Screw Bill and Ted! Kim and Mike's Most Excellent 2008 Alaskan Adventure

I saw you were lurking around RTR today-go ahead and throw up a link, I'm sure there are plenty of folks that will enjoy hearing about your latest adventures. If it would stop raining around here I'd try to get out for some of my own

Verdict's still not in on Gander, still missing Labrador.

Kim's Dad, is that Dick? How's his tib and fib after his last get off.

Our best to all you guys

Like Mike said post a link up on RTR too, I am sure the gang would like to see it.

Dave,

Yup, Dick is Kim's dad. His tib/fib healed well. He did a good amount of skiing this winter but I think he's decided that his turbo jet ski is the way to go for the summer time and the bike is out.

I gotta tell you, that turbo jet ski is a hoot. With Kim and I on it together at the same time, I saw 62 MPH on the speedo and it still had more to go.

I also threw a quick link up on RTR for the folks there.

Later,

Mike

So some of you may be wondering, why only one crate? Are you riding two up on a DR? Well if you know me, Kim is right sized for two up on a DR, but I'm afraid it isn't going to happen with Kim and me on it at the same time.

So what am I riding?

I present to you...



My new to me baby. A 2006 KTM 640 Adventure with ~600 miles on it courtesy of ADVer Arcticrdr who made a deal with me last summer, stored the bike for me all winter and is handling miscellaneous chores for me on his own time and energy. So Thanks Jason!!! It never ceases to amaze me the courtesy and comraderie of all of the folks on this website.

It will have panniers and other miscellaneous items (like a Renazco seat) installed prior to my arrival so both Kim and I should be all set when we show up in Anchorage.

Nicely done on the new ride Mike! It will be funny when we finally meet up on the road-like twins. What are you putting on it for luggage? I'm just on my way out the door to go dig my bike out and try to find some icebergs.

Where do you two store all your bikes. wow.

Well it decided to rain all weekend here and time is running out to complete the farkelization of Kim's DR. So I decided it was best to do it sooner than later. So today was the day.

The first thing to be done was to reinstall the cut down sidestand. We had set the suspension to its lowest factory setting and the stock sidestand left the bike virtually upright. So not being a welder, I took it to be cut down an inch and this was the result.



Installed the result was like so:



Now it was time to add the bash plate, case guards and rear brake guard:




So after a couple of hours of work, the end result was: Bash plate on...



Left side case guard...



Right side case guard...



... and the rear brake guard. That finished the last of the new accessories. But...

I alluded to the fact that we might go to a smaller top box and we did make that decision. So here is the smaller Jesse top box attached and ready to go. At least this way, there will be less weight high and hanging off the sides of Kim's bike.



Of course, it's an official ADV top box...



So what does it look like fully farkled? Right side shot...



Left side shot...



and most importantly, with the Boss' seal of approval...



Now that its fully farkled and fully approved, its time for the crate. So a little stencil work...





Now we're ready to load!

Sweet! The decal inside Kim's top box is key, I need to get me one of them for sure! Getting closer..........

Mike,

You should see the plate on my truck. Need I say more?

You gotta love NH.

NH eh? I need to talk to you in a slightly more private method. I'm working on a way to have NH plates on my bike

Hey Mike & Kim, I just put in my order for some ADV decals

Mike,

Congrats! So do we owe you a FYYFF?



Mike and Kim

After much excitement, crating day has arrived. Time to get Kim's DR all packaged and loaded up for its shipment to Alaska. Shouldn't be much of of a hassle, right?

We had previously brought her bike to Naults Suzuki in Manchester, NH to have a set of TKCs mounted (Hi guys! Thanks for all the help you have given us!!!!) The Nault's guys have really gone all out for us in helping us make the trip, in fact, they gave us a great deal on the bike itself, are even putting the bike on the truck for us gratis. So today we spent the afternoon in their back lot doing final preparation on the DR and then tying it down and crating it up.

The first thing that needed to be done was to get the crate to Naults. So it time to get the trailer, and put the crate in. Here's a pic of my truck and my father in law's borrowed trailer.


Now get the crate in there...



We got the crate in the trailer, added some miscellaneous gear that we didn't want to put in our airline baggage like tent and sleeping bags etc. and we were ready to roll. A short 20 minutes later, we were at Naults and unloaded.

I did some quick work on the bike to make it ready for shipment like unhooking the battery, draining the fuel and installing the panniers, taking off the windshield and the mirrors and the DR was ready to crate. Except for the fact that we left the top of the crate at home and Kim had to drive back to the house to get the top!



With the top of the crate retrieved, it was time to get the bike into the crate and tied down. First the front end...



Tieing it down went without a hitch. Except for one problem. How the heck do I get out of the friggin crate? The sides of the crate at this point are not too steady and note the tight quarters. Here Kim tries to figure something out...



Ultimately, I climbed under the tiedown straps and over the seat without ripping the sides off the crate.



Then it was time to tie down the back end of the bike for stability...



Hmm... did someone notice Grolsch beer in the picture?

Mike,

I don't think so? I just ordered a small & a large for myself? I think I'll put the large on the outside top of my topbox

no, maybe that was the problem? How hard was is climbing over the top of the DR?oser

Looks like fun, you both must be fairly hopping by now?

Mike,

Let's just say I'm no Olympic gymnast or gymnast of any kind and leave it at that.

If I wasn't able to get out, they just would have found a pretty ugly smelly corpse inside.

Finally, it was time to button things up and put in the miscellaneous things for the ride to AK...

Here's the windshield...



Seat Bag...



With all the goods in, it was time for the back part of the crate to go on...



Now to put the top on (it's leaning against the forklift)...



And viola' the lid is on...



Now we're ready for shipment!!!



Until later!

I can smell the excitement oozing out of your pores from here!

Mike,

You will be riding west? Not shipping yours?

George