The TAT Preparation Thread-the logistical side of it

[DockingPilot]

Aug 25-Sept 10 is your friendly date bracket west of the frontal range in regards to weather and trail conditions.


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[LateNate]

Originally Posted by RememberTheFallen

Pretty good adventure you had in the Tacoma there Nate! Run thru most of it quickly and it looked fun. I liked the take it as it comes attitude that you two seemed to have.

Interested in your Georgia part. There isn't too much as far as riding down towards the coast of GA. I would think starting at the NC coast would be more scenic. Either way, make sure you document the journey well for all of us. If you do decide to route thru GA and for some reason go thru Cartersville north of Atlanta then you will have a back yard to camp in or spare bedroom to sleep in.

Hey, thanks man!

I got some tracks off the website for the GA part. It was part of the Trans East Coast Run or something? I haven't looked at them in a bit.

[Sludminger]

Time for us to chime in as well - 2 bros from Vermont heading out for the TAT June 1. We're riding KLRs ('09, '11), currently in the process of setting them up, collecting gear, tools, etc. Big remaining issue there is suspension. Not to get off topic, but if anyone has any recommendations on what to do, I'm all ears. I've read a lot of stuff, and its pretty unclear on what the RIGHT thing to do is. At this point, I'm thinking of replacing the front and rear springs with Race Techs with the proper spring rate (we're both around 210, 6'4", early 40s, experienced off road riders).

My other big question is around navigation. We will be purchasing the scroll charts in the next couple weeks. I've done many route sheeted rides so I'm totally comfortable following the paper, but I like having GPS as I'm expecting to deal with re-routs, wrong turns, etc. and figure that will help us to better get back on track, and I also like the redundancy. First question - what is the ideal KLR style (cheap) GPS set up? I have a Garmin Nuvi 550 which I don't think will work. Second question - with proof of purchase for the paper sheets, is there a way to obtain GPS tracks from somewhere?

[marc11]

Originally Posted by Sludminger

Time for us to chime in as well - 2 bros from Vermont heading out for the TAT June 1. We're riding KLRs ('09, '11), currently in the process of setting them up, collecting gear, tools, etc. Big remaining issue there is suspension. Not to get off topic, but if anyone has any recommendations on what to do, I'm all ears. I've read a lot of stuff, and its pretty unclear on what the RIGHT thing to do is. At this point, I'm thinking of replacing the front and rear springs with Race Techs with the proper spring rate (we're both around 210, 6'4", early 40s, experienced off road riders).

My other big question is around navigation. We will be purchasing the scroll charts in the next couple weeks. I've done many route sheeted rides so I'm totally comfortable following the paper, but I like having GPS as I'm expecting to deal with re-routs, wrong turns, etc. and figure that will help us to better get back on track, and I also like the redundancy. First question - what is the ideal KLR style (cheap) GPS set up? I have a Garmin Nuvi 550 which I don't think will work. Second question - with proof of purchase for the paper sheets, is there a way to obtain GPS tracks from somewhere?

You should also think about adding emulators or intimidators while you are in the forks; a fork brace will help too. What have you done to the rear shock, you may want to beef up the spring at least back there, if you want to keep the stock shock you could also add a raising link to stiffen it up a bit and gives a bit more ride height. Cheap upgrades but not near as good as a new MOAB or Ricor shock.

As for navigation, a Nuvi 550 will work perfectly, I have used it on my KLR and prior bikes, eventually I moved up to a Zumo because I wanted BT integration but the Nuvi was solid.

As for the tracks, aren't you buying them with the roll chart routes?

[Sludminger]

Thanks for the reply. I was considering the gold valve cartridge emulators that Race Tech offers. Front springs, rear spring, emulators, looks like it would run me a little shy of $400. I currently have only the Eagle Mike raising link in the back, no other suspension changes.

I didn't think so, I just checked the TAT website and I don't see GPS files offered anywhere. Maybe I should contact this Sam guy...

[marc11]

Don't forget fork oil too. I'd up your stock spring with your weight and gear in the rear. I am pretty sure the charts and gpx files are a package deal.


Odd grammar, words and spelling brought to you by my iPhone's autocorrect.

[leftystrat62]

Originally Posted by Sludminger

Second question - with proof of purchase for the paper sheets, is there a way to obtain GPS tracks from somewhere?

Think your out of luck there partner. Sam doesn't sell GPS tracks-nor are they available any where. If you want to transfer the roll chart waypoints to make a track for your gps, you'll have to do it yourself. Fair warning- it takes many many hours so don't wait. I started transfering mine last year and I'm still in Navada

[Sludminger]

Hey Lefty!

I sent Sam an e-mail last night inquiring about the GPS tracks. He got back to me pretty quickly to let me know that yes, GPS tracks are available. $20/state. That adds a big chunk to the routing expense, but it did sound like the process you were going through took a ton of time so I think we'll get the more critical states.

[dashmoto]

I'm heading out there late April, planning on doing the full length plus some other stuff (I'm in the US for 12 weeks).


I decided against turning the rollcharts into tracks, for two reasons:

- I've got a 60CSX, and there's no way the whole thing would fit, and I'm not taking a PC, only an android tablet, so can't run Garmin software to switch routes in and out of the internal memory.

- It would have taken an enormously long time.

What I have done is type all the waypoint coordinates in (which still took ages - maybe a couple of weeks at a couple of hours a night), and I'll have these in the GPS as Points of Interest, labelled with state and mileage. I'll be primarily navigating off the rollchart, but I've then got a double check that I'm at the junction I think I'm at.

I'll have the track logging on and some sort of map in there (do be decided, what's people's opinions of OSM in the states?) which will take care of any backtracking, etc.

Time will tell whether this works or I get horribly lost

[oldtrucks]

Originally Posted by dashmoto

I'm heading out there late April, planning on doing the full length plus some other stuff (I'm in the US for 12 weeks).

That's really early, there will still be a chance of snowfall as late as June and no telling what the rest of the winter will add to the existing snow pack in the Rockies.

Docking Pilot made the comment earlier......

Originally Posted by DockingPilot

Aug 25-Sept 10 is your friendly date bracket west of the frontal range in regards to weather and trail conditions.

[mrt10x]

Originally Posted by dashmoto

I'm heading out there late April, planning on doing the full length plus some other stuff (I'm in the US for 12 weeks).


I decided against turning the rollcharts into tracks, for two reasons:

- I've got a 60CSX, and there's no way the whole thing would fit, and I'm not taking a PC, only an android tablet, so can't run Garmin software to switch routes in and out of the internal memory.

- It would have taken an enormously long time.

What I have done is type all the waypoint coordinates in (which still took ages - maybe a couple of weeks at a couple of hours a night), and I'll have these in the GPS as Points of Interest, labelled with state and mileage. I'll be primarily navigating off the rollchart, but I've then got a double check that I'm at the junction I think I'm at.

I'll have the track logging on and some sort of map in there (do be decided, what's people's opinions of OSM in the states?) which will take care of any backtracking, etc.

Time will tell whether this works or I get horribly lost

shouldnt be too hard to find where you are at.. since you will be on tarmac everywhere West/North of Oklahoma due to snow

[dashmoto]

Originally Posted by oldtrucks

That's really early, there will still be a chance of snowfall as late as June and no telling what the rest of the winter will add to the existing snow pack in the Rockies.

Docking Pilot made the comment earlier......

Yeah I know, but there's a few other factors that mean it has to be then. I've got friends in Boulder, CO, so if it's a matter of waiting a matter of days, I'll stop there. If it's looking like longer I'll either go around or go somewhere else (south) for a while, and come back to do the CO section later in the trip - I've got till mid-July.

[dashmoto]

Originally Posted by mrt10x

shouldnt be too hard to find where you are at.. since you will be on tarmac everywhere West/North of Oklahoma due to snow

If that's the case, I'll deal with it and go see some other stuff. I'm pretty sure you're exaggerating slightly though ;)

[mrt10x]

Originally Posted by dashmoto

If that's the case, I'll deal with it and go see some other stuff. I'm pretty sure you're exaggerating slightly though ;)

Yes .. but it would be a rare year for any of the high passes to be open in your timeline.. Plenty of great dirt to be had around Moab though.. and lower elevations.

[Abenteuerfahrer]

Originally Posted by leftystrat62

Think your out of luck there partner. Sam doesn't sell GPS tracks-nor are they available any where. If you want to transfer the roll chart waypoints to make a track for your gps, you'll have to do it yourself. Fair warning- it takes many many hours so don't wait. I started transfering mine last year and I'm still in Navada

Sam does indeed sell TAT GPS tracks at $20 per State. After paying Sam the cost for the States he wanted to traverse my partner who later split with me got them downloaded in a Motel..transferred them to his Garmin 60CSx and went on his merry way. I already had mine loaded(from maps and roll charts) on my Garmin Montana and Zumo before I left home.

Cheers...