R1 Sjaak Polar Ice Ride (Official Thread)

[jgrooms]

Slow getting video up, as we are at the Dealer Expo in Indy. If you are going to the Progressive International Show you have access to the Expo, so stop by the Clymer Manuals booth.

Sjaak should be on the way to Canada. Look for more video next week.

This from Sjaak:

Yesterday I got to see the polar ice where I will start the ride. When I got there it was too late to take the wheels of the sledge and try it. Because some very helpful and friendly locals who are helping me had a four wheel drive with them to pull me out if necessary, I went on the ice with the wheels on. The wheels of the sledge where digging in the deep snow and I got stuck a few times. But it went much better than I had hoped. It looks very promising. The R1 had no problems at all riding the terrain. The big wheels rolled strait over it. Today the plan was to tow the sledge to Point Barrow. Due to ice in the fuel system and a coolant leak this it set to tomorrow.

[AKDuc]

The latest:

"First test with the sledge on the polar ice north of Barrow. When I turn de bike the sledge wants to go in a straight line. It resulted in hitting the ice/snow a few times. That’s why I am going to use a long rope between the R1 and the sledge during the Polar Ice Ride."

[Contevita]

If it's flat light that the entire time on the ice then it's going to be cake.

[treemuncher]

Originally Posted by AKDuc

The latest:

"First test with the sledge on the polar ice north of Barrow. When I turn de bike the sledge wants to go in a straight line. It resulted in hitting the ice/snow a few times. That’s why I am going to use a long rope between the R1 and the sledge during the Polar Ice Ride."

I'm thinking that the easiest fix would be to put a front steering axle, mounted where the front wheel is, with 2 snowmobile skis
for steering/tracking. Keep the skis set wide to increase stability. Two more skis or, at the least, skegs at the rear of the sledge would add more directional stability. This should increase control of the bike-sledge combination during hard decelerations instead of the current instability due to the sledges lack of direction control.

Just my $.02 thinking out loud.

Best of luck to you Sjaak.

[Lion BR]

Originally Posted by treemuncher

I'm thinking that the easiest fix would be to put a front steering axle, mounted where the front wheel is, with 2 snowmobile skis
for steering/tracking. Keep the skis set wide to increase stability. Two more skis or, at the least, skegs at the rear of the sledge would add more directional stability. This should increase control of the bike-sledge combination during hard decelerations instead of the current instability due to the sledges lack of direction control.

Just my $.02 thinking out loud.

Best of luck to you Sjaak.

+1 on the skis. And directional capability a must.


Not good:
with a rope, when he hits soft snow or a ridge, or anything that brings his bike to a sudden stop and that sledge with all the momentum of its weight in fuel and supplies is going to hit his bike pretty good.

[treemuncher]

Originally Posted by Lion BR

Not good:
with a rope, when he hits soft snow or a ridge, or anything that brings his bike to a sudden stop and that sledge with all the momentum of its weight in fuel and supplies is going to hit his bike pretty good.

That's what I am afraid of. It will be getting rear-ended by a runaway sledge. The last thing any of us wants to hear is that he failed due to a vehicle collision in the middle of nowhere. Any injuries out there by himself could lead to an untimely demise. No one wants that to happen.

I hope he takes the time to get this figured out with maximum safety factor. I see a tow rope as an accident waiting to happen. Been there, done that.

[Bruce H]

I don't see a tow rope as a good idea. You slow or stop and the sled doesn't???

[AKDuc]

"Today the adventure from the northernmost point of continental USA to the southernmost point started at Point Barrow. To get there I had to adapt the bike and the sledge to the climate and ice conditions. This was only possible thanks to my new friends who live here and who know this environment. Clifford, Nelson, Michael, Jacob, Charles and others, thank you guys! (picture by Michael Donovan)"

[jgrooms]

We are backing up a bit with videos, as Sjaak reports he will depart today. As you saw in the last post, Sjaak has worked out the sled attachment. Here is assembly of the sled detail.

We have a lot of video to post this week of his testing and retesting progress prior to taking off. A project like this obviously presented some unforeseen issues.As always, Sjaak keeps pushing through. Of course he's received a warm welcome and incredible assistance from the residents of Barrow. Sjaak thanks you all!!!
We'll do our best to keep you posted on his progress on the ice. But we are really looking forward to when he hits land in Canada and can send the video out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veq1a0p5Uyc

[jgrooms]

-40 F in Barrow! The crankcase blow by directed into the airbox was freezing up the carbs!. So that's been vented 'elsewhere'. But the engine is running too lean. They've found some jets from a Yamaha snowmobile application.

And yes he is going to pull the sled with a rope. 100 ft of rope.

Day after tomorrow is planned departure if the air/fuel ratio is resolved.

The view from the SledCam.

[jgrooms]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp7AYg960rY

[jgrooms]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WqHXAzOeQY

[L.B.S.]

Go Sjaak!

So this is a silly question, but technically, how does the "Entering Canada from the USA" thing work, doing this?

I mean going into Alaska and coming back into Canada at Hyder, they get extremely persnickety about the border crossing stop. Same with going to Pt. Roberts.

Is there a Port Customs shack in Tuk?


That would be...interesting.

"Hi I'm Sjaak coming from Barrow! I would like to enter Canada, please."


Customs: "Denied Entry."


Sjaak: "But...but..."



/

[jgrooms]

From Sjaak: "Dear Polar Ice Ride Adventure followers. A few days ago I succeeded in reaching Point Barrow, the northernmost point of continental USA. After having done a few more preparations I will leave Barrow tomorrow 21 February 2013 and head in the direction of Canada. Tests showed that the sledge and what I carry inside is far too heavy. But I have good hope we make it. I just start and see how it goes. It’s good to know that if it really doesn’t work I can always get off the ice near Deadhorse, still about 500 km ice riding from here. From there roads lead down to Key West in Florida, the southernmost point of continental USA where my journey will end.
Until I get off the ice you won’t [hear from me]. But the plan is to give daily updates via satellite phone..."

[Toolpen]

Originally Posted by jgrooms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp7AYg960rY

After following the videos of the bike build and all of the required work/planning for this adventure, it's awesome to see his excitement at this point. The engine starts at -30 degrees Celsius. Go Sjaak!!!