@@dougiverson4297 I'm a fellow Albertan from Red Deer. I plan on doing it in 2026. (This summer I'm finishing up my journey through all 49 continental US states.) I'll be doing it with my Harley Softail. I've already taken it all over Alaska and the Yukon back in 2022, including part way up the Dalton, the Denali, TotW, and the Campbell, not to mention lots of other gravel over the years. I have the luxury of an open time frame so can wait out any bad weather as needed.
I am suitably impressed. In the 2015 research, of the 77 respondents 1 was on a Harley. And we know it was not a Pan-American. I have seen a Gold Wing on the ferry, two up, but not sure if they were day tripping from Inuvik or doing the entire road. Have a great run in the US.
Great video and tons of good info. I will be heading to Tuk from Vancouver Island in Aug 2025 on my KTM 690, camping all the way up! Thanks for the tips.
Thanks for the comment. The KTM690 is an excellent bike for the route. Hope you have a great experience. I enjoyed your video heading up to Port Alice. I am planning on hitting the Island in 2026 and hope to head to Port Alice and points beyond. I know they are working on some of the forestry roads back in there.
Thank you for all those extra tips since I plan to ride the Dempster next june. The only thing is, having in mind that one experience for one rider may differ for another one, I think your tone is a little bit too dramatic. Yes you have to be prepared and plan a certain number of things but riding the Dempster, even on a motorcycle, is not the feat of the century! This road is well travelled all year long by a lot of people, and there a lot of stories, like this one with a guy on Goldwing and his friend on a Kawasaki Ninja ruclips.net/video/-ehcze_rD_8/видео.html , that reduces the somewhat dramatic and dangerous side of this adventure as you tend to do (in any case, in absolute terms, riding a motorbike is a dangerous activity). But anyway your advice is good advice and I will follow lot of it, so thank you and ride safe.
I would certainly agree my tone is a bit too dramatic and I am working on changing that up. I rally appreciate the comment. I should focus more on all the positives and the extreme enjoyment that comes with the experience. I know virtually every type of bike and tire combination have made the trip successfully, but it takes good weather, luck, and determination to get through. The first season the Dempster was open there were 18 med evacs. Last year one fatality early in the season and a critical injury 4 days later. One moment of inattention or bad luck and things get serious rapidly. But, how about this. I recreate the video (leaving the long one up as well) into a short 8 minute thing that tells the story differently? I would appreciate your feedback and see if I am trending the right direction.
@@dougiverson4297 Great response, I understand your point, it is important to tell people that there are danger when riding the Dempster..and I will be glad to give you my feedback on your last video.
Just in case you have a moment, this is a shorter and sweet version and perhaps a better "tone". Happy to hear what you think. ruclips.net/video/VDhVoR77-_0/видео.html
@@dougiverson4297 Hi Doug. I took a moment to watch your new version and I think it is very good and a lot better than the first one. The content and the accuracy of the advice outweigh everything else; we understand that it is difficult, tricky and maybe rather dangerous, but you give advice on how to do it without implying that it should not be done; quite the contrary you say from the beginning that it is a fantastic experience (which also means that everyone must do their homework, whatever the objective or project)...in short I find that it is a very positive video. Once again, thank you for all this advice. I have a question though, what is "automotive coverage"? Do you mean road assistance in case of mechanical problem (and diminish the cost of a towing) or do you mean regular motorcycle insurance (maybe it is just my understanding of english since french is my mother tongue)?
@ Thank you for watching this version. I just have to figure out how to post it appropriately. I think you were right on the money with your first assessment. And yes, i meant something like Alberta Motor Aasociation coverage for towing or assistance. Towing off the Dempster is about 1500 bucks. Now. this would only cover about 500 of that but i think it is advisable especially travelling large distances. Your English is far better than my French. Safe riding.
12 great tips! I drove the Dempster in July 2023 but now need to ride it. Heading there this July.
July is a great time of year. Enjoy the adventure
Excellent. Thanks Doug. The weather data was especially helpful.
Glad it helped! Riding the Dempster can be challenging even with good weather.
@@dougiverson4297 I'm a fellow Albertan from Red Deer. I plan on doing it in 2026. (This summer I'm finishing up my journey through all 49 continental US states.) I'll be doing it with my Harley Softail. I've already taken it all over Alaska and the Yukon back in 2022, including part way up the Dalton, the Denali, TotW, and the Campbell, not to mention lots of other gravel over the years. I have the luxury of an open time frame so can wait out any bad weather as needed.
I am suitably impressed. In the 2015 research, of the 77 respondents 1 was on a Harley. And we know it was not a Pan-American.
I have seen a Gold Wing on the ferry, two up, but not sure if they were day tripping from Inuvik or doing the entire road.
Have a great run in the US.
Great video and tons of good info. I will be heading to Tuk from Vancouver Island in Aug 2025 on my KTM 690, camping all the way up! Thanks for the tips.
Thanks for the comment.
The KTM690 is an excellent bike for the route. Hope you have a great experience.
I enjoyed your video heading up to Port Alice. I am planning on hitting the Island in 2026 and hope to head to Port Alice and points beyond. I know they are working on some of the forestry roads back in there.
@ ya there’s tons of good riding here on Vancouver Island!
More vids to come in the new year!
Thank you for all those extra tips since I plan to ride the Dempster next june. The only thing is, having in mind that one experience for one rider may differ for another one, I think your tone is a little bit too dramatic. Yes you have to be prepared and plan a certain number of things but riding the Dempster, even on a motorcycle, is not the feat of the century! This road is well travelled all year long by a lot of people, and there a lot of stories, like this one with a guy on Goldwing and his friend on a Kawasaki Ninja ruclips.net/video/-ehcze_rD_8/видео.html , that reduces the somewhat dramatic and dangerous side of this adventure as you tend to do (in any case, in absolute terms, riding a motorbike is a dangerous activity). But anyway your advice is good advice and I will follow lot of it, so thank you and ride safe.
I would certainly agree my tone is a bit too dramatic and I am working on changing that up. I rally appreciate the comment.
I should focus more on all the positives and the extreme enjoyment that comes with the experience.
I know virtually every type of bike and tire combination have made the trip successfully, but it takes good weather, luck, and determination to get through.
The first season the Dempster was open there were 18 med evacs. Last year one fatality early in the season and a critical injury 4 days later. One moment of inattention or bad luck and things get serious rapidly.
But, how about this. I recreate the video (leaving the long one up as well) into a short 8 minute thing that tells the story differently? I would appreciate your feedback and see if I am trending the right direction.
@@dougiverson4297 Great response, I understand your point, it is important to tell people that there are danger when riding the Dempster..and I will be glad to give you my feedback on your last video.
Just in case you have a moment, this is a shorter and sweet version and perhaps a better "tone".
Happy to hear what you think.
ruclips.net/video/VDhVoR77-_0/видео.html
@@dougiverson4297 Hi Doug. I took a moment to watch your new version and I think it is very good and a lot better than the first one. The content and the accuracy of the advice outweigh everything else; we understand that it is difficult, tricky and maybe rather dangerous, but you give advice on how to do it without implying that it should not be done; quite the contrary you say from the beginning that it is a fantastic experience (which also means that everyone must do their homework, whatever the objective or project)...in short I find that it is a very positive video. Once again, thank you for all this advice.
I have a question though, what is "automotive coverage"? Do you mean road assistance in case of mechanical problem (and diminish the cost of a towing) or do you mean regular motorcycle insurance (maybe it is just my understanding of english since french is my mother tongue)?
@ Thank you for watching this version. I just have to figure out how to post it appropriately.
I think you were right on the money with your first assessment.
And yes, i meant something like Alberta Motor Aasociation coverage for towing or assistance. Towing off the Dempster is about 1500 bucks. Now. this would only cover about 500 of that but i think it is advisable especially travelling large distances.
Your English is far better than my French.
Safe riding.