Anyone want to ride motorbikes to Alaska?

[motion]

Its gotta be Prudhoe Bay, I guess. August of next year? I'm riding my KLR650. Gonna do it alone if none of my motorbike buddies can make it.

[rusnak]

Mr. Motion, you are one crazy mo fo. I live vacariously through your posts.

[varmint]

i'm already here. if you get near the Kenai let me know.

[Jandrews]

Oh man...sounds amazing. What are the logistics? How long will it take...where will you stop, etc... Then ride back, too, I assume? A great adventure. Would love to even consider it.

JA

[varmint]

my standard advice...

don't take a vehicle you love up the alcan.

canadian border guards are dick holes. if you've ever had a dui be prepared to cough/bribe/cough pay an extra fee.

invest in a good pair of sunglasses.

there all kinds of neat pills in canadian pharmacies you can get without a prescription.

consider joining a lodge. things like the elks, moose, vfw are still very big up here. they are often the only good place to eat in these little towns. and knowing the secret handshake could help if you break down.

there may be only five cops on patrol in a region the size of virginia. but there are only six roads. so the odds aren't good. girdwood is a notorious speed trap.

all the roads are two lanes. if you're blocking more than five vehicles the cops will ticket you.

if you're stopped in the middle of the road to make a left turn people will blow by on the right shoulder without slowing down.

we have the most awesome anything goes gun laws imaginable.

we voted to legalize marijuana. but the law is still in flux. no one knows what's going on.

an old timer told me the bull moose consider motorcycles mating rivals,and will attack. i now suspect he was bull****ting me. but you never know.

a really good way to irritate the local citizens is to leave trash around. all that stuff about garbage attracting bears is true.

thieves roam the better known campgrounds stealing generators and such.

you will take a rock through the windshield.

the stories of eagles carrying off chihauhuas are true.

there is a strong bit of pay for play in the milepost. but it is still indispensable.

tourists see a moose, stop their rv in the middle of the road to take pictures. and then are surprised when they are rear ended by a log truck. happens a dozen times a year.

there is a yearly updated book called the "milepost". it is a mile by mile listing of every gas station, motel, tourist trap, scenic vista. it is indispensable.

https://www.amazon.com/Milepost-2016-Kris-Valencia/dp/1892154358/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1466732189&sr=1-1&keywords=milepost+alaska+2016




consider taking the ferry up. the alcan will take at least seven days. and you'll be exhausted with an exhausted bike. the boat will drop you off in whittier relaxed and ready to go.


the motorcycle shop in anchorage is where all the GS people meet. on a average summer day you can find a couple guys headed to prudhoe bay so you don't have to go alone.

[motion]

Originally Posted by varmint

i'm already here. if you get near the Kenai let me know.

Did you ride up? When do the mosquitos stop?

[motion]

Originally Posted by Jandrews

Oh man...sounds amazing. What are the logistics? How long will it take...where will you stop, etc... Then ride back, too, I assume? A great adventure. Would love to even consider it.

JA

I like the camp/motel/camp/motel regimen. I value my showers! I think 7 days each way sounds about right (based on Spokane, WA departure). Maybe taking the ferry back, as Varmint says, is something to consider.

[varmint]

rode up the first time, boat the second. this state is huge. anything less than a month exploring doesn't begin to do it's justice. wife and i have signed up for this next month.

Originally Posted by motion

When do the mosquitos stop?

never.

[Baz]

Not sure if you guys could keep up with me on my newest acquisition - otherwise I'm there!

[porsche4life]

Damn if only I had unlimited time off like you Richard. Sounds like a fun trip!

[Gogar]

Id love to do that if I'm not working and find the appropriate bike! Maybe I could find someone to pay for it too.

[motion]

I think we have the start of a Pelican adventure here! Gogar, I'm just northwest of you. We can ride up from Red Lodge. You can park your truck here.

Baz, that thing will easily make it!

I hear mid-late August is best for the skeeters, but there will be snow.

[motion]

A guy here in town is selling a fleet of very nice, well equipped KLR650s if anyone is interested. I think he's asking around $3700 for each bike, although you can find thrashers for less.

[Noah930]

Granted KLRs can go anywhere (and have), but is that a good bike for a trip like this? A friend with a Super Tenere really wants to ride to Alaska. His previous bike was a KLR, but he felt it a bit wheezy on the highway. He's much happier with his Yamaha.

But he's a bit concerned about the cost of an Alaska trip. He's been told to plan on spending $5-6K, even with a lot of camping involved. Is that true?

[motion]

My KLR will do 70 all day long on knobbies, which is fast enough for me. 14 days... 7 nights in a motel split with someone, food, gas, a set of tires... I can't see it going past $2K. Maybe he's factoring in farkles for the bike?

[Noah930]

His bike is all farkled out already. He's like a Touratech catalog.

[pcardude]

Loan me a bike I'll go

[JavaBrewer]

Very interested Richard and the timing would be good. PM on the way this weekend.

I have never been to Alaska and perhaps underestimated the scope of planning and executing a trip like this. Still subscribed.

[look 171]

I dreamed of doing that in my pick up truck since I learned to drive, but on a bike, that would a adventure of a life time. You must post pics if any of you get out that way.

[MMARSH]

I'm interested. Planned to go the last couple of years, but have ended up doing other moto trips instead. I have the bike and gear, like your plan to camp and hotel it.....lived in Alaska for seven years when growing up. A co-worker is riding up next month with a couple of friends.