Howdy. Thanks for showing the boat off. The only thing I'd add is that she is everything she is because of the great folks like Neil that have volunteered their time and knowledge. Hope to see you again. Maybe in New Orleans.
It was great to meet you back in April! Neil speaks very highly of you, as do we all. SV Seeker is certainly a team project that owes its success to everyone involved, but your passion and determination is what made it all happen. Credit given where credit is due! Thanks for the hospitality, and I hope you can finally get that beast out on the water soon! 😉👍 --QM
Can't thank you guys enough for this virtual ride along, nice real world example that you don't need 20k$ bikes an gear to adventure and have great time making memories, I been contemplating getting a daul sport to do moto camping, I think your ride along really made me realize I don't have a choice but do a similar trip, so for this I truly thank u
Thanks for the feedback, Joseph! These random long-distance adventures are my favorite kinds of trips. We usually set out without any real agenda or schedule... just a rough outline of where we'd like to go and a few days to get it done... everything else is ad-hoc. The moto-camping aspect is an ideal way to enjoy low-stress and low-cost touring. If you combine that with a relatively inexpensive dual-sport or enduro bike, then the financial commitment is lower and easier to justify. Most of my adventures on these small-bore bikes and scooters cost me less than $150/week including food! Fuel costs are minimal and camping fees are relatively low. Food and the occasional hotel room for hot showers are the only things that can really hit the wallet. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM
That's a great area for camping and fishing. I worked at the Sequoyah State Park on the north side of the lake when I was in college. A buddy of mine has a bait shop just across the dam from where you camped. I often rode my Nighthawk 650 around the lake after work. Lots of memories made there.
It's good you still have a carb Model instead of Injection. That saved the trip. Now I am going to practice starting my XT in 3rd Gear. Have a good one.
Toledo Bend. One of the best fishing lakes in the world. I have fished it since the 70s. You could have caught dinner in just a couple of minutes. Great video. I put three rectifiers in my xt250 before I found a good one. Don’t waste money on a cheap one. Mine was overcharging though. That’s an easy job though. I wish they put a kickstarter on those XTs. I have to use 4th gear to push start mine.
Not sure on that particular dam but ours here, Wilson and wheeler dams on the Tenn river, they sound the alarm only when they are about to activate a turbine. I’ve never seen them sound it before opening a spillway. But our dams also are known to have people float into the “exhaust” hole for the turbines (I have no idea what it’s technically called) to crappie fish. Every now and then someone doesn’t hear the alarm and gets either stuck in there or shot out like a bullet from a gun 🤷🏼♂️ some people got no sense I guess…that’s the extent of my DAM knowledge lol
I've watched Doug and company build Seeker from day one. It's an incredible achievement!! Oh...I'm the Guy from Cinco Ranch who knows all about your home stomping grounds. Glad you got a chance to check out SV Seeker.
Howdy, neighbor! I remember watching SV Seeker's channel a few times several years ago, but then I forgot about it. Neil asked if I had ever been there because he had donated labor a couple of times. We were camped only about 30 miles away, so I'm glad that we visited. Doug and his project are truly awe inspiring. He's proof that a "can do" mindset beats all of the pessimists out there. You can accomplish anything with focus, determination, and passion! 👏😉👍 --QM
You really got that XT hooked up with some nice mods.. Live that windshield 👍Mirrors are nice.. I know it's a budget bike but hey.... Get a seat and the stuff you did and you got a great weekend do it all. To bad you don't have one of those little jumper pack portable jump start things you see on TV ads. Lol
Thanks for the feedback! I've really enjoyed the little XT250 over the past decade. I installed the windscreen, ROX bar risers, an upgraded Seat Concepts seat, and the Happy-Trail pannier system on it immediately after getting the bike. I've road tripped with it all over the central USA, and I even used it as a daily commuter for a while. It's a bit underpowered for long, fast highway duty, but it's quite flexible and does well in just about any role. 😉👍 --QM
🤣 LOL! Maybe I'll install a 50-shot of NOS on there with some wheelie bars! 🤣 In all seriousness, I'm sure that the aftermarket is full of go-fast bits for these bikes. The Navi is based on the Honda Activa scooter, so most upgrade parts should be interchangeable. We'll see very soon! 😉👍 --QM
How big is Jed? If he's under 65-70 pounds then you should do OK. Otherwise, he might be too heavy for the SherpaX on a small bike like the XT250. I had to reduce my loads in the trailer to under 55 pounds for it to handle properly above 60 MPH. Of course, you probably won't be going very fast with a 4-legged passnger back there! Cheers! 😉👍 --QM
I don't know if you fixed your charging system problem, but I haven't noticed you riding the XT lately. I had a friend that had a similar issue on his DL1000 and it turned out to be the magnets in the alternator/generator came unglued. Once he gave them a good gluing back in place, he didn't have that problem again.
I still haven't torn into my XT250's charging issues. It has been sitting patiently at my warehouse for me to fix those issues. Instead of going through all of the troubleshooting, I'll probably get an upgraded stator with a voltage regulator/recitifer that's set for lithium batteries. The price for the OEM voltage RR is ~$100, and the upgraded unit from Ricky's Stators is $250, so the extra $ is probably a good gamble anyway. I'll definitely take a look at the rotor to be sure that the magnets are still in good condition when I'm in there. I have a few other seals and bits that need to be checked, so it'll be good timing. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM
Thanks for the feedback! I've already placed deposits for the Navi at two of my local dealers. I can't wait to get that little bike and take it out for some road trips & moto-camping! Cheers! 😉👍 --QM
Yessir, I hope so! I've already placed deposits for the Navi at two of my local dealers. At the moment, we're expecting a late-February delivery timeframe, so we'll see if that happens on schedule. I can't wait to play with that little bike and kit it for some road trips & moto-camping! Cheers! 😉👍 --QM
I typically use both: I'll charge my devices via USB on the bike while I'm riding, and then I use a small solar panel (e.g., Goal Zero Nomad 10 amzn.to/3DAm100 ) to charge devices while I'm camped. I connect a large-capacity USB battery bank to the solar panel to allow more charging flexibility... solar charge as long as possible and then use the USB pack after the sun goes down. That solution also allows me to strap the solar panel on top of my roll bags and charge a battery pack while I'm riding (example here: th-cam.com/video/37BTEHXWfxU/w-d-xo.html ). I have considered buying or building one of the "solar generators", but those are basically the same solution that I'm already using: a large LiPo battery pack with multiple in/out charging circuits. The problem with most of the premade solutions is that they are bulky and don't lend well to motorcycle use (difficult to shove into a pannier or a roll bag). I'm still hunting for a large LiPo (or LiFePO4) battery pack that can quick-charge via 12-20V (e.g., from a larger solar panel) and also support pass-thru charging (e.g., charge batteries while powering downstream devices). I haven't found a good one yet... most of the packs won't quick-charge if they have pass-thru. I do have a Goal Zero Sherpa 100AC ( amzn.to/3qR6qFR ) power system, but it also has its limitations. The battery capacity isn't stellar, and I never need the AC inverter portion. There is another version that omits the AC inverter (Sherpa 100PD) but it's impossible to find lately. The primary problem with the Sherpas is that they aren't waterproof, so it's risky to use them in moto-camping scenarios. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM
@@QuasiMotard There is another brand called Omnicharge that I own. Of course the one without the AC connection is the one thats not available. lol oh well, ty for the reply :p
None yet, but I've been toying with the idea of building a micro houseboat with a 18-20' sailing catamaran as the base (e.g., Hobie Cat 18 or similar). That would be a ton of fun, and I might even be able to power it with a scooter or the Cub if the hulls can displace enough water and support the weight of the bike. 😉👍 --QM
Oklahoma is full of native reservations, so that might be the case there as well. I didn't even think about it when I saw people using small nets. 😉👍 --QM
Howdy. Thanks for showing the boat off. The only thing I'd add is that she is everything she is because of the great folks like Neil that have volunteered their time and knowledge. Hope to see you again. Maybe in New Orleans.
It was great to meet you back in April! Neil speaks very highly of you, as do we all. SV Seeker is certainly a team project that owes its success to everyone involved, but your passion and determination is what made it all happen. Credit given where credit is due! Thanks for the hospitality, and I hope you can finally get that beast out on the water soon! 😉👍 --QM
Man ! That was fun ! Thanks for the virtual tag along. That was one hell of an interesting route.👍🙂
Thanks for showing us the gates opening on the dam , SVSeeker and the cool stops along the way !
Awesome video! It hurt everytime, but it's called the bridge. Thank you for sharing.
Can't thank you guys enough for this virtual ride along, nice real world example that you don't need 20k$ bikes an gear to adventure and have great time making memories,
I been contemplating getting a daul sport to do moto camping,
I think your ride along really made me realize I don't have a choice but do a similar trip, so for this I truly thank u
Thanks for the feedback, Joseph! These random long-distance adventures are my favorite kinds of trips. We usually set out without any real agenda or schedule... just a rough outline of where we'd like to go and a few days to get it done... everything else is ad-hoc.
The moto-camping aspect is an ideal way to enjoy low-stress and low-cost touring. If you combine that with a relatively inexpensive dual-sport or enduro bike, then the financial commitment is lower and easier to justify. Most of my adventures on these small-bore bikes and scooters cost me less than $150/week including food! Fuel costs are minimal and camping fees are relatively low. Food and the occasional hotel room for hot showers are the only things that can really hit the wallet. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM
That's a great area for camping and fishing. I worked at the Sequoyah State Park on the north side of the lake when I was in college. A buddy of mine has a bait shop just across the dam from where you camped. I often rode my Nighthawk 650 around the lake after work. Lots of memories made there.
Very good comprehensive tour if that boat... Very cool.. Ship is closer to it..👍
It's good you still have a carb Model instead of Injection. That saved the trip. Now I am going to practice starting my XT in 3rd Gear. Have a good one.
Toledo Bend. One of the best fishing lakes in the world. I have fished it since the 70s. You could have caught dinner in just a couple of minutes. Great video. I put three rectifiers in my xt250 before I found a good one. Don’t waste money on a cheap one. Mine was overcharging though. That’s an easy job though. I wish they put a kickstarter on those XTs. I have to use 4th gear to push start mine.
OK that boat was 10 years in the making that is a lot of work and that thing is cool as shit Thank you for sharing.
Not sure on that particular dam but ours here, Wilson and wheeler dams on the Tenn river, they sound the alarm only when they are about to activate a turbine. I’ve never seen them sound it before opening a spillway. But our dams also are known to have people float into the “exhaust” hole for the turbines (I have no idea what it’s technically called) to crappie fish. Every now and then someone doesn’t hear the alarm and gets either stuck in there or shot out like a bullet from a gun 🤷🏼♂️ some people got no sense I guess…that’s the extent of my DAM knowledge lol
Thanks for the video! 💯 QM
I've watched Doug and company build Seeker from day one.
It's an incredible achievement!!
Oh...I'm the Guy from Cinco Ranch who knows all about your home stomping grounds.
Glad you got a chance to check out SV Seeker.
Howdy, neighbor! I remember watching SV Seeker's channel a few times several years ago, but then I forgot about it. Neil asked if I had ever been there because he had donated labor a couple of times. We were camped only about 30 miles away, so I'm glad that we visited.
Doug and his project are truly awe inspiring. He's proof that a "can do" mindset beats all of the pessimists out there. You can accomplish anything with focus, determination, and passion! 👏😉👍 --QM
I live off Lake O'Pines and there a Dam on the lake and water power plant for Longview! I have not been able go fishing for couple of years! QM
I been looking at your friend home made trailer because my bike is automatic too! QM
You really got that XT hooked up with some nice mods.. Live that windshield 👍Mirrors are nice.. I know it's a budget bike but hey.... Get a seat and the stuff you did and you got a great weekend do it all. To bad you don't have one of those little jumper pack portable jump start things you see on TV ads. Lol
Thanks for the feedback! I've really enjoyed the little XT250 over the past decade. I installed the windscreen, ROX bar risers, an upgraded Seat Concepts seat, and the Happy-Trail pannier system on it immediately after getting the bike. I've road tripped with it all over the central USA, and I even used it as a daily commuter for a while. It's a bit underpowered for long, fast highway duty, but it's quite flexible and does well in just about any role. 😉👍 --QM
Amazing. God smacked
Cool!! Another fun watch. Looking forward to a Navi report. How about a turbo addition 😮 to the little guy!? 😎 Thanks 👍👍
🤣 LOL! Maybe I'll install a 50-shot of NOS on there with some wheelie bars! 🤣 In all seriousness, I'm sure that the aftermarket is full of go-fast bits for these bikes. The Navi is based on the Honda Activa scooter, so most upgrade parts should be interchangeable. We'll see very soon! 😉👍 --QM
Should have asked to borrow sail to get you home. 😁
An XT with a Sherpax. I can't wait, and neither can my Doberman, Jed.
How big is Jed? If he's under 65-70 pounds then you should do OK. Otherwise, he might be too heavy for the SherpaX on a small bike like the XT250. I had to reduce my loads in the trailer to under 55 pounds for it to handle properly above 60 MPH. Of course, you probably won't be going very fast with a 4-legged passnger back there! Cheers! 😉👍 --QM
@@QuasiMotard He's about 80lbs, but you're correct. We'll only be riding about 20mph except for a short stretch on rural hiways sometimes.
I don't know if you fixed your charging system problem, but I haven't noticed you riding the XT lately. I had a friend that had a similar issue on his DL1000 and it turned out to be the magnets in the alternator/generator came unglued. Once he gave them a good gluing back in place, he didn't have that problem again.
I still haven't torn into my XT250's charging issues. It has been sitting patiently at my warehouse for me to fix those issues. Instead of going through all of the troubleshooting, I'll probably get an upgraded stator with a voltage regulator/recitifer that's set for lithium batteries. The price for the OEM voltage RR is ~$100, and the upgraded unit from Ricky's Stators is $250, so the extra $ is probably a good gamble anyway.
I'll definitely take a look at the rotor to be sure that the magnets are still in good condition when I'm in there. I have a few other seals and bits that need to be checked, so it'll be good timing. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM
Very cool video and awesome scenery along the ride. What do you think about Honda releasing the Navi minibike?
Thanks for the feedback! I've already placed deposits for the Navi at two of my local dealers. I can't wait to get that little bike and take it out for some road trips & moto-camping! Cheers! 😉👍 --QM
You think we will see any videos of you riding a Honda Navi next year?
Yessir, I hope so! I've already placed deposits for the Navi at two of my local dealers. At the moment, we're expecting a late-February delivery timeframe, so we'll see if that happens on schedule. I can't wait to play with that little bike and kit it for some road trips & moto-camping! Cheers! 😉👍 --QM
Do you usually use solar to charge all your go pros or do you use USB to charge everything?
Have you considered buying one of those solar generators?
I typically use both: I'll charge my devices via USB on the bike while I'm riding, and then I use a small solar panel (e.g., Goal Zero Nomad 10 amzn.to/3DAm100 ) to charge devices while I'm camped. I connect a large-capacity USB battery bank to the solar panel to allow more charging flexibility... solar charge as long as possible and then use the USB pack after the sun goes down. That solution also allows me to strap the solar panel on top of my roll bags and charge a battery pack while I'm riding (example here: th-cam.com/video/37BTEHXWfxU/w-d-xo.html ).
I have considered buying or building one of the "solar generators", but those are basically the same solution that I'm already using: a large LiPo battery pack with multiple in/out charging circuits. The problem with most of the premade solutions is that they are bulky and don't lend well to motorcycle use (difficult to shove into a pannier or a roll bag). I'm still hunting for a large LiPo (or LiFePO4) battery pack that can quick-charge via 12-20V (e.g., from a larger solar panel) and also support pass-thru charging (e.g., charge batteries while powering downstream devices). I haven't found a good one yet... most of the packs won't quick-charge if they have pass-thru.
I do have a Goal Zero Sherpa 100AC ( amzn.to/3qR6qFR ) power system, but it also has its limitations. The battery capacity isn't stellar, and I never need the AC inverter portion. There is another version that omits the AC inverter (Sherpa 100PD) but it's impossible to find lately. The primary problem with the Sherpas is that they aren't waterproof, so it's risky to use them in moto-camping scenarios. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM
@@QuasiMotard There is another brand called Omnicharge that I own. Of course the one without the AC connection is the one thats not available. lol oh well, ty for the reply :p
What size boat are you going to build?
None yet, but I've been toying with the idea of building a micro houseboat with a 18-20' sailing catamaran as the base (e.g., Hobie Cat 18 or similar). That would be a ton of fun, and I might even be able to power it with a scooter or the Cub if the hulls can displace enough water and support the weight of the bike. 😉👍 --QM
Nets are legal for fishing? Must be Indian nation people to do that here.
Oklahoma is full of native reservations, so that might be the case there as well. I didn't even think about it when I saw people using small nets. 😉👍 --QM
They're netting shad to use as bait for hybrid striped bass. You can catch them below the dam when the gates are open.