The Viking Run - 125 Days to Departure

 

I worked on some bike improvements or mods this past weekend. I'll cover a couple of them here today.

The first thing I added was a radiator guard. I may or may not need one, I just have a bit of concern I may hit a spot of gravel on the TLH or have an oncoming truck throw up some rocks and puncture the radiator in the middle of nowhere. 

 

               Radiator before guard installation

                                                            The new radiator guard is 

                                                    custom fit and branded for the 900XR

 How the guard looks installed. I like it!

The other item I added was a new Givi tank bag. Now this item I really like and don't even know how I've gone on so long without one. This one has a few over the top features however. First, it uses the tank lock system that makes it simply snap on and off the top of the tank from a circular mount around the filler port, so no magnets or straps needed for securing the bag to the bike. It makes for a clean install too. A bonus feature with this bag is it has a key lock incorporated in the locking mechanism, so you can actually lock the bag to the bike. Another feature of this bag is the wire harness kit that runs a hot lead from the battery to a pass through port in the bag that powers a 3 plug USB charger. So incredibly handy and such a clean set up too. It also has a separate waterproof case on top for your cell phone; which I learned on the Kentucky trip, can be more handy than the bike mounted Garmin unit for direction prompts through the headset in the helmet.

The Viking Run - 132 Days to Departure

 

This past Saturday provided a pleasant surprise. In January when I had to renew my tags on the bike, I applied for a personalized plate. There were several ideas in my head for what I wanted the plate to convey, but when it came down to it the final choice was easy. A tribute to the man who who set the two wheels of this escapade in motion. If anyone knew my dad, they may have knowledge of the unit he served with in Vietnam. 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, Bravo Company or Bravo 1/9 as the unit is known in the Corps. Also known as "The Walking Dead".

My dad would use Bravo 1/9 for various signatures when needed, and it was his moniker for his personal email. So...as I said, this Saturday I had a nice surprise when my new personalized plate arrived and looked like this...

 

The Viking Run - 143 Days to Departure

 

I picked up my bike from BMW Daytona last Saturday after having the water pump replaced due to a small internal leak. Its Bike Week this week in Daytona and other than spending last Monday walking around with my niece Ashley, it was rather boring.

BMW Motorcycles of Daytona

Bike week has really turned in to a Harley Davidson event and well...that just makes it suck.

Big news however is, I can not get a spot of the Relais Nordik cargo ship out of Blanc Sablon like I was hoping, so that has altered my plans dramatically. Something I was trying to avoid has now become inevitable. I will now be taking the Trans Labrador Highway to Baie-Comeau in Quebec. 

Aside from being called "The Loneliest Road In The World" and "The Most Dangerous Road in North America" and the fact the Canadian government issues you a satellite phone before you attempt it and the endless stories of people being eaten alive by black flies and mosquitoes, it sounds like great fun. Oh...did I forget to mention the bears and moose? Killer...moose!

The Trans Lab or TLH, is actually a very active route that is widely used by truck drivers and plenty of travelers and motorcyclists have traversed it to boot. As a matter of fact, by the time I get on it this September, it will likely be 100% paved. Which at it's opening in 1992 it was not. At a little less than 800 miles it may take up to five days to complete on the bike. The most nerve wreaking challenge I have before me in regards to the TLH, is the 260 mile stretch between Port Hope Simpson and Happy Valley where there will be no fuel available. Considering the furthest the 900XR can go on a full tank of gas is 200 miles, this creates either an insoluble math problem or a small logistics matter. 

So, Trans Labrador highway here I come... does Amazon sell bear repellent?