Faster n’ U

No way of getting there or I’d go. Bike not done. No car. If anyone is going past Wooster on their way and has room let me know

I’m modifying the new bike. Learning from the past to make improvements here and there. Lots of parts went to the powder coated this morning. The rear wheel is at Woodys in Denver having work done. The new bike was stripped down and inspected/regreased. This is the first DR650 I’ve seen that had sufficient lubricant applied at the factory. Suzuki is infamous for being stingy with chassis assembly grease. My guess is that this is because, according the the VIN number, the new DR650 was the 8th bike to roll off the assembly line in Japan in 2011. Perhaps it received more attention because of that?

What haven’t I done to my bike today?

Yeah. Over 80,000 miles carrying a load all the fuck over. Not terrible for an air-cooled single IMO. Sunny 2.0 will be built slowly and with care and knowledge of what worked and what needs tweaked. Her first test will be Spring 2024 with a full-bore trip to the NW Territories, the Yukon and all of Alaska. Any of you dreaming of riding Alaska, It’s a place where support can be vital so let me know if anyone’s interested.

Failed main bearing here is a piece of the cage in the oil

The Canada travels have ended. As far north as you’re allowed to go in Quebec before being turned back because of large fires (just south of Raddison and Hudson Bay) while riding long days on rough dirt and gravel roads, my bike had a major motor malfunction. I knew something bad was wrong and even suspected the actual cause (gear holding primary drive gear into shaft came loose, spun out to grind against the inside of the clutch cover and the destroyed the key and key way on the main shaft) but she still was running strong and I was over 150km from any cell phone signal, motel or help (aside from the occasional logging truck) so I decided to go for broke and rode Sunny till she died at a motel in southern Quebec. From there obtained a rental truck and drove her back to Ohio. Over 80,000 extraordinary miles. Many many borders crossed. Fantastical places visited and countless wonderful people met and friends made in many countries. Hard to be mad even though the experience sucked and was stressful. I’m back at my buddies place in Wooster. Will tear into the bike to see the whole carnage soon. In the meantime, I located yet another 2011 DR650 at a dealership with only 582 miles on it. Sunny is also a 2011 and had 62 miles when purchased in 2018. I’ll be picking up the new bike Saturday in PA and then spend the Fall and Winter prepping and combining the two bikes to get ready for riding to BC the Yukon and Alaska next spring.

Words cannot describe what approaching 100k miles on this bike feels like. Far different that other bikes I’ve known, regardless of their accumulated mileage

Back in Ohio, just beating the record floods in Vermont. After weeks of rambling around the states in the NE, I grew tired of riding and camping in the rain. In my travels I’ve camped just about everywhere but packing up wet shit day after day gets old. So back to Ohio is was, where I’m staying at my friend Donnie’s place in Amish country just south of Wooster. Here I’ve been resting and ordering needed parts for maintenance on the bike. New air filter. New plugs after a valve inspection (all in spec after 74,000 miles!), fresh brakes out back, fresh fork oil and seals, new chain and sprockets and she’s ready for more. But with most of the country west of the Mississippi experiencing record heat I’m reluctant to head West to the states there. Besides it wasn’t long ago I was living in Denver in a wheelchair, waiting for the endless series of surgeries on my crushed leg, and smoking a lot of quality weed. So the next leg will be into Canada, leaving in a week or so. I’ll be camping and fishing all along the way. I just replaced my Kelty tent that I camped with through 22 countries with a larger, lighter single-wall, single-pole teepee design. I’ve also upgraded a few other pieces of my well-worn camping gear with nice new shiny stuff. So let’s see how good Canada’s weed is!

Nah. No one GAF here anyways lol. thanks though Timmy

I’ll be here in Wilmington Ohio on the 20th to connect once again with my friend Sam Manicom as he gives an enchanting presentation about his motorcycle travels in Africa. Hope to see some of you there! After that we’ll be attending VMD at Mid Ohio!

Back in Ohio for the holiday and to do some maintenance on the bike.

Logging many miles and states in search of quality herbs despite continued (needed) rain.

I’m leaving Ohio on the 10th. If you’re going to be there on the 9th Jim it’d great to see you. It’s real close to me

Began prep work for the Cycle South Summer 2023 Up in Smoke Tour. Leaving June 10th. Visiting all the states with legal recreational weed and sampling. Camping mostly. Riding sections of multiple BDR’s as well. Should be a wild one!

Thanks man. I was kinda kidding but I appreciate it. I don’t really make anything from the book sales (was paid initially), but because of my involvement, as Sam is pretty well known, have already been invited to attend (and rode to and attended) several large Adv motorcycle rallies including Waylin Wayne Weekend in SE Ohio and Overland Expo East in Virginia, where I got to give my first public presentations on different aspects of my journey. That was cool. And it looks like will lead to additional opportunities in writing (several for inline magazines) and being a presenter at an upcoming Horizons Unlimited rally in Toronto next June that I’m hoping to do. Maybe head north and west from there into Alaska for a bit and visit friends there.