I agree, the motorcycle shop in Anchorage is absolutelly great. I had a heavily leaking fork on my Africa Twin and the Honda dealer was not able to replace it. The motorcycle shop helped immediately without an appointment, so I could continue on my journey. I think I met your friend in Dawson City, as he told me about your huge bill.
On a long remote trip, get a carbureted 2015 KLR650 or similar. It's not fancy in any way and kinda low performance, but it keeps going and I can fix it. And it's proven reliable.
YIKES! I'm really glad I didn't go to the artic circle or further still when I went to Alaska last year, I'm not a mud guy and ride alone, the little voice in my head told me "don't do it" and I listened! I did do the Top of the World and that was sufficient for me as well as all the other parts of the roads under constant construction. Very good narration BTW.
Good luck with the claim , hope you are back on two wheel soon. I'm over in the UK and have owned a 800 XCA, this bike was used previously by the Triumph Experience Centre in Wales (It's where they show / take people off road and show what these bikes can do) (These bikes get VERY muddy !!) anyway shortly after getting the bike I was giving it a thorough clean and thought I'd take that battery out as it looked a bit dusty by the battery - What I found was that Triumph had drilled 1/2 dozen additional holes in the bottom of the tray holding the wiring / relays ... I think they are aware of what happens in extreme use?
If your going on long trips, you need a Honda, or BMW...Triumphs are like Range Rovers, theyre motto is "we'll make a mechanic out of you yet..".......
Bought a GS last Oct. By November it had its first water pump leak @600 miles. 3k miles later, the water pump leaked again. Supposedly, no parts in stock. Had to pre schedule for an end of July service date, ten weeks ahead. They picked the bike up and I didn't get it back for 21 days. So much for bmw, and that was a warranty repair.
Hey Wayne, I am so sad for your Tiger! What a bad piece of luck! Best of luck with the insurance. Thumbs up for the Motorcycle Shop in Anchorage! Thanks for sharing your story!
I had my rear tire replaced on my Tiger 900 Rally Pro at the Motorcycle Shop in Anchorage and I can confirm that they are absolutely fantastic! I didn't have an appointment and had actually put on a brand new tire when I left Vancouver but that chip seal just ate right through it. I managed to get it to Anchorage and even though they were busy, as it was the middle of summer, they fit me in and got me going on my way. I also can highly recommend the Motorcycle Shop in Anchorage as they are top notch! Did you hang out in the cabin while waiting for your bike?
I will be in the market for a new bike soon I really like the Aprilia tuareg But that old reliability issue comes into play for long tours, so I think I'll Be sticking with one of the Japanese bikes like a Suzuki 800DE. Hopefully your next trip will be smooth Sailing with no issues. Thanks for sharing your story.
When it becomes available in Canada, the Yamaha T700 World Raid will be on my short list of new ADV bikes. The Adventure never ends, and for 5,500 USD, I will have picked up your bike and taken it back to Pender Island! :)
Damn sorry to hear that you're having to fight the insurance company for them to do the right thing. Your experience and others I've seen have cemented my idea that when I do my Alaska trip in a few years I'll buy a VERY cheap used KLR or vstrom to ride. That way if I have an accident or major mechanical on the Dalton or Dempster I won't cry to just walk away from it on the side of the road. Good luck with whatever you choose to replace your bike with.
As for your tire story, I’ve had to replace tires twice while on the road- once in Asheville and another time near Deals Gap. I was on my VFR has a single sided swing arm and the tire comes off with 4 lug bolts. Yes I had to pay the service charge which I think was around $30.00. No walletflush!
As an Alaskan resident, I agree that The Motorcycle Shop is one of the best dealers in the state. That said, I live in Fairbanks and am curious which dealership here treated you that way? My personal good experiences here in Fairbanks have been with Northern Power Sports (Suzuki, KTM, & Yamaha dealers).
We have a KTM dealership in Clarksville,TN that will not work on Husqvarna motorcycles because they don’t sell them and I doubt it’s the only dealership that does this I’d say it’s fairly common
I wouldn't have expected a problem like that on a newish Tiger 900. That sucks. Electrical issues are the worst. Glad you made it back home and I hope you can sort things out with the insurance.
What a great recounting of your story. I've traveled to places all over the north, including places that only a handful of human beings ever get to. You have to be prepared for things going nothing at all like you planned. You handled it as well as could have been done. It's important that people understand what can happen if they've never been in that type of environment. I have to say, though, that putting the wire harness on the bottom of a battery in a container known to need a drain is a very strange design for that type of bike! Who knew? 😉
Wow! that really sucks. You got screwed by that tow company. May I suggest a Suzuki DR650 for your next bike. Yes, it is "old tech", but is super reliable. It would have gotten you to Deadhorse and back.
Yep, DR650 is a great bike for this kind of trip. GS1250 FarklePanzers and their ilk are too tech heavy with too much to go wrong when you throw them into crappy conditions. But he wasn't screwed over. That is what it costs in the north. A gallon of milk is $40.
I have been all the way to Tiktoyaktuk on an aged DR650. I never was concerned that I couldn't get there and back. Solid bike and eminently repairable.
Get a DR650. Then talk to ProCycle. I rebuilt mine with a big bore 790 kit, better carb, springs and a 6.6 gal tank. That bike will run through anything and is super easy to fix.
Just got back from my Chicago to Alaska trip on a Street Glide, if there is one thing I learned Alaska and Northern Canada are unforgiving, the road gods expect a sacrifice, unfortunately, for you, they demanded your whole bike. Good luck with the new bike and ride safe.
Man, I feel for you. Something somewhat similar happened to me on Rue 389 in northeasterng Quebec. It can be very disheartening. Glad to hear that you’re not giving up riding. All the best from Ontario.
Hi from SSI. Never been further than the hamburger stand or seen past the gap in the rock on Pender. I rode my R1200GS up to Tuk last summer. Wet cold slippery muddy. Amazing ride. Still haven't gotten all the calcite of it. Would have thought it was a warranty rather than an insurance issue. Good luck with ICBC. On the positive side. No crash, no injury. Bikes can be replaced.
There was a guy who rode his 90's KLR from Texas to Alaska and he sealed up several of his electronics with condoms and zip ties before getting on the mucky roads up there. I never would have thought to do it on a newer bike! After this story...
Just found your channel today and was interested in watching this because believe it or not another guy I follow did this trip a few years ago on a Gold Wing pulling a trailer. He made it as far as dead horse before he started having engine trouble and everything combined was more trouble than it was worth so he ended up selling the bike and trailer cheap to someone in dead horse who's a mechanic and he flew back home to Wisconsin
Dang - I broke my ankle in that mud at Sag on the way up. Yep - 8-10 inches! Thank goodness I was able to continue to Deadhorse and ride back to Fairbanks. I am sorry to hear of your troubles and lose Olive. Finding shops up there to help with a bike, even tires, is tricky. Whitehorse too. Especially as a solo woman. Reading in the comments it is good to see there is a place that is helpful - I will remember this if I ever need help in Anchorage.
Greetings, As always another brilliant detailed video production 🇺🇲🍾🎉🇺🇲 Would you mind sharing the year and model of your motorcycle and keep producing more videos.
Unfortunately, a lot of brand dealers won’t work on another brand. We had a rider needing a new tire on a trip and were told by a Harley dealer that ‘even if we brought them the wheel by itself, they wouldn’t touch it because it’s not a Harley’. Even more frustrating, I was told by my Suzuki dealer they would not work on my DR650 because it’s more than 8 years old… the brand new DR on the show room is the exact same bike. Look for independent shops, or KTM dealers (I’ve heard their service shops will try help anyone).
Sorry about your experience. I had a similar experience with a leaking tire valve stem 2 hours from home. A Hardley dealer right near where my tire went flat wouldn't replace it for me even if I took it off. Luckily we managed to McGyver it and I made it home. On another note, insurance is for sudden accidental occurances like accidents, not unfortunate incidents like you experienced. If someone cut the harness or otherwise vandalized it, then it probably would be covered. I wouldn't get your hopes up that it will be covered.
I was so bummed to read about your situation on FB as it was unfolding. Now that I've heard the whole story (and the exhorbitant costs!!!), I truly feel for you, brother. I hope and pray the insurance company does the right thing!
Thank you for sharing the experience. I had thought it would be expensive to get a tow but had no idea it would be that much. I read all the comments and am sorry there are so many that are negative. I hope it works out with your insurance and I’d use the satellite communicator just like you did. You pay a subscription and needed help. That’s what it is for. I don’t have inreach but have a Zoleo. Eventually will get a satellite phone when prices get lower.
The bike has a serious design flaw locating the wiring harness and other electrical below the battery. Who does this? Especially on a adventure bike that is bound to get wet. To think that a small drain took out the whole bike including putting you in so much expense and frustration.
Andrew at The Motorcycle Shop in Anchorage is great. I had nothing but a good experience when I was there last month. I needed a TPMS sensor that was out of stock, so they took one out of a brand new bike still in the crate to get me back on the road. They got me in and out quickly, with a smile, and without a crazy markup like they could probably have charged.
Man, so sorry about Olive! I hope insurance comes through for you. I did fry a large portion of my wiring harness on my DR650 on a trip to Big Bend, but I had a pocket multi-tester with me, and some spare wire. Between that and cannibalizing the harness itself, I was able to at least get running and was able to complete my trip. I had to replace the entire harness when I got home, of course. But that’s a lot easier on something as simple as a DR. It’s basically the coelacanth of motorcycles. I just bought a ‘24 Tiger 900 Rally Pro. It’ll be way more pleasant on long trips than the old bush pig. But guess who’s going to be keeping an eye on that drain hole!?😉
A snooty uppity motorcycle shop, who could imagine !? Tough story & trip - the next one can only be an improvement, right ? I run a Darkside rear tire (auto tire) on my 2008 Suzuki V-Strom 650, one key reason: I HATE having a rear tire "give up the ghost" far from home, at the mercy of either fickle or non-existent motorcycle tire shops. I get about 20-25,000 miles per rear tire vs 7,500 on an MC tire This GREATLY reduces the complications of Long Distance Touring.
Mate, i feel your pain. No rider deserves to go through all that shit. Respect to the dealership, that flew you back home. From what you've done, in regards to regular servicing, that Insurance company, should come to the party. And don't give up on Triumphs mate. How do i know? I ride a triumph Tiger 1200 gt pro, and it's a real peach.
I had the same experience in Fairbanks . The rear shock on my Harley broke . And the dealer in Fairbanks wouldn't even let me park the bike on their property .
Very sorry to hear about your experiences. Unfortunately, a sobering reality to traveling these long distances to remote places as far as major breakdowns are concerned. Thank you for sharing your experience, though.
What a nightmare. I did Alaska last year only issue was road was very hard on tires. Ya the air filter was badly clogged up but let enough air into engine and needed to be replaced when I got back to Vancouver. We had a dry very dusty drive and only slight sprinkle of rain one morning but had to stop twice due to forest fires when roads got closed overnight 2 nights of wild camping with other road users in road side pull offs. Some people decided to back track to camps but we stayed put enjoying beer, pot lucks with vans and motorhomes.
Wow! Can’t Imagine !!!!!!! Thanks ! Your Never Prepared Enough!!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 I Would Of Gone Back To Anger Management Again! Glad Your Safe! Can’t Imagine The Costs Involved By A Freak Situation 🙁😣 $$$$$$$$💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰
Have you considered fixing it yourself? If it’s just a few relays and a bit of the loom should be doable? Electrical problem not always straightforward but usually that is because you don’t know where the problem is, in this case you can start at the right place.
I’ve driven the Dalton quite a few times for work. With all due respects it is no place for a motorcycle. It’s a rough road on a good day and with all the heavy trucks it’s challenging with a full size pickup. I’ve had a friend nearly killed when a softball sized rock lodged between the dual tires on a big rig come loose and go through his windshield like a cannon ball.
I ran into a couple of motorcyclists in Coldfoot last summer who made a generous offer for me to take them and their bikes to Fairbanks. The smoke from fires far away, intermittent downpours, road construction, hordes of biting bugs, daredevil truckers driving entirely too fast for any road surface and infamous mud took the thrill of adventure out of those youngsters. Alas, I didn’t have the necessary space and was heading north. I hope they faired better than you.
Big props to the motorcycle dealership for flying you home, upstanding stuff. I sure hope your insurance covers the absurdly pricey tow as well, that was astronomical. Any ideas which bike you're considering next?
@@WayneKoufsWorldTour Great bikes, like many others as well. I have a GSA in the garage that deserves more love. Best of luck in your search and enjoy the process.
I’m glad to hear that Alaskan Triumph dealership are such good people. It’s a long way from Suffolk ( the original one in England) but I’d deal with them anytime. Good luck Wayne.
Man, that was a lot to deal with on that trip. I don’t think any bike would come out unscathed from that road but for sure the modern bikes that are full of electronics would be vulnerable. I’m not sure I would even want to subject my nearly indestructible DR 650 to that punishment.
The good news is that you got home safely. The not so good news is that you failed in your preps for this ride: with your timing with the weather, you should have watched more TH-cam videos of other rider's experiences with some of the issues they had or looked into insurance that has "ride interruption" options (I use Progressive). I did all this and more in preparations for my ride from PA to Dead Horse to Key West back to PA in June 2023 on my 2015 Victory Vision. Now I stayed in a hotel each night, so camping wasn't an option for this old boy. I rented a satellite phone for the trip. I brought along extra wearable parts just in case, that included an oil change kit (it was a 12,000-mile ride), air filter, and assorted fuses and tire plugs with air compressor. I even put rubber fork boots on the forks to keep the calcium chloride from scratching the seals. I recorded the whole ride, but my tech skills need work with editing and putting on TH-cam. I know it sounds like a lot of harping from a few of us riders and it's well intentioned that you took this as a well learned lesson. I hope it all ends well for you, but I wouldn't hold my breath with getting back what you had to put out for this trip. Stay safe and keep the rubber side down😎
@rkline3644: I just finished Utah to Talkeetna on my Victory Vision. Mad props to you for taking yours up the Dalton!! The ride from Destruction Bay to Tok was enough bad road for me on that big street bike! I stocked up with parts as well, out there on a bike they no longer sell parts for was a little nerve racking but we made it with no issues. Bike is still in AK, We'll go ride it home in June. Would love to see/hear more about your trip!
@@leemecham525 If I could figure out how to post some of my pics to this thread, I'd be happy to oblige. My original goal was to ride 1000 miles a day and I was in the 980s for the first two days until I crossed into Canada and fuel stops seemed a bit few and far between. I was stopping more than usual afraid to run out of fuel. Before using the camera tech and TomTom, my stops would average about ten minutes. Now my stops averaged out almost 15 to 20 minutes just to make sure I didn't screw things up. I still screwed things up 😆. Overall, my trip turned into a 17-day excursion that averaged about 650 - 700 miles per day riding. Tried to squeeze a lot into my limited vacation time. The weather Gods were very generous on my trip. I did hit some storms, but the Fairbanks to Prudhoe back to Fairbanks portion of my trip was 90% no heavy rain.
Wow sorry for the string of problems ending with the bikes wiring harness. That’s insane, and wonder if this has happened before on this triumph design - I guess so! Regarding the tires and servicing yes this is common.
So you’re the guy I heard about. Though the fellow who was telling me about your bike thought you were on the Dempster Highway and were recovered to Anchorage for the $5500. I’ve recovered a few bikes from the Dalton, but never expected to hear $5500 being charged!
BTW, AAA does cover the Dalton and the Dempster if you’re a premium member. I’ve never had to use them personally to recover my bikes or support vehicle, but they assure me they do and will.
I did a tour of the yukon and Alaska this past June with a tour group, and we had a rider in the group on a newer model Triumph similar to yours and it had the EXACT same problem. It didn't make it the trip.
What an adventure. I can’t imagine paying $5500 to have to have my bike towed. Then to find out it’s scrap. At least your safe and a bear didn’t eat you.
Not a fun experience at all! As for removing my own wheels for tire changes, I do that all the time. I save a lot in labour charges and the shop can quickly change the tires in a timely fashion as there tends to be a long waiting list for servicing bikes that have appointments. I have also run into situations where shops won’t work on brands they don’t sell because of the possibility of special tools required or a procedure that is brand oriented.
I just left the Dalton last week! . Very similar situation. I had to leave my 2007 KLR 650 up there. Bought a 2024 Honda Transalp from Delta Motorsports in Fairbanks to get back home to Los Angeles Californian. My experience is documented on my youtube channel. I came VERY, VERY close to the expense you came into but cut my losses earlier.
We were in Fairbanks from Aug 14-20. Attempted Dalton on the 16th. Only made it 40 miles North of Livenvood. We stayed at Riveredge Resort and they had a wash rack for RVs we used on the 17th. We went to Denali and set up tents only to break them down an hour later and returned to Fairbanks. We had to wait until Tuesday to get the KLR looked at. It was a mess. I'm left it at Delta Powersports and bought a new 2024 Honda Transalp from them.
I guess service is getting extremely expensive. I work on old bikes, no injection and no computers. I looked up some videos on Tigers because I'm looking for one. Looks like all the main electronics, solenoid and processor are under or next to the battery. I thought new bikes all had sealed connectors but maybe not. I fix all sorts of electrical problems and stock connectors for old bikes. I disassembled a main harness a few weeks ago on a bike that was completely dead but battery was OK. Several splices buried inside the main harness were corroded. Soldered and shrink tubed and all is well. With computers it isn't that easy.
Brutally expensive & frustrating. story. What a nightmare…. Honestly, aside from checking that box on a destinations list, I fail to relate to the attraction of that route. There’s so much more out there I’d sooner ride. Sounds like the tourist trap$ are well set along there now, let alone the possibility of a such exorbitant recovery bill. Robbery! Good luck with the insurance claim.
I rode my 1976 R90/6 up to Alaska, from Connecticut, back in 1980. I had a few problems along the way, none as bad as yours. In Regina I discovered a knick in the swingarm boot, leaking 80W90 on my rear tire. A shop (they sold BMW and Kniepers) there sold me a new boot for $8, and $63, Canadian, to install it. I was lucky, because 3 of the 4 bolts on the universal joint were loose (I didn't torque them properly when i put my trans back in while in CT. Then my left petcock sprung a leak, choke cable vibration on the back side of the zamac wore a hole, and a Fairbanks shop had one for me. In Anchorage I got a new rear tire at The Motorcycle Shop. The owner took me out for beers at the Alaskan Bush Company. Just like you think it is. Lastly I was down around Homer, enjoying drinks at the Salty Dog, missed a turn at 2am, ran off the road, snapped the seat hinge mount, requiring the use of compression straps to hold the seat on all the way back to CT. A few of my highlights. p.s., I still have that bike in my garage, and there are still traces of calcium carbonate on the exhaust crossover. Slimy, nasty stuff.
Was there no traffic on the road you broke down? Almost everyone drives a pickup in AK. I would think flagging one down and offering them $1,000 would have gotten you and your bike a ride pretty quick.
I was on the Dalton in June. There aren't a lot of pickup trucks travelling the road. A lot of heavy trucks, but not many that you could just throw the bike on.
Wow thats kind of a problem when the cost to replace a wiring harness costs more than the rest of the bike. Something else that is upside down in this world.
I would think it is fairly standard for dealerships not to work on non franchise bikes. For tyres I always take my wheel off and take it to a non dealer bike shop. Why would I pay dealer labour rates to struggle getting the rear wheel out of a Moto Guzzi?
Stick with a bike you know! I’ve been a HD Ultra Classic rider for 30 years now. I’ve looked at many other bikes but have stayed loyal to my 2013 because it’s a bike I trust, know and technically simple. No I can’t go off road but that’s not been a goal for me.
What a mess. I am so sorry. My Super Tenere also has a box under the seat that can fill up with water if the drains clog, but that typically only kills the ABS module. Fortunately with a 14 year old design that issue is well documented in all forums so people drill out the drain holes and now know what to watch out for.
@@WayneKoufsWorldTour , buzzing along after stopping in the Canadian Welcome center, came around and wide right hand turn, only to be confronted by two large road graders coming towards me. They took almost the width of the Alcan. I swung wide, passed them and think I may have hit the berm they left behind. All I remember was seeing sky then gravel, then sky and gravel. Bike totalled, but I was relatively unhurt, all the gear, you know. 18 wheeler gave me a lift to Whitehorse, while my bike went to a tow yard in Beaver Creek. Caught Alaskan Ferry for home. Whew!
Good Luck with your insurance claim. My refrigerator's little 1/4 inch water line on the back of the refrigerator sprang a leak and misted the dry wall behind the refrigerator for some time (maybe a month or so) causing the floor under the refrigerator to rot and need repair, also the cabenet on one side of the refrigerator to need to be replaced. My insurance company denied my claim, they wrote the reason as "lack of maintenance", I augued, that no where in the refrigerator's manual does it mention anything about maintaining the small plastic waterlines. Not only did they NOT pay the claim they would not rebew my policy, and my house is now "Flagged" as being water damaged and no other insurance company will insure it.
A wire harness shouldn't be the end of the bike. I don't know why they couldn't have fixed it. It's also crazy how the dealerships wouldn't work on other brands of motorcycles. I could understand that they might not want to do certain jobs, like rebuilding an engine, but not changing a tire is It's mind-boggling. I'm glad that you made it home. I think I would rather deal with the wildlife in Alaska over the hyenas from the insurance company. 🤔
We drove the Dalton in 2019 and the point everyone made to us is you have to drive slow, pull far to the right if you see an approaching truck, have supplies to last 24-hrs if you break down, know that there is zero cellular coverage and get fuel in Coldfoot.
"Disaster on the Dalton!" Seems appropriate. The Dalton is a thing you can, or might do, but is it a thing you should do? Bucket lists being what they are, I'm not going to try to dissuade anyone, I've made this run myself, but after it was done I thought maybe I could have just adjusted my bucket list. FYI Dear Reader: Heavy rigs cast rocks ahead and to the side as they come down the Dalton. It's not uncommon to see pickups with screens over the windows up on the oil patch, or at least it used to be a common thing, in order to protect the glass from flying rocks. Either way, just expect to get hit by stones, especially if it's been raining.
Salt water, regular water, beer, whiskey, vodka, coke. Getting your electronics wet is always a problem and it's part of scheduling and hotel stays. Hotel giving you a chance to wash your bike, either at a wand car wash or the old reliable fill room trash can up with hot water and wash bike using clean,fresh hot water, remove the seat and wipe everything off possible and if that's the passage to air filter, at a minimum, take it out and knock it on the ground, wipe out air box. Often a trip to a tire shop or gas station has a compressor and air hose to disrupt standing water, often you can't see it but air shot into areas will break it up from pooling. When I do hotel or motel, often immediately get in shower and take a shower with jacket and pants and get them hanging to dry immediately, get helmet pads out and washed, drying and wipe helmet down for funk. Turtle Wax makes a product called Wax and Dry that is less than $7 bucks. Whatever is sprayed with the chemical beads water, that includes windshield and any other surfaces, including helmet shield. I buy tiny spray bottles from Walmart or 99¢ store and have a travel size for every trip. If you get blasted w rain storm or hail it will have water jumping off your face shield and windshield as good or better than Rain-X or products specifically formulated for the purpose. Many fuse buses have a cheesy plastic cover, same w tool kits, and battery terminal covers and where ECU and ABS brake controller or manifold are hidden under seat and tank, if you are doing air and oil filter change before trip, Blaster brand lithium spray lube works at keeping water from standing on places and connections were it will cause damage. I ride extensively in SW and Baja and often dirt and dust and manageable, but if you get filthy surfaces wet the muck, mud and oil combo grunge make water stop all over, dirt creates dams..
Can i give you a piece of advice from a fellow biker, that's been riding for 40 plus years? Try to find a SuperTenere. I'm in my third ( for no reason other then upgrade from the first edition to a ES and back to a no ES - keep it simple!). It would be impossible to happen in a S10. Like it should be, all the electrical stuff are located in the side panel, as high as possible. It never left anyone i know stranded, it undoubtedly the most reliable adventure bike ever! ( I also owned a GSA1200... and i can't even compare it regarding reliability).
Very very very common for a dealer to not touch a brand they don’t sell. Independent shops are what you wanted, not a dealer. I’ve owned a few triumph tigers, but I won’t again for other reasons than yours. Replacing a riding harness would take me at my home about 80 hours. I’m sure pros could do it faster, but my point is that it would quickly be more than the bike is worth u less you want to do that work yourself.
Dealers are worried about liability Lawsuits “ lawyers ask if the dealer had mechanics trained on your particular brand of motorcycle . This introduces doubt as to competence of dealer. You know the rest of the story
Huge props to the Motorcycle Shop! Amazing how going above and beyond makes the tragedy just a little better.
I can't believe that shop in Anchorage bought you a flight home! Definitely going there next time I'm in the area!
I agree, the motorcycle shop in Anchorage is absolutelly great. I had a heavily leaking fork on my Africa Twin and the Honda dealer was not able to replace it. The motorcycle shop helped immediately without an appointment, so I could continue on my journey. I think I met your friend in Dawson City, as he told me about your huge bill.
That was probably Dave you met.
On a long remote trip, get a carbureted 2015 KLR650 or similar. It's not fancy in any way and kinda low performance, but it keeps going and I can fix it. And it's proven reliable.
YIKES! I'm really glad I didn't go to the artic circle or further still when I went to Alaska last year, I'm not a mud guy and ride alone, the little voice in my head told me "don't do it" and I listened! I did do the Top of the World and that was sufficient for me as well as all the other parts of the roads under constant construction.
Very good narration BTW.
thank you
Good luck with the claim , hope you are back on two wheel soon. I'm over in the UK and have owned a 800 XCA, this bike was used previously by the Triumph Experience Centre in Wales (It's where they show / take people off road and show what these bikes can do) (These bikes get VERY muddy !!) anyway shortly after getting the bike I was giving it a thorough clean and thought I'd take that battery out as it looked a bit dusty by the battery - What I found was that Triumph had drilled 1/2 dozen additional holes in the bottom of the tray holding the wiring / relays ... I think they are aware of what happens in extreme use?
If your going on long trips, you need a Honda, or BMW...Triumphs are like Range Rovers, theyre motto is "we'll make a mechanic out of you yet..".......
Bought a GS last Oct. By November it had its first water pump leak @600 miles. 3k miles later, the water pump leaked again.
Supposedly, no parts in stock. Had to pre schedule for an end of July service date, ten weeks ahead.
They picked the bike up and I didn't get it back for 21 days. So much for bmw, and that was a warranty repair.
Hey Wayne,
I am so sad for your Tiger!
What a bad piece of luck!
Best of luck with the insurance.
Thumbs up for the Motorcycle Shop in Anchorage!
Thanks for sharing your story!
Thank you friend
I had my rear tire replaced on my Tiger 900 Rally Pro at the Motorcycle Shop in Anchorage and I can confirm that they are absolutely fantastic! I didn't have an appointment and had actually put on a brand new tire when I left Vancouver but that chip seal just ate right through it. I managed to get it to Anchorage and even though they were busy, as it was the middle of summer, they fit me in and got me going on my way. I also can highly recommend the Motorcycle Shop in Anchorage as they are top notch! Did you hang out in the cabin while waiting for your bike?
The cabin was AWESOME
Absolutely agree. Left a sticker in the cabin 🙂
I will be in the market for a new bike soon I really like the Aprilia tuareg But that old reliability issue comes into play for long tours, so I think I'll Be sticking with one of the Japanese bikes like a Suzuki 800DE. Hopefully your next trip will be smooth Sailing with no issues. Thanks for sharing your story.
When it becomes available in Canada, the Yamaha T700 World Raid will be on my short list of new ADV bikes.
The Adventure never ends, and for 5,500 USD, I will have picked up your bike and taken it back to Pender Island! :)
Damn sorry to hear that you're having to fight the insurance company for them to do the right thing. Your experience and others I've seen have cemented my idea that when I do my Alaska trip in a few years I'll buy a VERY cheap used KLR or vstrom to ride. That way if I have an accident or major mechanical on the Dalton or Dempster I won't cry to just walk away from it on the side of the road. Good luck with whatever you choose to replace your bike with.
As for your tire story, I’ve had to replace tires twice while on the road- once in Asheville and another time near Deals Gap. I was on my VFR has a single sided swing arm and the tire comes off with 4 lug bolts. Yes I had to pay the service charge which I think was around $30.00. No walletflush!
That’s a good call
I believe we will rent when we go, no way I am putting my bike through that mess.
@@texlee84then you won’t ride to deadhorse. No rental company will let you go past Fairbanks.
@@brianErickson-bx9hp Well that's a bummer. Thanks for the heads up.
As an Alaskan resident, I agree that The Motorcycle Shop is one of the best dealers in the state. That said, I live in Fairbanks and am curious which dealership here treated you that way? My personal good experiences here in Fairbanks have been with Northern Power Sports (Suzuki, KTM, & Yamaha dealers).
It was Northern who made me remove my wheel, but they put the tire on for me. Delta Powersports was the one who refused to even look at the bike
We have a KTM dealership in Clarksville,TN that will not work on Husqvarna motorcycles because they don’t sell them and I doubt it’s the only dealership that does this I’d say it’s fairly common
I wouldn't have expected a problem like that on a newish Tiger 900. That sucks. Electrical issues are the worst. Glad you made it back home and I hope you can sort things out with the insurance.
What a great recounting of your story. I've traveled to places all over the north, including places that only a handful of human beings ever get to. You have to be prepared for things going nothing at all like you planned. You handled it as well as could have been done. It's important that people understand what can happen if they've never been in that type of environment.
I have to say, though, that putting the wire harness on the bottom of a battery in a container known to need a drain is a very strange design for that type of bike! Who knew? 😉
Thank you for that, and yes, totally agree it’s a poor design
@@WayneKoufsWorldTour Triumph knew.
@@bseidem5112I’ve heard
Wow! that really sucks.
You got screwed by that tow company.
May I suggest a Suzuki DR650 for your next bike. Yes, it is "old tech", but is super reliable.
It would have gotten you to Deadhorse and back.
Yep, DR650 is a great bike for this kind of trip. GS1250 FarklePanzers and their ilk are too tech heavy with too much to go wrong when you throw them into crappy conditions. But he wasn't screwed over. That is what it costs in the north. A gallon of milk is $40.
It’s something I am seriously contemplating
I have been all the way to Tiktoyaktuk on an aged DR650. I never was concerned that I couldn't get there and back. Solid bike and eminently repairable.
Get a DR650. Then talk to ProCycle. I rebuilt mine with a big bore 790 kit, better carb, springs and a 6.6 gal tank. That bike will run through anything and is super easy to fix.
Just got back from my Chicago to Alaska trip on a Street Glide, if there is one thing I learned Alaska and Northern Canada are unforgiving, the road gods expect a sacrifice, unfortunately, for you, they demanded your whole bike. Good luck with the new bike and ride safe.
Thank you
Thank you for sharing. I am glad you are home safe.
Thank you!
Love this video. Thank you for your intelligent analysis
My pleasure. Thank you
Ah, Insurance companies, weasels to a man. Thanks for the candid report and I hope it all comes good for you.
Thank you
Wow! A dream trip that went bad. I'm sure you have a lot more great trips in front of you!
The motorcycle shop is class act. Good luck with the insurance company. That will be a tough battle. I hope you get back on 2 wheels soon.
Thank you
Wish you luck brother, very good video and helpful to others.
Thank you
Man, I feel for you. Something somewhat similar happened to me on Rue 389 in northeasterng Quebec. It can be very disheartening. Glad to hear that you’re not giving up riding. All the best from Ontario.
Hi from SSI. Never been further than the hamburger stand or seen past the gap in the rock on Pender. I rode my R1200GS up to Tuk last summer. Wet cold slippery muddy. Amazing ride. Still haven't gotten all the calcite of it. Would have thought it was a warranty rather than an insurance issue. Good luck with ICBC.
On the positive side. No crash, no injury. Bikes can be replaced.
Thank you
There was a guy who rode his 90's KLR from Texas to Alaska and he sealed up several of his electronics with condoms and zip ties before getting on the mucky roads up there. I never would have thought to do it on a newer bike! After this story...
i'm used to seal all plugs and electronic parts with cut tube parts and zip tied at each end; it works like a charm, and submarine proof.
Just found your channel today and was interested in watching this because believe it or not another guy I follow did this trip a few years ago on a Gold Wing pulling a trailer. He made it as far as dead horse before he started having engine trouble and everything combined was more trouble than it was worth so he ended up selling the bike and trailer cheap to someone in dead horse who's a mechanic and he flew back home to Wisconsin
Had I only known
Dang - I broke my ankle in that mud at Sag on the way up. Yep - 8-10 inches! Thank goodness I was able to continue to Deadhorse and ride back to Fairbanks. I am sorry to hear of your troubles and lose Olive. Finding shops up there to help with a bike, even tires, is tricky. Whitehorse too. Especially as a solo woman. Reading in the comments it is good to see there is a place that is helpful - I will remember this if I ever need help in Anchorage.
Sorry to hear about your misfortune. But good on ya for making the trip
Wow, what a lesson. Hope the insurance pays up. Cheers Jeff
Greetings,
As always another brilliant detailed video production 🇺🇲🍾🎉🇺🇲
Would you mind sharing the year and model of your motorcycle and keep producing more videos.
Thank you for your kind words. The bike is a 2020 Triumph Tiger Rally Pro.
Unfortunately, a lot of brand dealers won’t work on another brand. We had a rider needing a new tire on a trip and were told by a Harley dealer that ‘even if we brought them the wheel by itself, they wouldn’t touch it because it’s not a Harley’.
Even more frustrating, I was told by my Suzuki dealer they would not work on my DR650 because it’s more than 8 years old… the brand new DR on the show room is the exact same bike.
Look for independent shops, or KTM dealers (I’ve heard their service shops will try help anyone).
Sorry about your experience. I had a similar experience with a leaking tire valve stem 2 hours from home. A Hardley dealer right near where my tire went flat wouldn't replace it for me even if I took it off. Luckily we managed to McGyver it and I made it home.
On another note, insurance is for sudden accidental occurances like accidents, not unfortunate incidents like you experienced. If someone cut the harness or otherwise vandalized it, then it probably would be covered. I wouldn't get your hopes up that it will be covered.
Wow, I hope the Insurance company settles up
What an ordeal !!!
Amazing act of kindness by the dealership.
I was so bummed to read about your situation on FB as it was unfolding. Now that I've heard the whole story (and the exhorbitant costs!!!), I truly feel for you, brother. I hope and pray the insurance company does the right thing!
Thank you my friend
Thank you for sharing the experience. I had thought it would be expensive to get a tow but had no idea it would be that much.
I read all the comments and am sorry there are so many that are negative. I hope it works out with your insurance and I’d use the satellite communicator just like you did. You pay a subscription and needed help. That’s what it is for. I don’t have inreach but have a Zoleo. Eventually will get a satellite phone when prices get lower.
The bike has a serious design flaw locating the wiring harness and other electrical below the battery. Who does this? Especially on a adventure bike that is bound to get wet. To think that a small drain took out the whole bike including putting you in so much expense and frustration.
Andrew at The Motorcycle Shop in Anchorage is great. I had nothing but a good experience when I was there last month. I needed a TPMS sensor that was out of stock, so they took one out of a brand new bike still in the crate to get me back on the road. They got me in and out quickly, with a smile, and without a crazy markup like they could probably have charged.
They are the BEST
Man, so sorry about Olive! I hope insurance comes through for you. I did fry a large portion of my wiring harness on my DR650 on a trip to Big Bend, but I had a pocket multi-tester with me, and some spare wire. Between that and cannibalizing the harness itself, I was able to at least get running and was able to complete my trip. I had to replace the entire harness when I got home, of course. But that’s a lot easier on something as simple as a DR. It’s basically the coelacanth of motorcycles. I just bought a ‘24 Tiger 900 Rally Pro. It’ll be way more pleasant on long trips than the old bush pig. But guess who’s going to be keeping an eye on that drain hole!?😉
I bought my tiger 900 at the motorcycle shop in Anchorage. They are the best.
Was it used bike with a new wiring harness?😜. Having replaced wiring harnesses before on bikes, it is not a very hard job, just a bit fiddly.
Cheers!
A snooty uppity motorcycle shop, who could imagine !?
Tough story & trip - the next one can only be an improvement, right ?
I run a Darkside rear tire (auto tire) on my 2008 Suzuki V-Strom 650, one key reason: I HATE having a rear tire "give up the ghost" far from home, at the mercy of either fickle or non-existent motorcycle tire shops.
I get about 20-25,000 miles per rear tire vs 7,500 on an MC tire
This GREATLY reduces the complications of Long Distance Touring.
Mate, i feel your pain. No rider deserves to go through all that shit. Respect to the dealership, that flew you back home. From what you've done, in regards to regular servicing, that Insurance company, should come to the party. And don't give up on Triumphs mate. How do i know? I ride a triumph Tiger 1200 gt pro, and it's a real peach.
Sorry to hear about the breakdown. Curious, did you have private insurance for the bike or ICBC?
ICBC
I had the same experience in Fairbanks . The rear shock on my Harley broke . And the dealer in Fairbanks wouldn't even let me park the bike on their property .
its really a shame in my opinion
The Harley dealer wouldn't let you park your Harley in the lot?
#200 thumbs up! Good luck with your insurance dealings and get back on the road soon.
Very sorry to hear about your experiences. Unfortunately, a sobering reality to traveling these long distances to remote places as far as major breakdowns are concerned. Thank you for sharing your experience, though.
Now I understand why they are called Adventure Bikes…😮
What a nightmare. I did Alaska last year only issue was road was very hard on tires. Ya the air filter was badly clogged up but let enough air into engine and needed to be replaced when I got back to Vancouver. We had a dry very dusty drive and only slight sprinkle of rain one morning but had to stop twice due to forest fires when roads got closed overnight 2 nights of wild camping with other road users in road side pull offs. Some people decided to back track to camps but we stayed put enjoying beer, pot lucks with vans and motorhomes.
Wow!
Can’t Imagine !!!!!!!
Thanks !
Your Never Prepared Enough!!!
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
I Would Of Gone Back To Anger Management Again!
Glad Your Safe!
Can’t Imagine The Costs Involved By A Freak Situation 🙁😣
$$$$$$$$💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰
Have you considered fixing it yourself? If it’s just a few relays and a bit of the loom should be doable? Electrical problem not always straightforward but usually that is because you don’t know where the problem is, in this case you can start at the right place.
@@TimZ750 I’ve looked into that. cost too much to ship it here. Plus, I’ve already sold it
@@WayneKoufsWorldTour haha, fairplay 👍
The tire fiasco is insane. Never had to deal with something like that.
I’ve driven the Dalton quite a few times for work. With all due respects it is no place for a motorcycle. It’s a rough road on a good day and with all the heavy trucks it’s challenging with a full size pickup. I’ve had a friend nearly killed when a softball sized rock lodged between the dual tires on a big rig come loose and go through his windshield like a cannon ball.
I ran into a couple of motorcyclists in Coldfoot last summer who made a generous offer for me to take them and their bikes to Fairbanks. The smoke from fires far away, intermittent downpours, road construction, hordes of biting bugs, daredevil truckers driving entirely too fast for any road surface and infamous mud took the thrill of adventure out of those youngsters. Alas, I didn’t have the necessary space and was heading north. I hope they faired better than you.
Big props to the motorcycle dealership for flying you home, upstanding stuff. I sure hope your insurance covers the absurdly pricey tow as well, that was astronomical. Any ideas which bike you're considering next?
Leaning toward BMW - but am still deciding
@@WayneKoufsWorldTour Great bikes, like many others as well. I have a GSA in the garage that deserves more love. Best of luck in your search and enjoy the process.
I’m glad to hear that Alaskan Triumph dealership are such good people. It’s a long way from Suffolk ( the original one in England) but I’d deal with them anytime. Good luck Wayne.
thank you
Wow what a story, hope you get a new bike soon.
Great video, the other side of adventure bike riding. Thanks for sharing. Hope you get paid out by the insurance
Man, that was a lot to deal with on that trip. I don’t think any bike would come out unscathed from that road but for sure the modern bikes that are full of electronics would be vulnerable. I’m not sure I would even want to subject my nearly indestructible DR 650 to that punishment.
The good news is that you got home safely. The not so good news is that you failed in your preps for this ride: with your timing with the weather, you should have watched more TH-cam videos of other rider's experiences with some of the issues they had or looked into insurance that has "ride interruption" options (I use Progressive).
I did all this and more in preparations for my ride from PA to Dead Horse to Key West back to PA in June 2023 on my 2015 Victory Vision. Now I stayed in a hotel each night, so camping wasn't an option for this old boy. I rented a satellite phone for the trip. I brought along extra wearable parts just in case, that included an oil change kit (it was a 12,000-mile ride), air filter, and assorted fuses and tire plugs with air compressor. I even put rubber fork boots on the forks to keep the calcium chloride from scratching the seals. I recorded the whole ride, but my tech skills need work with editing and putting on TH-cam.
I know it sounds like a lot of harping from a few of us riders and it's well intentioned that you took this as a well learned lesson. I hope it all ends well for you, but I wouldn't hold my breath with getting back what you had to put out for this trip.
Stay safe and keep the rubber side down😎
thank you
@rkline3644: I just finished Utah to Talkeetna on my Victory Vision. Mad props to you for taking yours up the Dalton!! The ride from Destruction Bay to Tok was enough bad road for me on that big street bike! I stocked up with parts as well, out there on a bike they no longer sell parts for was a little nerve racking but we made it with no issues. Bike is still in AK, We'll go ride it home in June. Would love to see/hear more about your trip!
@@leemecham525 If I could figure out how to post some of my pics to this thread, I'd be happy to oblige. My original goal was to ride 1000 miles a day and I was in the 980s for the first two days until I crossed into Canada and fuel stops seemed a bit few and far between. I was stopping more than usual afraid to run out of fuel. Before using the camera tech and TomTom, my stops would average about ten minutes. Now my stops averaged out almost 15 to 20 minutes just to make sure I didn't screw things up. I still screwed things up 😆. Overall, my trip turned into a 17-day excursion that averaged about 650 - 700 miles per day riding. Tried to squeeze a lot into my limited vacation time. The weather Gods were very generous on my trip. I did hit some storms, but the Fairbanks to Prudhoe back to Fairbanks portion of my trip was 90% no heavy rain.
wow, thats one heck of a story!!! glad you are in one piece though, things could have been worse i guess....
Wow sorry for the string of problems ending with the bikes wiring harness. That’s insane, and wonder if this has happened before on this triumph design - I guess so!
Regarding the tires and servicing yes this is common.
Thank you for the feedback
So you’re the guy I heard about. Though the fellow who was telling me about your bike thought you were on the Dempster Highway and were recovered to Anchorage for the $5500. I’ve recovered a few bikes from the Dalton, but never expected to hear $5500 being charged!
BTW, AAA does cover the Dalton and the Dempster if you’re a premium member. I’ve never had to use them personally to recover my bikes or support vehicle, but they assure me they do and will.
I did a tour of the yukon and Alaska this past June with a tour group, and we had a rider in the group on a newer model Triumph similar to yours and it had the EXACT same problem. It didn't make it the trip.
I guess that makes me feel a little better
What an adventure. I can’t imagine paying $5500 to have to have my bike towed. Then to find out it’s scrap.
At least your safe and a bear didn’t eat you.
Like Monty Python “always look on the bright siiiiiide of liiiife!!”
Not a fun experience at all! As for removing my own wheels for tire changes, I do that all the time. I save a lot in labour charges and the shop can quickly change the tires in a timely fashion as there tends to be a long waiting list for servicing bikes that have appointments. I have also run into situations where shops won’t work on brands they don’t sell because of the possibility of special tools required or a procedure that is brand oriented.
I find it really hard to imagine that replacing the wiring harness is so time-consumingly expensive...
I just left the Dalton last week! . Very similar situation. I had to leave my 2007 KLR 650 up there. Bought a 2024 Honda Transalp from Delta Motorsports in Fairbanks to get back home to Los Angeles Californian. My experience is documented on my youtube channel. I came VERY, VERY close to the expense you came into but cut my losses earlier.
I’m going to check out your channel
We were in Fairbanks from Aug 14-20. Attempted Dalton on the 16th. Only made it 40 miles North of Livenvood. We stayed at Riveredge Resort and they had a wash rack for RVs we used on the 17th. We went to Denali and set up tents only to break them down an hour later and returned to Fairbanks. We had to wait until Tuesday to get the KLR looked at. It was a mess. I'm left it at Delta Powersports and bought a new 2024 Honda Transalp from them.
That mud is a real screw up... would have been nice if you had got nosy and pulled the battery eh What a time, good thing you had some long green lol
I guess service is getting extremely expensive. I work on old bikes, no injection and no computers. I looked up some videos on Tigers because I'm looking for one. Looks like all the main electronics, solenoid and processor are under or next to the battery. I thought new bikes all had sealed connectors but maybe not. I fix all sorts of electrical problems and stock connectors for old bikes. I disassembled a main harness a few weeks ago on a bike that was completely dead but battery was OK. Several splices buried inside the main harness were corroded. Soldered and shrink tubed and all is well. With computers it isn't that easy.
Talk about a nightmare.... you seemed to keep your cool and sure hope everything works out. God bless.
thank you
Thumbs up from Brazil!
a plane ticket! WOW!
Brutally expensive & frustrating. story. What a nightmare….
Honestly, aside from checking that box on a destinations list, I fail to relate to the attraction of that route. There’s so much more out there I’d sooner ride. Sounds like the tourist trap$ are well set along there now, let alone the possibility of a such exorbitant recovery bill. Robbery!
Good luck with the insurance claim.
I don't think it's fair to call it a tourist trap, it's just flat out expensive up there regardless.
I rode my 1976 R90/6 up to Alaska, from Connecticut, back in 1980. I had a few problems along the way, none as bad as yours.
In Regina I discovered a knick in the swingarm boot, leaking 80W90 on my rear tire. A shop (they sold BMW and Kniepers) there sold me a new boot for $8, and $63, Canadian, to install it. I was lucky, because 3 of the 4 bolts on the universal joint were loose (I didn't torque them properly when i put my trans back in while in CT.
Then my left petcock sprung a leak, choke cable vibration on the back side of the zamac wore a hole, and a Fairbanks shop had one for me.
In Anchorage I got a new rear tire at The Motorcycle Shop. The owner took me out for beers at the Alaskan Bush Company. Just like you think it is.
Lastly I was down around Homer, enjoying drinks at the Salty Dog, missed a turn at 2am, ran off the road, snapped the seat hinge mount, requiring the use of compression straps to hold the seat on all the way back to CT.
A few of my highlights.
p.s., I still have that bike in my garage, and there are still traces of calcium carbonate on the exhaust crossover. Slimy, nasty stuff.
Great adventure - thanks for the story
Love your story, because it reminds me why I do drugs.
😂😂😂
Was there no traffic on the road you broke down? Almost everyone drives a pickup in AK. I would think flagging one down and offering them $1,000 would have gotten you and your bike a ride pretty quick.
I thought about that but most of the trucks just FLEW by me
I was on the Dalton in June. There aren't a lot of pickup trucks travelling the road. A lot of heavy trucks, but not many that you could just throw the bike on.
Wow thats kind of a problem when the cost to replace a wiring harness costs more than the rest of the bike. Something else that is upside down in this world.
I would think it is fairly standard for dealerships not to work on non franchise bikes. For tyres I always take my wheel off and take it to a non dealer bike shop.
Why would I pay dealer labour rates to struggle getting the rear wheel out of a Moto Guzzi?
Stick with a bike you know! I’ve been a HD Ultra Classic rider for 30 years now. I’ve looked at many other bikes but have stayed loyal to my 2013 because it’s a bike I trust, know and technically simple. No I can’t go off road but that’s not been a goal for me.
Motorcycle adventures are not always the ones we want, but they are adventures! Glad you made it home and good luck with the insurance company. {!-{>
thank you
What a mess. I am so sorry. My Super Tenere also has a box under the seat that can fill up with water if the drains clog, but that typically only kills the ABS module. Fortunately with a 14 year old design that issue is well documented in all forums so people drill out the drain holes and now know what to watch out for.
I wish I had known
So how much did you pay for the tow?
$5500
I went as far as Coldfoot and back. That calcium chorlride is the worst. Unfortunately I didn't do so well on the way home around Beaver Creek.😮
Dang. What happened?
@@WayneKoufsWorldTour , buzzing along after stopping in the Canadian Welcome center, came around and wide right hand turn, only to be confronted by two large road graders coming towards me. They took almost the width of the Alcan. I swung wide, passed them and think I may have hit the berm they left behind. All I remember was seeing sky then gravel, then sky and gravel. Bike totalled, but I was relatively unhurt, all the gear, you know. 18 wheeler gave me a lift to Whitehorse, while my bike went to a tow yard in Beaver Creek. Caught Alaskan Ferry for home. Whew!
I have had those berm experiences and TOTALLLY get it
Good Luck with your insurance claim. My refrigerator's little 1/4 inch water line on the back of the refrigerator sprang a leak and misted the dry wall behind the refrigerator for some time (maybe a month or so) causing the floor under the refrigerator to rot and need repair, also the cabenet on one side of the refrigerator to need to be replaced. My insurance company denied my claim, they wrote the reason as "lack of maintenance", I augued, that no where in the refrigerator's manual does it mention anything about maintaining the small plastic waterlines. Not only did they NOT pay the claim they would not rebew my policy, and my house is now "Flagged" as being water damaged and no other insurance company will insure it.
F**king insurance companies
A wire harness shouldn't be the end of the bike. I don't know why they couldn't have fixed it. It's also crazy how the dealerships wouldn't work on other brands of motorcycles. I could understand that they might not want to do certain jobs, like rebuilding an engine, but not changing a tire is It's mind-boggling. I'm glad that you made it home. I think I would rather deal with the wildlife in Alaska over the hyenas from the insurance company. 🤔
We drove the Dalton in 2019 and the point everyone made to us is you have to drive slow, pull far to the right if you see an approaching truck, have supplies to last 24-hrs if you break down, know that there is zero cellular coverage and get fuel in Coldfoot.
Yep
"Disaster on the Dalton!"
Seems appropriate. The Dalton is a thing you can, or might do, but is it a thing you should do? Bucket lists being what they are, I'm not going to try to dissuade anyone, I've made this run myself, but after it was done I thought maybe I could have just adjusted my bucket list.
FYI Dear Reader: Heavy rigs cast rocks ahead and to the side as they come down the Dalton. It's not uncommon to see pickups with screens over the windows up on the oil patch, or at least it used to be a common thing, in order to protect the glass from flying rocks. Either way, just expect to get hit by stones, especially if it's been raining.
Good luck and Ride on 👍☮️🏁
Salt water, regular water, beer, whiskey, vodka, coke. Getting your electronics wet is always a problem and it's part of scheduling and hotel stays. Hotel giving you a chance to wash your bike, either at a wand car wash or the old reliable fill room trash can up with hot water and wash bike using clean,fresh hot water, remove the seat and wipe everything off possible and if that's the passage to air filter, at a minimum, take it out and knock it on the ground, wipe out air box. Often a trip to a tire shop or gas station has a compressor and air hose to disrupt standing water, often you can't see it but air shot into areas will break it up from pooling. When I do hotel or motel, often immediately get in shower and take a shower with jacket and pants and get them hanging to dry immediately, get helmet pads out and washed, drying and wipe helmet down for funk. Turtle Wax makes a product called Wax and Dry that is less than $7 bucks. Whatever is sprayed with the chemical beads water, that includes windshield and any other surfaces, including helmet shield. I buy tiny spray bottles from Walmart or 99¢ store and have a travel size for every trip. If you get blasted w rain storm or hail it will have water jumping off your face shield and windshield as good or better than Rain-X or products specifically formulated for the purpose. Many fuse buses have a cheesy plastic cover, same w tool kits, and battery terminal covers and where ECU and ABS brake controller or manifold are hidden under seat and tank, if you are doing air and oil filter change before trip, Blaster brand lithium spray lube works at keeping water from standing on places and connections were it will cause damage. I ride extensively in SW and Baja and often dirt and dust and manageable, but if you get filthy surfaces wet the muck, mud and oil combo grunge make water stop all over, dirt creates dams..
Cautionary tale, of the Tiger.
My son crashed in June on the Dempster 50K south of Eagle Plains. I was quoted $4500-5500 for a tow back to Dawson city.
dang
With hindsight is there any better option?
How about offering $1000 at every passing southbound truck?
@@youtubeaccount9058 I thought about it but many of them wouldn;t even stop
You friend dropping his bike 3 times in a foot of muck sounds the shits.
It was
Did you not go to the Arctic Ocean?
Some of the group did. I decided not to since I didn’t do it in Ushuaia
Can i give you a piece of advice from a fellow biker, that's been riding for 40 plus years? Try to find a SuperTenere. I'm in my third ( for no reason other then upgrade from the first edition to a ES and back to a no ES - keep it simple!). It would be impossible to happen in a S10. Like it should be, all the electrical stuff are located in the side panel, as high as possible. It never left anyone i know stranded, it undoubtedly the most reliable adventure bike ever! ( I also owned a GSA1200... and i can't even compare it regarding reliability).
Thank you for that
V Strom 1000 or anything without the harness located like that and relying on a drain plug.
Calcium chloride is nasty when went.
Coldfoot gets cold. The little airstrip at Pump Station 5 has the coldest temperature recorded in the USA.
Very very very common for a dealer to not touch a brand they don’t sell. Independent shops are what you wanted, not a dealer.
I’ve owned a few triumph tigers, but I won’t again for other reasons than yours.
Replacing a riding harness would take me at my home about 80 hours. I’m sure pros could do it faster, but my point is that it would quickly be more than the bike is worth u less you want to do that work yourself.
Dealers are worried about liability Lawsuits “ lawyers ask if the dealer had mechanics trained on your particular brand of motorcycle . This introduces doubt as to competence of dealer. You know the rest of the story
The Kato made it?
yep
I just drew a line through the name Triumph. Not buying one of those. I do love my Super Tenere though.