TAT ; No Reservations

[LXIV-Dragon]

Did your TAT start in Jellico?

For me it was well before that! In 2006 I was relocating to Florida. With me on the flight was a book by Dan Walsh, "These are the days that must happen to you" Dan basically got up went on a world tour on his XT. A great read.

At that time I was bike-less having just sold my CBR600F in Germany. Had thought about a few street bikes but had not considered a return to dirt. Last dirt I had was an XL250S when still in my teens! When I came across mention of the TAT in Dan’s book I dog eared the page…….. no idea why!

A few months later I had bought a Speed Triple and In April 2006 attended a RAT rally in NC. While there we did a trip to Tellico Motorcyle Outfiitters in TN. There was a group of ADV guys and that made me think of the TAT again. FF to 2009 and I buy a used ’07 DR650SE with a view to doing the TAT in 2010.



Here is the spec as I got her :-

Acerbis front fender (since removed, wrecked in crash)
Front fork brace
Magnetic drain plug
Braided S/S front brake line
Skid plate ; Utah Motor Sports or Happy Trails Skidplate
12 volt cigarette plug
K&N air filter
Fram crank case vent filter
Stage 2 Dyno
Yoshimura exhaust (since removed)
Gas filter
Clarke gas tank
Moore hand guards (since removed)
Pro Taper Henry /Reed handlebars
Corbin Seat
Suzuki rear tool pouch (since removed)
Dealer lowered ; front & rear

I then set about my own mods :-

Barkbuster VPS hand guards
OEM rear rack
OEM fender replaced (Acerbis wrecked!)
Wolfman pannier racks
Screen ; Screens for Bikes (since removed!! Destroyed in minor wreck)
Oxford heated grips (just coz I had them)
RAM GPS mounts
GoPro Mount
D606s
Engine Guards
Skid Plate extended (4”x6”)
GSXR can Air box mod ; a la Jesse
Jesse mid pipe
Agri Tool Box
Eibach 0.47 Front Straight Springs & reverse lowering Rear Brake Braided SS line
Rotax 2” Bar Raisers
FMF Spark arrestor
FactoryPro needle
Twin Air Filter
IMS 4.9 Double
Take Mirror
Rotopax fuel and water cans

And probably some other crap….. Here she is just before the off on 13th July (yup that would prove to be an unwise date!)

[LXIV-Dragon]

Central FL to GA. En route to Tellico Plains TN to replace the 606s with MEFOs. I am told these will complete the whole TAT and still bring me home. Lets see! I stopped over night just in to GA having only left CFL at 17:30. Loaded up and all seemed well. The plan is meet up with fellow ADVer FlashbackMac in Jellico late on the 14th and start the TAT on the 15th....

[LXIV-Dragon]

Set off good and early. North of Atlanta, about 5 miles on from Canton I lose all drive while buzzing along at 75mph. Not the best start.

Mac is not far and can come to the rescue :)



While waiting I made a few calls.

It was clear that the clutch was fried - why? Own fault!! A few months ago I added bar raisers and failed to adjust the clutch. It did not feel like it was slipping but clearly was. Dahhhhh!!

The rescue took a couple of hours. In that time one KLR guy stopped (they are not all bad - lol) and a couple of HD guys - and to be fair they seemed really great guys. One was actually heading south and went to the next junction and turned around! Thanks guys and great talking to you!

While waiting I ordered the clutch which would be in place by 13:00 the next day at the same place that I was getting the MEFOs fitted, albeit now a day later....

[LXIV-Dragon]

Here is Ron at Champion Cycle & ATV in Tellico Plains doing a great job. Excellent service at very reasonable cost. On the upside - It was better to happen now than in the middle of no-where!

[toolhorder]

Good luck on your trip. I'm along for the ride.

[LXIV-Dragon]

Thanks. I enjoyed your RR....

[LXIV-Dragon]

I managed to leave Tellico Plains at around 18:30. GPS said it was a two hour trip.

Mac had gone ahead the evening before and would be camping in the State Park. I called and said I was en route.

About half hour into the trip the heavens opened but no worries I was on my way to starting the TAT

As it happens the rain got heavier and heavier until I almost could not see what was ahead. The postive thing was that the Klim Traverse kit was doing a top job! Excellent!

I finally rolled into the camp ground three hours later. Called Mac, "Brit don't go there" he said....

Turns out the tornado warning sirens had gone off and the site was washed out. Mac got soaked through so bailed and headed for the Days Inn. Fellow campers brought all his kit.

Drying some kit off

[LXIV-Dragon]

Just before the off. Mac and a couple of very clean looking DR650s



At mile 10 (ish) my GPS stopped being nice

Long storey short I got out the roll charts (still in the sheet form), cut add added to the roll chart holder and we were back on our way.

As everyone will tell you there is a good degree of slab one this section but it is a great introduction to the TAT.

I found the roll charts easy to use and we made reasonable time.

As you come into Sparta the is one of the best BBQ places ever! Doesn't look like much but ummmmmmm





Close up of the info





We went on to camp at

Rock Island State Park 82 Beach Road Rock Island, TN 38581-4200 which is on the trail.

[LXIV-Dragon]

We were meeting the final member of out group that evening at the David Crocket State Park.

This time I had prepared all the roll charts and the route went well. A lot of slab and if I am honest a touch too much.

Not too much to report......

We camped at

David Crockett State Park 1300 West Gaines (Highway 64) Lawrenceburg, TN 38464-0398 Site was fine but no washing machine.....

[LXIV-Dragon]

Got up at 04:00 as I really wanted to fix the GPS (anything to save me cutting the roll chart sheets

Figured out my screw up and resent the tracks to the GPS. Success

I will bore those interested later in what GPS etc I used. My error was in track points (500 max, my routes had 2,000 as an average, just slit it into 500 sections, job done!)

My front pads were shot so an other early job...



On the DR this is really a ten minute job

Then we were off.

THE water crossing..... no matter how many times you read this it is not enough

Mac going about it the right way....



Pete - likewise



Me? I dumped it.... and then again at the next one

Slick rock with algae makes for a sad DR.

Great lunch here



Bumped into a group of about 12 Brits later that day. No photos but I am sure we will see them again. We also hear there are four Kiwis ahead of us!

We are currently 'camped' at the Americas Best Inn. All good and for $5 the guy did our washing

It will be several days before I post again. Later....

[Dr.Z]

Looking good so far despite the issues Pete!

Good luck on the rest of the journey.

[Al Tuna]

[KimPossible]

Okay, I am with you in spirit! Enjoy the ride!

[Cornbread82]

Ruff start but it can only get better for you, good luck and have a good trip

[LXIV-Dragon]

Am in Clinton AR.

Front seals have gone and will need to order new ones.....

Any TATers got te info for dealer en route so I can forward order? I had Valcom Motorsports in Trinidad but think they are no longer there.

Everything else is AOK except Mac bailed on us......

Have got fork oil so can just top up til repaired!

TIA.