Love your videos, I enjoyed y'all's TAT ride and I'm looking forward to this adventure as well. Y'all have already had an adventure just getting to the starting point.
Nice video, thanka for sharing... If you dont phone what was the longest stretch of pavement you rode and how did the 500 EXC perform? There are some very good trails about 70-80 miles away from my house and id rather ride there than truck a bike there. Jst trying understand if this is something the 500 EXC can do.... Thanks
Going down to the border at the MX border we had to ride quite a bit of pavement, even resorted to riding interstate 8 for about 60 then state highways to Tucson. The bikes are quite capable (for a dirt bike) on the highway especially compared to past bikes (XR500, XR400). I have a DIY windshield helps a lot. The nearest forestry road to my house is 15 miles (not 60-70)... Thats a long ways but the bike will do it if you're willing.
I liked your video. The one thing that I noticed right off is how light you guys packed. You didn't have stuff hanging everywhere off the bike. I see all these guys with everything but the kitchen sink packed on their bikes and I'm thinking no wonder you are laying your bike down every mud hole you come to. To me that takes away the simplicity of riding a motorcycle. Thanks for the videos.
Hey Jim, good to see you on another trip. About 5 of us have started building up for a TAT run. Since we all still work we have to do it in sections but 3 of us have gotten bikes for it. Since I've had such good service out of my 300EXC I rounded up a 640 LC4, one guy got a 690 and another picked up a KLR. Kinda gong along with what Jimmy said can you give us details on your luggage and what you carried and any other helpful things, tents, sleeping bags, cookware, how much clothes, washing, etc... Just some good details would be a big help. In a simple video would be real good, LOL, I know, asking a lot. Looking forward to seeing the rest of this one. Thanks, DC
Some great video of your ride which I thoroughly enjoyed. I ride a couple of times a week around Hachita New Mexico and always find the scenery spectacular!
you two are back at it again...I love it. Jim what lessons did you learn from your TAT trip as far as prep, gear, bike maintenance etc. would love to learn from your experiences. thanks
I have my eye on a lightly used 500 exc (2400 miles) and after watching you guys, I think it might be time to do the deal - thanks for the great vids...
Hi Jim, Just started following along on your adventure. I'm researching in preparation to do the same ride from So Cal as you guys did. Any info you could share on your bikes, equipment, gear and mapping tools would be appreciated. Larry
Hi Larry, I just posted a new video the other night showing some of our equipment we use. As far as GPS tracks, we downloaded them from gpsKevin (free). They are old (some roads have changed) but good enough. Hope this helps. Jim
Jim, the standard hub on a 500 does not have the shock absorbing rubber spacer units that a normal motorcycle including dual sports have. Consequently the transmission, in particular the counter shaft drive which holds the front sprocket wears more quickly and so do chains as no shock is absorbed anywhere. Most people doing high mileages on the 500 replace the rear hub with a cush drive. If yours is standard that is quite amazing, even more so if the other bike also does not have one. Most interesting. Please let me know.
Thanks for the info. I haven't really had too much trouble in that area but coming from a dirt-bike rider background I'm probably accustomed to replacing the chains and sprockets quite often. The biggest mistake we ever made was starting out on one of our earlier trips with the original "aluminum" sprockets...they didn't make it!.
Love your videos, I enjoyed y'all's TAT ride and I'm looking forward to this adventure as well. Y'all have already had an adventure just getting to the starting point.
Nice video, thanka for sharing... If you dont phone what was the longest stretch of pavement you rode and how did the 500 EXC perform? There are some very good trails about 70-80 miles away from my house and id rather ride there than truck a bike there. Jst trying understand if this is something the 500 EXC can do.... Thanks
Going down to the border at the MX border we had to ride quite a bit of pavement, even resorted to riding interstate 8 for about 60 then state highways to Tucson. The bikes are quite capable (for a dirt bike) on the highway especially compared to past bikes (XR500, XR400). I have a DIY windshield helps a lot. The nearest forestry road to my house is 15 miles (not 60-70)... Thats a long ways but the bike will do it if you're willing.
@@jimjohnston6486 thanks a bunch for the info, very much appreciated..
I liked your video. The one thing that I noticed right off is how light you guys packed. You didn't have stuff hanging everywhere off the bike. I see all these guys with everything but the kitchen sink packed on their bikes and I'm thinking no wonder you are laying your bike down every mud hole you come to. To me that takes away the simplicity of riding a motorcycle. Thanks for the videos.
Hey Jim, good to see you on another trip. About 5 of us have started building up for a TAT run. Since we all still work we have to do it in sections but 3 of us have gotten bikes for it. Since I've had such good service out of my 300EXC I rounded up a 640 LC4, one guy got a 690 and another picked up a KLR.
Kinda gong along with what Jimmy said can you give us details on your luggage and what you carried and any other helpful things, tents, sleeping bags, cookware, how much clothes, washing, etc... Just some good details would be a big help. In a simple video would be real good, LOL, I know, asking a lot.
Looking forward to seeing the rest of this one.
Thanks,
DC
Others have had similar questions. I'll try to come up with something.
Used to spend much time at Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista. Been to Coronado pass several times. Cool area! .
Some great video of your ride which I thoroughly enjoyed. I ride a couple of times a week around Hachita New Mexico and always find the scenery spectacular!
you two are back at it again...I love it. Jim what lessons did you learn from your TAT trip as far as prep, gear, bike maintenance etc. would love to learn from your experiences. thanks
Hummmmm, let me think about that. I'll try to get back to you on that.
I have my eye on a lightly used 500 exc (2400 miles) and after watching you guys, I think it might be time to do the deal - thanks for the great vids...
Hi Jim, Just started following along on your adventure. I'm researching in preparation to do the same ride from So Cal as you guys did. Any info you could share on your bikes, equipment, gear and mapping tools would be appreciated. Larry
Hi Larry, I just posted a new video the other night showing some of our equipment we use. As far as GPS tracks, we downloaded them from gpsKevin (free). They are old (some roads have changed) but good enough. Hope this helps. Jim
Where did you end up staying the night near Antelope Wells? Did you make camp nearby in the desert?
Thanks Jim I figured you guys had road for quite some time. Have you ever tried 690?
jim, do you have a cush-drive hub on your 500?
No, I don't even know what that is.
Jim, the standard hub on a 500 does not have the shock absorbing rubber spacer units that a normal motorcycle including dual sports have. Consequently the transmission, in particular the counter shaft drive which holds the front sprocket wears more quickly and so do chains as no shock is absorbed anywhere. Most people doing high mileages on the 500 replace the rear hub with a cush drive. If yours is standard that is quite amazing, even more so if the other bike also does not have one. Most interesting. Please let me know.
Thanks for the info. I haven't really had too much trouble in that area but coming from a dirt-bike rider background I'm probably accustomed to replacing the chains and sprockets quite often. The biggest mistake we ever made was starting out on one of our earlier trips with the original "aluminum" sprockets...they didn't make it!.
How old are you guys
Ha, good question. I'm 65. Neil's two years younger. We've both been riding dirt bikes since we were kids.