Over the pond and beyond....a Brit in the Americas.

Hello! Welcome to what will probably be a very average ride report...

So, the plan is...what there's a plan?!?

The plan is to get my bike out of Newark customs by Friday and head down to Tellico Plains to pick up the TAT. I have the tracks for the TET so will follow some of that on the way and probably take a look at the Dragon too.

Assuming I survive the TAT then it's down into Baja and Mexico, stop to brush up my Spanish in Guatemala, the Stahlratte over to Colombia and down to Chile in time to see the Dakar roll into Iquique. From there down to Ushuaia and back up into Brazil for a few months work. (I lived in Sao Paulo for a while).

I'll be riding a KTM 690 Enduro with Rally Raid EVO2 tanks/fairing and far too much crap strapped onto the back.

It would be great to meet up with as many ADV'ers as possible along the way. If your on the tent space list then look out I could be coming your way!

Nick.

Facts & Figures:

Oil Changes:

02 Oct 2013 - 9000km - KTM Huesca

14 Apr 2014 - 18500km - Motorex 10w/50

01 Aug 2014 - 25400km - Motul 7100 10w60

30 Sep 2014 - 35680km - Motorex 10w60
(Scott's Filters)

03 Nov 2014 - 46400km - Putoline Nano 10w60

06 Oct 2015 - 46900km - Motul 300v 15w50

07 Dec 2015 - 55700km - Motul 300v 15w60

18 Jan 2016 - 65100km - Motul 300v 15w50

Value Checks:

14/06/2014 - 24000km

Ex Rt - 0.06
Ex Lt - 0.07

In Rt - 0.08
In Lt - 0.08

29/07/2014 - 25400 km

Ex Rt - 0.06 2.60
Ex Lt - 0.06. 2.55

In Rt - 0.13. 2.60
In Lt - 0.13. 2.55

20/08/2014 - 35680 km

Ex Rt - 0.07
Ex Lt - 0.06

In Rt - 0.12
In Lt - 0.12

27/10/2014 - 46200 km

Ex Rt - 0.07
Ex Lt - 0.08

In Rt - 0.11
In Lt - 0.11


04/10/2015 - 46900km

Ex Rt - 0.07
Ex Lt - 0.08

In Rt - 0.11
In Lt - 0.11

06/12/2015 - 55700km

Ex Rt - 0.07
Ex Lt - 0.08

In Rt - 0.11
In Lt - 0.11

29/12/2015 - 60200km

Ex Rt - 0.07
Ex Lt - 0.08

In Rt - 0.11
In Lt - 0.11

18/01/2016 - 65100km

Ex Rt - 0.07
Ex Lt - 0.08

In Rt - 0.11
In Lt - 0.11

10/02/2016 - 69866km

Ex Rt - 0.06 Changed Rocker.
Ex Lt - 0.07

In Rt - 2.50 - 0.11
In Lt - 2.55 - 0.10

24 Feb 2016 - 74500km

Ex Rt - 0.10
Ex Lt - 0.10

In Rt - 0.13
In Lt - 0.10

Tyres Used:

Mitas E-09 Dakar 130/80-18.
12200km ~ 15500km = 3300km
1500km left. 90/10

Mitas E-09 Dakar 130/80-18.
15500km - 20195km. = 4695km
1500km left. 80/20

Mitas E-09 Dakar 140/80-18.
20195km - 25400km = 5205km
2000km left. 99/01

Mitas E-09 Dakar 130/80-18.
25400km - 31440km = 6040km
0km left. 50/50

Pirelli MT21 140/80-18
31440km - 35680km = 4240km
2000km left. 20/80

Pirelli MT90 A/T 140/80-18 (part worn)
35680km - 39000km = 3320km
1500km left

Pirelli MT90 A / T 140/80-18
39000km - 46900km = 7900km
3000km left

Heidenau K60 Scout 150/70-18
46900km - 58500km = 11600km
? Looked about 60% worn

Heidenau K60 Scout 150/70-18
58500km -

Problems:

Sept 2013 – 6500km:
Fuel pump failed. Replaced under warranty. Later replaced with the CA Cycleworks pump.

Oct 2013 – 7000km:
Bike kept stopping, like it was out of gas. Eventually traced fault to faulty spark plug cap.

April 2014 – 25000km:
Exhaust rocker failed. Replaced both rockers with the updated part.

Sept 2014 – 31000km:
Oberon clutch slave failed. Replaced with the original KTM part.

Oct 2014 – 40000km:
Left fork seal leaked, cleaned.

Oct-Nov 2015 – 47000km:
On starting bike got FI light. Switched off/on. No FI light and running ok. Went on short trip all ok.
Fault code – Throttle Position Sensor.
Cleaned throttle body inlet and did throttle calibration. Fault came back.
Adjusted TPS to 0.28 – 0.50. Fault came back.
Adjusted TPS to 0.32 – 0.54 and did 15 min idle. No fault.
Open/closed throttle agresively several times. Started bike – all ok.
Decided to check maps. Read maps and compared with Orig. No difference.
Downloaded Ama EP and EVO1 FI. All ok.
Test ride ok.
Noticed on Tuneecu that throttle voltage had changed from 8.2 to 7.9.
TPS fault continued, sometimes several a day, sometimes not for days. Arrived a day early in Panama City and as the KTM dealer was closed due to Independence Day I decided to see if I could find a problem with the loom. Unclipped it and pulled and twisted but couldn’t produce the fault. Also cleaned and remade the earth to the frame and the earth at the coil.
Following day leaving Panama City the FI light came on but it was different symptoms. Stopped and restarted but fault came back as I pulled away, I then noticed that with some revs the voltage went to 17 Volts.
Pulled over, tested the stator ok so replaced the Mosfet reg/rec with the original. Problem fixed. Later repositioned reg/rec from behind radiator to just below r/h tank.

Dec 2015 – 57000km:
Very slight oil leak from top of clutch casing from purchase. Getting slightly worse. While with Toby in Huanuco removed clutch casing. There is a crack around the top bolt hole. Didn’t notice this when I replaced the gasket back in 2014 so it’s got worse.
Cleaned the crack with paint solvent and put some superglue in the crack and covered with chemical metal. Still holding a week later. Still has a very minor leak.

2 Jan 2016 – 59000km
After a 250km dirt road left fork seal leaking and slight oil leak from gear select switch cover.
Cleaned the seal, appears ok.
Have pinched up bolts on gear select switch cover, will see how it holds. Leak was very small.
Appears to be holding, no more oil leaking.

21 Jan 2016 – 65000km:
Oil leak appears to be coming from the counter shaft. But has now stopped leaking. Bought a counter shaft seal at KTM in Santiago.
Also while in Santiago went to Johnny Moto and changed my fork seals and oil.



Sent from a little keyboard using fat fingers......

A 100 mile or so blast down a windy motorway to the shipping agents near Heathrow. Into the warehouse and down to crating up the bike.



You think your 690 Enduro is a light bike? Mine must have a lead filled frame! With the panniers on and my riding kit and tank bag in a bag on the seat the bike was on a wooden pallet built for the crate.* It topped the scales at 273kg !?!!!

My panniers weigh 27kg and the guy said there was about 30kg of wood in the pallet. Lets say my riding kit and tank bag are 20kg that leaves 196kg...* Surely there must be something wrong?? I topped the scales at 88kg so they were accurate for that weight....hmmmm.





So after packing the bike and going through the process to get my bike back in NY I'm now sat with my last pint of English beer that I'll have for a while.

Next stop the apple that is large...


Nick.

Sent from a little keyboard using fat fingers......

In!

Hey Nick,

If

a) you're doing all of it, and/or
b) if you have happen to cross into Canada near Vancouver, BC - let me know - you can drop by, borrow the garage for some repairs, any help we can give. Or just a quick ride in the area - whatever you like.

PM me if interested.

cheers,

CM

Thanks for the offer but Canada will have wait awhile...

Here's a rough plan:



Sent from a little keyboard using fat fingers......

Awesome! Looking forward to the report. No worries on the beer, a lot of fine brewers here as well....Cheers and safe journey over.

Going to ride the Americas but skipping the largest country in the Americas? But you're so close, man!

I know but no time this trip.

It will have to wait for the next trip, maybe a go at the TCAT??

NICK.

Sent from a little keyboard using fat fingers......

Enjoy your adventure Nick! I have subscribed with great interest :)

In! Looks like a great ride. If you are in Los Angeles, you are more then welcome to stop by, borrow the garage/tools, etc.

In! I love RR by visitors to the U.S. It's always interesting to see our country through others' eyes.

This should be great. I'm out of your way (southeastern/coastal South Carolina) but if for some reason you come this way, be sure to let me know. Workshop w/lift, stuff like that. Glad to help out if I can. BTW, that's pretty much the "classic" Americas route I think, you should have a great time!

P.S. What did Phoenix charge? I'm headed the other way next year.


Lee...

this looks like a very good plan

Keep us posted on your RR bolt on goodies. Want to know how they hold up to long distance travel. My Evo II stuff shows up in a few weeks.

Subscribed and in for your long haul.

Your map looks like you may be passing close when your in North Carolina. When might you be down this way do you think? If the timing works out, I'll cover ya' dinner and would like to check out the bike.

If you need a place to stay or wrench on your bike, I'm just north of Colorado Springs, CO. PM me if you want to visit or stay here.

Enjoy your epic ride!

Hey Nick: You better get moving if you want to be down there for the Dakar. Looks like you're coming through Los Angeles so you have a place to crash here...and a cold beer. Good luck and ride safe.

That's one hell of a trip mate. Good luck :)

In