Welcome!
If you have found yourself here, most likely I have sent you an invitation to visit as I don’t go out of my way to publicize my blog. However, if you have stumbled upon my feeble writings by accident, a warm welcome is extended to you as well, as long as you aren’t a spammer, serial linker or some other kind of internet interloper.
What you will find here may be of interest to some, but as my postings so far deal with my life-long infatuation with motorcycles, not many will have a keen interest. Best to move on if that is the case. On the other hand, my motorcycling involves a lot of travel, so if your interest leans that way, there may be something here for you.
What you won’t find here are my views on politics, religion and all of the things that are wrong with the world; those things that everybody seems to have an opinion about. If that’s your thing, there are oodles of alternative choices on the web to satisfy your cravings, or to upset your teacart as the case may be.
The intent is to share some of my experiences while in the pursuit of motorcycle travel, motorcycles in general, and anything else that strikes my fancy, with noted exceptions. It’s hard to tell where this thing will go.
I originally started the blog to allow friends and family to follow along on a circle tour of Lake Superior that I did in 2010. Those posts are still here and accessible. I will be moving them to the Lake Superior Circle Tour page as soon as I can get someone at the WordPress.org forum to tell me how to do that! I’m such a WordPress dweeb…
Check out the Alaska page detailing a trip that I made there in July, 2011.
There are a couple of pages dedicated to the bikes that I currently own and the ones that have gone to new owners. Click here for the current stable, and here for past motorcycles.
Between major trips, the What’s New? page will be the most active. It contains information about shorter trips and miscellaneous information that I have felt compelled to commit to the web.
Feel free to browse and comment. And if you share my motorcycling passion, keep the shiny side up!
Hit me up for a ride anytime you are in the upstate South Carolina area!
Will do Chris. Sorry we weren’t able to get together when I was there last month.
Hey Bob, I appreciate your passion for bikes without all the BS. I feel the same way. I just sold my Harley and after something so big and heavy, I think I want a WR250X. I just need something simple and fun that commutes well and gets good gas mileage. I read what you think about yours and I just have a few more questions. After the big bore kit, do you think you are still getting 70 mpg or so? Also, What kind of pipe is that? It looks incredible. Thanks Jamake.
Howdy Jamake,
No, there’s no way I ever got 70mpg with the WR, even when it was stock. I suppose that if a rider was very easy on the throttle it would be possible, but that’s not me. I’m pretty heavy handed with the little beast. The only time I ever measured mpg was after the big bore install. I was averaging 61mpg. Not bad at all.
The pipe is a Graves unit. Only one model available, with either a full carbon or titanium can. I like mine.
Good luck in your search for a WR!
Hello
Was just reading about your athena woes on your WR250. Did you get the problem resolved/ and did re torquing the head stop the leak. What about the base cylinder gasket. I have just installed one of these on my X and have only a few miles on the install. Love the extra cc’s and bike feels much better. Courious about the problems people are having with this upgrade. BTW has thumper come out with their 280 upgrade? Thanks
Sam
Hi Sam,
No, I haven’t done anything to the X yet. I was waiting for Thumper Racing to finish development of the 310 stroker kit and then I decided that I didn’t want to split the cases. Travis sent me one of his 3-ring 83mm pistons instead and I’ll replace the Athena 2-ring piston with that. I bought a used head and I have sent that out to be ported. Once I get it back I’ll tear the top end down and replace the piston, head and gaskets. I think I’ll get new head bolts this time as I don’t want to take a chance on the old ones. I’ll post up on the forum when I get ready to do the installation.
Thumper has had a 280 BB kit for some time. With the addition of the stroker kit (+3mm), Travis gets 306cc’s out of it. Of course, for marketing purposes, they round up to 310 cc’s.
Hey Bob,
Stumbled across your blog from the KLR650.net site. Just wanted you to know it’s a nice site and very fun to read. I know I like positive comments on my blog so I though I’d just pass that along. Keep the rubber side down.
Steve,
Tacoma WA
Thank you Steve. Your blog is very nice as well. Wish I’d left well enough alone and kept the standard WP formatting as you have. Some of my pages have gotten pretty long as a result. Anyhoo, enjoy your bikes and stay safe!
I enjoy your blog! Hit me up if you want to get some Baja dust on that KLR!
Thanks Dan! Looking forward to the trip. Enjoyed reading your blog as well. Nicely done!
Nice to find your link on your post regarding my KLR 705. The two KLR’s I own right now are my 31st and 32nd motorcycles that I have owned. There is a love of motorcycles that you won’t get for cars. Four of my friends have their own airplanes- the love of theirs for the planes is much the same as ours for our bikes. The ’87 KLR705 is the bike I’d like to get some serious seat time on. Seeing your page and knowing other people have been there, done that, just reinforces my thoughts on touring with my bike. I already have purchased hard luggage for it- trunk and side bags. I’ve motored around the Blue Ridge area since the early nineties, generally at WFO speeds, dragging my knee pucks. Now I’m a bit slower; I’ve found at lesser speeds you can actually see how beautiful the Easter US is. To tour The Great Lakes area would really be something. I think that might make the Bucket List.
Hope to see you out on the road, or trail….
Scott
Thanks for your post, Scott. The KLR is a great bike. Long distance travel – no problem. I’ve often said that if I had to reduce my collection down to one bike, it would be the KLR that I would keep.
Seeing that we are practically neighbors, we should get together for a ride sometime!
Hi Bob, thank you for your website!
I’m planning to be there with my 15 yr old granddaughter in July. I have a few questions for you if you have time.
We are attempting to get everything in on our road trip. I booked with Auto Alaska, are you familiar with them? I booked all my places and here is the road trip itinerary:
July 19: Arrive, go to Girdwood overnight. We booked the Ski Inn but heard it is very noisy with a bar next door? I also booked an Airbnb in one of the small places. Near Aleysha?
July 20-23: Seward, Resurrection Bay Lodge. The only thing I booked ahead was the
Kayak Adventures day trip to the far away glacier. It sounds great, but expensive.
Otherwise, these days I thought we would make sure to see the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Alaska Sealife Center, Iditarod, and a zip line? Exit Glacier.
July 23-26: Homer, Maria’s Majestic Bed and Breakfast. Anything you recommend around there?
July 26-29: Lake Lucille Bed and Breakfast. See Hatcher Pass, booked a tour to walk on Matanushka Glaciee ( Nova guides or Mica?). Musk Ox Farm. Iditarod here or above?
July 29, Captain Cook Hotel. Anchorage Museum?
July 30. Depart.
I’m wondering if you see any mistakes I made, eg places to stay, things to do…what to add or subtract, like that? Any recs for food places? Talkeetna? Genuine Native American places to visit?
What are you hearing these days about Covid in the area? Suggestions there, esp if we got it?
Anything else?
Thanks, Bob, so appreciated!
Deborah Freed
Hi Deborah,
Sorry for the very late reply. I don’t check the blog much any more because social media has pretty much taken over.
It’s been 11 years since I made the Alaska trip, so I don’t think I can offer much advice. I will say that your itinerary looks very good and I think you both will make some fantastic memories.
As my response is so late, it appears that you may have already started on your trip. Feel free to let me know how it went. Alaska is such a wonderful place to visit.