Alaska??

[bulletbill]

Beginning to plan a trip to Alaska in ’10 on my '75 /6, My first (most likely of many) question is what spares should I begin acquire other than tires, cables, levers?:german

[lostboy]

An alternator rotor and diode board, along with the tools to change them.

[MichiganMike]

Be sure to take a set of plugs along, get or borrow a recent copy of the Milepost book for planning purposes, has all the info you need for a great trip.

[cathdeac]

Bring a mechanic.. =) 2010 you say? hmmmmm

[swall]

How long you gonna be gone? Will you ride there and back? This has an impact on what to bring in the way of spares.

[bulletbill]

How long you gonna be gone? Will you ride there and back? This has an impact on what to bring in the way of spares.

As I said we are just beginning to plan, but I’m thinking minimum 4 week most likely 6. :dunno

And yes we are planning to ride there and back. :thumb

[AKBeemer]

While we have a clear view of the end of the world from our back yard (it looks much like Russia) we also do have two BMW dealerships and they do stock parts. Anchorage's dealership is more robust than Fairbanks but either can get a part here in 2-3 days if there is an emergency. In Fairbanks we also have George, and he is as fine an airhead fixer as there is anywhere. I'm not saying you should not bring some spares, but don't think that there is no support available up here.

[35634]

Just have Paul Glaves follow you.:lol

[bulletbill]

While we have a clear view of the end of the world from our back yard (it looks much like Russia) we also do have two BMW dealerships and they do stock parts. Anchorage's dealership is more robust than Fairbanks but either can get a part here in 2-3 days if there is an emergency. In Fairbanks we also have George, and he is as fine an airhead fixer as there is anywhere. I'm not saying you should not bring some spares, but don't think that there is no support available up here.


Thanks for the info... I just want stuff in case I have an issue in the middle of no where..

You know I’ve never been on the side of the road in 30+ years of airhead travel, but I guess there is always a first time.

[Voni]

Just have Paul Glaves follow you.:lol

Works for me!!

Voni
sMiling

[jimshaw]

Works for me!!

Voni
sMiling

I am yet to see Paul follow you, Voni. What's with that? :brow

Jim

[AnnapolisAirhead]

Anonymous book. Bug spray. Bear spray.

...and while we're at it, Paul's number. :whistle

[PGlaves]

I am yet to see Paul follow you, Voni. What's with that? :brow

Jim

When Voni was learning to ride I had her ride in front so I could see what she was doing.

Now, she has me go first. She says, "You told me the least experienced rider needs to ride in the front."

[Voni]

Now for what I would carry on a /6 on a trip to Alaska:

1. Points and condenser
2. Alternator rotor
3. Diode Board
4. Spare tubes and a patch kit
5. Clutch cable

Electrical tape, a couple of Posilocks, and a couple of feet of spare wire. JB Kwik, Seal All, and duct tape. A couple of 1" hose clamps.

Tools of course. I would bring along a small VOM multimeter.

[AKBeemer]

I'd add an air pump of some sort and jumper cables.

[Bill Burke]

I'd add a voltage regulator and a rotor removal tool.

[blazebfd]

Beginning to plan a trip to Alaska in ’10 on my '75 /6, My first (most likely of many) question is what spares should I begin acquire other than tires, cables, levers?:german

Well, my wife and I made the Alcan trip on the 50th anniversary (1992) of the Alcan. Two up on my '76 R75/6 euro model (still my daily ride). As you mentioned; all cables, plugs, etc. Also, spare bulbs for every light, safety wire, fuses, duct tape, electrical tape, RTV, a complete tool kit and a tire repair kit. Make sure your splines and clutch are in good shape. We blew out both rear shocks, shook my turn signals and swing arm pivots loose and had a great trip. Good folks all along the way. Kamloops B.C. was the closest dealer then, can't say now.

[44006]

I would start with Vonni's list

Add:
6) head bulb
7) tail bulb
8) clutch handlebar lever(borrow used)
9) one throttle cable
10) see that tool kit contains 3 longer tire levers
and that you have changed a couple of tires
without shop tools using stock tire pump
11) confirm stock tire pump actually works
12) piece of auto or atv innertube large enough
to wrap outside of broken drive shaft boot
(needed only if you start with other than new boot)
13) some parachute cord (enough for tiedowns in
the bed of Bubba's pickup if necessary and many
other camp uses)
14) confirm at least one valve stem cap is METAL and
will remove valve stem core
15) confirm alternator brushes have decent length left
16) some coat hanger wire lengths shoved up in main
frame tube (many uses)

[swall]

Most people are way too anal about this. Forget the rotor and diode board. If you never had a problem with the original rotor, you probably never will. Jeez--you are in North America, not the middle of Siberia. If you are on the Alcan or other main road, you will always be within 200 miles of some place with Fedex and you can order in parts, if the unlikely event happens. Carrying all of this extra stuff just adds weight. Keep it simple. Tubes, tire patch kit, wire, duct tape, JB weld, silicone and some spare nuts and bolts. Cell phone and if you are really worried, rent a satellite phone. Leave home with a fresh battery, fluids, tires and the bike in a good state of tune. Wearing out tires and looking for a place to change your oil are a bigger issue than catastrophic breakdowns.

[Bill Burke]

Most people are way too anal about this. Forget the rotor and diode board. If you never had a problem with the original rotor, you probably never will. Jeez--you are in North America, not the middle of Siberia.

Not really. The OP was interested in what sort of spares to take along on a maybe 8K mile round trip on an old airhead. People gave him some fine suggestions. He could take it all and it wouldn't amount to an infant riding pillion weight or size wise. If you're an airhead and interested in fixing your own problems, you bring the spares on a trip like this. If you're interested in hitchhiking to the nearest bar and spending two days on your satellite phone, you don't. You're right about probably not needing 'em, but when you do that bag of goodies is worth a million bucks. And if not for you, then for the poor slob airhead you come across in Bearscat, AK by the side of the road with a crapped out voltage regulator.

[ebeeby]

From my long trip experience I would add:

Throttle return spring
Clear tape for headlamp lens (rock hit)
A small $10 VOM is good
One tire tube
clutch cable and throttle cable
Have tires delivered to your destination and set up approximate date for a tire change with George in Fairbanks

If you have electrical problems (some lights but won't crank or run) throw the battery away and put in a new one as a first step as you have jarred a short in the battery and this will not show up on the VOM, only on a load tester.

The usual stuff would include fuses, oil, bulbs, plugs.

[swall]

On my first Alaska trip in '83, I had 2 breakdowns on my '75 R75, which I bought used about 10 months before the trip. One was the clutch spline failure--that could have caught with p.m. before the trip. Even with a spare disc along, it is not practical to fix something like that on the road unless someone is shooting at you and you need to get going. 2nd was the rear drive ball bearing. Even with a spare, it is not something you can fix on the road period. As for tire changes in Fairbanks, call George ahead of time or you will get yelled at when you get there.
I used to carry a lot of spares on trips--don't any more,except for the basic tire gear and an EWS ring.