Alaska on a BMW K1600 GTL

[BTL]

Excellent...sounds like a ride to remember to say the least...good luck, ride safe. Welcome to Canada..eh

[Quikegeo]

I am IN!

What a nice ride!!!! BMW K1600GTL is my dream bike!!

Pura vida,

[conchscooter]

I am pondering the nuts of a man whose first bike is a 1600, and whose first trip is a ride to Alaska, and who decides the best way to handle this is online in front of God and everybody. My hats off.

[Rollcast74]

Originally Posted by conchscooter

I am pondering the nuts of a man whose first bike is a 1600, and whose first trip is a ride to Alaska, and who decides the best way to handle this is online in front of God and everybody. My hats off.

I agree with you... I've been reading radiomans blog and I decide adv riding was for me. I have never ridden a bike dirt nor street. I've always been a quad guy, so off I went to buy a 2009 KLR 650. It's sits in my garage as I wait to take my Oregon endorsement next week. I'm nervous and excited at the same time. So couldn't image jumping on a bike almost three times the size as mine and heading to AK. Maybe someday... Good luck and I can't wait to see some photos... Hopefully you brought your fly rods, the sockeye should be in.

[rgiroux]

Originally Posted by conchscooter

I am pondering the nuts of a man whose first bike is a 1600, and whose first trip is a ride to Alaska, and who decides the best way to handle this is online in front of God and everybody. My hats off.

+a whole bunch!

[Dana.GotDirt]

Two guys living the dream. These posts are our inspiration!!!

[Locus]

Go guys, I'm in.....

[scooterGdawg]

i'm in waiting to hear of your adventures as i must wait myself for AK, 359 days and counting

[mundobravo]

That the Spirit !

[ADVWannabee]

So where are the pics? Lets see the bikes, the gear, the riders who have no fear.

I have only been riding 5 years now and would love to do Alaska. I hope I don't have to wait until I am in my 70s, but glad to see it can still be done if I have to.

[judgebill]

Bill here. First night in Fort Bragg, beautiful seaside town in northern California. Riding the Calif. coast is spectacular. Every rider needs to try this at least once. Made it to Coos Bay, Oregon. Took a pic of the sign entering Oregon. Rain stargted in the afternoon so a couple yellow rain suits advertised us through the dark skies and towering redwoods. Want to make Seattle today, 400 miles so onto the freeway (ugy) and away from the coast.
Bikes performing perfectly. "Rain" mode works nice. Plenty of power going up the hills. Lots of other riders on the road, mostly with Harley types but a few Gold Wings. Haven't seen any other 1600sl yet. Everybody waves.
Hopefully some pictures next time. Having trouble finding a place where we can access the net.
Bill

[lakota]

pictures please

[vfrpilot]

Subscribed!

[InDenial]

With only a few weeks riding experience, by the time you get home you should be an expert. Have a great time and enjoy all Alaska has to offer. It's about the ride, not the destination.

[judgebill]

About 400 miles today, much of it in the rain. Had to take to the freeway to make up some time. While we're not on a specific schedule we do have an appointment in Anchorage fo new tires on July 7 and that's a target we don't want to miss. Bikes: working beautifully. The 1600 is very comfortable on the twisties and the freeway. Quiet, more noticeably so when passing or being passed by those loud things with rumbly noises coming from their two wheels. Still seeing lots of Gold Wings, plenty of Harleys and so far, no other 1600s. Lots of rain today. No problems with the bikes using the RAIN mode. Some shifting problems from first to second when moving slowlyl in heavy traffic. Rolling in 1st gear, throttle on and off and then shifting to second...sometimes it drops immediately back into neutral from second. Solution is to pre-load the shifter, or just putt along in second and shift up to third. That seems to work and second is low enough for most traffic situations. Amazing power when passing, even when travelling at 70 and you want to pass that guy who is creeping along at 67 mph. We both have highway pegs (Ilium) which make a difference on my old knees. Couldn't do without them. Suspension is smooth and comfortable in any mode. Clif is learning his bike and learning to ride all at the same time. Doing quite well.
He promises pictures soon.
Video link of some videos you can jump to:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg-Al...e_gdata_player

or in google, type in "bill clif elk"
Bill