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Planning early any advice?

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  • #1

    Planning early any advice?

    Hello all,
    I'm fairly new to KatRiders and have been just reading alot. My buddy and I are planning a 3 week long trip starting from Alaska(interior/Eielson AFB), down through canada for kansas. From Kansas we will be going on a mini tour ride w/ his father and friends down somewhere into Oklahoma. They will head back to Kansas while we split off to go to Southern california. From there we plan to shoot straight up to seattle then back to alaska going through Canada once again. Our leave will start May 4th and go until May 25th. My biggest concerns right now is running out of fuel through canada since it is fairly isolated and if my bike will survive the trip(He will be riding a brand new BMW touring/off road bike). My bike currently has 12,xxx miles on it and its a 2000 model katana.

    My buddy is wanting to go through canada all the way to edmonton then shoot down to kansas which makes us stay longer in the canadian territories and i'm wanting to get out of canada asap and shoot for straight to seattle then go east bound for kansas. My way is about 700 miles longer of a trip but less likely to run out of gas and more likely to be warmer since we will be lower. I did purchase a milepost to try to help out w/ the gas fill station planning. Anyone have any inputs, heads up, anything that may help out? websites?

    I've noticed on some of the post about must have's for long tours and seemed like no one really carried spare oil filters. Is it not needed? I'm worried that if we needed oil changes some areas might not carry and would take a day or two to get the part in. The way our tour is sounding we will be stoping at locations for resting purposes only and when the sun comes up we'll be on the move. (8-10 hr days?)

    I'm also wondering about tune ups prior to the trip. Some buddies mentioned to me to get my carbs cleaned and synch and new chain/sprocket? What if prior owner recently changed the chain and sprocket just last riding season in alaska and I havent riddin the bike yet? Sorry for all the questions i'll stop for now.

    Thanks in advance
    -Mike
    USAF//ATC
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Hey Red,

    My buddies and I are planning a trip to Alaska(or somewhere else fairly far away) next summer. There is a wealth of information here on one of my threads. Hope this helps

    Forums - KatRiders.com
    http://www.katriders.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=26005&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
    Katriders.com Suzuki Katana Discussion Forums
    Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

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    • #3
      Re: Planning early any advice?

      Originally posted by 00RedGsx600f
      i'm wanting to get out of canada asap
      I'm sorry, but for some reason I just don't want to give you any advice....

      I'm just kidding. I hope your trip goes well. There are definitely some good thoughts on travelling floating arount this board, but there are also some other boards geared more for long distance riding that have a wealth of info. ADVrider.com, and sport-touring.net are a couple of examples.

      As for your Kat. You should not have any problems making the trip. Make sure your tires are good, and try to map out the bike shops/dealers along the way. You may be able to check the member map, to develop a network of Katriders that may be able to assist along your route if trouble may arise. Hopefully not needed but its nice to have a saftey net.


      www.SOARacing.ca

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      • #4
        Sounds like a great trip. If your kat has had all the recomended service, you should have no prob. Make sure you have newer tires. As for the filter, change the oil before you go and use a good brand filter(oem suzuki) it should be good for a couple of changes. That way you only have to change the oil at your intervals. You may want to consider switching to synthetic oil and get some extra miles out of it.

        Cyber poet has several write up's on oil and oil filters maybe somebody will chime in with the links.
        In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only, truth.
        www.myspace.com/adamerogers

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        • #5
          I recommend getting a fumoto valve to speed up your oil changes without needed a tool to do it. In fact, you could do partial change when she is running for a while to keep her cool. I am thinking Kansas and Cali will be pretty warm in May.


          Man that sounds like fun!
          "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."
          JOHN 16:33

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          • #6
            Thanks Ulshy55 i'll look into it.

            Chinto, haha sorry didn't mean it like that. I'm just worried about not enough gas stops being there. Actually Vancouver is one of the places I want to visit the most right now and edmonton sounds pretty cool w/ the biggest mall and all. Thanks for the links i'll look and see if anyone have stop points through canada in those forums.

            adam, I guess i'll be ordering some filters through the guy on the forum who have matainence stuff for sale =P

            katanasoldier, I searched the fumoto valve theres alot to choose from and their site doesn't list valves for motorcycle. Do you by chance have the size?

            Much appreciated once again guys...Hopfully i'll be able to plot every stop in 150mi - 200mi increments for gas stops. That is about the average 98+ katanas get per tank, correct? Oh, and does anyone know of any decent/good gas tank and size to purchase for emergency backup? Im not sure if i want a 1gallon, 2.5 gallon, or 5 gallon to carry w/ me through the trip just in case a gas station isn't available in 1 tank full distance.

            Mike

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            • #7
              Yes go to this site and order # F111 and get it without the nipple. When you get it, use a dremmel on the pan.
              Here is a great reference thread. It only takes about 10 minutes and your oil changes will be easier than ever and you will never have to worry about stripping your pan which is very easy to do. This thing works like a water faucet.
              Thanks again Cyber!

              Forums - KatRiders.com
              http://www.katriders.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20867&highlight=fumoto+valve
              Katriders.com Suzuki Katana Discussion Forums



              These guys are cheaper than Fumoto themselves.

              Espar Heater Parts, Diesel Truck Heaters - Lubrication Specialist
              http://www.lubricationspecialist.com/front/showcontent.aspx?fileid=105
              Lubrication Specialist is an authorized dealer for Espar heaters and parts, EZ oil drain valves and Amsoil synthetic oils at the lowest possible prices.
              "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."
              JOHN 16:33

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              • #8
                Did you guys grind the flange off while the pan was on the bike or you took it off and grinded it down?

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                • #9
                  I took mine off because I was tapping it for the oil temp sender anyway, so I cut it away with it in my lap. I've actually done it to four different oil pans so far:

                  The first one was a pan with a stripped drain bolt (thanks to my local dealer's wrench-monkey), and I used it simply to test what would have to be cut away & what size Fumoto drain valve it would take... I chucked that oil pan afterwards, not figuring I'd ever need/use it again.

                  The second one was the replacement pan on my red Kat (replacing the stripped one). Installed the Fumoto & done.

                  A few months later, I tapped that 2nd pan to install a supposed 300 degree (F) temp sender that I got (CyberDyne brand) -- only to find the matching gauge defaulted to an HI message whenever the oil reached 260 degrees -- and we all know our oil can easily exceed 260 (can hit over 400 degree F under certain circumstances). Manufacturer proved no help either, as they said "our gauges aren't open-cockpit nor motorcycle-use approved" (Stewart-Warner also echo'd that, as did a dozen other companies I contacted to find a good solution).

                  The third one was to replace the second one, as the new oil temp sender & gauge solution (the one I now sell) used a smaller tap hole than the CyberDyne piece-o-crap solution I tried previously...
                  I took the 2nd one and drilled it in a dozen places so I could examine the clearances inside the oil pan (to the pump pickups, etc.) for the best placement of the oil temp sender for the kit I now sell -- the results are written up in my install instructions for the kit.

                  The fourth one was a pan from my Blue Kat, which I used to install the Fumoto and the final oil temp sensor that I now carry. Since I got the bike with 1500 miles on it, I dropped the oil pan to clean it out & install the sender.

                  So, in retrospect, although you could do it laying on your back, I never have... Either way, wear eye protection and a bandana or mask over your nose & mouth -- the dust from grinding down the aluminum will get into your eyes & nose otherwise.

                  Cheers,
                  =-= The CyberPoet
                  Remember The CyberPoet

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                  • #10
                    This is the first I've heard about the Fumoto valves, but I'll definitely be buying one now! A question however... (sorry that this thread seems to have wandered from its original purpose)
                    Since one big advantage of the Fumoto valve seems to be no risk of stripping the oil pan when putting the stock plug back in, how do I avoid stripping the pan when I put the fumoto valve in? (Or is it just a matter of borrowing a torque wrench and tightening it down to 23N.m like the manual says?)

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