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Rio Wil
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« on: August 04, 2010, 10:39:34 PM » |
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What a machine, 8200 miles in 28 days, burned out a low beam headlight and one front turn signal. Had bad noises coming from the alternator area, the alt chrome cover was loose had to tighten......needed big technical skills for this run......  ). Since it never really got dark, didn't bother to replace the low beam. The pics are two highlight of the trip. Not bad for two old farts, I am 66 and my friend is 71, we met F6TVLR from LA and his South American Valk rider friends.....what a trip, if you haven't done, put it on your list!   |
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ricoman
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« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2010, 12:24:00 AM » |
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Old Farts Rule!
I envy what had to have been a great trip.
Noticed the "older" one was on the Wing- there's hope for us all.
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take personal responsibility and keep your word
98 Tourer, black and chrome, added 8/11/10
98 Std, yellow/cream, totaled 8/3/10
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Daniel Meyer
Member
Posts: 5493
Author. Adventurer. Electrician.
The State of confusion.
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« Reply #2 on: August 05, 2010, 06:01:00 AM » |
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Congratulations! I was simillarly plagued with problems when I went...I had to tighten my right rear-view mirror.  |
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CUAgain, Daniel Meyer  |
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R J
Member
Posts: 13380
DS-0009 ...... # 173
Des Moines, IA
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« Reply #3 on: August 05, 2010, 06:13:52 AM » |
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Congratulations! I was simillarly plagued with problems when I went...I had to tighten my right rear-view mirror. Thanks Daniel, ya made me think this mornin. Too early for that. Trips to Alaska. Plagued with problems. 1976 - Kawasaki Triple Kept breaking the Vetter fairing mounting brackets. 1978 - Harley Bagger - FLHTC (think those were the letters) Make no difference as this one was one, naw, I ain't goin to bad mouth it no more. 1987 - Cobra Trike. Made it almost to Alaska before I shredded the lug bolts and lost a wheel. Fixed it, ran out of time so had to haul butt for home. 1997 - Took Valkyrie up, NO PROBLEMS, just a flat tire on the little trailer. |
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44 Harley ServiCar   |
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Red Diamond
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« Reply #4 on: August 05, 2010, 07:29:31 AM » |
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From the way you speak of it, it had to have been a wonderful trip. Been wanting to do this for years, 67 this coming year seems like a good year. Congrats are in order.
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 If you are riding and it is a must that you keep your eyes on the road, you are riding too fast. |
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Rio Wil
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« Reply #5 on: August 05, 2010, 12:59:38 PM » |
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It was indeed a wonderful trip, all the great cities associated with the last 150/200 years or so of Canada/Alaska history (Whistler, Dawson Creek, Skagway, Whitehorse, Dawson City, Tok, Chicken, Haines, Carcross, Anchorage, Fairbanks), Dalton Highway, Alaska pipeline). Met the wives in Skagway, they had a day off the cruise ship so we rented a car and ran around the area. Stayed in some nice hotels and a couple without a tv....can you imagine! I took a small coffee pot and bag of Peet's best coffee, made the morning start off with a cheerful aroma, we ran out of Peet's and had to buy a bag of Starbucks.....what a downer..  We only ran into mosquitos in Dawson Creek, loved the longer days and taking pics at midnight-1 a.m. with no flash. Saw the usual line-up of animals, the eagles sitting on stumps and rocks in the river beds waiting for a salmon to swim by was my favorite. Saw the natives netting and gaffing salmon in the river coming out of Prince Rupert, I have a video if I can figure out how to post it. Fuel prices in Canada varied from 1.06 per liter to 1.69 per liter in remote areas. Alaska was 3.30 gallon to 3.70 per gal. Food in Canada was higher than I imagined, a simple hamburger could be 8-10 dollars, king crab in Anchorage was a frigging ripoff, $40 for a 1 pound dinner and small legs at that. Some one told me they send all the crab to Seattle then back to Anchorage for retail distribution.....only in America..  Overall cost was about 150 per day including food, fuel, lodging ( we split motel costs). We ran about 500 miles total of the infamous Canada/Alaska clay/gravel roads.....pretty soon you are riding the fat lady like she was a dirt bike, 35-65 mph and leaving a trail of dust. The further north we got the fewer and fewer Harley were seen and more Valks/Goldwings, BMW's and Kawasaki's. The Milepost book was our bible and invaluable for deciding gas stops and lodging, Canadians are friendly and very helpful. We met and had coffee with the Canadian gold medal winner in the 2004 games, she won the bicycle race that uses a bike with only one gear and no brakes! She rode with us for a 100 miles or so before going our seperate ways......a very nice young lady with a huge amount of self confidence, she was out on a 2000 mile rip by herself on a little Harley. |
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Red Diamond
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« Reply #6 on: August 05, 2010, 05:16:03 PM » |
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Continue to post on your trip, if you can write much,  certainly can read much about trips like yours. I would love to see that video and any other pics, best time for a trip and any other advice.  |
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If you are riding and it is a must that you keep your eyes on the road, you are riding too fast. |
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deadwood
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« Reply #7 on: August 05, 2010, 07:24:06 PM » |
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Congrsats on the trip! I got back about 3 weeks ago. 8845 miles. Checked the oil and tire pressure once. 31 days. Camped out 20 nights. It is the adventure of a lifetime  |
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Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division.
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Rio Wil
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« Reply #8 on: August 05, 2010, 09:08:03 PM » |
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I love the "patina" on your bike, ya had to earn that muddy oil layer......its a bear to get off huh. We might have passed as you were coming home and we were going up. I did top off my oil at 7000 miles (about 4 ounces) and never did check the tire pressure. You are totally right , it is "the trip of a lifetime" . We took along a tent and bags but the old bones just don't want to do that anymore.....sure cuts the lodging costs though. Didn't run across any "friendly" bears did you....
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PhredValk
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« Reply #9 on: August 06, 2010, 11:34:36 AM » |
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Last month I rode from Edmonton to Toronto; 2000 miles over 4 days each way and about 1000 just riding around visiting friends. Put lots of gas in her, checked tire pressure and the oil for color before the return trip. What a machine! Just bought her this spring and have put 9000 miles on her, and even the tires still look good...
Fred.
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Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional.
VRCCDS0237
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deadwood
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« Reply #11 on: August 06, 2010, 06:03:58 PM » |
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That wasn't dirt, This is Dirt.  This was after the Dalton and the Elliot out to Manley Hot Springs |
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Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division.
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Daniel Meyer
Member
Posts: 5493
Author. Adventurer. Electrician.
The State of confusion.
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« Reply #12 on: August 08, 2010, 05:42:35 PM » |
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Yeah...I'm still cleaning Alaska and Canada off the machine.   |
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CUAgain, Daniel Meyer |
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Rio Wil
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« Reply #13 on: August 08, 2010, 10:31:22 PM » |
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Rio Wil
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« Reply #14 on: August 08, 2010, 10:34:31 PM » |
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Hey that is a great pic , I did not see that in Fairbanks.....guess that means I gotta go back....  |
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Rio Wil
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« Reply #15 on: August 09, 2010, 12:22:33 PM » |
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Here is a pic you won't see every day. Four Valks (and my friends Wing) sitting at mile ZERO of the Dalton Highway. All five bikes had been up too at least the arctic circle and the other three had been to Prudhoe? bay. In any case they all earned their dirt. The three valks are riders from Brazil and have ridden from the tip of Argentina to the top of Alaska!!!!!!!!!!! One of the Brazil bikes has 240K miles on it! What a bike.  |
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bogator
Member
Posts: 663
IN GOD WE TRUST------KK4KSN-------
Valley,Al
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« Reply #16 on: August 10, 2010, 04:43:40 AM » |
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I am truly sorry that you had so many problems on your ride!!! LOL but tell us what did you expect?? you are riding the or one of the BEST motorcycles ever made,at least that is thoughts. glad you had a safe trip tho. GOD BLESS and keep rideing saftly..  |
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Rio Wil
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« Reply #17 on: August 10, 2010, 10:00:04 PM » |
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Here is a video of one very interesting point on the trip, natives fishing on the Skeena River for salmon.
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« Last Edit: August 10, 2010, 10:01:54 PM by Rio Wil »
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