Travel to Alaska

[t star]

Who has been to Alaska on their ST AND height is less than or equal to 69 inches (1.753 meters)? Can you share your experience traveling on the ST to Alaska? Did the ST tip over anytime during your ride? Did you use lowering links? Did you change tires? Did you camp or motel or combination?

 

[escapefjrtist]

BTDT a few times. I'm a touch over 5'-9" but with a short-ish 30" inseam.

Not a big deal riding the Tenere to AK, treated it just like any other ride. I have a Penske shock on my '18 with ~3mm added to the shock length to slightly increase the ride height. Mine's tall and I'm on tip toes, maybe balls of feet at best. Latest trip in 2019 ran a set of K60's which made the loop of ~6600 miles. Slippery on wet slick pavement but worked as advertised on TOW and Dalton. Packed camping gear and did a mix of camping and hotels.

Don't delay...IMO it's a great trip and worth the time and expense. Good luck!

~G

 

[t star]

BTDT a few times. I'm a touch over 5'-9" but with a short-ish 30" inseam.

Not a big deal riding the Tenere to AK, treated it just like any other ride. I have a Penske shock on my '18 with ~3mm added to the shock length to slightly increase the ride height. Mine's tall and I'm on tip toes, maybe balls of feet at best. Latest trip in 2019 ran a set of K60's which made the loop of ~6600 miles. Slippery on wet slick pavement but worked as advertised on TOW and Dalton. Packed camping gear and did a mix of camping and hotels.

Don't delay...IMO it's a great trip and worth the time and expense. Good luck!

~G

Thanks for the reply. 2 questions for you. What is TOW? Who makes the K60?

 

[bimota]

these are k60

Kymco Stryker 125 Off-Road 2001-06 Heidenau K60-Scout Front Tyre (90/90 -21) 54T for sale online | eBay

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not our size tho lol

rob

 

[gv550]

Don’t overthink it, riding to and in Alaska is no different than your normal rides. There are paved roads and dirt roads, campgrounds and motels, tip-overs may occur but no more than normal for you, just plan to ride a normal trip.
I use Mitas E07 Dakar tires and have never needed to touch them for 30,000 kms, riding in Alaska is no different. TOW is Top of the world highway, a dirt road between Dawson and Chicken, but there are paved alternatives.
Ride more, worry less!

 

[tntmo]

It's just a road, you can ride a Trail 90, a GSXR-1000 or a Goldwing to Alaska. I'm just an inch taller than your height, not sure where that fits in the grand scheme of things but I always tell everyone to set their bike up so it's comfortable for them. I have very short friends that scoot off the seat and touch a toe down and tall friends that lower their bikes so they can flat foot. If you are feeling less than confident on your bike, get a lowering link.

I ran the Mitas E07 tires, I guess they have changed the magic compound since then? Anyway, I rode from San Diego to Alaska, then hit up the Dempster Hwy on the way back. Crossed the border and visited my parents in MN and changed the rear at that point (about 10,000 miles). I crossed to the Atlantic and then picked my way back to CA and ended with 17,000 miles and still had the original front tire.

I camped almost exclusively on my trip. Very easy to do in the west part of the USA, very easy to do everywhere in Canada and Alaska. Gas was never a worry anywhere, except for the first section of the Dempster (250 miles). I always primitive camped, didn't pay to camp once on the way up and only one time on the way back out of Canada.

TOW = Top Of the World Highway, recommend you ride that at least once.

Let me know if you need more info.

 

[Globerider2002]

Alaska....what an adventure waiting for YOU! As noted by others, just go. The more time you have the more you will enjoy the trip...lots to see that you will not find in the lower 48. Just be aware of all the animals that cross the roads. You will be tempeted to run high speeds on the open roads, but caribou and bears will run out in front of you! Personally, I was almost taken out by a huge black bear and a caribou at different times. You are able to find camping spots, hotels, food, etc. I've ridden to AK twice from the lower 48...first in 2004, then again in 2014. You really only need to carry gas on the last stretch of the Alaska Highway pass Coldfoot before Prudhoe Bay; the road is paved a lot now vs when I did it. Don't miss the Dempster Highway in the NWT. It is much more of an adventure than the Dalton because it is all dirt and longer. It is a well maintained dirt road even when raining it is ok, unless they have done some road construction, then take care; it can get really muddy. If you can time your trip into late Aug or early Sept, you will find colors along the Dempster that explode when fall is coming. Don't be too late...the snow is coming!

Tires choices are much better now than then. I have mounted on both my Tiger and Tenere the Motoz Tractionator GPS. If you join the BDR organization (Back Country Discovery Routes) you will get a discount on the purchase of the tires. They are excellent in the wet conditions, not like the German tires, as I rode two up in South America in Feb this year (2022), completing the Ruta 40 from the southern border of Boliva to Patagonia.

You might consider upgrading the rear shock to a Penske. I have upgraded both bikes for my adventures. The stock shock springs are just not strong enough if you load the bike with a lot of gear.

 

[Cycledude]

Have ridden to Alaska 4 times. First trip was on Goldwing, next 3 trips were on Tenere’s, the gravel up there seems to cause a lot more tire issues than it does here in the USA. Frost heaves can be dangerous but the bad ones are usually pretty well marked with flags. Gas was never really a problem for us but you need to pay attention to where the next gas stop might be, I did carry an extra gallon on the last 2 trips but never really needed it. Everything is quite a bit more expensive up there. We carry camping gear but the last 2 trips we never camped. Weather can be one of the biggest challenges, in 2016 it rained every day on our three week trip but I still enjoyed the challenges.
5 foot 9 inches tall so yes riding the Tenere is a bit more challenging for me, I did manage to drop it once on the last Alaska trip but other than a slightly scratched crashbar it didn’t hurt anything.

 

[bimota]

Nov 20, 1942: Alaskan Highway is completed

 

[lund]

HAHAHA, seen that picture so many times, there are alot of hardware under that highway buried because it got stuck and eventually got left.
The AK Highway is a wonderful experience that any adventurous ADV rider would enjoy but far from the most challenging. Your biggest challenge will be weather and forest fires now, fuel, camping, lodging and road conditions are easy if you plan accordingly. Give yourself lots of time bring plenty of CASH as bank card machine can be more challenging up there then roads.
Another tip is book your lodging way ahead, it gets very busy during the summer with travelers.
Late June, July and early August are the best time, June it rains a lot and by August the frost starts and it can get very cold depending how far you go north. September is doable but your chancing ice and possible snow.
The wild life is plentiful so keeping the speed down can be life saving, I have experience plenty of times a large critter darting right in front, you need to be aware and it help to have good peripheral vision.

 

[Cycledude]

If possible avoid riding after dark !

 

[tntmo]

If possible avoid riding after dark !

Good advice everywhere.

 

[lund]

Another tip while planning your trip is if time is a factor make it a priority to ride the Cassiar Highway into Alaska instead of the Alaska Highway. Far better scenery and a lot more interesting. Stop into Stewart and Hyder, check out the glacier and then go the Skagway, Haines route via ferry.
AK Highway is overrated in the publics eyes, scenery is great but after a while its the same old same old, long and boring, many doit just for the badge.

 

[tntmo]

Another tip while planning your trip is if time is a factor make it a priority to ride the Cassiar Highway into Alaska instead of the Alaska Highway. Far better scenery and a lot more interesting. Stop into Stewart and Hyder, check out the glacier and then go the Skagway, Haines route via ferry.
AK Highway is overrated in the publics eyes, scenery is great but after a while its the same old same old, long and boring, many doit just for the badge.

I took the Al-Can up and the Cassiar back down. Nice to have a different experience.

 

[Bigguy136]

Took my 2014 S10 in 2017, 18 and 19. Both Tuktoyaktuk and Deadhorse riding most all roads large and small and camped 98% of the time. As others said, just another ride. I prefer Mitas E07 Dakar because they work good in all conditions and never wear out. Tried a E07+ and had to change in Fairbanks. Then used a basic street Continental and rode to Deadhorse.
The biggest thing I see people having issues with is mud getting into fork/ shock seals. You can stay on mostly tar and wait for nice days to ride dirt but even then, they water the dirt roads. The mud will get into your seals. After leaking fork seals in 2017, I added fork socks. I also installed an Ohlins rear shock with shock sock. Stock shocks are not really rebuildable. Your decision on amount of dirt riding and the ability to rebuild a shock vs extra expense.
The dirt roads are calcium chloride (salt) roads. When it turns to mud, it sticks to everything. If you keep riding in that, your brake pads will be ground to a black paste. If you plan on riding in the rain, extra brake pads could be helpful.
I posted on other forum my tire wear with how many tar/ dirt miles, weight on each tire and general temps. I have photos of tires cut in half also. Tire Compare E07+ Dakar/ TKC70/ Shinko 705 (with cross section of each) on Super Tenere | Adventure Rider (advrider.com)
My brakes from 2018

 

[lund]

The E07 Dakars are also my go too tires for that trip, especially for the dirt portion to Tukyoyatuk and Inuvik packing gear.
I keep a set in my shop for that purpose. On most other rides I have been using the Shinko 705, I prefer them for general use, like day rides and grocery running.

 

[Nsrider]

Good advice everywhere.

It doesn't get dark in AK unless you are there in the colder season.

If possible avoid riding after dark !

It doesn't get dark in AK unless you are there in the colder season. Spent 5 weeks there In '19 sun never went below the horizon.

 

[Cycledude]

It doesn't get dark in AK unless you are there in the colder season.

It doesn't get dark in AK unless you are there in the colder season. Spent 5 weeks there In '19 sun never went below the horizon.

Yes in Alaska the daylight hours are much longer during May June July but Most of the trip will be in Canada, and when it starts getting even slightly darker the moose come out and they blend in with everything even more than deer , you definitely don’t want to hit a moose.