New 2006 - Ready for Alaska

[mister_bill]

This bike replaced a VTX 1300C. Both are nice, but this bike is awesome. Will be leaving for Alaska in two weeks, riding with 2 BMW RT's.

9662

[CCC]

You do know what the wheather is like This time of year up there don't you?

[Bones]

Black ST, Black Flies...seems to be a running theme happening.

[Bora20]

Black flies? Still snow in a lot of places I would imagine. If not, roads should be complete crap and covered in mud.

Snowed here in Kamloops yesterday, and we are a long was from Alaska.

[Louie Louie]

This bike replaced a VTX 1300C. Both are nice, but this bike is awesome. Will be leaving for Alaska in two weeks, riding with 2 BMW RT's.

9662


Very cool. Enjoy your adventure of a lifetime. I :bow1: Hope to do the ride in 5 to 10 years!

NiceST picture of a black ST thus far...

[mister_bill]

You do know what the wheather is like This time of year up there don't you?


CCC

I just checked Fairbanks - in the 60's today - around 35 tonight. I have done seismic field work in the winter above Edmundton and know how cold it can get. Of course, I wasn't riding a bike then ;) . Will have electric vest and heated grips and a boat-load of cold weather gear. Hopefully we are not leaving too early :confused: .

As to the black flies, we have gnats here in the marshes that would eat black flies as appetizers :D .

[Polovision]

Sounds like a real adventure. Be sure to take lots of pictures. :06biker:

[Bones]

The weather is what it is, the conditions are what they are. Sounds like a blast no matter what. Enjoy and report back.

[Fireball18]

The best time to go to Alaska is the end of May through June. Right now, no flies, but lots of mosquitos!! :eek: Bring raingear and warm gear, but don't forget that it can get up into the 80's as well. And avoid Kamloops--it snows there!! LOL!!! My brother, who just drove down here from Anchorage a couple weeks ago reported that the road is in great condition except for around Kluane Lake in the Yukon, where there's road construction going on. He did say that it's entirely do-able on a motorcycle, just take it easy going through. Who knows, by the time you get up there, it may be very good. The rest of it is good, 80 mph paved road. Have fun, take your time and see lots of great stuff. If you ride down to the Kenai Peninsula, be sure, if you're able, to go to Seward and take on of the Kenai Fjords boat tours. Great way to spend a day, especially if you hit the weather right.

[mister_bill]

The best time to go to Alaska is the end of May through June. Right now, no flies, but lots of mosquitos!! :eek: Bring raingear and warm gear, but don't forget that it can get up into the 80's as well. And avoid Kamloops--it snows there!! LOL!!! My brother, who just drove down here from Anchorage a couple weeks ago reported that the road is in great condition except for around Kluane Lake in the Yukon, where there's road construction going on. He did say that it's entirely do-able on a motorcycle, just take it easy going through. Who knows, by the time you get up there, it may be very good. The rest of it is good, 80 mph paved road. Have fun, take your time and see lots of great stuff. If you ride down to the Kenai Peninsula, be sure, if you're able, to go to Seward and take on of the Kenai Fjords boat tours. Great way to spend a day, especially if you hit the weather right.

Thanks for the information Fireball18. One week to GO :D . I was able to get home from offshore for one day - installed wiring for electric vest and "Hot Hands". Checked out CB radio and GPS. Packed and loaded gear onto the bike. I may have to lighten the load somehow, pretty heavy. Fairbanks is supposed to be up to 65 F today. Bought extra memory for the digital camera and extra tapes for the camcorder. When I come in from offshore next week, I should be ready to take off for Oklahoma City where I am meeting my brother Jim (R1100RT) and Jack (R1200RT). From there we will be off to ALASKA. If the weather is good and the roads are in good shape, we will go all the way to Deadhorse.

[The Sea Dog]

Nice looking bike and sounds like a great ride in the offing, but the driveway could do with a sweep ! ;)

Have fun and ride safe.

Toodle Pip
:PoPoST1:

[Bora20]

And avoid Kamloops--it snows there!! LOL!!!

Heeheehee. It hit 34C here today, that is 100F for those of you that avoid the metric system.

I am thinking about going to Alaska during the first 2 weeks of July. I would miss CanSToc, but I can ride these roads anytime.

[mister_bill]

Nice looking bike and sounds like a great ride in the offing, but the driveway could do with a sweep ! ;)

Have fun and ride safe.

Toodle Pip
:PoPoST1:


You know, I pointed that exact same thing out to my wife. I mentioned that as soon as she finished mowing the grass, the drive needed immediate attention :D . Excuse me now for I must make myself scarce :p: .

(Seriously, you would not believe the improvement in the appearance of the house as well as the drive after removing fallen trees after Katrina. Still a lot to do, but only after return from Alaska)

[rickj]

mister bill,

I did the run up to Alaksa in 1996 on a 1990 FJ1200 from Southern California, one-way. (I shipped the bike back from Anchorage). It was the ride of my life. I left June 28th and cold weather was never an issue for me. However, rain was. Once I got up as far north as BC, I hit rain in varying amounts pretty much every day. I was prepared for the rain, but the guy that rode with me was not and he was miserable on his bike.

I hear the Alcan is better now, but there will always be long sections that are undergoing repair work. Your off-road riding skills will improve on this ride for sure. Also, the definition of a "good" road surface will be changed forever. The scenery you'll encounter will be spectacular. Plan your days so you don't have to cover too much ground. We did a marathon run up through the states and then slowed down considerably once we got to BC so we could enjoy the area.

The Alcan was in real bad shape north of Whitehorse in '96, so we went up the Klondike Highway to Dawson City in the Yukon and then across the "Top of The World Highway" back over to Alaska. This was the best part of the ride. Dawson City is like going back in time and the Top of The World Highway is true wilderness. A must-see if a town called "Chicken" with an interesting bit of history. (The Top of the World Highway is about 160 miles of unpaved dirt road, but it was actually pretty good to ride on compared to some of the so-called "paved" roads.)

You may want to arrange for a check-up of your bike at some point along the way. I had pre-arranged for a tire to be installed at Dawson Creek, and the bike looked over. Nothing real serious, but my mufflers were almost falling off and some problems with my steering head bearings at the time.

I had been worried about bears when we camped out, but I only saw one the whole time. We didn't have food at our campsites though. There are lots of animals on or near the road though, so you need to control your speed. On roads where the vegetation is close to the road I always worried about an animal jumping out and getting in my way. I did have an interesting encounter with a moose that wouldn't get out of my way on the way to the arctic circle.

Anyway, you'll have plenty of stories and lots of great memories. Just hearing about your trip brings up fond memories of my trip a decade ago, and I want to go again!!

I'd like to hear a report when you get back, and please provide a few pictures!

Enjoy!
Rick

[jdpfms]

Thanks for the information Fireball18. One week to GO :D . I was able to get home from offshore for one day - installed wiring for electric vest and "Hot Hands". Checked out CB radio and GPS. Packed and loaded gear onto the bike. I may have to lighten the load somehow, pretty heavy. Fairbanks is supposed to be up to 65 F today. Bought extra memory for the digital camera and extra tapes for the camcorder. When I come in from offshore next week, I should be ready to take off for Oklahoma City where I am meeting my brother Jim (R1100RT) and Jack (R1200RT). From there we will be off to ALASKA. If the weather is good and the roads are in good shape, we will go all the way to Deadhorse.

Please tell me you aren't taking that beautiful new ST and a new RT up the haul road. Even if you don't drop em, they won't be the same due to the calcium chloride on the roads. I'm sure you can do it, but be careful of that road since it can seem like a piece of cake but one spot of fresh thick gravel or slick mud can take you down before you know it. Your call but ride safe.

JDP

[rickj]

mister bill,

Please give us a trip report complete with pictures when you get back!

Rick

[motomac]

mister bill it doesn't matter what time of summer you go there, you will have rain, maybe sleet and snow, but remember, you will have memories of a life time, even if you don't take one photo. It is a great experience and Fairbanks is not a good indicator of the rest of AK's weather. It sits in a big bowl surrounded by mountains and can get down right hot there, but go south over the mountains and it is 50 degrees and raining. Have a great ride!!! Mac

[JSHRAM]

Weather is pretty good now. I'm heading up to Fairbanks today on the ST. Flying to Kaktovic (Barter Island inside Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, ANWR) on Tuesday, coming back on Thurdsay and then riding the bike to TOK, then back to Fairbanks on Friday and finally returning to Wasilla on Sunday. I have no worries about the weather, if it rains, no biggie I'm on the ST! But I don't think it is going to rain much.

Anyway, post a message and tell us where you are and how it is going. I'd meet you in TOK or Fairbanks.

John

[lddave]

I am leaving Saturday for Inuvik NWT and then Alaska.
If you see a KTM 950 Adventure and a Cagiva Grand Canyon with Texas plates wave it will be me and Preston.

[sherob]

I am leaving Saturday for Inuvik NWT and then Alaska.
If you see a KTM 950 Adventure and a Cagiva Grand Canyon with Texas plates wave it will be me and Preston.

Enjoy your trip... be safe! :)

[mayner]

This bike replaced a VTX 1300C. Both are nice, but this bike is awesome. Will be leaving for Alaska in two weeks, riding with 2 BMW RT's.

9662

Looks just like mine!

How do you like the stock seat? :( I can't tell if you've changed it.

[mister_bill]

Looks just like mine!

How do you like the stock seat? :( I can't tell if you've changed it.

That is the stock seat in the photo. I have since changed it with a Corbin. I made a 7000 mile trip on the Corbin immediately after I got it. The only way I could get the Corbin seat level left me sitting too high to control the bike in parking lot situations :eek: . I am 5' 10". I have since gone back to the original and am still looking for a solution to the seat problem.