Seattle to TDF and back on an airhead

[Chinalee]

very nice the tour
非常好的旅行

[Trail Dumpster]

Dude you got some big ... Take care of em'.

[Airhead Wrangler]

Originally Posted by Adv Grifter

Any comments on your bikes? Based on all the mods/upgrades you did to your R80, which ones worked well and which did not?

How about the other bikes in your group? I have a DR650 now, how did it do?

Everything on my bike has worked out pretty well, the rear shock is the only thing I'd change if I did it again. The YSS is just fine while it's working, but I managed to blow this thing in about 20,000 miles. Not so great. The other thing I would change that I did not originally: I want a longer swingarm. The short wheel base on this thing, shorter than both the DR and the XT I'm travelling with, makes handling a bit more squirly in the loose stuff than it should be. The bike could also benefit from being a little taller as evidenced by my sump.

As for the DRs they've worked out fine. There've been a few problems with the aftermarket parts installed on them, but the bikes themselves have been pretty bomb proof. The only problems have been the happy trails rack breaking on a couple of occasions and the aluminum support for the safari tank snapping in half more than once. Nothing that a stop at a welder couldn't fix. Both items aren't very well designed in my opinion.

[rtw02]

Originally Posted by Airhead Wrangler

You're gonna need to tell me what a 'Rea' is before I can watch out for them.

Sorry, spelling error.



I thought these were Extinct...saw a stuffed one in a museum in Buenos Aires, and just assumed so.
Almost crashed the bike when they came running across the road
Apparently they taste like turkey

[hardwaregrrl]

Just let us know you're ok after the great shake

[Airhead Wrangler]

Yep, just fine. Update coming soon.

[BlindPew]

Good to read that all is well. Kinda wondering with all the chaos happening down your way how your group was making out. Looking forward to your new update.
Cheers !!

[BALSEY]

Fantastic journey! Love the desolation feeling of this trip. Maybe some year....
Do you feel secure and safe? Boarder crossings, local Po-Po?

[roninwva]

Just found this thread and got caught up on the story. Great story and pics, what an adventure. I'll be watching.......

[Airhead Wrangler]

Here we are in the home stretch. After days of horrible rain, cold, and wind we finally found some nice weather as we were boarding the ferry to Tierra del Fuego.







A fox on the side of the road.



Steve taking a hotdog/tea break. Wow that's creepy.



Finally some TOPOGRAPHY!! After 2000 miles of flat featureless plains, we reached a mountain range about 50 miles before Ushuaia. These are the very southern reaches of the Andes.





Here it is. The end of the road. Can't go any farther. It's all North from here.





Camping in the national park just outside of Ushuaia







The Beagle Channel





Camping in Ushuaia at in a ski area.



Before leaving Ushuaia, I felt I had to tend to my leaking rear shock.



I found a motorcycle shop where the mechanic claimed he could fix my leaking seal. Judging by the number of trophies on the wall you would think he would know his way around a motorcycle. Unfortunately, his expertise was in riding them... not in fixing them. I left there with a shock in much worse shape than when I arrived. It made it about 400 miles north before there it completely ran out of oil leaving me (for the second time) bouncing wildly out of control.

[Adv Grifter]

Originally Posted by Airhead Wrangler

Before leaving Ushuaia, I felt I had to tend to my leaking rear shock.



I found a motorcycle shop where the mechanic claimed he could fix my leaking seal. Judging by the number of trophies on the wall you would think he would know his way around a motorcycle. Unfortunately, his expertise was in riding them... not in fixing them. I left there with a shock in much worse shape than when I arrived. It made it about 400 miles north before there it completely ran out of oil leaving me (for the second time) bouncing wildly out of control.

Congrats on making it all the way! Loved your report and pics. Take it easy,
ride safe, have a blast!

Is this shop the well known shop right in Usuhaia? If so, then this guy is very well known. I've read a few very negative reports on this guy on HUBB.

There is another mechanic, I think in Rio Gallegos who, IIRC, is OK.
Tough to get a someone who can crack a shock down there. You are not the first to have things go bad on a shock repair.

Maybe Dakar motors can recommend someone?

Suerte!

[jeaggerfairy]

A veritable feast for the eyes, I really loved the pictures taken on the salt flats. They were quite amusing. Fantastic read, hope to see more in the future.
Thanks for letting us partake in your adventure.

[Nata Harli]

Nice report and excellent pictures.

I've added a link to your report on the Latin American ride report link forum:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=317793

[BlindPew]

"Judging by the number of trophies on the wall you would think he would know his way around a motorcycle".

Spencer, Maybe they were bowling trophies. Good to see all is well. I heard from Jerome and he is doing well and should be in Bagota by now to ship his bike to Mexico. He was saying that you are north of TDF waiting for shock parts. Safe journey. Thanks for including us in your adventure.

Cheers

[jimbee]

Whoooo HOooo what a triP!

Your tales of leaking shocks, wrenching in strange places, and general adventuring are making me smile! Thank you! The urge to fuck off and hit the road south again is strong! Happy trails and safe miles. Let us know if we can ever help with anything. Cheers, JB

Originally Posted by Airhead Wrangler

Changing my rear main seal in an underground garage in Bogota with nothing, but the factory tool kit, a torque wrench and 2 sockets. For those of you that don't know, that involves removing the swingarm, transmission and clutch. I ended up having to do it twice.