Going for Broke: TAT 2011

[One Less Harley]

Don't count on that store having a good choice of tires in stock, much less tubliss, you'll need to call ahead and have things sent to them. Very poor supply of goods, but they can get stuff quickly I suppose. Still far from his current location,

[simonpig]

9/12/11
Overall mileage: 173
Overall average: 19 mph

Nevada giveth, and Nevada taketh.







Got up this morning feeling good and the weather was better. Hit the trail at about 10:30 and set out the day not sure where I would end up really. I hadn't check the maps but it didn't matter to me. I was enjoying Nevada and wasn't in the hurry to leave it.







Some of the land was sold I guess, but there were reroutes available.



The trail was similar to yesterday as it wound through hills and hilltops. 34 miles into my ride I hear a weird squishing sound as I roll to a halt for my beef jerky rest stop. Looked down and saw that my front tire was flat. Got out my gauge and compressor and confirmed the tubliss took a dump. There's something I must've missed when installing the bladder that is abrading the inside. The tubliss rim tape was still intact so it wasnt the spoke nipples. I think it was caused by the sharp cut edge of the the tubliss branded rim tape. It was a little bunched up around there. Noticed it running my hands over it, but it didn't seem like it could do harm. Oh well, live and learn. (update: it was a manufacturing defect)



Also, the right fork seal is weeping. I believe this happened after yesterday's gettoff in the the tenacious clay mud. Once it dries and the fork compresses, your seal is burnt toast. I wonder if seal savers could prevent that from happening.

I was definitely worried. I was 35 miles from Denio junction and I was forewarned about a super rocky long hill climb not too far away.

Hopped back on and kept the speed at around 20-25 mph. The front was behaving ok when straight up but in leans, there was a tendency to wash out especially in hard pack. Sand traction was obviously awesome. As I puttered along, visions of the show Cops ran through my mind. The ones where criminals are outrunning the highway patrol on flat tires only to have the tire shred off the rim and delight viewers with a shower of sparks from the metal grinding against pavement. The thought of a bare aluminum rim hitting rocks was horrifying.





Eventually, I did make it to the hill climb and it was steep (not crazy steep) but was very long.

After clearing that the rest of the ride was just managing the wipeouts. Happened once when my front washed out into a deep crevice, but otherwise slow going to Denio.



Someone left their dry animal skin behind



Got to denio junction at around 4:30 and ordered a beer and a burger. All the rooms were booked, but the owner said I could pitch a tent near the pumps.





My version of a TAT classic





As I was contemplating my next move, a guy getting gas, Brendan, from chicago was asking about my trip and wishing he could do more to help. After going in to pay for his gas, he came out and handed me two free drink tokens. Super cool. Made my day. Had my 2 beers with a burger and afterwards decided to get on the road to winnemucca and the yamaha dealership.



It was a sensible move as I really didn't want to pitch a tent next to a gas pump and nothing was really being accomplished by me staying the night.

On the road to Winnamucca











After cruising at a constant 45 mph I made it to winnamucca just before night fell. The distant city lights of Winnamucca was a very soothing sight indeed. Checked into the economy inn on the main drag a couple of blocks down from Sonoma cycles and promptly crashed.

[larryboy]

Take a business card and wrap it around the fork slider, then slowly work it past the dust seal, then past the main seal, twist it around the fork a few times and you'll probably get the dirt out to stop the oil leak. Sometimes a little angle on the card helps, one corner in further than the rest of the card.

[simonpig]

No way. A business card to clean out a seal. I'm learning alot on this trip. Gonna have Sonoma cycle change out the seals and renew the fork oil. It has been over 3 years since the bike was born.

[larryboy]

Originally Posted by simonpig

No way. A business card to clean out a seal. I learning alot on this trip. Gonna have Sonoma cycle change out the seals and renew the fork oil. It has been over 3 years since the bike was born.

Nothing wrong with that, you are going for "broke".

[simonpig]

Of course service is all backed up at sonOma cycle so ....
Thanks Larryboy.

[simonpig]

In terms of the tubliss failure it looks like a manufacturing defect. It was a pinhole size leak that lived along a slit that ran lengthwise about an inch.

[rudyunknown]

i am living the dream with u Than.....

Next time i am getting along with you.....

[One Less Harley]

buy the seals just in case....if they have them in stock which I bet they don't. If not in stock find out when they can get them and have them shipped ahead. Shouldn't be that hard to dot he seals if you have too!!!

[fotobo]

Sometimes the card trick works and sometimes it doesn't. I had the same problem on my WR on my cdr trip I just finished. It leaked for about the last 7 days of the ride. I tried the card trick to no avail. Go ahead and pry the dust seals down first to get them out of the way, that way you can be sure to get the card under the seal. And yes seal savers do work, especially the long ones.

[One Less Harley]

Don't forget to get a front rim lock!!

[BigDogAdventures.com]

When my wr was almost new---the fork seals started weeping a bit-------I cleaned them with a business card---and after 26,000 miles they've never leaked another drop.

Mark

[scotty69]

I ride Honda but a buddy of mine uses film, yea the old stuff, just as described earlier with the business card.

[zekester63]

Another thing that I use is a feeler gauge (the long, flimsy style). They flex nicely and won't leave pieces of paper in there either. This has always worked great on my dirt bike.

[klxrcr]

That group of 16 is on the TAT, they would have been one day ahead of you. They have a trailer because they don't all ride everyday, some of them are in their 70's!

I'll be in Port Orford tomorrow, had a good ride, blew a fork seal also just lived with the oil on my boot. Nevada was tough on me, I think I tried to ride it too fast.