Saturday, April 6, 2013

Going Tubeless With Gorilla Tape

I have never been very happy with the Stan's No Tube Rim Tape.  I think it too thin and not at all durable.  I'm also currently working in an area that you can not find bicycle parts.  I wanted something I can get around town.  I searched the google machine about alternatives.  I found some people have had good luck with gorilla tape.  In fact there is a wheel manufacturer that sells their wheels with gorilla tape installed.  So, I decided to give it a try.  I started with Stan's ZTR wheels and installed the Gorilla tape just like the Stan's no tube tape.  Installation videos on their website (Stan's Help Center).  Here is how it went...
Installed the tape just as wide as the inner part of the rim.  Just as wide as the Stan's tape.  Then put the wheel and tube on to compress down the tape.  I'm waiting on my valve stems in the mail to complete the system.  I've been riding the bike with the tubes inflated to 40psi for a couple day's.  I went to ride it this morning and I had a flat (I hate flats).  I went to change the tire and could NOT get the tire out of the bead.  It was locked in!  I quickly realized it wasn't just the bead but the thicker Gorilla tape holding it on the bead and not letting it slide.
I removed the tape and made in skinnier (pics coming after I do the full tubeless install.  So, make sure you do some testing if you decide to use Gorilla tape.  I'm pretty sure it will work after I figure out all the details and I will keep you updated on the outcome.  

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

The Delicious Fargo


I was once called a human Swiss Army Knife.  I try to prepare for any and all situations for the task being performed.  It would be safe to say the Salsa Fargo is the Swiss Army Knife of bikes.  If only I've spent just as much time riding it as I have researching the best gear to put on it.  I will continue to update with my thoughts and reviews.  If you have questions email me at Ridethreesixtyfive@gmail.com.  So far here is what I've got...

Bike- Salsa Cycles
Brown Salsa Fargo 2
Stan's ZTR Arch wheels
Carbon Salsa seat post
Whiskey Co. full carbon front fork
Crank Brothers Mallet 2

The bike is awesome.  The carbon seat post and fork make the ride soooo smooth.  I had a completely stock Fargo 3 and honestly, it was brutal.  This Fargo on the other hand thing glides around very nicely.  The Stan's wheels have been ok so far.  I also have Stan's on my Spearfish so I do have a little experience with them before now.  The only advise I would give is to make sure you read the compatible tires list on Stan's web site.  I didn't read it and bought some WTB Nano TCS tires.  I spent about an hour trying to get one of them on.  I finally gave up and tried looking for solutions.  I wish I would have seen the incompatible list first!




Bags and Luggage-
Salsa (Revelate Designs) Frame bag
Salsa (Revelate Designs) Viscacha seat bag

So far I really like the frame bag.  It's very roomy and basically has 3 compartments. The left side is a nice size for my Lezyne Micro floor drive pump, CO2 cartridges, patch kit. and multi tool.  The other side has a little velcro flap that can be used to section off the top and bottom.  The back side is perfect for a water bottle and a spare tube underneath the bottle.  I have yet to use the top/front side of the bag but it's got a lot of room to spare...

Tires and accessories-
Lezyne Micro floor drive HP (tire pump)
Genuine Innovations second wind road (CO2/hand pump)
Gorilla Tape

Because I am a bit of a freak about being prepared, I figure if there is two things you need to make it to your destination... a tire pump and Gorilla tape.  The GI second wind will be used mainly as a CO2 pump only.  The Lezyne will be used to fine tune the tire with it's built in tire gauge and ABS system.  If you under inflate your wasting valuable energy and the possibility of damaging the tire.  If you over inflate you will blow out the tire.  I've done both, it sucks!  I have also experienced hand pumps and floor pumps that go to shit in the middle of no where.  So just in case of that, I carry 2.  I wrap my CO2 cartridges in Groilla tape so that if I need some I have it and so my cartridges don't clank around everywhere.  Gorilla tape has many uses, including patching tubes if need be.



Accessories-
Kuat bottle lock
Crank Brothers Multi-17 multi tool

The Kuat bottle lock was send over from my friends at Kuat.  I ordered a Kuat Vegabond X from them after talking with the owner at a Salsa demo in Springfield Missouri.  Both items are top notch.  The bottle lock is so easy and not bulky at all.  It's way better than trying to wrap a stupid lock around your seat post every time you run to the store or have a beer at your local hang out.



Thursday, June 21, 2012

Wobbly 2 wheel Wednesday, training for Road to Baja

Mr. Smithers and I rode our asses off yesterday at Smithville lake. The trails were dry but good! We ended the night with local Mexican food from Castizos. One more chapter to our Road to Baja! In one week we leave for the Continental Divide. Let the training continue...

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Triumph Tiger 800 XC build


About a year ago I purchased a 2011 Triumph Tiger 800XC.  I have always wanted an adventure bike, however I didn't think it would be a Triumph.  In fact I wasn't even planning on buying one for a few years.  I originally wanted a BMW 800GS.  I am super happy with my decision to purchase the Triumph.  It's been a great bike!
I have been building her up from stock.  It started out a little like this.

And now looks like this as of last week (without luggage)

Changes include:
Custom rear 52 tooth sprocket
Custom painted brushed aluminum pieces
Custom Acerbis rear shock protector
Acerbis hand guards
Acerbis rear mud flap
Touratech front fender riser
Touratech GPS mount/adjustable windscreen mount
Touratech foldable shifter
Touratech headlight guard
Touratech sidestand foot.
Garmin Zumo 665
Rigid Industries Dually D2 LED aux. lights
Carribou Luggage top rack and top box
Happy Trails rear luggage racks
Happy Trails front crash bars
Wolfeman Luggage Expedition dry bags
Wolfeman Rollie Bags-Large
RKA tank bag
Mega Tube tool tube
Triumph skid plate
Triumph center stand




















Make sure to check back regularly for new pictures.

Special thanks to:
Ride Three Sixty Five and Amsoil
Engle Motors
Happy Trail

Continental Divide Ride

In a couple weeks 5 of us are riding our motorcycles on the Continental Divide from just outside Pueblo Colorado to Canada.  We will be riding highway from Kansas City to Pueblo, and from Canada to Kansas City.  The rest of the trip will mostly be off-road.  I would like to dedicate this trip to my Uncle Brian.  Brian Loves motorcycles!

Here is our story...
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Here is our planned route:

Our total planned route is 4,059 miles.  I think it will be about 4,500 miles before we get back.  I foresee some unplanned routes on our trip.

We did a test run on Memorial Day.  We rode 300 miles and it took us about 8 hours with 1 lunch stop and 1 gas stop.  We will have a few 300+ mile days on our trip.  This ride was very exhausting.  I expect the first few days to be a mind game.  Here is our track from Memorial Day.


6-20-12
Got some new shoes from Engle Motors.  I have gone through 2 of these Continental TKC 80 tires already.  Historically I have only been able to get about 3,000 miles out of one of these rear tires.  I guess I will have to be a little easy on the throttle to make it home on this one...

6-24-12
Departure day is getting closer!  Yesterday I used a rear fender dirt bike graphic I had laying around to protect my tank during our trip.  I don't expect to have a lot of chances to wash my bike and I didn't want dirt and dust to sit under my tank bag and destroy my paint.  Minus the little crease on the right side it doesn't not look terrible.  You won't be able to see it any way.

Next order of business will be tire changes.  On Wednesday we are all meeting up to swap rubber.

My primary luggage will be the Wolfman Expedition dry bags.  I am waiting on Wolfman to send me new rubber backings so I can get them mounted up and start packing the bike.  Hopefully I will get them today.

6-26-12
I am pretty much all packed except for my clothes.  I spent some time last night putting everything in zip lock bags.  It's incredible how much room a sleeping bag takes up.  I have it compressed down as small as it goes and it still takes up almost an entire Wolfman Expedition side bag.  As it stands right now I will have 1 tank bag for electronics, road snacks, wallet, etc.  2 Wolfman Expedition side bags, 2 Wolfman large Rollie Bags, and 1 Carribou luggage top case.  The top case shouldn't have much in it.  I will use it for over flow or just another place to put stuff while on the run.

6-27-12
New tires! I think we are ready to roll! In only a little over 24 hours we should be set up and making dinner at our first camp site.



6-29-12
Today we leave! Right now were waiting in Matt to get out of work. I just finished up a couple things on the bike so now it's time to roll!

Problem #1! Jim made a plate for a bike that Jamie is borrowing. We realized right before we left that it covered the gas tank. Ooops! It's 5.00 and were still in Kansas City. Jamie left you ladies a nice surprise.


3:00am MT
We finally arrived in La Junta, CO. It's 3 am! This is not the planned arrive time or place. We are officially 60 or so miles behind schedule. Today we really need to make it to the Breckenridge Fricso area. No more blog chit chat, time to sleep!

6-30-12 6:00am MT
I can't sleep. My damned internal clock is denying me the privilege to sleep in. Oh well.
What is it about motorcycles and the release from life that they give you while riding. I feel very sorry for the people in the world that have never ridden one. And even more sorry for the people in the world who have no desire to ride one. You get on a motorcycle and the world problems go away. The only thing going on at that exact moment is you, the bike, and the beautiful sights of mother nature. It's awesome!!! So back to the non motorcycle believers. Did you know that if you packed a 747 jumbo jet full of people and slammed it in to the earth that it would equal the amount of people that die in car accidents every day! So, thats 365 jumbo jets that crash every year. If 365 planes crashed every year do you believe that anyone in their right mind would fly? I sure as hell wouldn't. My point is, why are so many people against motorcycles but they drive their death box to work every day? This is a mystery that will never be solved.
Back to bed I go. I need some sleep!
Couldn't sleep. I guess a trail nap will need to happen a little later.
Yesterday we covered 543 highway miles. Today we need to get around 500 miles again to stay on schedule. Here goes nothin...




First day went good. We rode a lot of cool stuff today. The mountains are so beautiful. We didn't have any major events except for Dan's KTM not wanting to run right. For some reason the internal gas pump keeps pumping all of the gas to one side. We also did a really fun hill climb.(video of that later). All in all a very good day. We are back on schedule because we cut some of the route off. We totaled 269 miles today. Not too shabby. Not too many pictures from today's ride on my phone. Those will have to come later.

7-1-12
What a day! We totaled 273 miles today and 1,088 miles total. We saw some really cool stuff today. We basically rode along one river or another all day. Really good stuff. We saw a guy who is walking the continental divide and says that he should be to Canada in September! Wow. That dude is crazy. Soon after making it to Wyoming the scenery changed a bunch. We rode a flat and straight gravel rode for miles and miles. We were doing 80-100 at times. Whelp time for bed.



I seriously slacked off with the ride after we got back.  I also started getting in to some areas at night where I couldn't update in the evenings or early morning.   So it's time to get this finished!!!


Monday, March 26, 2012


We went to STL for my Uncle Brian's 50th Birthday Party extravaganza.
Before the party we played every sport known to human kind.  Lincoln had about 6 home runs!

My little buddy Lincoln was ready to cruuuze for chicks!

On sunday we went for a nice brunch at Triumph Bar and Grill.  http://www.triumphgrill.com/ 
Connected to Triumph grill is a small motorcycle museum.  I checked out all of the bikes but one in particular caught my eye ball.  It was a 1976 GP II 250cc OSSA.  I'm not sure if someone redesigned this bike or if it was just way ahead of its time!!!  I found an original pic online.  Pretty cool!




I'll let the pictures talk.......................






 I think Harley has changed their ad campaign just a tad!!!


 Wanna be a man whore? Buy a Suzuki!



 Harley Scooter?  Wha???


Overall, sports with Linx was great, Brian turns another year old, beer is good, whiskey is better, motorcycles are rad!