Steamer to Alaska

[RiderX]

A buddy and I are in the discussion phase on taking a trip to Alaska year after next. I have a '98 with 32k, engine guards, heated grips, center stand, givi saddles and top. I have been becoming intimately familiar with all of the routine maintenance issues over the last 2+ years I have owned this bike. I would plan on doing all the maintenance on it, take a set of knobbies and the usual stuff, but it ain't a brand new bike either. Any thoughts?

[Stretch]

A sturdy skidplate and radiator / oil cooler guards are a must if you're going to spend much time on the gravel highways.

[nightrunner]

+1 what Stretch said.

Also, have you rejetted the carbs?  Cold temps up there means denser air and hardder starting on an already lean bike.  Prolly be OK but just a thought.

[John Stenhouse]

Go and enjoy yourself. Then post the trip report here!

[RiderX]

The Steamers have a skid plate. Or did you mean a skid plate on top of the skid plate? Who carries such hardware?

[abruzzi]

The Steamers have a skid plate. Or did you mean a skid plate on top of the skid plate? Who carries such hardware?

I've considered reinforcing the stock skid plate.  Basically the idea would be extending the bottom "tongue" 3 or 4 inches, welding support bars from the tongue to the side bars on either side, and replacing the aluminum plate/insert with something of a heavier gauge.   The steamer skid plate is better than the Girly one, but it is kind of flimsy.

Geof

[DesertDog]

I would not worry about loading up my 97 Steamer and heading to Alaska.  It has almost 50k on it and roars like a Tiger should.

I have a put a Vstrom skid plate on mine and it covers all the exhaust and the cross pipe.  And after 25k its beat to hell but no crushed exaust parts.

[OK Tiger]

did you put on engine guards beyond stock?  I have been moving around some Forestry roads and the gravel suggests I could tip over once in awhile ... thoughts?

[RiderX]

I have the Hepco-Becker engine guards. They work quite well in a tip over.