joe72t Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 Hello All, I have had my bike for 2 months now and have clicked about 5000km. One trip was to Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia which took up about 3000km (I live in Toronto, Canada). Glorious roads! I realized that I really love to do long distance riding and was wondering where I could go to next? Alaska has always been a bucket list trip. Assuming we instal proper tires, rad guard, engine guard can this beauty do it? I have heard that the gravel roads have huge ruts and big rocks flying off the trucks can be brutal. Anyone done this trip? Any advice? Am I mad? Thank you in advance, Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjrpittsburgh Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 No, you're not mad, just adventurous. I think I would get some protection under the pipes area in the front of the bike before hitting any dirt and gravel roads in Alaska. It can be done if you take all the necessary precautions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporting Member betoney Posted June 9, 2019 Supporting Member Share Posted June 9, 2019 @joe72t There is a lot of good info here ---> Search Results I have never done this trip myself but the ride reports are always intriguing. 1 ***2015 Candy Red FJ-09*** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gv550 Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 I've done it on a 900 lb cruiser with street tires and the GT would be more capable. It's paved all the way and lots of pavement in Alaska, leave the dirt roads to the adventure bikes and you'll be fine. 9 2019 Tracer GT, Ontario, Canada Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjrpittsburgh Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 27 minutes ago, gv550 said: I've done it on a 900 lb cruiser with street tires and the GT would be more capable. It's paved all the way and lots of pavement in Alaska, leave the dirt roads to the adventure bikes and you'll be fine. Really good advice @gv550. Well, that is until you let Garmin show you the way. For some reason, we all end up on dirt roads with Garmin routing. My Garmin 665 has led me to more turnarounds and dirt roads than you can imagine. Great stories for later though. 😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfjniner Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 Plan your trip to not go on dirt or gravel roads. In your planning use Google Earth to investigate questionable roads. Note, that you will have to do some gravel roads, as they are always repairing them. If you are planning on doing the Haul Road, I can't imagine why, but if you do, you will have to do lots of gravel. 1 Ken, Candy Ass L.D.R. Sleeps 8 hours (2)2005 FJR1300abs: 230,000 m 2015 FJ-09: 114,000 m (Replaced engine at 106K) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 2 hours ago, redfjniner said: If you are planning on doing the Haul Road, I can't imagine why, but if you do, you will have to do lots of gravel. Because it’s there, and you only live once. Having said that, I only hope that I get the opportunity one day. If I don’t, I won’t lose any sleep over it. I guess I just like the idea of riding in remote places. 1 Old enough to know better, but young enough to do it anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tktplz Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 (edited) I'm sure the FJ should make it no problem. We have some friends, John and Andy that went to the arctic circle on an R1 and a ZX14. If they can make it an FJ09 can. Edited June 9, 2019 by tktplz 1 Ain't no fun when the rabbit gets the gun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koth442 Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 The tracer handles fine in gravel. Just invest in a skid plate. @Dark&Stormy did an Alaska trip including some dirt roads. 1 '15 FJ09 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chitown Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 You can take pretty much any bike to Alaska. And, up the Haul Road (Dalton Highway). Rider, not bike. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member fddriver2 Posted June 9, 2019 Premium Member Share Posted June 9, 2019 7 hours ago, chitown said: You can take pretty much any bike to Alaska. And, up the Haul Road (Dalton Highway). Rider, not bike. This^^^^^ Are there better suited bikes for it? Of course. Repeat after me "They Are All Adventure Bikes!" 2 "It doesn't matter who walks in, you know the joke is still the same" Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member fddriver2 Posted June 9, 2019 Premium Member Share Posted June 9, 2019 Case in point 1 "It doesn't matter who walks in, you know the joke is still the same" Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellow Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 15 hours ago, fddriver2 said: Case in point Ah.. the first water cooled Harley!!! 1 1 ST-Owners Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe72t Posted June 10, 2019 Author Share Posted June 10, 2019 Lol! Ok I get it, We can travel anywhere with this bike! So glad I bought it and many thanks to you guys and this forum for the insight on all of its attributes. Anyone want to go to Alaska from Ontario in 2020 just let me know! Cheers, Joe 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chitown Posted June 11, 2019 Share Posted June 11, 2019 On the flip side if you like to keep your new bike fastidiously clean and scratch-free I once read: "You can take any bike you like. Just don't take one you love." :) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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