Adventures with my TE310 - the beginning

[JOSEPH]

DavidB the Mojave dessert is my back yard, let me know next time you are trying out your equipment on Joshua trees. I too gear up with the best; it is worth it when you slide under your bike at night in pitch dark and find yourself uninjured. Reinforcing the bike is the next thing I will do. Radiator braces and lift straps would be good from my experience on single track stuff in th hills.

 

[1lunger]

Great thread! If you need a bed, shower, garage, etc..in CT, you got it!

 

[WbCherry]

I'm a buck thirty-five...everything is over my head.
Hasn't stopped me so far.

What's a joshua tree? Some kinda stupid cactus?

 

[mnb]

What's a joshua tree? Some kinda stupid cactus?

No they're trees. Weird ass trees. Apparently a type of yucca.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yucca_brevifolia

 

[WbCherry]

Returning the air mattress. REI salesman cashed in on trip uncertainty.

Their fancy "waterproof" compression bag broke the first time I used it. The main closing strap ripped as I put the sleeping bag inside it.

Auxillary lights, turn signals, and such to be mounted today. Need to pick up extra shrink tubing, first.

Two photo shoots scheduled for Sunday and next week. Using the pics for a webpage and charity flyer.
Making a sign for the bike "Coloboma Crusader!" In comic-book font.



Fair warning:
I've read that the Colorado passes don't open until june/july, and they're the most scenic part of the trip. Not sure I want to miss those.
I was hoping for May. We'll see.
If anyone knows more about this, let me know.

 

[MontyCarlo]

You won't be crossing any unpaved Colorado passes in May, except maybe on snowshoes. Most don't open until July 4.

 

[mnb]

I've read that the Colorado passes don't open until june/july, and they're the most scenic part of the trip. Not sure I want to miss those.
I was hoping for May. We'll see.
If anyone knows more about this, let me know.

I'm sure those passes are nice, but I seriously doubt they're the most scenic part of this epic adventure you're planning. Besides, if you time it right, you can hit them on the way back.

There are parts of Utah (ok, much of Utah) that are just stunning. The Beautific Triangle of Mexican Hat, Moab and Zion contains some incredible scenery.

The Sierras have some great passes: Tioga (120), Sonora (108) and Ebbett's (4) are my favorites. Ebbett's Pass, like all three is paved, but it's a narrow goat trail for much of the pass. Lots of fun to carve those turns. Sonora has some fun sections and some scenic ones as well. Tioga is the most scenic IMO, with the least exciting twisties, but the scenery makes up for it easily.

Of course, there's Yellowstone and the Black Hills. I don't know if your route will take you near those, though. Maybe on the way home.

Sections of the California coast are stunning. And if you're in the San Francisco Bay Area, be sure to let me know and we can ride together. I'd be happy to give you a personalized tour of some of the local twisties (there isn't much local dirt).

 

[WbCherry]

Can't keep up with you on knobbies, yet, but sounds like a good plan.

Timing for early to mid May, then, so I can hit the passes as soon as theyre open.

 

[Colo moto]

Fair warning:
I've read that the Colorado passes don't open until june/july, and they're the most scenic part of the trip. Not sure I want to miss those.
I was hoping for May. We'll see.
If anyone knows more about this, let me know.

Typically this is the case, but this year most of the state is well below average snow pack, so some passes might be open a little earlier than most years. I wouldn't plan on this though, because things can change in a matter of a week or two. Best to plan NOT to be crossing the smaller passes that early. You could always swing a little further to the south (where we are) and hit northern new mexico.

 

[WbCherry]

Took forever, but I got shorter turn signals bolted on. And LED aux lights.
Wanted the aux lights up high. Gives contrast to the whoops and dips at night.

Crappy cell-phone photos, yes. Suck it up. I'm not a photographer.

Cheap steel bracket

Aluminum angle, screwed to the mirror hole in the lever clamps

This one is too close to the mirror. Need to make a longer bracket tomorrow.

Also put my brake light and rear signals on.
Still wiring them with a brake flasher.

Don't complain if it looks like butt. I hate waiting for paint to dry.

In other news...my pinky finger is numb from poking an Xacto knife through it.
Feels like it's asleep all the time. Kinda fun to whack it on stuff.

 

[WbCherry]

Website is up, finally.
http://colobomacrusades.org/
Don't laugh too hard. It's my first site. Still working on it.


I gotta admit - I was hoping for a little more enthusiasm than just the few readers so far.
If you're reading and not commenting, chime in and let me know. It's not Dakar, but damn.
If I wanted to talk to 3 people, I'd just stop taking my medication.

 

[Freaky]

Probably because most people think you're off your rocker! It's a great thread, dont stop.

 

[glangston]

Don't get me wrong but most things can only support so much buildup or anticipation......

Nice picture of the swimming hole. C'mon summer.

If you end up in Orange Co., CA we can offer you a Night without a sleeping bag and a hot shower and laundry facilities AND Uptite, fixer of all things Husky, is just a few miles down the street.

 

[WbCherry]

Beautiful 7602 ignition cover:

Too bad this goes on the inside:

STickErS!

He's tracking down a clutch cover for me.
Hope the red anodizing won't turn pink in the sunlight like on cheaper parts.

Guess I'll start putting this stuff on my website, since no one seems interested.

 

[jtemple]

I'm pretty sure the 7602 anodizing is pretty solid.

 

[Kenneth Webb]

Read your post over on ADVRider about doing the TAT this year. Read everything you can on previous trips, carefully. Folks do this solo, but not many will recommend that. Go with someone. You have quite a bit of work left to get your bike ready but you are making progress. For me, side racks and bags are a requirement; don't know if anyone makes them. If not maybe Berg, who makes racks for Wolfman, could help you. You are going to need space for the essentials as it's a long trip and will be both hot and cold. Forget the chain saw; just carry a folding saw. Tubliss is good, but carry spare tubes for the Tubliss anyway, and know how to install them! If you are not good at changing tires, get someone nearby who is to help you get some experience. I had only one tire puncture and fixed it with tubeless tire strings; just a few minutes to do it. A riding partner also ran tubliss and had a nail go all the way into the tubliss bladder. That's rare, but it happens. We also had one failure of a Tubliss tube, but again that's rare and it was a manufacturing defect. Tubliss made it good in spades though. I like the system and have it on both my dual sports. Do your homework, then go for it. I think it was the most fun I ever had, and I'm ready to do it again! Probably will. As an aside, we were three, and one was going to start med school after the summer was over. He had a well prepared bike, all the gear, and not a lot of experience. That was not true by the end of the trip!

 

[WbCherry]

Not carrying a chainsaw...I wanted one for making local trails.

Have bags, but trading them for Wolfman Expeditions. Hoping they'll work with Cycleracks side panels.

Staying far, far away from Tubliss. Just sticking with a heavy duty tube, spare, patch kit, and compressor.
Learning to change tires by putting in the tubes soon.

I will remain solo.






Having troubles finding a solid mounting location for these LED flood lights.
Handlebar is already chock full with GPS, rollbook, barkbusters, and map switch.
Re-routing the map switch...but its not gonna clear up much.
The TrailTech HID unit is great...I just want a failsafe.

Whelen taillight is frigging bright!! Lights up the tops of trees across the street.
Anyone interested in a video?

 

[WbCherry]

Anyone have a diagram of the rear wheel/axle?
Moving the center spacer and whacking with a drift from the inside...bearings aren't budging. Am I doing something wrong, or does I just need a bigger hammer?

 

[WbCherry]

Lotsa red!

extremely necessary shiny stuff

Most of the engine case bolts are just over finger tight. Applied loctite.

4mm tubes on the way. Hard to find in the right sizes.

 

[WbCherry]

Picked up a Motion Pro "Lite Lock" rimlock. They only make a size to fit the front rim.
Kinda offset some of the weight from the heavy tube, help with balancing.

About half the weight of the standard piece. Turned aluminum instead of steel.

Better photo of the brake light and turns:

Better photo of aux lighting. Fits fine on this side.

Gotta make a different bracket for this side. Interferes with mirror

Better photo of tucked-away front turns

Making a plexiglass rock-guard for the headlight tonight.
Thing was frigging expensive...better take care of it.

Still hoping someone can chime in with advice on the wheel bearings.