Air bag armour

[Joerolwing]

I just finished installing Doc's air bag armour and really glad I have this behind me. Fortunately there was just a little dust below mine but its usefulness will come next year when I attempt the Dalton Highway. Doc's video on installation was essential but I didn't need to remove my belt guard. The top spring holding the pre muffler was a real bugger to reinstall, and the cable tool suggested was required. I made mine and used the removable cable clamps rather than what was shown so I could adjust the length. I used a large screwdriver as a lever and had to put some twist in the cable to correctly position the spring hook.

 

[pegasus1300]

I will be doing this when I get back from D3WR so thanks for the encouragement.

 

[DGoebel]

Plan for a long Dalton segment (timewise

I just finished installing Doc's air bag armour and really glad I have this behind me. Fortunately there was just a little dust below mine but its usefulness will come next year when I attempt the Dalton Highway. Doc's video on installation was essential but I didn't need to remove my belt guard. The top spring holding the pre muffler was a real bugger to reinstall, and the cable tool suggested was required. I made mine and used the removable cable clamps rather than what was shown so I could adjust the length. I used a large screwdriver as a lever and had to put some twist in the cable to correctly position the spring hook.

Joe, in preparation for our (riding Buddy Jerry and I) intended Alaska/Arctic Ocean or Bust ride on Spyders we added Doc's air bag armour. On the 23rd we headed up to a fifty mile dirt road two track ride into and out of the Northwest Angle of MN, we made it but sometimes we were traveling at only 5 mph or less. The Air Ryde Rock Armor gave us the confidence to tackle the extended dirt road without fear of holing the air bag.

Then while heading UP the Cherohala Skyway we take a detour onto the River Road just out of Tellico Plains, past the Bald River Falls and followed the pavement all the way up to the border State Line Recreational area. From there we again continued on Davis Creek (dirt) road all the way back to Murphy, it took us an hour plus to go 19 miles of two track dirt roads. Be prepared!
Here's a pic of our track from TP to Murphy, it took us 33 minutes to drive between the points marked River Road, from the middle River Road mark to 2 State Road 1331a took over an hour.

 

[Joerolwing]

Response

Joe, in preparation for our (riding Buddy Jerry and I) intended Alaska/Arctic Ocean or Bust ride on Spyders we added Doc's air bag armour. On the 23rd we headed up to a fifty mile dirt road two track ride into and out of the Northwest Angle of MN, we made it but sometimes we were traveling at only 5 mph or less. The Air Ryde Rock Armor gave us the confidence to tackle the extended dirt road without fear of holing the air bag.

Then while heading UP the Cherohala Skyway we take a detour onto the River Road just out of Tellico Plains, past the Bald River Falls and followed the pavement all the way up to the border State Line Recreational area. From there we again continued on Davis Creek (dirt) road all the way back to Murphy, it took us an hour plus to go 19 miles of two track dirt roads. Be prepared!
Here's a pic of our track from TP to Murphy, it took us 33 minutes to drive between the points marked River Road, from the middle River Road mark to 2 State Road 1331a took over an hour.

You sound like you are a good bit more serious in making it to Deadhorse. I grew up on a farm and have plenty to truck and tractor driving on dirt and muddy roads so don't feel a need for practice. My fear of having to go too slow is not making it while others are still using the road. I know it will still be light but don't want to finally arrive at 2am. My second fear is washboard roads that may beat my Spyder to death.
You don't list a bump skid, do you have more protection there than just the factory shield?

 

[DGoebel]

Joel, I was actually meaning practicing with your Spyder, both of us (Jerry and I) grew up driving a variety of vehicles 4 and 2 wheels on dirt roads / two tracks before this recent trip, but never with Spyders as we ended up this last week.
I don't have any additional bash plate ( I felt it lowered my bikes ground clearance by the 1/2 to 3/4 inch ), I bottomed out on rocks and the middle berm several times, post ride inspection reveals no obvious signs of damage. Though I'm gonna put it up on jack stands later and really check it out.

Common gravel roads don't compare to the almost off road dirt roads we rode in Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina, I'm glad we did it, glad we made it, but I'm definitely gonna have a 4 wheel drive support vehicle driven by a buddy following us up the Dalton when we attempt it.

Deadhorse and Tuktoyaktuk, NT, Canada are the northernmost communities that I want to ride my Spyder to (and from), but, our recent Pines to Palms failed first attempt reinforced that safety is more important.

 

[Joerolwing]

Deadhorse

Joel, I was actually meaning practicing with your Spyder, both of us (Jerry and I) grew up driving a variety of vehicles 4 and 2 wheels on dirt roads / two tracks before this recent trip, but never with Spyders as we ended up this last week.
I don't have any additional bash plate ( I felt it lowered my bikes ground clearance by the 1/2 to 3/4 inch ), I bottomed out on rocks and the middle berm several times, post ride inspection reveals no obvious signs of damage. Though I'm gonna put it up on jack stands later and really check it out.

Common gravel roads don't compare to the almost off road dirt roads we rode in Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina, I'm glad we did it, glad we made it, but I'm definitely gonna have a 4 wheel drive support vehicle driven by a buddy following us up the Dalton when we attempt it.

Deadhorse and Tuktoyaktuk, NT, Canada are the northernmost communities that I want to ride my Spyder to (and from), but, our recent Pines to Palms failed first attempt reinforced that safety is more important.

When are you planning on going, my brother (on a Triumph Bonneville) and I are planning June 2019.

 

[DGoebel]

We're thinking 2020, we just finished 4,800 miles in 10 days with 3 days of museum visits around Cincinnati and Dayton. We're looking at an Around the Great Lakes in 80 hours later, plus some 1,500, 2,000, and 3,000 mile trips to really get our long distance mileage and timing averages. I want to do a Coast to Coast from Jacksonville to San Diego as well, just to know how much ground we can routinely cover in what amount of time.