North to Alaska

[Miles]

I am leaving here in about 5 minutes, to ride North to Alaska. I meet my riding partner in Seattle, then we are ending the first day in Prince George, B.C. That is 650 miles from here, and the last 150 miles will be on snow covered roads. In Prince George we are changing bikes. I will be leaving my Super Tenere' and he will be leaving his R12GS, and the bikes we will be riding out of PG will be a matching pair of BMW R1150 GSA sidecar rigs. Given the snow and ice conditions at this time of year up north, we decided to change out bikes for the sidecar rigs, and do the 1750 miles from PG to Prudhoe Bay on a more stable platform. And...these R1150GSA sidecar rigs have "studded" tires at all three points, to help with traction and braking on the ice.

 

Entire trip should be a little more than 5,000 miles, but with temps below 0 degrees, with windchill making the temps feel like -40 degrees, and with snow and ice on the roads, this trip will take us about 10 days (twice as long as it would in the summer months).

 

Very happy that the Beemers have such a large alternator, to fire up all the Gerbings Heated Clothing and such. It is going to be a cold, dark, and long 10 days, but...what the heck...

 

You kids be good now, and no fighting in the family. See ya'all in 10.

Edited November 26, 2012 by Miles

[Yamak]

Temp this am of 28, saw 7 this weekend, roads are clear in wasilla area, no real snow yet and the next 10 days are forecast clear in this area. The studs will come in handy, my rsv/escort combo doesn't steer worth a darn on ice/ snow. Good luck on the journey.

[we2riders]

WOW Miles - that is AWESOME!! PLEASE keep the camera thawed out and take some pics for us, also BE SAFE out there - I am truely jealous - sounds like a super adventure!!!

Hats off to you, you da man!!

Scott

[SilvrT]

I got chilled just reading about your plans ... NO WAY anyone would get me to do that! Kudos to you tho ... and don't forget your heated gear!

[kevin-vic-b.c.]

Miles, when you get a chance, look up Paul "the Iceman" Mondor. Paul was stationed out of Victoria when he did his winter rides across North America. He used BMWs his 650 I believe with a side car once and with studded tires a few times as well. He wore snow mobiling gear from Canadian Tire I believe to keep warm.

Paul was the sales rep at the BMW dealership that sold my brother his Bmr and me my '86 Venture that had been traded in. Paul is currently working in Fort MacMurry Alberta in the oil sands.... he just never got enough of the cold I guess.

 

http://www.paulmondor.com/

 

be safe.

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Cool.

 

Seems like everywhere I turn, riders are discovering sidecars..including me!

 

Pics when you get the chance?

 

 

 

 

Edited November 26, 2012 by tx2sturgis

[XV1100SE]

Miles - here's a bike for you ! http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/11/suv-motorcycle/

[Galapagos]

Thats nuts! Have a safe trip.

[star4772]

You are insane,but what ever floats your boat. Be safe and let us see some pictures when you get back.

[mraf]

BRRRR! Have a great trip. You'll definitely have some bragging rites when you get done.

[bj66]

Sounds like snowmobile weather. Visit the snowmobile store for some good gear. Stud up one of them Can-Am Spyders, they are 1/2 snowmobiles anyway. Kind of sounds like fun to me. But then again South Dakota gets pretty darned cold. But I bet the scenery up there is alot better!!!!!