011-52-664-681-5514


It was almost all dirt the first day. I peeled off (wimped out) right before the Ojos Negros/Ensenada cut-off when the sand got deeper than my tires and met the group at Valle T.

Speaking of tires: Don't let anyone tell you that you can't take a top-heavy, loaded down, too-big bike with a bald rear street tire to Mikes. And I heard there was sand, but I didn't see any...

We rode the back way from Valle T to Mikes. I expected to see more of Baja 500 pre-runners, but there was little other traffic.

We arrived to Mikes before 7 and there were a lot of bikes already there. A Chris Haines group and another tour company had lined up what looked to be 50 bikes. It sure didn’t look busy, though. Sondra had bought a liter of Jimador in VdT so we had to wash that back. Dinner was great and we talked bikes with other riders. We had a few beverages and called it a night.

At 6:30 or 7, we were one of the last groups to eat breakfast. After settling the room and bar tabs, we were off by 8:30 or so. The other three had plans to backtrack a bit and try some new trails; I wanted to take a trail over to the coast and ride from Erendira to Santo Tomas. We parted ways—neither bitter nor angry—right before VdT. I’ll let them fill in the details on their return route. I spent an hour opening and closing ranch fences on my way to the coast. When I finally gave up and reached Highway 1, I just slabbed it up to Ensenada. It was getting hot and I had pretty much worn myself out going through fences and around farm roads. No biggie.

Grabbed some fish tacos at a little stand I like in Ensenada (Tacos Floresta) and made good time back to the border. The line was long but I made it around and through in no time and crossed back by about 3PM. I checked Sondra’s Spot and saw that the other had made it back to Tecate by 6PM. StevoDaDevo said they took “the hard way back” which was probably the best, funnest route for them.

I fell in lust with their bikes and was actually turning a bit orange with envy toward the end. I’ve already started looking for a 400 or 525 so I can tackle Baja the way it should be done!

Fantastic ride, great group of riders…but what else can you expect from the SDAR crew?

It was about 400 miles for me. Spot GPS tracks to follow. I see that my Spot missed a few points, but you get the gist of it. Here are a few photos to start.

Study shows that adventure shapes the individual: ADV=Me

I've suspected it all along...

(Id, ego and super-ego for the psych majors among us.

I've received a lot of comments about this from other sites. The main point being: Get off the sofa and onto the road. The world is out there waiting for you---go get it!


Study shows that adventure shapes the individual


Link


The act of exploring helps shape the brain and adventuring is what makes each individual different, according to a study out Thursday by researchers in Germany.

The findings published in the US journal Science may offer new paths to treating psychiatric diseases, scientists said./>

Researchers sought to pin down why identical twins are not perfect replicas of each other, even when they have been raised in the same environment, and studied the matter using 40 genetically identical mice.

The mice were kept in an elaborate, five-level cage connected by glass chutes and filled with toys, scaffolds, wooden flower pots, nesting places and more. The space available to explore spanned about five square meters (yards).

"This environment was so rich that each mouse gathered its own individual experiences in it," said principal investigator Gerd Kempermann of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Even though the mice were genetically the same, and the environment they were kept in was also the same, they showed individually different levels of activity. Some explored a lot, some did not.

And by fitting them with a special micro-chip that emitted electromagnetic signals, scientists could track how much the mice moved around and quantify their exploratory behavior.

"Over time, the animals therefore increasingly differed in their realm of experience and behavior," said Kempermann. Over the course of three months, they developed very different personalities.

Researchers found that the brains of the most explorative mice were building more new neurons -- a process known as neurogenesis -- in the hippocampus, the center for learning and memory, than the animals that were more passive.

Control mice kept in a less enriching environment showed less brain growth.

Kempermann and colleagues said they have shown for the first time how personal experiences and ensuing behavior contribute to individualization, and that neither genetics nor environment alone could cause this personal growth.

"Adult neurogenesis also occurs in the hippocampus of humans," according to Kempermann. "Hence we assume that we have tracked down a neurobiological foundation for individuality that also applies to humans."

The findings offer new understanding of how the brain works, and could shed light on the processes of learning and aging, said Ulman Lindenberger, director of the Center for Lifespan Psychology at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin.

"When viewed from educational and psychological perspectives, the results of our experiment suggest that an enriched environment fosters the development of individuality," said Lindenberger.

An accompanying commentary in Science by Olaf Bergmann and Jonas Frisen of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, said the research has two main uses.

"Molecular understanding of neurogenesis will hopefully aid in the rational development of new classes of drugs for psychiatric disease," they wrote.

Furthermore, it "may teach us... how living our lives makes us who we are."

Consumer Reports Weighs in on Motorcycle Reliability

Don't shoot the messenger!


Most reliable motorcycles: Japanese bikes have fewer problems than BMW and Harley models (according to Consumer Reports magazine, May 2013)

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2013/05/most-reliable-motorcycles/index.htm


Yes, the artfully sculpted lines of a BMW motorcycle and the throaty rumble of a Harley V-twin motor can stir your senses. But they’re often accompanied by more problems than Japanese motorcycles from Honda, Kawasaki, and Yamaha. Those are the findings from our first motorcycle reliability survey, conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, in which we asked subscribers to tell us about any serious problems or repairs they had experienced with their bikes in the previous four years.

And here is the Consumer Reports Motorcycle & scooter buying guide (May 2013): http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/motorcycles-scooters/buying-guide.htm


Along with reliability reports on specific brands and models, there are some excellent pieces of information about New or Returning Riders and motorcycle safety and mainteneance (see the classic T-CLOCS checklist).

Ten cities with the worst traffic: For you LD Riders

No real surprises. I rode my motorcycle thru LA last week. Oy, I do not miss that traffic!

I'm fortunate that California allows lane splitting. (And you’ll notice that San Diego does not find itself on this list…)

Many long distance riders will find ways to bypass the chaos that the traffic in these cities pose...either by taking alternate routes or traveling through and around the heavy traffic areas during off-peak hours.



How do you manage to skirt the traffic? Any tips or tricks you care to share?

Ten cities with the worst traffic


http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2013/05/04/worst-traffic-cities/2127661/


These are the 10 cities with the worst traffic:


10. Boston
Average commute time: 29.2 minutes (tied for 10th highest)

9. Washington, D.C.
Average commute time: 34.5 minutes (2nd highest)

8. Seattle
Average commute time: 27.6 minutes (22nd highest)

7. San Jose
Average commute time: 24.8 minutes (65th highest)

6. Bridgeport
Average commute time: 28.3 minutes (18th highest)

5. New York
Average commute time: 34.9 minutes (the highest)

4. Austin
Average commute time: 25.8 minutes (45th highest)

3. San Francisco
Average commute time: 29.2 minutes (tied for 10th highest)

2. Honolulu
Average commute time: 27 minutes (27th highest)

1. Los Angeles

Average commute time: 28.6 minutes (15th highest)
After being replaced by Honolulu for a year, Los Angeles once again earned the title of the most congested metro area in the country. In 2012, on a Friday at 5:00 p.m., the average driver wasted more than 28 minutes in traffic. Four of the 10 most congested corridors last year were in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The worst is an eight-mile stretch on Interstate 405. Los Angeles also had the second highest population density of any metro area in 2010, behind only New York, at 2,646 people per square mile. Only these two metro areas exceeded 2,000 people per square mile that year. However, in Los Angeles, commuters were far less likely to get to work via public transportation. In 2011, just 6.2% of area workers took public transit to work, versus 31.1% in the New York area.

48 States (plus...) in 10 days or less. Hmm...

I read Ron Ayres wonderful account of his Guiness Book ride...All lower 48 states in a record setting ride of 6 days, 0 hours and 5 minutes. Ron continued on to Hyder, Alaska to establish a new 49-state record of 7 days, 0 hours and 20 minutes. Wow!

If you haven't picked up one of Ron's books, I highly recommend you do. Good stuff, even for armchair Iron Butts.

There are numerous SAMPLE ROUTES from 48/10 riders available; Here's mine: http://goo.gl/maps/TFmKA


I've attached a couple more from others to whet your appetites.



Here are the Iron Butt Association (IBA) rules and info: http://www.ironbutt.com/ridecerts/getdocument.cfm?DocID=19


In short, riders attempting to obtain certification for riding to 48 States in 10 Days ride (ride to all 48 continental United States of America) must adhere to the following rules:

You may take any route you wish to all 48 states, however the following is required:

In each State, you must ride to a city, town or community and document your visit (i.e., picture of "Welcome to State" sign is not acceptable).

Obtain a dated business receipt showing the name of city, town or community along with the STATE (this information should be pre-printed or computer generated, not hand written) and the business name. Most gasoline station receipts are acceptable.

Make a log entry showing date, time and odometer reading for each receipt.

Include a basic map of your route (an old map marked up is fine) so that we can follow your route. If you use SPOT messenger, SPOT maps are also great additional resources that should be included with your package.

It goes without sayinmg that "Only the most seasoned riders should attempt this ride."

Hey, I'm a seasoned rider!

OK, let the planning begin. What bike, when, which route? Ron started his ride in Maine; I lean toward Nevada or Oklahoma.

Questions, questions...

More to follow.

Ted and Dan ride from San Diego to Utah/Arizona: 1,500+ miles in 2 1/2 days

So my friend Ted wanted to ride; he always does.

I had a 3-day weekend free so he suggested a little weekend tour.

Let's see...what can two Iron Butt guys do over 2 1/2 days? We considered riding through Baja; Cabo San Lucas and back (we couldn't catch the ferry from La Paz to Mazatlan, though).

Or a National Parks tour.

With the Nat'l Parks ride a definite-maybe, I began looking at options.

Hmmm, I'll bet we can do some fine Southern Utah, Northern Arizona touring.

And this is what I came up with: A 1,300 + mile ride departing Friday at noon from San Diego to St. George, Zion and Kanab, Utah. Maybe a little loop around Highways 89/89A passing through Page and Fredonia, Arizona, and returning to San Diego on Sunday afternoon.

That was the plan.

Here's the map the “proposed” route: http://mapq.st/16FAIYB


Whew! Just got home. A little under 1,500 miles. The big Triumph performed well. We experienced perfect weather and epic riding conditions. No one will disagree that Northern Arizona and Southern Utah offer some spectacular scenery and world-class riding.

A thorough ride report to follow...here are a couple photos and statistics.

• Coldest: 42 degrees (Brian Head, UT)
• Hottest: 90 degrees (en route to Yuma, AZ)
• Fastest: 90 MPH (lame, I know)
• Highest elevation: 10,400 (Brian Head, UT)
• Lowest elevation: -75 (New River, El Centro, CA)
• Average MPG: 42 (highest: 52)
• Times I dropped the bike and needed help lifting it: 1 (front brake, oily surface, no major damage —other than to my ego)

Here are a couple of memorable rides we enjoyed. We used a Butler motorcycle map that was only “slightly” out of date.

1. Kolob Terrace Road: This nice little up-and-back ride starts in Virgin, about 12 miles before reaching Zion Nat’l Park and winds in and out of the park as it leads about 20 miles from Highway 9 up to the reservoir. Look for a hidden sign announcing the reservoir off an unpaved road (to start). You know you’re in Zion when the pavement turns red. You’ll gain about 4,000 feet in elevation and the road can be a bit bumpy (watch out for the very rough cattle guard crossings!). Highly recommended.

2. Zion Nat’l Park: In April 2013, the cost of entry via motorcycle was $12, and it’s money well spent. This is a must-do ride if you’re in the area. We rode straight through the park on the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway in about an hour, exiting Zion at the far east side via Highway 9. The tunnels, especially the looooong unlit one (1.1 miles), was amazing and lots of fun (take off your sunglasses before entering). We came back later in the day to take the shuttle tour where we were able to snap photos of the scenery. NOTE: Motorcycles and autos are no longer allowed to drive past the visitor center (unless “guests of the lodge”) so the shuttle is the only means of seeing that part of the park now. Yes, I know what many guide books say, but unfortunately, those are the facts.

3. Highway 89: A large part of 89 was closed between Page and Bitter Springs, AZ due to a massive landslide, so upon leaving Zion’s east exit, we adjusted the route a bit and rode UT 89A and 389 back to St. George. A nice 100-mile ride through Indian country, if just a bit monotonous.

4. Parowan to Cedar City: This route was “supposed” to take us through the Brian Head ski area and Cedar Breaks via scenic highways 148 and 14. We sped up the I-15 from Hurricane to Parowan and rode UT 148 to the Brian Head ski resort. There was more snow the higher we climbed…and we climbed to 10,400 feet. There was 13% grade for 10 miles and that was kind of cool. At the beginning of the route there must’ve been a sign stating that there was a road closure, but I didn’t see it. After passing through Brian Head, we hustled along 148 South, until we met an abrupt snow bank…in the middle of the highway. No signs, no warning, just 12’ of snow blocking the route! So instead of continuing to Cedar Breaks via Utah 14, we turned around and headed back. That was OK, though, as there was plenty more to see.

5. Kolob Canyon Road: On our way back to St. George from Parowan, we stopped to enjoy a nice little 5-mile up-and-back ride, also part of Zion Nat’l Park. This was a quickie, but well worth it as the stunning canyons and panoramic views topped off a near perfect day of riding.

We started out at 7AM on Sunday, deciding to take the long way back to miss the I-15 Vegas traffic (95 via Yuma) and only added 150 miles. That was some really nice riding on the 95. Long sweepers and dips through the desert landscape made the ride interesting.

We arrived back to San Diego before 4PM, a little under 600 miles for the day and 1,450 total for the 3-day tour.

Here's the SPOT GPS track: https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=658e516c196ce7e5b


Fun factor: 8/10 (Highly recommended!)

Northern Arizona KLR ride report: March 2013

March 2013 Northern Arizona KLR Ride Report


Here's a video of the ride: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlYFRHl6Juo&feature=youtu.be


Here’s a link to my SPOT GPS track: https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=638c515b1a8b3be35


Oooo, eee! Did I have a great time!

This was a ride set up for KLRs on one or two of the KLR forums http://www.klrforum.com, http://www.klr650.net) by a Chino Valley, AZ local. This ride was everything the guy who set it up (19Willys51) promised and more.

The ride was scheduled for March 23-24 and promised two days of some prime Northern Arizona riding, exclusively for KLRistas. Half were local riders, with the others coming from California and New Mexico.

I rode out Friday, taking the Bradshaw trail from Niland to Blythe overland. It borders a bombing range, so there were LOTS of really big bombs lying around. Good stuff. I gotta say it was a little tough at times with all of the gravel and sand, but do-able. I saw two desert tortoises along the way, which was cool. It's a desolate ride and I was warned not to go solo...but that just made me want to do it solo. Saw 3 quad riders at the start of the trail and 2 Border Patrol Agents at the end. That was it.

I arrived late afternoon and was greeted by our hosts – 19Willys51 and his gal, Kayla.

I was immediately asked by his son (as were the other ride participants): "Are you my dad's biker buddy or part of his gang?"

Hmmm. I'll take the former. Or "motorcycle enthusiast" would work.

CraigES was kind enough to allow the use of his RV for out of town riders and I set up my stuff and started socializing.

We headed over to a local steakhouse for more socializing where I met the two Corey's (no, not THOSE two –- Scrapper and his dad, who will forevermore be referred to as Captain Inappropriate) and Surly Will, who is not surly at all. I could tell by the fine company that this was going to be a really fun time.

Campfire was en route from Sacramento via Scottsdale and arrived at 9:30 or so. We'd already gone though "some" of Surly Will's brew!

So here's how I saw it...

Day 1: Saturday, March 23

It was a brisk 27 degrees the next morning, but it soon warmed up to freezing (32). Perfect riding weather!

We met the others at the Safeway in Chino Valley at 8:30 sharp and they were ready to roll!


Let's see…there was me, our fearless leader 19Willys51, Craig, Monstarz, Scrapper and Capt. Inappropraite, SurlyWill and Campfire…all on real purty KLRs.

We headed up the slab on 89 to the I-40 to a portion of old Route 66.

It was unbelievable what folks use to drive. My parents likely took me on that exact stretch back in '67.

After losing not one but TWO parts of my bike (center stand/right foot peg and headlight cover), we rode through some forest service roads over to a cool old railroad tunnel. Each of us rode into and through the tunnel and marveled at the scenery as our leader explained the history behind this site. Just amazing.

From there we went to Williams (gateway to the Grand Canyon) for gas/lunch.

I tell ya, eight KLRs parked along the road sure looked nice!

After filling our gullets, we were off to see an Indian cliff dwelling (1100-1400 AD) that was accessible via some rocky terrain (but nothing a Honda Passport couldn't handle). From the trailhead, there was a brief hike up to the ruins and a view of beautiful Arizona. Wow.

We stopped to visit an old mine (Sycamore) that some riders were bold enough to go into. The ride down and out of the area was tricky but fun...in a challenging dual sport kind of way.

We made it back to Chino Valley via a looooong gravel road (LOOK OUT FOR LONGHORN CATTLE!)

What did we find when we returned but a fine spread laid out for us? Ice cold brew, two kinds of brats, potato salad, pasta salad, all sorts of appetizers, and not one but two banana cream pies. Thanks, Kayla!

A really nice time was had by all recounting the day's events. No spills, no injuries, just lots of great riding. And we talked about the next day's riding schedule.

Note: Big thanks to "Cap’n I" for stopping to pick up assorted parts that fell from my bike and to Craig for having extra bolts to put back the parts that had fallen from aforementioned bike…

Day 2: Sunday, March 24

The deal was: No snow = Crown King; Snow = Jerome and Verde Valley. It was chilly but clear so we were off to Crown King.

19Willys51 had stated when setting up this soiree that, "This ride will encompass some of the most spectacular back country that Arizona has to offer." Boy, he wasn't kidding!

We planned to meet for breakfast in Prescott at 8:30 but were a little late due to some last-minute repairs. Monstarz and Craig were waiting for us patiently at Zeke's Eatin' Place, home of the Huge Portions. We all had coffee and lots of chow as we went over the day's schedule. It was during some spicy and provocative conversation with a waitress that Cap'n Inappropriate earned his moniker.

Leaving the restaurant, en route to gas up, I felt my right foot peg wobble where I had removed the center stand the day before. The bolts had apparently stripped. Gee, I sure wish I had a fabricator with a machine shop around the corner. I did! Craig lived just a few minutes away and fixed me up right away while the others enjoyed Prescott's "Whiskey Row."

For those of you unfamiliar with Whiskey Row, it's one block of Prescott's Courthouse Square and used to be nothing but saloons and brothels in the mining days. There are still a lot of bars with an old west flair, but tourists took the place of the working ladies.

Craig and I rejoined the group and we were back on the road in no time. 19Willys51 led us out of town and along some very neat fire roads. Up, up into the forest we went. There was a little leftover snow but nothing major. We must've forded 15 water crossings, none too deep or technical. Craig, who was riding sweep, displayed an effective and aptly-named method I can only call a "hello dolly!" crossing. In my mirror I watched in horror and amusement as both legs went to the sky as he flew through the water crossings. Interesting…

We encountered several jeeps laden with wild drivers, always meeting us head-on at unsafe speeds. We always came out OK, but a couple of meet-ups were iffy.

It was quite a long trail (mainly a gravel/dirt road) to Crown King, but the route offered some spectacular views. We pulled into Crown King in time for a late lunch. There were Razors and dirt bikes and dune buggies all around. The streets were full of people, and not tourists, either. Most everyone I saw appeared to be locals or regulars.



We parked in front of the church, directly in front of the "no parking or you'll be crucified" sign and walked over to the gift shop for some goodies. Fudge was on the menu and Kayla expected some (without nuts!). Afterward, we tried to belly up to the bar at a local saloon, but the waitresses wouldn't serve any non-BMW riders.

Ah, yes, speaking of BMWs….While we were waiting for service, a fine looking fellow dressed in shiny, clean BMW garb rolled up on a shiny, clean 800GS. He said it was brand new and walked in for a brew. We raised our eyebrows and commented on the fine machine. We ended up leaving after it became apparent that if you didn't have a swastika on the side of your 4-wheeler, you prolly wouldn't be served. OK, that was a cheap shot, but still…

On our way out of town, that sharp-dressed BMW rider passed us at a high rate of speed and almost lost it going into a tight corner. I'm going to say right now that I am glad he made it through OK. I'm going to say that…

We split off a couple at a time. First Campfire went off in one direction (but not before telling an intriguing and disturbing medical story) and then we lost Craig. Eventually, Monstarz rode off on another route and the rest of us delivered the Holy Fudge to an eagerly awaiting Kayla.

I'd decided that I would head to lake Havasu, a short 3 hours away, instead of staying in Chino Valley another night. Once we arrived to 19Willys51's place, I packed the bike, said my goodbyes, and headed off into the sunset.


What a really fantastic ride that was!


What a really fantastic ride that was!

Alaska ride planning. June 2014

Alaska ride planning. June 2014

In a previous post, Alaska, you call to me like a mentally unstable lover... (July 2011) (http://ineverfinishanyth.blogspot.com/2011/07/ah-alaska-you-call-to-me-like-mentally.html), I spelled out my attraction to the USA's newest and largest state. Maybe not an attraction, more like an obsession.

I received my hot-off-the-presses 2013 copy of The Milepost: Alaska Travel Planner, and have been reading through it even since.

I have put aside late May and all of June of 2014 (14 months away!) for a dual sport ride to "somewhere up north." I plan to visit the Arctic Circle--but why stop there?

The Milepost lays out so many route options that my head is spinning. I want to leave tomorrow!

I have pretty much decided on seeing Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay at the end of the Dalton--Alaska's famous Haul Road--where the Arctic Ocean washes up on oil company property.

But then again, Inuvik is tempting, as well. It sits waaaaaaay up there at the end of Canada's Dempster Highway.

Now, after poring over the Milepost, I'm thinking, "Hey, I have a 2011 KLR 650 and over a month to play---why not both?"  Ah, and therein lies the challenge...

So, planning continues.

Some ideas.

Riding solo or with others: A couple, three riders have expressed interest in riding with me. And I enjoy riding solo, too, so that's something to think about.  This decision will affect all other aspects of this ride.

Route: Which of the myriad routes to take? Criss-crossing several? There is SO much to see. Priorities...

When: No dates have been selected, though May/June 2014 is the target time.

Lodging: Camping, hotels, a combo of both? I would lean toward 2-3 days camping for every night at a hotel, but weather conditions and other considerations often dictate differently. I'll be prepared for either.

Contingencies: Illness, mechanical difficulties, change of plans/change of heart, etc. When to call it a day and alter plans. I'm flexible...to an extent. Other riders often have different definitions of flexibility so I want to address this beforehand.

Riding schedule: I'm an Iron Butt guy. Not everyone enjoys 350-850 mile days. I like to ride, eat/break, ride and stop, with fuel stops in between. 300-mile days would be nice but I wouldn't cover much ground. 600-mile days are more my style but what would I miss seeing?

Ride/trailer/ferry: Riding from San Diego to Inuvik and/or Deadhorse is not a big deal for a KLR. The tires, maybe, but those are easily replaced. Trailering is so "Harley/Sturgis" but it sure would be nice to start the ride in Seattle! Likewise, taking the ferry back from Anchorage to Bellingham would be a neat experience and would cut 1,700 miles off the return route.  At this stage, I plan to ride up there and back on my trusty KLR.

Firearms: Decisions, decisions. Handguns are prohibited in Canada. A shotgun is OK but may not be worth the hassle. I guess it depends on how much camping (and where) I end up doing. Bottom line: mosquito repellant will likely come in handier than bear repellant or a shotgun.

Trip logging: I plan to take my trusty Garmin Zumo GPS and SPOT satellite tracking device so family and friends can follow my progress in real time.  Will have to ensure updated maps of Canada and Alaska are loaded.

Bike prep: Lots of it needed. I want to go over my bike thoroughly before I start out. I travel fairly light and carry more tools and spare parts than I'll probably need, but that's fine.

Logistics:

·         I will check with my insurance company about coverage in Canada. As well, I may opt for the Medevac coverage that SPOT offers....just in case.

·         I'll verify my allowances for towing, repairs and trip interruption insurance with AMA. Just in case.

·         I haven't decided if I'll provide blog updates and upload photos along the way. I may just complete a ride report at the end of my journey from notes and memory. Speaking of ride reports, I am reading as many as I can on ADV Rider and other MC sites, trying to learn as much as I can from the experience of others.

·         I am considering a crash course on small engine/motorcycle repair.  Just something to make me more confident of roadside repairs and minor adjustments on the road.

That's about it for now. Ideas, comments or suggestions? Outright angry criticism?

Definition of a Biker: By Oxford Dictionary Online

I prefer "motorcycle enthusiast"...

                      ...but I've been called worse than "biker."

Oxford Dictionary Softens ‘Biker’ Definition — Will Motorcyclists Like It?

• smaller
• Larger

By Jonathan Welsh (from Driver's Seat HOME PAGE)

 

When people say “biker,” it may not be a compliment.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary the word “biker” started out in the 1880s as a way to identify people who rode bicycles. But by the 1950s the word had traveled downhill to the point where it often referred to members of motorcycle gangs, and the “OED” defined it that way.

But the folks at Oxford just gave motorcyclists a break, sort of.

The Oxford Dictionary Online, sometimes called ODO, has tweaked its definition of biker to the following: a motorcyclist, especially one who is a member of a gang or group.

Did you catch it? The change was the addition of the words “or group.” It reflects a slight shift in the way people use the term today. It often identifies everyday motorcyclists who enjoy riding together and are not particularly menacing. This is a departure from associations with the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club or other motorcycle groups regarded as outlaws. Still, good-citizen motorcycle riders may be disappointed that “gang” remains in the definition.

“Our research suggests that ‘biker’ is now marginally more closely aligned with ‘motorcyclist’ (‘a person who rides a motorcycle’) than words such as ‘hell’s angel’ (‘a member of any of a number of gangs of male motorcycle enthusiasts, first formed in California in the 1950s and originally notorious for lawless behaviour’),” the Oxford University Press said in a statement.

The dictionary’s publisher also said it changed its usage example for the word to “a biker was involved in a collision with a car” from an example that mentioned “a long-haired biker in dirty denims.”

A spokeswoman for the publisher said long hair and dirty denims never were part of the dictionary’s definition. The definition changed in the online dictionary but not in the vast, historic Oxford English version.

So, what do you call yourself?

The 10 Phases of KLR650 Ownership

The Kawasaki KLR has been described as a bike that can do nothing extremely well and almost everything fairly well.  Huh??!!

While I don't agree with all of the below points, I would like to think that the author was using tongue in cheek humor to discuss KLR ownership. 

Or maybe it's a case of sour grapes. Or maybe I'm still in Phase 1 or 2? 

Some comments from other KLRistsas have been added.

The Phases of KLR Ownership:
1) Honeymoon. Joy. Adventure is on the horizon; what fun! Those 'nutty' brakes.  Wow, this is entertaining!

2) Exploration. Find sites like Adventure Riders and become one of 'them.'

3) Trouble in Paradise. Realize that sites like ADV are chock full of bikes like KTM and BMW, and frankly the KLR is the mutt in the purebred's midst. Try to retain pride. Yeah, the KTM and Beemer are nice, but neither has the aftermarket and spare parts support that the KLR has, and while they are filling up ...again. You just keep on riding.

4) Dismay. Spending time on sites like KLR650.net 'enlightens' you and all of a sudden you need everything from new rubber, to a new saddle, replacing everthing in-between. Everything fails no matter what, all the time.

KLRista comment: Dont fall for all the BS of those websites. You'll know when you ride it what it will need. The steel braided lines are a must, the seat is fine, the suspension is fine (it aint a stump jumper, folks) mirror dampeners, etc.
5) Anger. You're angry at Kawasaki for selling a bike that needs this much work. You're angry at the dealer for not just giving it to you, with five bucks for gas. You're angry at yourself for not realizing this bike is for suckers... YOU JUST BOUGHT AN EDSEL!

KLRista comment: The bike really doesnt need anything. If you think about it, it's been in production for more than 20 years. If the bike needed that much work and owners were tht upset, you'd hear more complaints. Dont mess with a good thing. The stock KLR is set up almost perfect, except for that front brake.
6) Separation. Your sportbike friends and HDs are having sport with you at red lights. You've been out-accellerated by a Hundai. You put it up for sale and stop riding it.

KLRista comment: Wrong, I ride my KLR with a 4 friends. One on a CBR 1000, a 929 and a ZX9. Because of the strong low end of a KLR, guess who's off the line first? Also when you put road tires on it, it will out corner anything, except maybe another KLR or KTM.

7) Loathing acceptance. You're never going to get all the money you put into the KLR back out of it. Might as well keep it and go shopping for a 'real' bike. You start to take it out again since, you've resigned yourself to the fact that you're tied to the KLR for life.

KLRista comment: Look at what used KLRs are going for on eBay. Even KLRs that are total basket cases are fetching a lot of money. But then again, you don't need to put a whole lot of money into (except the $50 braided lines).
8) New Dawn. One day, for no particular reason, you realize that you've been having fun riding it (at least alone) the whole time. Thinking about it a little more, you realize that you can go everywhere a GS1200 can get to (just maybe not as quickly), that you're more offroad capable than a GS650 Dakar -- and probably just as on-road capable -- and all for several thousand less dollars. It can do more highway miles than a DR without having to spend $250 on a Corbin saddle to avoid picking it out of your backside after half an hour on the highway, and you can have it serviced anywhere on the planet unlike a KTM (which was also a lot more). Whoa, hold on, this bike is pretty cool!

KLRista comment: Exactly, my friend. That's the reason I bought it. If I'm going to ride cross country, I know I can get parts very easily in the middle of nowhere a lot faster than for the Tiger 955, the BMW or the KTM. Also, if you can find anyone that has the tools and the knowledge of a lawnmower on up, you got a mechanic!

9) Farkle time! You've just realized that you can accessorize the KLR with just about every possible modification you've ever imagined (except extra horsepower). Spend away, young rider! Hold on, is a set of decent tires less than I used to pay for just a rear? Throw on a Big Gun exhaust and rejet it. Add a 16t sprocket with a 44T chain for road use and the sportbikers will be wondering what that ugly thing was that just passed 'em in the corner. Yeah it aint a rocket, but if it can do 100 mph...which it can...thats good for me. (But dont do 100 mph with the knobbies.)

10) Happily deluded. The KLR rocks! Yeah, it still sux, but it rocks!

KLRista comment: After having the Bandit 600 for years, the TBird Sport, the pig iron Seca 900 and various other buzzy, heavy "you shouldnt do that with that bike" bikes, I wasnt expecting chocolates and roses with the KLR. But I knew when it was all said and done.......there is no competitor on the market to the KLR. What is really nice, the valve adjustment section of the shop manual takes up a page and half.

And there ya have it, folks.  Opinions on the ugly tractor that is the KLR650.