Riding gear update

As you may have read in the TAT post mortem, I need to update my riding gear. Specifically, the jacket and pants.

I was considering a few different jackets; my main criteria is that the jacket shell is waterproof (when the vents are closed) and that a liner can be used for warmth. I don’t want a jacket where the liner is required to make it waterproof. Good ventilation is also a necessity, as is proper protection from impacts and sliding.

The candidates (so far) are:

  • Olympia AST
  • First Gear Kilimanjaro
  • Aerostich Darien Light

I have an Olympia Air Mesh jacket now, and I like it. The things I don’t like are that it’s black and the liner makes it waterproof so the jacket shell soaks through in a downpour. The AST has a waterproof shell and is available in a light color.

The Kilimanjaro seems to have the features I’m looking for, but I’ve not seen one in person so I’ve relied on reviews. I will need to see one before using any of my plastic money.

From all the reviews I’ve read the Darien seems to be the top of the list, unless style is a primary constraint. The fact that the Darien is made in the USA (and can be altered and repaired by the manufacturer) is a huge factor in it’s favor. The time-proven reliability and quality are undeniable.

Pants will be the second part of the equation, and the Darien pants seem to fit the bill as well. I’ll continue to read and ask questions so that, hopefully, I’ll make a good decision and can ride both the road and trail in comfort and safety.

Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Eastern TAT – post mortem

The short version is that our planning was very good, but some changes will make it even better.

Navigation: Making tracks using the paper maps and then converting them to routes for use in the Nuvis worked very well. No real changes necessary here. It would be better if we could mark the fuel stops so that there was an alert when you are close, but that’s about it.

Tools: We had the tools necessary. John patched a screw hole in his rear tire using the tools he brought. I didn’t have any flats, but I had the necessary tools and the air compressor ready to go. My new username of DirtNap was earned, and the bike’s mirrors survived. The threads loosened just as they should have and there was no damage to the mirrors from any of the naps. It seemed like I was tightening them a lot, but I had the tools and it was nothing more than a minor nuisance.

Luggage: We packed fairly light, but the duffels weren’t light. I would guess 30-40 pounds. Mine included the first aid kit, tool kit, air compressor, spare tube, computer, clothes, toiletries, shoes (sandals and slip-ons), and jacket liner. In the tankbag I had my iphone, camera, earplugs, ipod, earbuds, paper maps, windshield / faceshield cleaner and diaper, eyedrops, charging cables, cable lock, headband flashlight, and tire pressure gauge.

Changes for the next trip:

Luggage / packing: It would definitely help to get the weight down to lower the center of gravity, so I think waterproof soft saddlebags will be the choice for next year. I probably will carry pretty much the same items in the tankbag. We are planning to camp next year, so that adds some items to the list. Tent, sleeping bag, pad, stove, food, and water will have to be carried with us.

Gear: I need to get a better jacket and pants. I wore kevlar-lined jeans and while they may help while sliding they provide no impact protection. I’m considering the Firstgear Kilimanjaro jacket and TPG pants. Regardless of the jacket I select, it definitely won’t be black. My current jacket is waterproof because of the liner, not the exterior shell. That means the jacket shell will be soaking wet in the rain. I would rather that the jacket shell be waterproof and the liner be used for warmth. It just works better on the trail. Same for the pants, a liner for warmth only.

I bought a pair of Aerostich Combat Touring boots before we left, but they needed to be resoled. That’s now done, so my boots are ready to go.

Misc: I’ll add a bottle of ibuprofen and benadryl to the first aid kit. It would be good to have some cotton handkerchiefs on the outside of the packs so that you can wipe your glasses and/or faceshield while riding in the rain (which happens a LOT when I’m riding). Maybe an easy way to attach them so they can dry in the wind would be useful too.

I’ll need to come up with camping gear too.

A new bike

After a couple of days on the trail with the KTM, it’s obvious that the bike is not the right one for me, and that’s a shame. It’s a great bike – power, handling, suspension, reliability, easy to work on, etc. This will definitely be a reluctant sale. Even more than on the road, an off-road bike needs to fit. Having to select the places to stop based on the surface so that you can get the kickstand down, not being able to dab effectively at the necessary times, too heavy to pick up while loaded – these are all issues that make off-paved-road travel frustrating. And when you’re frustrated, you’re not having the fun that you should.

So I made the decision to buy a BMW F650GS with the factory lowered suspension. The seat height is around 30 inches, and the bike is 100 pounds lighter as well. The 4 gallon fuel tank is under the seat, the bike gets 60+ miles per gallon, and the 650cc Rotax engine is very reliable. Accessories are readily available, so setting up the BMW for the trail should not require a machine shop.

My main concern is the suspension. I know that the conventional forks up front are not the best, but there are a number of options. One of the better choices appears to be Yamaha YZ450F USD forks. With a respring and revalve, they reportedly transform the bike. There are some issues with the ABS, but they can be worked out to retain the ABS function. In the back, the choice seems to be a custom shock by Wilbers. You can specify overall length, stroke, and spring rate, so by using the appropriate suspension link you can set the rear suspension height where you like. Not cheap, but those options should get you not just a good suspension, but a really good one. And, the updated front and rear suspension is fully adjustable where the factory one is not.

This will probably be my winter project. The plan is to be ready for the western TAT next year, probably a July departure. The snow will have to melt from the Colorado passes before we can go, and the passes we will be riding over aren’t plowed. A busy winter is coming, methinks.

First trip on KTM – returning

The vacation is done and it’s time to head for home.   So we begin to prep for departure.   Repacking the panniers and reattaching them to the bike is fairly simple.   Reattaching the tankbag requires threading a strap around the steering stem, but once that’s done the rear mounting straps click into place.   This trip, I didn’t even bring the waterproof duffel, so that’s the bike packed and ready.

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Dale-ization, part 5

Luggage is the issue now.   The mechanical bits are sorted out, the electrical bits are done, tires are good to go.   I decided to go with Caribou Cases for panniers.   The final point in their favor is the lifetime warranty.   If they ever break they’re just replaced.   I don’t plan to break them, but lot’s of things happen that aren’t planned, so why not stack the deck in your favor if you can.   I went with the 36L side-opening cases.   Some folks seem to prefer the top-loaders, but not me.

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Dale-ization, part 4

Well, now we have a suspension.   We have wheels, too.   The bike can roll around, I don’t have to drag it any more.   But, the fairings need to be reinstalled, along with the tank vent lines, and then the windshield.   That didn’t take too long and now the bike is completely reassembled.   And the best part – no parts left over.   Usually, it’s a good sign when there aren’t any parts left over when you’re done.   I taking this as a positive sign.

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Dale-ization, part 3

The forks and shock arrived on schedule and they are a bit shorter than when they left.   The swingarm has been reassembled, with blue loctite on the bolts, in particular the ones holding on the chain guide / rub strip.   In some cases, these bolts have backed out and caused some serious damage when the guide warps around the front sprocket.   I don’t want that to happen to me if I can prevent it, so the blue loctite is used on those bolts in particular.

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Dale-ization, part 2

I now went to work on the accessory wiring.  There were more circuits on the battery than I like so I reduced it to a single ring terminal on each battery post for all of the accessory wiring.  I then tapped off the positive lead prior to the relay for the switched power and ran that back to the powerlet connector on the left-side rear panel.  This will be used for connecting a battery tender while it’s in the garage, and to connect an air compressor while on the road.

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KTM 950 – the Dale-ization begins

It didn’t take long, and the Dale-ization has begun.   I believed the bike to be in good shape mechanically, and after spending some serious wrench time with it I can say with certainty that it has been well maintained.

In its stock configuration, the “S” model is waaay too tall for me, so correcting that was a top priority.   I removed the front and rear wheels, and then the forks and rear shock.   Off they went to Javier at Trailtricks for a rebuild, revalve, respring, and shorten back to the standard spec height.   The suspension changes will net me a 2 inch reduction in seat height.   I added a KTM low gel seat, which gains another inch for a total of three.   This is enough to make the bike fit me much better.

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