Riding to Alaska?

[bwringer]

On my list of things to do in the next three to five years is a ride to Alaska. (And back, hopefully...)

Just to give the right perspective, I live in Indianapolis -- about 3,700 miles from Fairbanks and 4,400 miles from Anchorage, according to Google. (Seattle is about 2,250 miles from here.)

This trip might not necessarily be on my GS, but it's something I've always thought about, and I've often wondered whether it's worthwhile.

Any thoughts?

 

[tkent02]

It's been on my 5 year list for about 30 years.
I'll go.

 

[DanTheMan]

One of my Rider Coach (MSF) buddies has done it every year for the past 8 (I think) except this last year, because he had too many other obligations. He rides a BMW, but a GS set up properly could surpass his Beemer almost all the tiime. As we said in the Navy, Prior Planning Prevents P**S Poor Performance........
He has been doing it with Aerostich (his part time job), and his beemer destroys parts all the time. Done right, on a GS, anybody here could do the trip with a whole lot less grief than the Beemer owners seem to experience...

 

[cleonard]

Do some searches. Several riders have posted logs of their experiences. There is a yearly book about the Alaska Highway called the Milepost. I hope to do this some day as well.

 

[mriddle]

So once every 10 years we don't do all the other smaller rides .. and have this one big one.

 

[Steve]

I have gone to a Wing rally in Nebraska for the past several years. A couple of years ago, one of the attendees stopped by on his way back from the Arctic Circle. He left a few assorted pieces of plastic behind, but the Wing made it from (and back to) Alabama with no problem.

It won't be obvious to most of the GS bunch, but there is a body-color panel missing below the radiator,
and also a silver-color panel below that, which covered the horns and exhaust pipes.


.

 

[dwvoss]

On my list of things to do in the next three to five years is a ride to Alaska. (And back, hopefully...)

Just to give the right perspective, I live in Indianapolis -- about 3,700 miles from Fairbanks and 4,400 miles from Anchorage, according to Google. (Seattle is about 2,250 miles from here.)

This trip might not necessarily be on my GS, but it's something I've always thought about, and I've often wondered whether it's worthwhile.

Any thoughts?

If you get serious about this, let me know. My wife actually suggested/asked if this type of trip was feasible. I wouldn't do it in the GS. This would definitely be a job for the Voyager.

 

[salty_monk]

Friend of mine did it last year on a BMW GS. 600+ miles a day for 10 days straight!

 

[Grandpa]

Sounds like a great adventure, a one-in-a-lifetime type of thing. Go for it, Brian. I've visited Alaska, though not by motorcycle, and it's worth it.

One thought -- don't expect much road riding up there. The total number of miles, altogether, in the entire huge State is about 14,000 miles. People go up there to ride THE ROAD, not to ride THE ROADS. Pavement doesn't last very long; before you know it, you're on dirt.

My wife has a cousin who's a BMW rider; he and his wife live in Anchorage. He's flying into my area in 2009 for 3 weeks. I'll borrow a bike for him, and we can go off and he'll ride the roads of his lifetime! Can't wait to put him on the Blue Ridge Parkway on two wheels -- he'll go bananas...

Alaskans come down to "the Outside" to ride the roads. We "outsiders" go up there for the incredible scenery, and total awe of the place.

Go for it.

 

[Tom MLC]

Brian, keep that dream alive.

Tell ya a funny. I rode my GS1100 from San Jose to Phoenix to visit my Mom. About a 750 mile journey. I was on the last leg and made a pitstop in Wickenburg, AZ. Kinda proud of myself for the long ride (two days).

A dressed out and loaded down Harley pulls up at the next pump. "Where ya in from?", I ask. He spits a wad and says "Anchorage...on my way to Tucson"

Dang! He was livin' his dream. Now that's a road warrior!

 

[Planecrazy]

On the one hand a 'Wing with it's proven reliability and comfort would seem to be the perfect cruiser for that sort of ride ... on the other hand, a GS with it's more basic repair requirements enroute might be the better choice IF a problem arises.

Personally, I think I'd choose the comfort of the 'Wing.

Great trip idea, Brian!

Regards,

 

[tkent02]

Personally, I think I'd choose the comfort of the 'Wing.

Don't know that I'd want an 800 pound motorcycle to do thousands of miles of dirt riding.

 

[Planecrazy]

Don't know that I'd want an 800 pound motorcycle to do thousands of miles of dirt riding.

I don't know the exact weight, but my fully dressed "G" isn't THAT far off the mark AND certainly isn't as capable with the weight as the new "Wings" are ... Therefore I kinda think it's a "wash" in terms of performance on less than optimal roads.

Regards,

 

[bwringer]

That's one interesting bit -- sitting here in Indianapolis, it's difficult to find out how much of the route might be gravel or dirt.

As best I can tell, you can get to AK on pavement (aside from construction detours), but that's not very interesting and you won't have much to do there if you stick to pavement.

And for the record, a GS850 works beautifully on gravel roads, and works far better on dirt/mud/crappy roads than it has any right to. I have buried mine to the hubs in unexpected mud, crossed creeks, powered through sand, and slithered up mountainside gravel roads in the rain.

As well-behaved as it is, it certainly is a heavy beast when things get slippery. But there's no chain to clean... :mrgreen:

Personally, I'd love to make this sort of trip on my GS. I would have no qualms about riding it to Alaska or anywhere else.

With the high rate of catastrophic final drive failures out there, I'd sure hate to own a new BMW right now, and a BMW twin is about the only bike that appeals to me these days.

 

[courier11sec]

If this happens, be sure and stop in Bellingham if you come through this way. I know a place that makes great burgers.

 

[Guest]

FWIW, the first half of the trip (to Seattle) is pretty easy on a GS.

 

[oldryder]

If you find someone that will actually hit the road with you consider yourself lucky. In my experience for every 100 guys that will talk about a big road trip (x000 miles) theres one or two that will actually do it.

these days all the posers tooling around on harley's and harley clones think riding 100 miles in a day is a big day or riding.

whats really sad is that they'll raise the safety issue about riding cross country when its substantially safer than tooling around town in traffic.

 

[bwringer]

If you find someone that will actually hit the road with you consider yourself lucky. In my experience for every 100 guys that will talk about a big road trip (x000 miles) theres one or two that will actually do it.

these days all the posers tooling around on harley's and harley clones think riding 100 miles in a day is a big day or riding.

whats really sad is that they'll raise the safety issue about riding cross country when its substantially safer than tooling around town in traffic.

Luckily, there's a small but dedicated group of GS riders in and around Indy. For us, a 400 mile day trip to the twisties in Brown County is a pleasant morning and early afternoon diversion, leaving plenty of time and energy for other activities in the afternoon and evening.

And actually, the Alaska trip was Al's idea (82 GS850GL). We're still talking about timing -- honestly, the biggest issue is the miserly ration of vacation days we're allotted here in the US. I'd happily go this very summer, but that's not going to happen simply because we both need to hoard vacation days for at least a year to be able to take two weeks off.

 

[Guest]

I know what that is like. The job that brought me to Indiana gave me three weeks of discretionary vacation in my first three years.

 

[Jagir]

I've been to Alaska/Yukon a few times by boat, thumb and last summer, I did the northern BC circle tour (from the centre of BC to the top via Alaka highway and back via the 37 and 16) in a cage. 2500 km! Always wanted to do it on a bike and daydreamed about it a few times, but I don't think I'd do it all on 2 wheels just beacause of the long spaces of sameness.

Here's my 'BC centered' 2 bits:

If you are camping, bring lots of bug protection and choose windy spots. Similarly, get a finger squeegee and carry lots of faceshield cleaner and a spare gas can.
BE BEAR AWARE! taking care of your food and campsite properly is far better protection than a gun.

Late summer is better - less rain, but if you leave it too late, watch for frost

Watch for buffalo and goats on the road - seriously it's wild up there.

In my opinion, the middle (where I live) and top right (east) of BC is pretty boring and depressing. There is extensive devastation of the monocultured pine forest (it's shockingly red) and the northern part is very industrial where there is habitation, but there is alot of nothingness in between. The Alaska highway is pretty long and straight with a few jigs and jags, but is alot more of the same sort of pine forest that you'd already been riding through for days if you came up through BC (but not as red yet). It gets exciting around Stone Mountain Park, but by then you're close enough to Liard River to just wanna get there to soak the bones and relax.

Just west of Liard River Hot Spring, there is a gas station town called Coal River. Rumor has it that there is a fantastic hotspring that is a couple hours walk up into the mountains. Ask the local.

Skip the movies at the Watson Lake Space Centre unless it's raining and you want to warm up, but bring a sign to put up in the signpost forest.

Highway 37 is fantastic for scenery and there are lots of dirt sections. If you got time and/or cash (for a heli-drop), take a side trip into Mt Edziza Provincial Park. It looks stunning! Boya Lake is a pretty good campsite.

Highway 16 between Prince Rupert and Houston (BC) is amazing! Twisties beside the Skeena River + mountains, it's really pretty. Check out the lava beds north of Terrace and hike up to the glacier or look for fossils in the town of Smithers.

My recommendation would be to take the ferry from Bellingham (WA) to Alaska, or from the north end of Vancouver Island, or drive up through BC and take the #20 west to Bella Coola and catch the ferry to drop you in Alaska or Prince Rupert. North of Williams Lake (BC) and east is pretty long and almost like trudgery.

PM me if you want any more specifics.
Keep the shiny side up!