Preparations

A five-week trip over 9,000 miles, 1,000 of them on gravel roads, requires some preparation.

Bike

I’ll be riding my 2015 BMW F700GS, an ideal bike for the trip. It is a middle weight with a bullet proof engine and drive train, tall suspension to soak up potholes, and plenty of carrying capacity.

I upgraded the rear suspension with a more durable TFX shock absorber and the forks with heavier springs and heavier oil to accommodate the heavier load and rough road .

I’ve made arrangements to have new tires put on in Whitehorse that are more suited to the gravel roads from Dawson to Tuk.

I’m up to date on maintenance, including all fresh fluids, new air filter, and a check of valve clearances. The chain should last for the duration of the trip.

Satellite tracker

I’ll be out of cell phone coverage most of the time in Canada so a satellite tracker and messenger is a good safety measure.  The deLorme inReach will track my position every 10 minutes transmitting it to an online map that will show my progress and can be accessed by friends and family. It can send an SOS message with the capability to communicate via what the nature of the emergency is, and can send texts to my family and friends, all of this from anywhere in the world!

Riding Gear

I am pretty well fixed for riding gear – Goretex jacket and pants, full face helmet, boots, gloves, and heated vest – but I decided to add an airbag vest for protection should I have an “unplanned dismount.” It is tethered to the bike and will inflate in under .1 second in the event I’m thrown off. Several friends have them and swear by them, including one who had a recent accident on a gravel road in the Yukon.

Other Preparations

  • Motel reservations from Cut Bank, Montana all the way up to Tuk and back down to Dawson
  • Two cans of bear spray
  • Mosquito hat/net
  • Tools to remove wheels and replace tires
  • Tent, in case I get stranded

Packing List

Over the years I’ve developed a pretty comprehensive packing list that I’ll check when I pack the bike to make sure I don’t leave anything behind.