Author Topic: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road  (Read 9742 times)

Offline sci

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 45
K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« on: July 23, 2018, 06:50:14 PM »
Greetings. Just returned from my 8200 mile trip of a lifetime. The Haul road chapter was by far the most challenging. The Dalton is a great test for man and machine. The road is narrow, has soft shoulders, high embankments, and steep hills. It randomly switches from loose gravel to slick clay with sharp rocks to packed gravel with washboard and deep pot holes. They are continuously working on the road but I welcomed the delays and usually got in a good visit with the flagger. The last 100 miles can be the worst.  Even if the maintainer has passed before you, the operator might have left a mound at the end where he turns around. You can’t take your eyes off the road and must be ready to pick your line. The evening I arrived (6/28/18), it was 33° and foggy for the last 60 miles. My shield fogged up and I had to lift it up part way and that had allowed some chemical substance from the road to get onto my glasses which have plastic lenses and completely ruined them. There is no fuel and your phone will not work for the last 240 miles till you get to Deadhorse. The ’93 K75 performed flawlessly but I cannot say the same for the man. I had sore wrists, arms, neck and butt but I am 65 and have never done a trip of that length.










  • Battle Creek, Nebraska
  • 93 K75
Like Like x 1 View List

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 6615
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #1 on: July 23, 2018, 07:31:45 PM »
Congratulations!!!  My hat's off to you.  From what I have heard just getting to Fairbanks is a major accomplishment.  I've wanted to do that trip since a friend did it back around '78 on a Yamaha XT500.  Unlike you, he was only 40 when he made the trip.  Did you do it alone?

  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline caveman

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 196
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #2 on: July 23, 2018, 09:24:05 PM »
Well Done!!!!
That is very cool, I hope to take a crack at it someday.
  • Kennerdell, PA.
  • 87 K100RT, 88 K100LT

Offline caveman

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 196
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #3 on: July 23, 2018, 09:25:07 PM »
Well Done!!!!
That is very cool, I hope to take a crack at it someday.
Thanks for the pics and sharing.
  • Kennerdell, PA.
  • 87 K100RT, 88 K100LT

Offline sci

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 45
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #4 on: July 24, 2018, 10:18:16 AM »
Hi Gryphon,
Yes, I left alone but on many stretches, road with others. In Canada, I rode with some that were going up the Dempster highway which is the Canadian equivalent.
  • Battle Creek, Nebraska
  • 93 K75

Offline riots100

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 167
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #5 on: July 24, 2018, 10:37:17 AM »
That seems like a great trip!  Congratulations!  It would be great if you would publish a map of your route.
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • 1992 K75, 2007 K1200GT, 1991 K100RS
----
BDJ

Offline natalena

  • ^ SuperNatural Motobricker
  • Posts: 604
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #6 on: July 28, 2018, 12:21:27 AM »
Thanks for sharing a great adventure. Impressed you made it without any shale-cut flats. Went as far as Atigun Pass about 20 years ago. The long downhill across the Yukon River bridge was astounding engineering.
 Cheers
  • MST
  • 1987 K75s #0919, '05 Sportster 1200C
We don't need no stinkin' moly.

Offline Laitch

  • Faster than a speeding pullet
  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 10119
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #7 on: July 29, 2018, 01:03:16 AM »
Which tires did you use on that stretch, sci, and how many miles did you get from them overall?
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles
I wept because I had no radials until I met a man who had no splines.
https://tinyurl.com/RillRider

Offline sci

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 45
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #8 on: July 29, 2018, 11:44:39 AM »
Hi Laitch,
I put on the Avon Roadrider when I bought the bike last fall because the tires on it were very old. I was very happy with them and in hindsite, I think I could have made the whole trip on them but I wanted a little more off road grip for the last 400 miles. There are not many choices for the K75 but I settled on a Shinko 705 for the rear (130/90-17). There is not a front in that tire for size 100/90-18, so I went with the Shinko 712. Very happy with them also. They have 4700 miles on them on have 7/32 remaining on the rear and 6/32 remaining on the front. The rears have more tread to start with. I am guessing that I might get another 5K on them.
Sci
  • Battle Creek, Nebraska
  • 93 K75

Offline sci

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 45
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #9 on: August 02, 2018, 10:08:39 AM »




This was my route up and back.
  • Battle Creek, Nebraska
  • 93 K75

Offline bocutter Ed

  • ^ SuperNatural Motobricker
  • Posts: 707
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #10 on: August 02, 2018, 10:25:49 AM »
Thanks for sharing a great adventure. Impressed you made it without any shale-cut flats. Went as far as Atigun Pass about 20 years ago. The long downhill across the Yukon River bridge was astounding engineering.
 Cheers
I know a young lady who got that far on a Vespa 250 ... after doing the 4 corners usa.
  • Toronto, Canada
  • '61 Puch DS60 - '66 Puch 250 SGS - '87 BMW K75s

Offline billday

  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 1341
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #11 on: August 03, 2018, 06:19:00 PM »
Awesome, thanks for sharing.
  • New York State, USA 10977
  • 1985 K100

Offline SinNH

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 40
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #12 on: September 11, 2018, 04:45:14 PM »
Good show!
Great pictures.
I am sure that you will remember that ride--in details--for the rest of your life.
I've planned such a ride for years, now if I only could find the "Fountain of Youth"...
It seem like you didn't get too beat up.
Most do the Haul road with full knobbys, wide bars, and dual sport machines, not you, a road bike ! CHEERS!
  • NH
  • 93 K1100 LTA greenish

Offline herseyb

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 366
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #13 on: September 12, 2018, 04:03:49 PM »
Living the dream, man.

Cheers to you!
  • Brooklyn
  • '93 K1100RS

Offline KosmicK1100

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 23
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #14 on: December 30, 2018, 09:34:47 AM »
Congratulations, that is a huge accomplishment! It is always great to see a rider who adventures far and long and really pushes himself. Cheers!
  • France, Germany
  • K1100RS

Offline sci

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 45
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #15 on: December 31, 2018, 10:28:53 AM »
Thanks Kosmic.
  • Battle Creek, Nebraska
  • 93 K75

Offline twowheeledgator

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 23
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #16 on: December 31, 2018, 07:07:14 PM »
Man, that is freaking awesome.  I have never had the drive to do that trip (I do have my own insane dreams) but my hat is off to you for making it happen for yourself.  Enjoy your victory.
  • Floridy
  • '86 K75C, '95 R1100GS, '13 Bonnie Scrambler

Offline sci

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 45
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #17 on: March 22, 2020, 05:50:40 PM »
We still have a few inches of snow on the ground so I thought I’d post more photos from my 5 week, 8200 mile trip to Prudhoe Bay on my ’93 K75. 






This stand is on highway 20 in western Nebraska and works on the honor system.

This photo is in Meadow Grove Nebraska (Pop. 290) and my last stop on the way home.
  • Battle Creek, Nebraska
  • 93 K75

Offline billday

  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 1341
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #18 on: March 22, 2020, 06:18:54 PM »
Cool, thanks. It's a great time to dream about seeing new places.
  • New York State, USA 10977
  • 1985 K100

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 6615
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #19 on: March 22, 2020, 06:21:45 PM »
Thanks for the photos, I'm in the daydreaming phase of a trip to Fairbanks and Skagway to ride the White Pass & Yukon Railway where my father worked in early WWII when the AlCan Highway was being built.
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline sci

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 45
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #20 on: March 23, 2020, 09:53:13 AM »
That would be a great trip Gryphon.
  • Battle Creek, Nebraska
  • 93 K75

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 6615
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #21 on: March 23, 2020, 11:41:40 AM »
Yes, we'll see if the incarceration gets lifted before August and if I still have any savings left.
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline Past-my-Prime

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 495
  • All of us are better when we're loved.
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #22 on: March 23, 2020, 01:34:33 PM »
How did the K like 500 miles of gravel roads (or whatever it is)?

And would I be off topic if I asked what did you have on for tires -- and was it one set all the way up the slab to the tarmac to the gravel?

Curious minds want to know.
  • North Shore of Lake Superior (in my garage)
  • BRICK: 1989 K75 RT - Rocinante; NON-BRICK: 2007 F650 GS Dakar - Betty Blue

Offline sci

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 45
Re: K75 does the Dalton highway Haul road
« Reply #23 on: March 23, 2020, 06:52:15 PM »
How did the K like 500 miles of gravel roads (or whatever it is)?

And would I be off topic if I asked what did you have on for tires -- and was it one set all the way up the slab to the tarmac to the gravel?

Curious minds want to know.
The K75 did very well. I guess it was a success because I made it back without a spill. Just be alert. The gravel road is very random and sometime more loose than packed in spots and you can also expect maintainer furrows of different heights especially where he turns around.
In Fairbanks, I put a Shinko 705 on the rear (130/90-17). There is not a matching tire for the front for size 100/90-18, so I went with the Shinko 712. In my opinion, they did very well in the gravel.
-Dan
  • Battle Creek, Nebraska
  • 93 K75