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  #1  
Old 21 Jan 2008
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Question Tire Mileage in Great Whit North

This summer I am planning a trip from Asheville, NC to the Arctic Circle above Fairbanks, AK via Dawson City and Chicken. I plan on starting on relatively fresh tires (about 2 thousand miles on the rear and 1 thousand on the front). I have heard from some that the Northern roads eat tires and I should plan on buying tires in AK. What say you? I usually get about 10 to 15 thousand miles out of a set of Tourances. But, I have never ridden in Nothwestern Canada or AK.

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'06 R1200GS fully loaded with crap
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  #2  
Old 21 Jan 2008
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The paved roads are a little rougher on tires.

Tires can be had in Whitehorse and Anchorage.
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Old 21 Jan 2008
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Your Tourances will be fine.

I went up to Deadhorse on these:

Image of These made it to Deadhorse and back (just!) - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


The only trouble with the road from Fairbanks up to Deadhorse is if you do it in the wet, then it gets a bit slippery:

Image of Thats gona need a wash - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
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Old 21 Jan 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeS View Post
Your Tourances will be fine.

I went up to Deadhorse on these:

Image of These made it to Deadhorse and back (just!) - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


The only trouble with the road from Fairbanks up to Deadhorse is if you do it in the wet, then it gets a bit slippery:

Image of Thats gona need a wash - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Looks like you could have got about 5 more miles out of those tires. Why did you change so early?!?
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  #5  
Old 22 Jan 2008
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Tired Tires

I would put on some fresh tires before leaving the lower 48. Why pay more and have to arrange supply and a time to change your tires? Alaska is turning into a real destination for bike touring. The distances are greater between services of any kind in the north so tossing a not quite used up tire is cheap compared to any kind of tire problem miles and miles from anywhere. Just for grins check on what it costs for a tire and how much to mount and balance in Whitehorse. All this being said the north is one of the best places for a great ride without a lot of people cluttering up the countryside.
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Old 22 Jan 2008
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I actually got a puncture about 20 miles from Deadhorse, so close to the end of the trip! Even though I carrying a spare TKC, I just waited till getting back to Fairbanks before I changed it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by nugentch View Post
Looks like you could have got about 5 more miles out of those tires. Why did you change so early?!?
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Old 22 Jan 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Ryder View Post
I would put on some fresh tires before leaving the lower 48. Why pay more and have to arrange supply and a time to change your tires?
Very good advice...I was up there in August of 2007 and finding tire sizes after Konowla was near impossible. And the price difference with the exchange rate made the tires at least twice as expensive. So putting on a fresh set in the Seattle/Tacoma/Lakewood area would be the key...

The cheapest spot is the Honda Dealer...they guarantee they have the cheapest price and can order you the tires two days ahead of time.
Washington Honda Motorcycle ATV Scooter Dealer - HondaBike - South Sound Honda, Olympia, WA

These guys will put a tire on any bike...new valve stems,etc...and very reasonable. Ask for Anthony.


edde


Getting caught in the North with a tire that can't bring you back South is expensive...not to mention dangerous.
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Old 23 Jan 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MotoEdde View Post
Very good advice...I was up there in August of 2007 and finding tire sizes after Konowla was near impossible. And the price difference with the exchange rate made the tires at least twice as expensive. So putting on a fresh set in the Seattle/Tacoma/Lakewood area would be the key...

The cheapest spot is the Honda Dealer...they guarantee they have the cheapest price and can order you the tires two days ahead of time.
Washington Honda Motorcycle ATV Scooter Dealer - HondaBike - South Sound Honda, Olympia, WA

These guys will put a tire on any bike...new valve stems,etc...and very reasonable. Ask for Anthony.


edde


Getting caught in the North with a tire that can't bring you back South is expensive...not to mention dangerous.
Thanks for the tip, but I will be riding to AK via Minnesota entering Canada just below Winnepeg.
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Old 23 Jan 2008
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Theres a good bike shop in Anchorage, sorry can't remember the name but would doubt you'd have any probs getting tires up there if needed.

Your tourances will be fine for it too, the dirt roads up there were fine and nothing compared to the ripio down in south america.
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Old 24 Jan 2008
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Quote:
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Theres a good bike shop in Anchorage......
"The Shop", IIRC.
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Old 24 Jan 2008
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Theres a good bike shop in Anchorage.
I think it is just called the Motorcycle Shop.
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  #12  
Old 1 Feb 2008
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get some tires in alberta calgary or edmonton the cad dollar is high and GST just lowered. no PST in alberta either
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