Alaska or Bust! (10k+ miles).
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How will that BT46 on front do on gravel and/or wet murky dirt roads? Wonding how a fatter tire would reduce the tire-to-fender spacing and how much smaller a gap is there? Would it tend to catch gravel or dirt more? On my 2005 (and now my 2021) I noticed some gravel getting picked up and pinched between the tire and fender when I have to do down my gravel driveway. curious.
thanks for the rear tire info.
fb
thanks, will do... those are the memories and when were gone.. for kids and grandkids to say .. hey look at what great grandparents did... LOL
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I too have thought about riding to AK. Others have covered most of what my research suggests, but I will add two comments, both particularly noteworthy if you are planning on a lot of camping:
1. Consider timing your trip so that you are leaving AK no later than early September - it's a long way north and often gets chilly and sometimes frosty (or worse) by mid-September.
2. There are a lot of nasty flying BUGS in the north - from central British Columbia through the Yukon and Alaska. Take lots of the most powerful insect repellant you can find!
Lastly, I've read on several occasions that the ride to and from AK is very hard on bikes, with the most memorable comment being to the effect of "you don't come back on the same bike you left with". That has made me decide that, if I do get a chance to ride to AK, I'm not doing it on my Wing - I'll buy a moderately used and very reliable bike (thinking 650 V-strom or the like) for that trip, and save my Wing for trips that won't be hard on it.
Whatever you decide, have a great adventure!
1. Consider timing your trip so that you are leaving AK no later than early September - it's a long way north and often gets chilly and sometimes frosty (or worse) by mid-September.
2. There are a lot of nasty flying BUGS in the north - from central British Columbia through the Yukon and Alaska. Take lots of the most powerful insect repellant you can find!
Lastly, I've read on several occasions that the ride to and from AK is very hard on bikes, with the most memorable comment being to the effect of "you don't come back on the same bike you left with". That has made me decide that, if I do get a chance to ride to AK, I'm not doing it on my Wing - I'll buy a moderately used and very reliable bike (thinking 650 V-strom or the like) for that trip, and save my Wing for trips that won't be hard on it.
Whatever you decide, have a great adventure!
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41 Posts
Do we have another "Million Dollar Bogan" here????? 😜
Corventure Dave
Corventure Dave
The BT46 isn't a "fatter" tire. It's a rear tire with the same 130/70-18 dimensions as any commonly used 130/70R18 front tire used on Goldwings. This means no loss of fender clearance. The BT46 gets mounted on the front wheel. The idea is that rear tires like the BT46 commonly have a deeper tread and should in theory last longer than a regular front tire. That's the draw especially when going double darkside.
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2,209 Posts
I would say, look at a picture of the both of them, then you decide
but the BT-46 can be had in the OE front tire size,
it is a rear tire for a crotch rocket
so it has a tad deeper tread and most definitely different tread design than the E4
I think it might do better, IMHO, I know it lasts longer than the E3
it is one of the go to front tires when people trike their wing
the BT-46 is the upgrade by Bridgestone of their old BT-45 that they discontinued
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"...OP sounds like he has a dream..." What an appropriate, and politically correct comment on MLK Day. Bravo!
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Sounds like a fun trip but, like others have stated, watch all the Youtube videos you can and have a very detailed plan. Cover as many "what-ifs" in your prep. I've never done the "Alaska thing" but several times I have been on the road in the mountain west from an Iowa start for 2-3 weeks at a time. Camping your way on your trip throws another large factor into your trip. I MC camp throughout the summer and I like to allow a couple of hours for set-up/settle in and eating for the evening and the same in the morning for breaking camp. That allows you about 6-7 hours for hard riding to hit your 400 mile days. If it were me, I'd try to figure out how to catch a motel whenever/wherever possible and set 300 miles as an average day. That warm, dry bed and a hot shower really can make a difference. Coffee and a "motel breakfast" are great day-starters, too! All that said, I'm envious of you.
Get some long day trips (400-500 miles) and some short camping trips under your belt. A "cast-iron butt" on a very comfortable ride is a must. Good luck, happy trails and looking forward to seeing your posts as you prepare and do, what sounds to be, a trip of a lifetime. From what I gathered, when sitting down to plan an Alaska ride, July is the month you want to be there on 2 wheels.
BTW, I think your 400 mile/day limit is fine, I've always had a hard time keeping it that low on long trips. That said, I only ride long days when I have no planned points of interest/stops. Once I get to an area I'd like to see more of, I'll spend a day or two there and tour the area, then move on to the next long day(s) until the next POI. Nobody plans a 60 day trip and figures 400 miles per day EVERY DAY! I didn't take that to be FB's intent. Maybe I was wrong, wouldn't be the FIRST time!
BTW, I think your 400 mile/day limit is fine, I've always had a hard time keeping it that low on long trips. That said, I only ride long days when I have no planned points of interest/stops. Once I get to an area I'd like to see more of, I'll spend a day or two there and tour the area, then move on to the next long day(s) until the next POI. Nobody plans a 60 day trip and figures 400 miles per day EVERY DAY! I didn't take that to be FB's intent. Maybe I was wrong, wouldn't be the FIRST time!
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I did it from Mississippi, about 4 hrs from Blue Ridge, for my start. The total trip was 10,800 on my Wing and another 400 plus to the artic circle on a rented BMW on the haul road. Don't fly anywhere. Go from your home as you stated. We did the whole thing in 23 days so your 60 will be more than enough. Going down the PCH and back to GA will be more than the 10k you mentioned. By the way guys, if he rode 400 miles per day for 60 days that is 24,000 miles. I think he meant when he was riding. My buddy carried extra gas. I had a can but never filled it. If you stop when you see a station open there will be no problem. Camping shouldn't be a problem but we didn't do that. We normally booked our next hotel when we stopped for the night. I had a tablet and a laptop and we used booking.com. I had an AT&T cell phone with a hot spot so that sometimes came in handy for the internet connection. I can not tell you how much fun this is to do. It is an adventure.
I have ridden a lot in Canada and the northwest so I can give you some good stuff for there also if you like. Lots of cool ways to get back here from California.
I have a ton of recommendations for roads to ride and would be very willing to share them with you but I don't like to type long posts. If you would like to discuss my experiences I would be happy for us to get in front of maps and let me walk you thru what we did. Just PM me with a phone number if you want to talk. As Steve said get the Milepost. There is so much to see and do on this trip. It will come in handy. Good luck
I have ridden a lot in Canada and the northwest so I can give you some good stuff for there also if you like. Lots of cool ways to get back here from California.
I have a ton of recommendations for roads to ride and would be very willing to share them with you but I don't like to type long posts. If you would like to discuss my experiences I would be happy for us to get in front of maps and let me walk you thru what we did. Just PM me with a phone number if you want to talk. As Steve said get the Milepost. There is so much to see and do on this trip. It will come in handy. Good luck
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Live Your Dream! Happy Trails and safe riding...
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Yes it is. One of the prettiest rides I have ever done. A bunch of good one in BC for sure.
I live in Alaska and ride a black 2012. In 2021 I drove to Haines Alaska from Anchorage and caught the ferry down to Bellingham, WA. From there I drove all over the west. When returning I entered Canada through Coutts, I-15 N through Shelby MT. I can tell you it took 5 hard days of riding to get through the border at Beaver Creek. It was without a doubt one of the best rides I have ever been on. It would have been better had I slowed down and been able to be a bit more touristy but with Covid, the neighbors up north wanted us foreigners out without stopping.
In 2022 I purchased a new ATAS from the Honda shop in Littleton CO. and flew down there in June. When I decided to head home, I entered Canada near Vancouver. This time I wasnt so rushed. I have to say BC Canada has some of the most spectacular views I've seen.
The point of all this is to say.....dont worry about gas. For the most part you can get it anywhere. I think the farthest stretch was 159 miles in Canada.
Roads were all pretty good for the most part. Canadian rural roads are repaired using gravel and dirt that will eventually harden with use. When its fresh, on my Wing with a Dunlop Ride Flat rear, it is scary at best. There is a 150 mile stretch north of Destruction Bay,YT to a few miles past Northway, AK that is just horrendous. Pot holes and frost heaves abound.
Other than that, happy trails.
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What AmmoAK says is true about the roads. However, I guess I may be a pessimist and my riding partner is an optimist. When we finished the trip we were talking with some friends. I made the comment the roads were not as bad as I expected due to what I had read. Billy said they were much worse than what he expected. For me the roads were fine just a little testy in some places. Never felt like I needed an adventure bike to be safe. I ride a 2015 tour with standard tires. We had no issues.
Take octan boost and carry extra fuel, tire repair kit an pump. Remember fuel is in liters, take bug spray they get hungry-I have been up an down the Alcan 4 times- no hand guns--watch for big critters on the road -- lived in AK for 12yrs. watch out for tourist it is amazing that for some reason trees-squirls-birds in Alaska are more interesting than where they come from an they stop in the middle of the road to look and take pictures of them-truckers on the Alcan take their half out of the middle--Is a great trip an yes the sun almost never sets--Alaska's mosquitos are big an eat a lot---LOL---Oh bring good rain gear cuz it rains-have had sleet, hail an snow on the 4th July--- enjoy it is a great ride---
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Good info on the bug spray. Octane boost? Why? The tires etc is same as lower 48. Never needed extra fuel. Just don't pass a gas pump. Rain gear comment is spot on. And make sure you have a means to clean your windshield. It is a normal road trip from my experience. However, if the bike quits it is a hassle. Make sure it is ready to go.
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When you arrive for the night and there is a gas station and it is operating, fill up. Don't fall for the idea that you will take care of that the next morning. In the mighty North there are many stories. Some start with the disclaimer that the gas pump ain't working because Clarence is out looking for the key to open up, or a huge caravan of RVs just came in late and wiped out the fuel supply, etc. etc.
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I still like my idea of fly/ rent/ return when tired , and fly home again............You still have the adventure of tour'n AK without any added expense to your own motorcycle. and your not beat'n yourself up, ride'n all the way there from your own personal home town.. 4,523 miles (3 days/13 hours) one way from front door to Fairbanks AK {Map quest}
Ronnie
1/19/23
Ronnie
1/19/23
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4,994 Posts
Although I've never done it on a motorcycle I think you should do the ride. I lived in Alaska for 3 years, seen everything from the Kenai peninsula to the Arctic circle (thanks to the US Army) but still believe some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen is the YT and the route along the ALCAN.
I did my first trip up the ALCAN in an AMC Pacer station wagon. This was in 1982 when large portions of the road were gravel. If that can make it anything can make it. Ended up with no power steering (had to cobble the steering linkage in the front with a Pepsi can and hose clamps) and all glass was intact.
I also recall that the portions that were gravel were almost a blessing since when the frost heaved the road and finally settled again it was smooth. Not so much with the paved portions. I came back down in 1985 in a Nissan 4X4 pickup and I'm certain it was airborne a few times.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Steve
Sometimes the only thing you can get is low octane fuel---this is Canada not the US on the Alcan there is not a gas station every 100 miles, also remember the distances an speed limits are in kilometers not miles an mph---RCMP will not take any guff--know the exchange rate or better off exchange money at the boarder or a bank in Canada--It may be Canada but is still a foreign country-- once in 77 I was traveling the Alcan the Canadian law had changed while I was the Alcan, I had a hand gun with me, I was pulled over for speeding 35 KPH zone I was doing 35mph on my spedo which is way to fast, RCMP asked I had a firearm an of course I said yes, showed them an they said the laws had changed on handguns they escorted me to the station sealed the handgun gave me a 5 day permit to get out of Canada and I had to stop at the Canadian customs check point going out of Canada to give them the paperwork and verify that I still had the handgun that it was still sealed in the box and that the paperwork had been signed at customs leaving Canada---I was lucky otherwise it was a Canadian felony---- Enjoy your trip the last time I was on the Alcan there was only about 60 miles that was gravel now it should be all paved---
c
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