Riding to Patagonia

[duccarlos]

Are you ever coming back?

It's just a question...

Visiting LatAm is very different to living there. Even though it can be fun and cheap in certain countries, you start to appreciate the liberties provided in the US. GW is doing it right.

[Speeddog]

He can continue to travel anywhere in the world and deliver amazing images and thoughtful text.

[1.21GW]

He can continue to travel anywhere in the world and deliver amazing images and thoughtful text.

If Valley Desmo wants to sponsor that, I'm open to it. 


In all honesty, I'm about halfway done.  Geographically near the halfway point.  Economically, I just passed the halfway point of the savings I built up for this trip.  So I'd say I have another 6-8 months left.  Trying to make it to December when the weather in Patagonia will be friendly for bike travel.



As a side note, I met a Dutch woman who trains horses as she travels.  We have been discussing buying horses and crossing Mongolia on horseback.  Would only be 3 months or so, but would be another type of horsepower-driven trip. 

[1.21GW]

Couple of technical questions coming.  First is about spark plug condition:



I just changed spark plugs on the bike at 17k miles.  Bought the bike at ~4k and haven't changed them until now.  I am a bad human being and did not check them during my travels, so I have no baseline for what they looked like or how they are changing.  (There is probably a level of hell for lazy people like me.)  With that caveat, what does the board think of these?









My Clymer manual pictures imply that there is either some carbon- or oil-fouling going on.  But I'm inclined to think that this is more-or-less normal wear for the bike after 13k miles (or more likely all 17k, if I assume that when I bought the bike it still had the OEM plugs).  Thoughts?







 

[DarkMonster620]

Remember you have been riding at altitude, maybe as I told you in my garage, your bike was NOT set up for too high .  .  . I say they are just a little wet . .  But, didn't you replaced them here? Or just the oil?

[Speeddog]

If the bike isn't using oil at a noticeable rate, carry on, no worries.

[1.21GW]

DarkMonster: just replaced the oil in PTY, no plugs.

Speeddog: not noticeable oil consumption at all.  Thanks!

[DarkMonster620]

Almost sure we did the plugs for some reason . . . Maybe I was hungry or something

[ducpainter]

Almost sure we did the plugs for some reason . . . Maybe I was hungry or something

You probably ate the plugs.

Looks a little rich is all. Normal for that bike running at altitude. They're not fouling bad enough to not run. Be happy.

[1.21GW]

Ok thanks.  Second question: tire rubes.


So all the flats I've gotten so far have been in populated areas where I could limp the bike over to one of the millions of tire repair shops in Latin America.  With a little time on my hands, some space to work, and in need of two new tires I decided to get some practice and change them myself.  Rear was a pregnant dog to get the last few inches around the rim but I got it at the small cost of a half dozen-or-so cuts and bruises on my hands.

Front tire was much easier (as they usually are), but I pinched the tube when inflating.  So I removed the tube and installed a my back-up tube, taking time to be more careful.  Well, I pinched that one too.  Deciding to cut my loses I took it to the shop and had them install and inflate the third tube.

Anyone have any strategies or techniques for not trapping the tube between the tire and the bead on narrow wheels (90/90-21 in this case)?

[Speeddog]

You can inflate the tube just a bit, enough that it'll nearly hold it's shape.
But not too much, as then you'll be fighting it.

Besides that, a fine dusting of talcum powder on the inside of the tire.

Then lots of practice.

[ducpainter]

You can inflate the tube just a bit, enough that it'll nearly hold it's shape.
But not too much, as then you'll be fighting it.

Besides that, a fine dusting of talcum powder on the inside of the tire.

Then lots of practice.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This

[Howie]

Yes, carbon fouling.  Black fluffy is gas, oily, well, oil.  Better photos might help, but since you are going through altitude changes and you are not having any problems I say just  .  Maybe carry an extra set of plugs.

Tires have been covered. 

[1.21GW]

Thanks all.


I guess I just need more tire practice.  I'm sure I'll get some in coming weeks.   

[1.21GW]

Ok, quick follow-up on spark plugs, then I'll get back to posting pretty pictures...

After changing out those old Densor standard plugs (i.e. one electrode) for new NGK dual-electrode plugs, I seem to be getting about 3+ more mpg.  Is that possible?

Lots of noise in my mpg due to changes in elevation, riding style, road conditions, gas quality, etc. but I'm basing the 3+ number on the average of my last 5 fill-ups, so it should be smoothed out a little.  Anyway, can plugs have that much of an effect, or am I experiencing something unrelated?