TransAmerica Trail -TAT

[Nothing Special]

Ray Cecil wrote

Well...im no ace on a MC, but I dont think any of the 4x4s will keep pace when the roads get rough.....

I'm no ace either.  Which makes it all the more apparent how much faster motorcycles are than trucks on poor roads.

[Ray Cecil]

Nothing Special wrote

...I'm no ace either.  Which makes it all the more apparent how much faster motorcycles are than trucks on poor roads.

Yeah, Old Gary Grandpa will do fine keeping up in Okie Homie until we hit sand. Then the bikes might struggle a bit. Once we are in the hills strattling ruts and navigating switchbacks....bye bye Grandpa! Hahaha.

[Gary Lewis]

Didn't I read this story to my kids?  And, grandkids?

Perhaps Aesop didn't envision the hare running out of gas, or having a flat, or just breaking down.  But I think he did envision this journey.  

[Ray Cecil]

Lol...slow and steady grandpa Gary!

I agree that sometime slow and steady is better......but Ricky Bobby never won a race being slow or steady.

"If you aint first, you're Last!"

[Ray Cecil]

So, I got the new Shorai Lithium Iron battery yesterday and installed it. Holy Moly is that thing light! I almost couldnt believe it. It sure cranked up the bike no problems.

I bet I have removed 15lbs from the bike when including the difference in batteries, tanks, removal of the egr air injection pump, removal of battery box, and the headlight mods.

Its still a heavy dirtbike. But compared to the old KLR, its waaaaay lighter...over 100lbs lighter.

I could still shave a few pounds if I put an aftermarket muffler on it, but I dont think its worth $300-$500 for a darn muffler.

[Ray Cecil]

Today, Santa Claus in his big brown UPS truck is bringing me the alum bash plate and the carb jets. So, I will be able to uncork and tune this thing to perform a little better, and run cooler. The factory jets them lean and installs the AIR style pump to pass emissions with the carb. They run a little hot even from the factory. So, as soon as you pull the snorkel, and uncork the exhaust they REALLY are lean. So lean that you cant get them to idle or run without modifying the idle mixture screw, and spacing the main needle. Re-jetting really makes it the best.

[Gary Lewis]

I hope there's support on other forums that tell you how to jet them 'cause running an air-cooled engine lean isn't good.  Better to be a bit rich than lean.

[Ray Cecil]

TONS of support online. The formula for getting these bikes to run reliably, efficiently and last a long time is well known. I am simply following that formula.

[Ray Cecil]

I finally have a few minutes. I know I have been MIA for a long time.....just checking in. A lot has been going on and I won't have time to catch up to what everyone has said in the other threads.

So, kind of bumping this thread to see if there is still interest in the trip.

[Gary Lewis]

The chase truck may fire up in a couple of weeks after a year-long transformation.  Sure hope you get some interest.