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Alaska and the Dalton Highway
- Thread starter ahh-cool
- Start date
ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
The NtA group left their Spyders in Fairbanks and took a tour van. Entry is not permitted onto the oilfields for national security reasons. The tours are exempt and make the necessary reservations.
Yazz did the Arctic Circle ride. Not sure if she saw the ocean at the top of the Dalton.
CMA/IBA_rider
New member
I've been up there on two wheels. I would not take a bike up there that I would want to keep. The first thing you will lose is your ABS. You'll never get the bike clean again. It is a fun Road. Beautiful scenery. Very little pavement a lot of dirt and gravel sections. The dirt sections are smoother than the interstates are down here in the lower 48. If you go it will be a trip you will never forget. The road stopped at Deadhorse
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DGoebel
Well-known member
CMA/IBA_rider, Could you elaborate. Does this apply to just the Dalton or any dirt roads?
F650624
New member
The Dalton Hwy (The Haul Road)
I would apply this to any of the many non-paved highways in the North: Dalton, Denali, Taylor, Top-of-the-World, Petersville, Dempster, Campbell, CANOL, etc. These roads are not maintained like a gravel road in the midwest. These are industrial grade roads with gravel, large rocks, sand, dirt and mud when it rains. Most are only a 3-track road, you share your driver side wheel track with oncoming traffic. Between the wheel tracks the windrow of gravel, rocks and dirt usually run 6 to 10 inches deep if a grader hasn't been over it recently. This get interesting when there are no shoulders and the oncoming traffic is an 18-wheeler doing 60+ MPH.
I would apply this to any of the many non-paved highways in the North: Dalton, Denali, Taylor, Top-of-the-World, Petersville, Dempster, Campbell, CANOL, etc. These roads are not maintained like a gravel road in the midwest. These are industrial grade roads with gravel, large rocks, sand, dirt and mud when it rains. Most are only a 3-track road, you share your driver side wheel track with oncoming traffic. Between the wheel tracks the windrow of gravel, rocks and dirt usually run 6 to 10 inches deep if a grader hasn't been over it recently. This get interesting when there are no shoulders and the oncoming traffic is an 18-wheeler doing 60+ MPH.
WilderThomas
New member
Alaska!
I understand that numerous riders have traveled the highway, trikes and conventional motorcycles. That's an adventure, on most riders bucket list. I wonder though how practical it would be to take the ferry from Bellingham to Skagway, and do a bit of riding up there? Thus saving the Spyder from the rigors of the highway.
I understand that numerous riders have traveled the highway, trikes and conventional motorcycles. That's an adventure, on most riders bucket list. I wonder though how practical it would be to take the ferry from Bellingham to Skagway, and do a bit of riding up there? Thus saving the Spyder from the rigors of the highway.
Little Blue
SpyderLovers Ambassador
Alaska
Man, Sounds Like a BIG Adventure. Plan Well and enjoy the Trip. :thumbup:
Man, Sounds Like a BIG Adventure. Plan Well and enjoy the Trip. :thumbup:
Rode the Top of the World Highway several years ago. 80 miles of gravel road that was in fairly good shape. If there was a bad spot on the road, an orange flag was placed at the edge of the road to warn you to slow down. Started a trip to the Arctic Circle and after about 20 miles we decided to turn back. Maybe it hadn't been graded lately, if it is graden at all, but without a doubt, it was the worst road I have ever been on. If I was to try it again, I would rent a bike. Don't know if it's still the same but, at the time, you could only rent a bike in Anchorage. You could not go by yourself and once you crossed the Yukon River, you were on your own. They would not come for service if you had a problem.
ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
Taking the "adventurous" roads in Alaska means sharing them with big trucks. Sometimes the truckers get irritated with the "flies" and go out of their way to swat them. Give trucks the right of way if they want it.
Alaska is covered with "glacial till" the fine white dust that gets into everything when the wind blows. Every spring, the Mat Su valley is covered with the dust. Those with asthma suffer a lot. Riding the gravel roads will coat your bike from the inside out. I have heard of brake systems failing because the dust built up in the brake release switch. The bike thought the driver was riding the brake and promptly went into limp mode. I know of two visitors that experienced this problem.
A worthy adventure for those willing to take it. :bowdown::bowdown: :firstplace::firstplace:
Alaska is covered with "glacial till" the fine white dust that gets into everything when the wind blows. Every spring, the Mat Su valley is covered with the dust. Those with asthma suffer a lot. Riding the gravel roads will coat your bike from the inside out. I have heard of brake systems failing because the dust built up in the brake release switch. The bike thought the driver was riding the brake and promptly went into limp mode. I know of two visitors that experienced this problem.
A worthy adventure for those willing to take it. :bowdown::bowdown: :firstplace::firstplace:
Raprider
New member
Rider Magazine article
Sounds like an ahh-some trip!
Rider Magazine ran an article on this last summer...
http://ridermagazine.com/2017/08/24/beating-the-haul-road-alaskas-dalton-highway/
Links to some of their older articles...
http://ridermagazine.com/tag/alaska-motorcycle-rides/
Sounds like an ahh-some trip!
Rider Magazine ran an article on this last summer...
http://ridermagazine.com/2017/08/24/beating-the-haul-road-alaskas-dalton-highway/
Links to some of their older articles...
http://ridermagazine.com/tag/alaska-motorcycle-rides/
ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
Good articles and the first reinforces what I said about the trucks. Note: mostly adventure bikes on the Dalton. The Wing rider was very brave--IMO. Note the beautiful shade of grey that the Wing is turning into.
oldgoat
New member
I only did the Cassiar Hwy in NW British Columbia & that was in a in a Toyota Highlander. But that was enough for me. The vehicle looked like it had been dipped in liquid chocolate/mud at the end of it. RVs towing cars were unrecognizable as they were encased in mud.
It beggars the imagination as to what a Spyder/motorcycle + rider would look like after a few hours on a liquid mud road. At least I could put the Highlander through a carwash.
Yet 2 wheelers do travel the Alaska dirt roads. They carry a front & rear spare tire & I guess pick a time when the roads are dry.
It beggars the imagination as to what a Spyder/motorcycle + rider would look like after a few hours on a liquid mud road. At least I could put the Highlander through a carwash.
Yet 2 wheelers do travel the Alaska dirt roads. They carry a front & rear spare tire & I guess pick a time when the roads are dry.
F650624
New member
In the North, the term "highway" is relative. Many are in worse shape that the worst gravel road you can find in the Lower 48. The calcium chloride stuck on my F650GS is like concrete when it dries, and it is highly corrosive. Weather can also be a factor. The snow picture is about 3 miles south of Chicken, and taken on 19 June. It was a bad day to be on 2 wheels. If on a Spyder, which wheel would you run in the snow berm? This is a good picture of a 3-track road. Visualize that the berms between the wheel tracks are rock and gravel.
Attachments
ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
Adventure type bikes are available as rentals in Anchorage. Maybe some also in Fairbanks. Do some checking there.
ahh-cool
Member
Thanks I will look into it when I get there
Yazz
MOgang Member
Ah jeeze, the road to the Arctic Circle is nicely paved with a gas station between Fairbanks and the Arctic Circle monment. You can make it there and back in a day. Once you get passed Cold Foot, the road gets rough.
Don't let those hairy-scarums deter you from your goal.
Been there, done that, got the shirt....
ahh-cool
Member
I saw your post from 2011. Very impressed
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