Wilsons Sandbox
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Mileage on trip was ~5200 miles. F&R = Slipsters - Front lasted entire trip, got spooked by wear rate on rear & replaced it at ~ 4500 miles into trip. Probably would have made it in hind sight. Freds HD tubes & Ride On, no issues there. Rode these tubes, front Slipster and replacement rear on Tran Labrador trip this year, ~ 2600. Front is still looking right servicable. Our riding group think is that airing down for gravel accelerated the wear on the rear. We honked along, which will speed up the 'go away' factor as well.> Those that have made the trip to Prudhoe Bay: > 1)What tires/tubes (brands) did you use
see above> 2)how many miles did you get from the F/R tire
Worked for me, don't have experience with a more off road tread/tire, never fell down, and there are some slippery spots> 3)how satisfied were you with that choice
Trip was Aug 14 - Sept 1, arrived back home Sept 3, Day before Labor Day. Can send you daily itenerary, if interested. Don M> 4)what day did you leave the US going N
____________________________________________________________________________________ Pinpoint customers who are looking for what you sell. http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/> > Those that have made the trip to Prudhoe Bay: > 1)What tires/tubes (brands) did you use > 2)how many miles did you get from the F/R tire > 3)how satisfied were you with that choice > 4)what day did you leave the US going N > > revmaaatin
Wow, You did some tire juggling! and had a nice ride. I tired to Mapquest the route to Prudhoe Bay, and it does not recognize it as a 'road- available' destination. shrug. Any problems with the General Delivery to Fairbanks with the tires? How many days will they keep them before they become a problem to the post office? revmaaatin.> > Rev. Earl, > > I once did an ~8000 mile Alaska trip on one set of > Gripsters (new at start). Gripsters last a long time; > how long one might ask? Well, on another trip, at the > start in Santa Cruz, CA, I pulled-off used TKC-80's > and dusted-off and remounted the afore mentioned > Gripsters. I rode to Seattle. ~1000 miles. Pulled the > Gripsters (not done with them yet), mounted the new > TKC-80's I had UPS'd to my brother's house and rode to > Alaska. > > I again mounted a new rear TKC-80 I had UPS'd to > myself General Delivery in Fairbanks. With a little > more than 4000 miles on it, the new in Seattle rear > TKC was pretty hammered, the Dempster Highway had a > lot to do with that. It still had a little meat left > on it and was pretty squared-off. I left it in the > garage at Carmen's B and B in Fairbanks, it's probably > still there and it's yours if you need it (Ken and > Carmen, the owners, are great. I recommend their > place, they also allowed me to keep my bike/gear in > garage and change my tire there). I rode up to > Deadhorse and back to Fairbanks and then all the way > back to Seattle. Upon arrival, the front TKC was > toast. It had worn badly and every other lug was badly > worn. My front wheel felt like it was a square for the > last thousand or so miles. > > Back in Seattle, I removed the fryed front TKC (~8000 > miles) and _remounted the same front Gripster_ I had > left at my brother's house. The rear Gripster was now > badly worn, ~9000 miles, I ceremoniously tossed-it and > the front TKC in the recycle facility and watched a > giant bulldozer run over them. > > I rode home with a squared-off TKC on the rear (about > 4800 miles on arrival, still usable) and the seemingly > indestructible front AM-24, which saw ~10000 miles > when I reached Santa Cruz. It _still_ had a little > tread on it, but I laid it to rest permanantly. > > I was very satisfied with my choices. The Gripsters > were mostly great on the first trip, but sucked when I > rode in mud, deeper gravel and snow (it snowed on > Iskut Pass on the Cassier). The TKC's were great, > excellent traction and decent highway manners. They > inspired alot of confidence on the Dempster and > Dalton. Only problem was how the front wore unevenly. > FWIW, I ran fairly high pressures when the road was > smooth. I will probably use them again for the same > trip. Personally, if I weren't doing the Dempster, > Dalton or Campbell Highways, I'd just go with the > Gripsters and call it a day on tire changing. > Generally speaking, you don't need aggressive tires on > the Cassier/Top of the World highways. Often, the > construction areas can be the worst surfaces. > > Departure dates: earlier trip June 22nd, last KLR trip > July 16th. > > Last summer, my girlfriend accompanied me up to > Alaska. Instead of making her riding 2-up (not on a > klr for a trip of this magnitude), we took my '83 VW > Westfalia (Michelin Agilis 81 8-ply rated tires, best > I've ever used on my camper). It was awesome. Instead > of being minimalist, I lost my mind going fishing, > clamming, backpacking and stuff. Ran into Tom and > Laura Grenon in Watson Lake (KLR650 and DRZ40) and we > got to hang-out and camp. They were going to continue > south to Costa. I'll probably make the run up to > Prudhoe on the KLR next summer. > > Have fun when you go up there. > > Charles > A-14 > http://dualsportmotorcycling.com/ >
> > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Charles Earl wrote: > > > > Rev. Earl, > >
I believe we certainly most related! We both have Visa cards that are direct descendents of Arrowhead Motorsports. It is undetermined if we are 'blood' related, but certainly kindred spirits. revmaaatin.> > Are you guys related? > > -- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "revmaaatin" wrote: > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Charles Earl wrote: > > > > > > Rev. Earl, > > > >
--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "revmaaatin" wrote: > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Charles Earl wrote: > > > > Rev. Earl, > > > > I once did an ~8000 mile Alaska trip on one set of > > Gripsters (new at start). Gripsters last a long time; > > how long one might ask? Well, on another trip, at the > > start in Santa Cruz, CA, I pulled-off used TKC-80's > > and dusted-off and remounted the afore mentioned > > Gripsters. I rode to Seattle. ~1000 miles. Pulled the > > Gripsters (not done with them yet), mounted the new > > TKC-80's I had UPS'd to my brother's house and rode to > > Alaska. > > > > I again mounted a new rear TKC-80 I had UPS'd to > > myself General Delivery in Fairbanks. With a little > > more than 4000 miles on it, the new in Seattle rear > > TKC was pretty hammered, the Dempster Highway had a > > lot to do with that. It still had a little meat left > > on it and was pretty squared-off. I left it in the > > garage at Carmen's B and B in Fairbanks, it's probably > > still there and it's yours if you need it (Ken and > > Carmen, the owners, are great. I recommend their > > place, they also allowed me to keep my bike/gear in > > garage and change my tire there). I rode up to > > Deadhorse and back to Fairbanks and then all the way > > back to Seattle. Upon arrival, the front TKC was > > toast. It had worn badly and every other lug was badly > > worn. My front wheel felt like it was a square for the > > last thousand or so miles. > > > > Back in Seattle, I removed the fryed front TKC (~8000 > > miles) and _remounted the same front Gripster_ I had > > left at my brother's house. The rear Gripster was now > > badly worn, ~9000 miles, I ceremoniously tossed-it and > > the front TKC in the recycle facility and watched a > > giant bulldozer run over them. > > > > I rode home with a squared-off TKC on the rear (about > > 4800 miles on arrival, still usable) and the seemingly > > indestructible front AM-24, which saw ~10000 miles > > when I reached Santa Cruz. It _still_ had a little > > tread on it, but I laid it to rest permanantly. > > > > I was very satisfied with my choices. The Gripsters > > were mostly great on the first trip, but sucked when I > > rode in mud, deeper gravel and snow (it snowed on > > Iskut Pass on the Cassier). The TKC's were great, > > excellent traction and decent highway manners. They > > inspired alot of confidence on the Dempster and > > Dalton. Only problem was how the front wore unevenly. > > FWIW, I ran fairly high pressures when the road was > > smooth. I will probably use them again for the same > > trip. Personally, if I weren't doing the Dempster, > > Dalton or Campbell Highways, I'd just go with the > > Gripsters and call it a day on tire changing. > > Generally speaking, you don't need aggressive tires on > > the Cassier/Top of the World highways. Often, the > > construction areas can be the worst surfaces. > > > > Departure dates: earlier trip June 22nd, last KLR trip > > July 16th. > > > > Last summer, my girlfriend accompanied me up to > > Alaska. Instead of making her riding 2-up (not on a > > klr for a trip of this magnitude), we took my '83 VW > > Westfalia (Michelin Agilis 81 8-ply rated tires, best > > I've ever used on my camper). It was awesome. Instead > > of being minimalist, I lost my mind going fishing, > > clamming, backpacking and stuff. Ran into Tom and > > Laura Grenon in Watson Lake (KLR650 and DRZ40) and we > > got to hang-out and camp. They were going to continue > > south to Costa. I'll probably make the run up to > > Prudhoe on the KLR next summer. > > > > Have fun when you go up there. > > > > Charles > > A-14 > > http://dualsportmotorcycling.com/ > > > Wow, > You did some tire juggling! and had a nice ride. I tired to Mapquest > the route to Prudhoe Bay, and it does not recognize it as a 'road- > available' destination. shrug. > > Any problems with the General Delivery to Fairbanks with the tires? > How many days will they keep them before they become a problem to the > post office? > > revmaaatin. >
Charles
--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "revmaaatin" wrote: > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Jud Jones" wrote: > > > > Are you guys related? > > > > -- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "revmaaatin" wrote: > > > > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Charles Earl wrote: > > > > > > > > Rev. Earl, > > > > > > > I believe we certainly most related! We both have Visa cards that are > direct descendents of Arrowhead Motorsports. > > It is undetermined if we are 'blood' related, but certainly kindred > spirits. > revmaaatin. >
Moto Tires ship it> > > Hey Rev, UPS General Delivery to Fairbanks worked good. I had SW
hours than what I'm> direct, something like $40. shipping. The facility had more limited
while. After waiting for> used to down here. When I showed-up, it was looking grim for a
in line, the counter guy> the office to open up 30 minutes late, and waiting a very long time
want to look again and> came back with my ticket and said the tire wasn't here. He didn't
it was confirmed as> had no suggestions. That wasn't going to fly. I let him know that
that it might be> arrived and that he needed to check again. On a whim, I told him
wrapped in plastic and> completely enclosed in a box, knowing that tires are often shipped
that he would see a> cardboard and are visible. Then he found it, he had been convinced
box that matched.> tire, instead of using the numbers on the ticket and looking for a
but I know I wouldn't have> > I can't exactly recall how many days they were going to hold it,
like 15-25 days.> done it without at least a 10-day window. I believe it was more
Charles, That is good advice on how to 'help' the clerk do their job. I am guessing that you had that confirmation, before you left CA? revmaaatin.> > Cheers, > > Charles >
Tires ship it> > > Hey Rev, UPS General Delivery to Fairbanks worked good. I had SW Moto
Charles, Was it UPS or USPS that you used for general delivery? revmaaatin.> direct, something like $40. shipping.