Per wiki the last issue of MCN was just before Covid struck, in January 2020.
I’m in Talkeetna, Alaska right now, and I saw the MRM (motoradd r-something Mexico) motorcycle club from Querétaro, Mexico. That is a state in central Mexico, and about 8000km from here (6 days in miles). It was mostly BMWs with a Triumph Tiger and Africa Twin in the mix. Mostly GS and the mini-GS, but also a K1600 and R18. There was at least one support truck.
That is a long ride. With the amount of gear piled on the bikes, they must be camping. Anyone ever do a ride like that? Much more ambitious than just cross country with a few hotel stays.
I did San Francisco to St. Louis, and back via LA, but that was only 5,000 miles with some hotel stays. Before that I did San Francisco to Fort Sill Oklahoma and back with a sleeping bag strapped to my front fender. No hotels. But nothing as long as 5,000 miles each way and camping. That’s quite a journey!
And…
Talkeetna! When I visited for the Iditarod some years back (I flew; not a drive or a ride), I took the Talkeetna Air Taxi out to one of the Iditarod check points and they landed us on a frozen lake. I stayed at the Talkeetna Roadhouse. Alaska is amazing and beautiful. Enjoy!
Did 21,000 miles around the US and Canada in 1988, camping except for 2 nights in hotels and a few stops with friends. Me on a GPZ750 and my buddy on a K75s. Lots of memories. No accidents, but at a stoplight in Mobile my buddy was so tired he just…failed… to put his feet down. Pretty hilarious but he dinged that pretty fairing!
Tipovers don’t count.
But his tipover was witnessed, and you probably remind him of it from time to time.
This hack from Texas was at our hotel this morning. With the cover on the sidecar I can’t tell if it’s rigged for luggage or for a friend. Only one wheel drive, with no option to power the sidecar wheel like some of the Ural setups.
The single engine plane traffic overhead is pretty astounding. I live in a major metro area within a few miles of two GA airports (one towered), and I’m seeing more traffic in this little town of 2000. Many parts of Denali are only accessible by air, and this is the departure point.
Impressive. Back when you might have to re-jet to cross the Rockies. Or more likely, just didn’t worry about it…
In my 30+ years of riding, I’ve had two at-fault accidents that ended up with the bike on the ground. One where I crossed a muddy tire track while leaned over, and one just like your friend. I had to get to work a couple hours earlier than normal and was just wildly exhausted. As I pulled into the parking garage, I rolled into my spot, stopped, and then slllloooooowwwly tipped over. Never took my feet of the pegs. Fortunately my Tiger 800XC had big, hard luggage mounted so I just came to rest on one of the cases. Barely even a mark.
I might get back onto a motorcycle. On Friday I’m checking out a used 2022 BMW R1250RS and a test ride.
Other than Cycle Trader, what are good sites for used bikes?
Just need to adapt beer hat technology. It also acts as a hydraulic cushion if you fall off.
Those Zero electric bikes look awesome but I trust the rear wheel assembly as far as I can throw a Ferrari. The purchase would have to come with free towing and repair… And a loaner bike.
I’m starting a search for bikes similar to the Honda CB1000 Hornet. Simple, light, low cost and zippy. Any thoughts welcome.
Maybe follow Marc on his for 60,000 km before you pass judgement
It’s nice that a musician is making a living riding a motorcycle but that’s not a particularly good reference source.
If his gear ain’t failing it ain’t failing. If it is, it is.
Actually, when I lived in L.A., was riding the Seca II, and eating fast food, I’d wear a Levi’s or Gap denim jacket. My drink would go into one inside pocket, and the bag with my burger and fries (or whatever) would go inside between the jacket and my belly. (Tito’s Tacos or Versailles Cuban food or Thai Beer food would be bungeed to the rack.)
I may have misunderstood his opening blog but he said the bike was given to him. Unless I missed his intent it was a travel blog and not a mechanical review. I could be wrong and don’t want to detract from his blogs.
Marc bought his Zero with his own money with 15k km on it and rode it 10s of thousands of Km east including the highest pass in the world.
He has no sponsors, like Noraly he does his own vlogging and editing.
He has travelled 60k km and 24 countries
The Zero was completely submerged in a flood on a street while he was passing a truck…and I mean well underwater…the entire bike.
He rode some rocky terrain that would have very difficult on any sports bike.
His biggest issue was tire failure tho it is very easy to remove the rear wheel and swap tires and belt.
Sorry, my apologies. I was looking at his Blog on the Verg hubless motorcycle and referring to it as a Zero. That’s the hub that gives me the mechanical willies. But looking at a video of how to pull the wheel it’s got to be the easiest of any motorcycle I’ve seen. I have to drop the exhaust system just to get to mine.
Someone commented on this image on Imgur. The owner has a couple of Reddit threads and an Instagram
He bought the sidecar for he and his wife to ride, but they got divorced.
So the sidecar is for a dog! (Click through to the thread for better pictures of the dog.)
He is rode from Corpus Christy to as Talkeetna by the time I saw him, by following the Gulf and Atlantic coast, then cutting across Canada. His intention is to ride back down the Pacific side, and then all the way around South America.
I’m so glad some people aren’t just living vicariously through Ewan and Charley.
650 is up and running. I got incredibly lucky and the only things needing replaced were the clutch push rod and accompanying seal. Looks like the chain slipped the front sprocket and kaboom. Twenty bucks and twenty minutes had everything sorted, plus a bit extra to get the chain back on and tightened appropriately.
Had a moment of distraction on the Beta last weekend and flopped around in the dirt a bit. Jumped right up, but I think I’ve cracked a rib. D’oh. I think I’m up to the full set by this point, plus both collarbones. The price you pay…