Hey Lefty,, I love my Kermit chair.. in fact I have two of them for some reason :huh but if I was heading out on the small bike.. which of course I am planning to do more of once I get to CO next spring.. then I would be packing one of these along http://www.rei.com/product/829239/rei-flex-lite-chair I sat in Lilolita and Chesses at the last camp n ride, and bought one for myself a couple of weeks ago. It is 90% as comfortable as a kermit but only half the size and weight.. just trying to spend your money for you.. get one of these and keep the extra set of gloves
At the time when I made that it was the latest route with all the best information I could find. Tennessee is missing since I plan on starting near Corinth, MS and I am missing a section of East Oklahoma. If you were to import that KML into BaseCamp and send it to your GPS you could follow the route. If you wanted to share what you have I can add it to the route and redistribute it. I was looking to make a database of alternate routes, an easy visual guide of how the route has changed over the years and a set of waypoints that show users where there are dangers (example the huge sinkhole in Oregon on the route two years ago), where there are gas stations that are open and who has premium fuels (WR250R needs 91 octane), where the best hotel/motel/camping locations are, and where there are sightseeing opportunities just off the trail. I also wanted to collect a database of inmates that live along or near the route for emergencies. I had a lot of idea's to pack this all into a website... I just never got a rountuit.
I have a pair of these which are indestructible. I picked the lining out of the index and thumb of the left glove to better push small buttons on electronics while riding. I have a pair of nylon lobster mitts, sort of like these (or these) or (get fancy) which I only wore in Alaska/NWT/Yukon/BC when it was snowing or windy cold rain. I also have a pair of leather work gloves for camp chores and as a backup for my riding gloves. PM me your email... files can't be attached via ADV.
So nice to have a camp chair at camp---sure beats sitting on the ground. Here's is my chair-----it's pretty pricey, but worth every penny. The best part is it saves so much time packing up as there is no need to dis--assemble it at all. An added benefit-------in a tail wind you can get some really great mpg. Headwind-----------not so much. BigDog
Ya know Matt-that looks good. I tried the 2 legged Monarch from REI-too much effort for me-returned it,but your looks worth checking out for when I need to go LIGHT-if not I'll certainly consider BigDogs option.
You know what they say about opinions, and that everybody has one. I have a Kermit chair and it's the most comfortable thing in the world, but it's big and HEAVY! I adopted an idea from one of my riding partners after ignoring his selection for too long; get a compact (short) three legged canvas and aluminum camping chair. The good thing is that besides being LIGHT, it's fine for sitting around the fire, working on your bike, or putting on or taking off your pants, sox and boots. I wear a knee brace and it's invaluable for that. Not a lounge chair by any means, but very versitile. .
I think what you guys need to do is ship me all the different chairs listed so I can try out each one on a shake down trip and then I will choose. I promise I'll send them right back
Here's a pict of the chair Ken is talking about...called a Camp Rite, chair but I cannot find it on line anymore. good thing it sets up easy....
damn you must be one fast tire changer, cause 3 out of 4 guys didn't even bother to get off their bikes and take off their helmets
What a sense of humor! That was a group that had been following on our heels on the TAT ever since we left Tennessee. They caught up as Kevin and Richard were dealing with a nail. I, on the other hand, was down the road and up the hill, waiting, and thinking they had taken a different route the last few miles into Trinidad. That's my story and I'm sticking with it! The other pic is in La Veta, NM where we made some tire changes. I think I'm pointing to a puncture on Kevin's rear if memory serves. That little stool was really handy. Kevin had ankle issues from a bad crash years ago, and I have a bad knee which makes it difficult to get on the ground and back up again. It's hell getting old! Kevin is a tough old bird though, and strong! When it came time to air up tires he just nudged me out of the way and wailed away. Great trip, and you'll be passing thru there soon.
Did you change your mind on going? I was starting to warm up to the idea of having someone to ride with at least part of the trip! Lefty, glad you started this thread. Just what I have been looking for! I am loosely planning on August time. I have quite a bit of gear I need to get by then but I don't see it being a problem. My biggest challenge is going to be getting the time off from work. As a firefighter I assume you work 24/48s? How did you swing 9-10 shifts off to your chief? I only earn 3 shifts off a year so if I want to get the time off I will have to do out of pay period swaps. We have a "no out of pay period swap" policy so I may have to threaten to go part time to either get them to give in or actually be part time. I will be following this thread closely to see (copy?) how your planning goes. Good luck with everything! Joe
oh,I still plan on going. We have a 4 platoon shift.We work 4 days on,4 days off. I've got 25 yrs. on so I get 5 four day vacations slots that I'm taking back to back plus some personal days. This is the first time I've ever been able to do something like this with my time because of my seniority. Don't under estimate how much $ you can spend getting ready for a trip such as this,it's the reason I had to bag it last year( I believe in paying cash-or I don't buy it). I know you don't "Have" to buy all the goodies so to speak,but I chose to get ready my way,and it wasn't cheap. So I guess this is a good segment into my next installment-my specific bike prep
There seems like there are lot's of great DS bikes to choose from today DRZ,WRR, KTM EXC, etc.; certainly all very capable for the TAT and so much more. My choice-the WRR came after doing much reading/research on this site for many,many months.Special thanks to HF & BigDog who generously shared their experiences that helped me with my decision. I'm not saying it's the right bike,best bike,because I truly don't believe there is such a thing as one best bike(too many diff. riding styles & situations). I did sell my beloved Harley (full dresser) to make this purchase so when I share the details of what it took me to get the bike where it is today-you'll know I'm not independently wealthy -just married the right girl One of my intentions of this thread was to keep it real. I could try to only share things to give the perception that " I've" got the answers,but as you'll see in this next installment-that's NOT the case. I purchased many item that I ended up reselling at a loss in trying to learn how to properly set up my bike. My hope is that I can help you weed through what to do as well as what not to do. Also, thanks to our brother ADV riders who are helping share their personal experiences which help in rich this thread. One other thing worth mentioning-I set up and carry the same stuff on this bike and my GSA weather it's for 2 days,2 weeks or 2 months. I never carry more clothes because I'm traveling longer. I really try to choose my bike,tools,gear to reflect; and obviously this is STILL a work in progress. I purchased this 2010 WRR (640 mi) mint on 11/10/11 with lot's of mods for a very fair price form an inmate in NC-terrific gentleman!! He had done the 290 kit,go race suspension,hand guards,tail bag,skid plate,foot pegs,exhaust/computer,and all the standard mods that you read about on the mega thread(sorry BigDog-I know you like em' stock). He gave me air filter,oils filters and put on the 3.1 gal tank.ironman sprocket,new chain,13/47 w/ 110 chain.Just a great deal!
He was asking me if I changed my mind Keith...Joe and I have talked via PM about taking our two Husabergs on the trail.. I am still wanting to go... I certainly have all the required gear.. and two sets of much of it... because I am the consummate consumer..o m I have to move to CO sometime in june or july... I can move into my house in CO on Aug 1st.. those are my have to do's once I finally decide on my exact retirement date... there is still a small part of me still thinks I might work a couple of more months and sell back the leave I have on the books... would mean a few xtra thousand in my bank account for my transition to civilian life. I have not done any real planning..other than buying up lightweight gear in anticipation of doing the trip someday.
So now here's what this bike his morphing into: I've added: IMS 4.7 gal tank($399),folding shift lever($41),Explore lite tank bag($150 w/ rain cover),cargo rack($130),front disc protector($85), Freedom case savers($56) Transformed a bit more: Sargent seat which I plan to sell,rotopax,and yes I went for that rugged bridge by myself. I've got to find a riding partner-this was tough getting out of by myself
I'll be doing the trip this summer, gradually working out the details and all, but still haven't wrapped my head around the various options of what to do when I get "there." If I take 4-5 weeks riding west, then I won't have the option or time to ride back home since I'll need to get back to work ASAP. I've read every RR and TP thread over the last year and a half and I know everybody does it different. . I will have left my truck in NC, but I'll need to get me and the DRZ back to FL. I can pick my truck up later. I know one guy who sold his bike when he got to Oregon, and hopped on a flight back to FL the same day. So, how do you go about arranging transportation for your bike and yourself? Obviously it would be nice to have it set up before you get there. How much $ do you set aside for all of this? Do most guys spend the nite and fly out the next day? How does it work? Any recs?
I plan on riding from R.I. to OR;shipping my bike home and fly back. I got a quote last year(which flux's with fuel prices) around $650. I've been gathering shipper info and as it get's closer I'll find out who is close to Porrtand OR and go from there.
Keith There is a Allied hub right in Portland. I rode in, secured the Husky on its pallet and called a cab for the airport. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk