Very nice bike build! I love my 350 as a small adventure bike and a trail bike. It doesn't do great on fast pavement, but everywhere it is awesome! Kudos on completing the tour. I have done a few of the easier trails and even those were challenging. The tour is way beyond my skill/endurance level, but I enjoy studying the efforts of others.
Thank you Dee. It was a hard fought battle for sure and one I will never forget. Planning was the key to success. Many months of prep went into the ride.
Thanks for sharing this. Luckily, in most of Europe, we don't have to shoot bears! Even in Finland. I tend to camp off my FE350 or my 701. You're braver than me. I won't do a big trip alone and personally I wouldn't stretch my oil changes out as long as you did, so you're clearly more confident than me. I've got 12 days camping and trails across the Pyrenees, the mountain range that separates France and Spain. I'm taking the 701 but I'm sure my FE350 would be more fun. I'm still not sure which bike I should take. I'm a lucky man to have a difficult choice. My FE350 has many of the mods your 350 has.
Thanks for the breakdown. This is a serious expedition requiring serious planning and training. I hope to do it next year and every time I watch a video of a finisher or Martin’s livestream, I realize just how badass this adventure is and how Im not yet up to the task. Your video helps me think about the training and expense involved., but I cant shake this monkey, its something I have to do!
Daryl, thank you for the comments and watching. The TOI is by far, the hardest, yet most rewarding thing I have accomplished. The planning was a huge part of the adventure. I spent nearly a year on the prep for the navigation and preparation. Not to mention the bike prep. You will see parts of Idaho most will never see in a lifetime along with the people you will meet. The expense is often overlooked and many how fall short, try and take shortcuts. Make it a bucket list adventure and you'll never regret it. Feel free to reach out anytime if you have in depth questions at code4performance@gmail.com. Cheers
I am selling my 690 for a 350 exc. Great info. Blows me away u went thru 3 tires. I am on Motoz now and would think I could get the full length with 1 set. But that's speculation on my part
Thanks for the great wrap up. I don't have the KTM 350 anymore but was trying to get a set of the same googles with photochromatic lens setup. Any resources you could share. Thanks.
I did not wear either. For day rides I will wear knee guards and a chest protector, but generally that is it. For the TOI, it was just too many miles, day after day, for those things to rub me raw in places....:) and it was a trail ride, not a race. Thanks for watching and reaching out.
Congrats on finishing the T1: what an achievement! Your videos along with others who have ridden the T1 inspire me to consider doing it in 2023. I also have a 350 EXC-F (2018) but was wondering if you think a 500 EXC-F would be more appropriate for this Tour, given they're almost the same weight?
I've been asked the same question by others and the answer really is personal preference. If you pack light and feel your 350 is already plenty of bike, then it will be a great choice and won't let you down. As mentioned, I am not a large statured rider, so the 350 was plenty for me. My go to bike for mountain riding is a 300, so it was not much of a change displacement wise. There are also guys who have completed the Tour on 300 strokes, so cc's, in my opinion, don't matter. If you are serious about giving the '23 Tour a go and want to try it on a 500, get one now, ride it and get a good feel for the different power it has and handling vs your 350. Get some gear and pack it like you would for the Tour and ride for a couple hundred miles in a day. Check out motorcyclejazz.com for updates and more information about the Tour. Thanks for the comment.
@@code4performance thank you for replying - much appreciated! I am also a fairly "small" rider, ie 5ft8, 170lbs with riding gear. My main concern was about the desert stretches and more open trails where you can ride faster, wondering if the smaller bike would be more tiresome because of vibrations & noise vs the 500. Any thoughts in this regard?
@@FlorianWerner I've never ridden a 500 for any distance or time so I cannot comment. Because you are so focused on your navigation and awareness, the vibrations and noise were not even a concern. Thank you again for watching, please subscribe and like.
Sorry, no video. Had enough to worry about riding so many miles and days alone to not be burdened with another piece of equipment to deal with. There are two good channels on YT where you can find videos: ridewithmike962 and davidpowell.
Thank you. The heated grips are Symtec Heat Demon I purchased from Slavens’s Racing. Thank you for watching. If you look at a previous video on the build of the bike, I overviewed the wiring of the accessories.
Great video. I'm running the GRIT 3 this summer. I'd like to use the Bill Dart saw mount. I could not see where you mounted your Key ignition? Please let me know.:):)
Great question and observation. As you know there is a mess of wiring behind the mask on an EXC or FE. Originally when I built this bike I used the Moto Minded Dash and Supermount. When I mounted the saw mount you cannot keep the dash. I ended up going with the Sicass key switch eliminator dongle which deleted the key entirely. I also wanted to keep the OEM speedometer to track mileage as the bike is street legal. In order to install the saw mount I had to space out the Dart saw mount even farther using aluminum 1” long spacers so it would clear the wires and OEM speedo. To complicate things further with my explanation you will need to raise the OEM speedo using some type of relocation bracket or as in my case, I retained the bracket from the Motominded Supermount which already raises the OEM speedometer. It can be done on an EXC but it takes some work. There are some guys who just unplug the OEM speedometer and remove it to run the saw mount but I didn’t want to do that. Feel free to email me if you need more clarification at code4performance@gmail.com. Thank you for watching. Much appreciated. Good luck on the Grit. Remember to pack your bike as if it is still a dirt bike. Light and trail-worthy is the key.
That is correct. It’s broken down into 13 days with an overnight stay in a town at a hotel or other accommodations. The mileage is such due to the zig zagging east and west while you progress north. It’s an epic adventure. Not a BDR or ADV ride at all.
Hi good bike and kit. I own a wr250r and love it but I'm looking for something lighter and more power but i don't what bigger vibrations from bigger singles like 450 or 500. It's this 350 engine smooth to ride as a trail bike I'm not looking for an enduro bike?
The 350 platform is in my opinion, a great all around trail and light DS bike. Very little vibrations and good power all around if set up correctly. If the rider is heavier, then you may want a larger displacement. My go to for just trail riding and not for long days on end, is the 300 2 stroke. Cannot find a better trail bike.
Appreciate your comments. I wish I'd kept track of how many hours I spent studying maps and prepping for the Tour . I leaned on many Tour Vets for advice and all of them helped me along the way.
That must have been something, and that build is just wild. I don't even want to know it's total price tag. I'm really conflicted on whether to purchase a 2016 EXC 350 w 3k miles, or a DR Z400e. I'm 6'2 205lbs. I will be going on remote multi day trips here in N.Utah, majority off road, but a lot of double lane highways. Obviously I'd rather be on the the KTM, but somewhat concerned about the reliability and maintenance of an older one vs. a brand new Suzuki for the same cost.
Thank you for watching and reaching out. I used to ride day rides with a friend on the DRZ and he did well and so did the bike. The KTM will no doubt be easier to ride in the technical terrain, handle better, better clutch and brakes and overall a lighter bike. In my opinion and your budget allows, try and find a newer KTM 350 or 500 vs the Suzuki but if budget is tight, get something with a few less miles so you aren't weary of problems the previous owner didn't disclose. Hope this helps.
Thank you for reaching out!. The lower horsepower is not the concern in my opinion. It would be the higher gearing of the Honda, availability of accessories and guards, etc. Mostly I think it would take too much work to make it worthy trail machine for the terrain and so many miles. Just my opinion is all.
Thanks for watching. I carried bar oil and 2T oil in small, Nalgene bottles. I had figured out ahead of time the approximate ratio of oil per tank of fuel in the saw. Used a small syringe to measure and inject the oil directly into the saw tank. Luckily I didn’t end up needing anymore 2T oil than I carried. I did end up grabbing more bar oil in a town as I ran out. Hope this helps.
Chris, I can appreciate someone who notices details. I think I overlooked talking about the USB after the saw mount was installed. I ended up buying a single USB port from Slaven's Racing, Moto power I believe was the brand. I double side taped it to the frame between the tank and the steering stem top area. Worked great. Kept some dielectric grease on the plug at all time and had no issues. I then used a Motomined Bomber on/off switch on the bars, rights side by the kill switch for the heated grips. Now that I am back I am in the process of re installing the Motominded Dash and Supermount along with the headlight. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Rick, I can give you a ball park figure, keeping in mind this was done prior to many of the "inflation BS" and supply and demand chaos we are dealing with. Without the bike, I was in the build about $65-7000. I'm sure the WTF comments might be coming my way, however I wouldn't skip out on anything I put into/onto the bike. It was purpose built to be reliable and give the best possible ability to finish the ride, minus rider error of course. Reach out to me at code4performance@gmail.com if you want to chat further. Thank you for watching.
@@code4performance I was guessing $6k and that pretty much makes it a world ground pounder. Very very nice build. As I decide on what route I'm going in but definitely will get a hold of you sooner or later
Maintenance is up to the rider and how well you started out with a well prepped bike to begin with. I changed my oil one time, about the halfway mark as we had a partial day due to some closures because of fires. Many have done the Tour of Idaho without an oil change. Keep in mind you are not racing, just riding. Each night I would try and lube the chain with whatever I could buy at a convenience store, ie: WD40 or similar and just go over the bike quickly to make sure all the bolts were tight, etc. Otherwise ride and ride some more each day. Fortunately, had basically no mechanical issues except for a lost manifold heat shield bolt. Started out with a fresh bike. Serious mechanicals will no doubt take you out of the Tour, as you cannot pack everything. Thanks for watching.
Congratulations on finishing the T1. What an adventure. I have the same saw that you have. Would you take a bigger saw if you had it to do over ? Your right riding with the little echo is hardly noticeable after awhile but when I go bigger it’s definitely noticeable
Great question. If I where to pack another saw again it would be the Stihl MS194T. There are some potentially larger diameter trees up north where I could have used a larger bar, even a 16". In fact I had to re route on D11 due to too many large trees, a small saw and being alone, just could not deal with it given what I had. Thanks
@@code4performance is a chainsaw a “must”? Especially solo? Or is a handsaw a better way to go to save on weight. Your thoughts on this 🤷🏼♂️ does early season or late change things?
@@jamesbramblett3346 James, I’m very sorry for not catching this question earlier. For the Tour of Idaho a saw is required to keep within the rules. I’ll admit at first I was not keen to carrying a saw for so many days and miles. However, cutting trees and doing your part really came into perspective as I rode in Idaho. Honestly if you ride with a saw for sometime before setting out in an extensive ride like the Tour you will be fine. Going Solo is even more of a reason to carry a saw. Largely the problem with the trails not being cleared is dependent on how many fires have called away the forest service trail crews from trail work to fire fighting. If they are busy fighting fires many of the trails do not get maintained and cleared. What I found are some of the trails are so far out of the way for a day ride they are rarely ridden and need cleared. Whether to go late or early is dependent on how much snow accumulated over the winter. August is a great time to consider. Thank you for the comment
Very nice bike build! I love my 350 as a small adventure bike and a trail bike. It doesn't do great on fast pavement, but everywhere it is awesome! Kudos on completing the tour. I have done a few of the easier trails and even those were challenging. The tour is way beyond my skill/endurance level, but I enjoy studying the efforts of others.
Thank you Dee. It was a hard fought battle for sure and one I will never forget. Planning was the key to success. Many months of prep went into the ride.
Real deal run-down, well thought out set up ,modesty is admirable ✊️
Thank you for a kind comment. Much appreciated!!
Thanks for sharing this. Luckily, in most of Europe, we don't have to shoot bears! Even in Finland. I tend to camp off my FE350 or my 701. You're braver than me. I won't do a big trip alone and personally I wouldn't stretch my oil changes out as long as you did, so you're clearly more confident than me. I've got 12 days camping and trails across the Pyrenees, the mountain range that separates France and Spain. I'm taking the 701 but I'm sure my FE350 would be more fun. I'm still not sure which bike I should take. I'm a lucky man to have a difficult choice. My FE350 has many of the mods your 350 has.
Amen
Having to choose between Rides is a blessing!
Happy to hear your keeping your interest in riding...
Congrats on the major accomplishment. Thanks for sharing all your gear and load out. It's such a big ride.
Thank you Sean. Many Tour vets gear prep and tips surely helped
Great to watch your progress on the PLB - amazing riding and composure! Thank you for this debrief.
You bet!. If anyone is contemplating an attempt for 2023, now is the time to start prepping. I'd be happy to assist in anyway I can.
Sick bike bro goals right here
Great video, very informative and concise. Shared with my local ADV/DS Group Congratulations on an outstanding accomplishment!
Thank you for watching and sharing. The riding in Idaho is epic for sure.
Fascinating! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the breakdown. This is a serious expedition requiring serious planning and training. I hope to do it next year and every time I watch a video of a finisher or Martin’s livestream, I realize just how badass this adventure is and how Im not yet up to the task. Your video helps me think about the training and expense involved., but I cant shake this monkey, its something I have to do!
Daryl, thank you for the comments and watching. The TOI is by far, the hardest, yet most rewarding thing I have accomplished. The planning was a huge part of the adventure. I spent nearly a year on the prep for the navigation and preparation. Not to mention the bike prep. You will see parts of Idaho most will never see in a lifetime along with the people you will meet. The expense is often overlooked and many how fall short, try and take shortcuts. Make it a bucket list adventure and you'll never regret it. Feel free to reach out anytime if you have in depth questions at code4performance@gmail.com. Cheers
I am selling my 690 for a 350 exc. Great info. Blows me away u went thru 3 tires. I am on Motoz now and would think I could get the full length with 1 set. But that's speculation on my part
Thanks for the great wrap up. I don't have the KTM 350 anymore but was trying to get a set of the same googles with photochromatic lens setup. Any resources you could share. Thanks.
Have you checked on Klim's website? That is where I purchased them from. Thank you for watching
@@code4performance I did. I got confused because I guess the name has changed...maybe. But I did find them. Thanks.
You've really done well, thanks for this recap.
I appreciate you watching Thank you!
Congratulations on the solo finish!
Were you running any knee guards or elbow guards? I feel naked without my knee guards and ballistic jersey.
I did not wear either. For day rides I will wear knee guards and a chest protector, but generally that is it. For the TOI, it was just too many miles, day after day, for those things to rub me raw in places....:) and it was a trail ride, not a race. Thanks for watching and reaching out.
So coo
Great job, I hope to do it some day...
Well done, bro! Very impressed.
Thank you brother!
Congrats on finishing the T1: what an achievement! Your videos along with others who have ridden the T1 inspire me to consider doing it in 2023. I also have a 350 EXC-F (2018) but was wondering if you think a 500 EXC-F would be more appropriate for this Tour, given they're almost the same weight?
I've been asked the same question by others and the answer really is personal preference. If you pack light and feel your 350 is already plenty of bike, then it will be a great choice and won't let you down. As mentioned, I am not a large statured rider, so the 350 was plenty for me. My go to bike for mountain riding is a 300, so it was not much of a change displacement wise. There are also guys who have completed the Tour on 300 strokes, so cc's, in my opinion, don't matter. If you are serious about giving the '23 Tour a go and want to try it on a 500, get one now, ride it and get a good feel for the different power it has and handling vs your 350. Get some gear and pack it like you would for the Tour and ride for a couple hundred miles in a day. Check out motorcyclejazz.com for updates and more information about the Tour. Thanks for the comment.
@@code4performance thank you for replying - much appreciated! I am also a fairly "small" rider, ie 5ft8, 170lbs with riding gear. My main concern was about the desert stretches and more open trails where you can ride faster, wondering if the smaller bike would be more tiresome because of vibrations & noise vs the 500. Any thoughts in this regard?
@@FlorianWerner I've never ridden a 500 for any distance or time so I cannot comment. Because you are so focused on your navigation and awareness, the vibrations and noise were not even a concern. Thank you again for watching, please subscribe and like.
Digging the setup. Thanks for the detailed video.
Thank you for watching. Glad you liked the video.
Any video of the trip? Would love to see the trails! FYI - Those boots have plenty of sole left in them, they're like brand new.
Sorry, no video. Had enough to worry about riding so many miles and days alone to not be burdened with another piece of equipment to deal with. There are two good channels on YT where you can find videos: ridewithmike962 and davidpowell.
Congratulations on your Tour finish! May I ask what brand of heated grips you used?
Thank you. The heated grips are Symtec Heat Demon I purchased from Slavens’s Racing. Thank you for watching. If you look at a previous video on the build of the bike, I overviewed the wiring of the accessories.
Thanks for the video... what do you think your vest weighted at the end of the trip after you'd adjusted for removing some weight?
Congratulations.
Great video. I'm running the GRIT 3 this summer. I'd like to use the Bill Dart saw mount. I could not see where you mounted your Key ignition? Please let me know.:):)
Great question and observation. As you know there is a mess of wiring behind the mask on an EXC or FE. Originally when I built this bike I used the Moto Minded Dash and Supermount. When I mounted the saw mount you cannot keep the dash. I ended up going with the Sicass key switch eliminator dongle which deleted the key entirely. I also wanted to keep the OEM speedometer to track mileage as the bike is street legal. In order to install the saw mount I had to space out the Dart saw mount even farther using aluminum 1” long spacers so it would clear the wires and OEM speedo. To complicate things further with my explanation you will need to raise the OEM speedo using some type of relocation bracket or as in my case, I retained the bracket from the Motominded Supermount which already raises the OEM speedometer. It can be done on an EXC but it takes some work. There are some guys who just unplug the OEM speedometer and remove it to run the saw mount but I didn’t want to do that. Feel free to email me if you need more clarification at code4performance@gmail.com. Thank you for watching. Much appreciated. Good luck on the Grit. Remember to pack your bike as if it is still a dirt bike. Light and trail-worthy is the key.
Big thanks for all the info for the ignition mount. Have a great day. Hope we run into one another some day. BLessings
So you ride from the south end of Idaho to the north, then get picked up? In northern Idaho? And it’s 2300 miles
That is correct. It’s broken down into 13 days with an overnight stay in a town at a hotel or other accommodations. The mileage is such due to the zig zagging east and west while you progress north. It’s an epic adventure. Not a BDR or ADV ride at all.
Great! how many times have you changed oil/filter? I mean in terms of kilometers…this bike has hours maintenance 😅
Beautiful bike!!
Thank you sir!
Hi good bike and kit.
I own a wr250r and love it but I'm looking for something lighter and more power but i don't what bigger vibrations from bigger singles like 450 or 500.
It's this 350 engine smooth to ride as a trail bike I'm not looking for an enduro bike?
The 350 platform is in my opinion, a great all around trail and light DS bike. Very little vibrations and good power all around if set up correctly. If the rider is heavier, then you may want a larger displacement. My go to for just trail riding and not for long days on end, is the 300 2 stroke. Cannot find a better trail bike.
Congrats, good breakdown; very impressed with your gear and how it was carried, clearly a lot of throught went into it.
Appreciate your comments. I wish I'd kept track of how many hours I spent studying maps and prepping for the Tour . I leaned on many Tour Vets for advice and all of them helped me along the way.
That must have been something, and that build is just wild. I don't even want to know it's total price tag. I'm really conflicted on whether to purchase a 2016 EXC 350 w 3k miles, or a DR Z400e. I'm 6'2 205lbs. I will be going on remote multi day trips here in N.Utah, majority off road, but a lot of double lane highways. Obviously I'd rather be on the the KTM, but somewhat concerned about the reliability and maintenance of an older one vs. a brand new Suzuki for the same cost.
Thank you for watching and reaching out. I used to ride day rides with a friend on the DRZ and he did well and so did the bike. The KTM will no doubt be easier to ride in the technical terrain, handle better, better clutch and brakes and overall a lighter bike. In my opinion and your budget allows, try and find a newer KTM 350 or 500 vs the Suzuki but if budget is tight, get something with a few less miles so you aren't weary of problems the previous owner didn't disclose. Hope this helps.
Did I hear disc golf chains in the background?? 🤔
Maybe….
Do you think a lower horsepower bike like the Honda CRF300L could handle something like this?
Thank you for reaching out!. The lower horsepower is not the concern in my opinion. It would be the higher gearing of the Honda, availability of accessories and guards, etc. Mostly I think it would take too much work to make it worthy trail machine for the terrain and so many miles. Just my opinion is all.
How did you carry and add oil for the saw since it's a 2 stroke and your bike's a 4 stroke.
Thanks for watching. I carried bar oil and 2T oil in small, Nalgene bottles. I had figured out ahead of time the approximate ratio of oil per tank of fuel in the saw. Used a small syringe to measure and inject the oil directly into the saw tank. Luckily I didn’t end up needing anymore 2T oil than I carried. I did end up grabbing more bar oil in a town as I ran out. Hope this helps.
I did not see any elbow or knee protection gear at all. Thanks for sharing well done.
I generally do not ride with any protection unless racing. The Tour of Idaho is not a race its just a long ride.
Lol i fell with my jacket on walking on a water fall glad i had them elbow pads lol
😊
After adding the chainsaw mount, what did you do with the usb and switches on the motominded dash?
Chris, I can appreciate someone who notices details. I think I overlooked talking about the USB after the saw mount was installed. I ended up buying a single USB port from Slaven's Racing, Moto power I believe was the brand. I double side taped it to the frame between the tank and the steering stem top area. Worked great. Kept some dielectric grease on the plug at all time and had no issues. I then used a Motomined Bomber on/off switch on the bars, rights side by the kill switch for the heated grips. Now that I am back I am in the process of re installing the Motominded Dash and Supermount along with the headlight. Thanks for watching and commenting.
How much is this build... looking to have you build me one...for TAT and other rides... even from South America to Alaska
Rick, I can give you a ball park figure, keeping in mind this was done prior to many of the "inflation BS" and supply and demand chaos we are dealing with. Without the bike, I was in the build about $65-7000. I'm sure the WTF comments might be coming my way, however I wouldn't skip out on anything I put into/onto the bike. It was purpose built to be reliable and give the best possible ability to finish the ride, minus rider error of course. Reach out to me at code4performance@gmail.com if you want to chat further. Thank you for watching.
@@code4performance I was guessing $6k and that pretty much makes it a world ground pounder. Very very nice build. As I decide on what route I'm going in but definitely will get a hold of you sooner or later
how is the maintenance done? oil change every day and mechanical issues?
Maintenance is up to the rider and how well you started out with a well prepped bike to begin with. I changed my oil one time, about the halfway mark as we had a partial day due to some closures because of fires. Many have done the Tour of Idaho without an oil change. Keep in mind you are not racing, just riding. Each night I would try and lube the chain with whatever I could buy at a convenience store, ie: WD40 or similar and just go over the bike quickly to make sure all the bolts were tight, etc. Otherwise ride and ride some more each day. Fortunately, had basically no mechanical issues except for a lost manifold heat shield bolt. Started out with a fresh bike. Serious mechanicals will no doubt take you out of the Tour, as you cannot pack everything. Thanks for watching.
Congratulations on finishing the T1. What an adventure. I have the same saw that you have. Would you take a bigger saw if you had it to do over ? Your right riding with the little echo is hardly noticeable after awhile but when I go bigger it’s definitely noticeable
Great question. If I where to pack another saw again it would be the Stihl MS194T. There are some potentially larger diameter trees up north where I could have used a larger bar, even a 16". In fact I had to re route on D11 due to too many large trees, a small saw and being alone, just could not deal with it given what I had. Thanks
@@code4performance is a chainsaw a “must”? Especially solo? Or is a handsaw a better way to go to save on weight. Your thoughts on this 🤷🏼♂️ does early season or late change things?
@@jamesbramblett3346 James, I’m very sorry for not catching this question earlier. For the Tour of Idaho a saw is required to keep within the rules. I’ll admit at first I was not keen to carrying a saw for so many days and miles. However, cutting trees and doing your part really came into perspective as I rode in Idaho. Honestly if you ride with a saw for sometime before setting out in an extensive ride like the Tour you will be fine. Going Solo is even more of a reason to carry a saw. Largely the problem with the trails not being cleared is dependent on how many fires have called away the forest service trail crews from trail work to fire fighting. If they are busy fighting fires many of the trails do not get maintained and cleared. What I found are some of the trails are so far out of the way for a day ride they are rarely ridden and need cleared. Whether to go late or early is dependent on how much snow accumulated over the winter. August is a great time to consider. Thank you for the comment