KTM 640 Adventure

6000 miles on the Shinkos

2012-01-04T09:00:00.000-05:00

RIDE

2011-08-18T09:25:00.003-04:00

Sunday: Stuck, unstuck, miles of trails...

2011-08-08T10:10:00.002-04:00

Here are some random photos from Sunday's ride.

The first 4 photos are tracks downloaded from the iPhone app GPSKit, then imported into Google Earth. GPSKit is a great app, worth the price.

I broke through some dried mud and immediately got stuck. Had to push the bike over on it's side and pull it to solid ground. Then it was miles and miles of fast gravel trails and roads, with a quick stop at the Colorado River.

The photos aren't in order, because I can't fight with the new Blogger interface anymore.

(Click on any of the photos to enlarge, especially helpful for the Google Earth images.)

A little riding today...

2011-07-17T13:12:00.000-04:00

4th of July

2011-07-05T08:29:00.000-04:00

3 repairs this weekend

2011-06-27T14:53:00.000-04:00

Replaced the clutch cable, put a new shut off valve on the gas tank
and installed new wiring on the rear brake cylinder.

father's day ride

2011-06-20T12:30:00.000-04:00

More Texas fun, east of Austin. Click to enlarge images.

Mapping images from GPS Kit iPhone app.

Bastrop

2011-06-14T09:44:00.001-04:00

There's no real order to these photos, but these are some random shots from Sunday. My best day yet of riding in Texas.

I rode miles and miles of trails and abandoned roads, about 30 miles east of Austin. In the course of the day, I dodged a large dead deer carcass going about 65 on the highway, I rode about a half mile of train track to get to the river and shook every bone in my body on the railroad ties.

I raced up and down rutted dirt roads, slashing through the overgrowth and navigating washed out crossings. I did hill climbs and picked my way through fallen trees. And finally I came across a riding area with trails that were dirt and sand, with hill climbs and twisty turns that eclipsed my skill level. I took more photos of the trails than I actually rode, but it's great to have a place to return to and conquer when my confidence level is higher. The photos flatten out the steepness of the climbs, but there were several that I will think twice about before riding up.

(You can click and enlarge any photo)

new rubber

2011-05-22T10:17:00.001-04:00

After 6,600 miles on my TKCs, I put some new Shinko 700 Trail Masters on my bike yesterday. Reviews are good and the price for these tires are amazingly low. I'll report how they hold up. I am riding 30 miles a day now on tarmac for my ride to work, so a good street tire was important, but these Shinkos are a good compromise.

2011-03-26T12:54:00.000-04:00

Bastrop State Park

2011-03-26T11:53:00.000-04:00

Bastrop, Texas

2011-03-26T11:50:00.000-04:00

First Texas Ride

2011-03-26T09:21:00.000-04:00

Some work done this morning, checked oil, checked tires, packed puncture kit, pump and water. Coordinates plugged into GPS. Getting gas and stopping by post office to drop off some mail and then it's off to see some dirt in Bastrop State Park, about 38 miles east of Austin. I think you can click on the map to enlarge. Photos to follow.

New home, parked and resting

2011-03-17T13:37:00.001-04:00

Home

2011-03-16T22:24:00.001-04:00

I made it. More later

Sent from iPhone • 512.240.2216
www.gregneedham.com

2011-03-16T20:48:00.000-04:00

60

2011-03-16T20:44:00.001-04:00

60 miles to go. Thanks everyone for the emails an texts urging me to
be careful. I am taking extra caution and lots of breaks.

Sent from iPhone • 512.240.2216
www.gregneedham.com

Beautiful riding, all day

2011-03-16T19:10:00.000-04:00

Feeling good

2011-03-16T17:57:00.001-04:00

I'm up north, but just cleared the Houston line. Not far now....

Sent from iPhone • 512.240.2216
www.gregneedham.com

Finally

2011-03-16T14:44:00.000-04:00

Amost...

2011-03-16T13:48:00.001-04:00

42 miles from the Texas border

Sent from iPhone • 512.240.2216
www.gregneedham.com

Abbeville, LA

2011-03-16T11:44:00.000-04:00

Good morning 2

2011-03-16T09:14:00.001-04:00

Good morning

2011-03-16T09:13:00.000-04:00

Bourbon St.

2011-03-15T23:10:00.001-04:00

More Ferry

2011-03-15T18:24:00.000-04:00

Boarding the ferry

2011-03-15T15:38:00.000-04:00

Back on the bike

2011-03-15T12:29:00.001-04:00

Thanks for everybody's support, emails, texts, and calls. And a huge
thanks to John, Christy, Trey and Ella.

I'm back

2011-03-15T11:47:00.000-04:00

UPS

2011-03-15T09:50:00.000-04:00

Three great words on the UPS website: "Out For Delivery."

My cable left Rome, GA at 7:46 last night and is on the truck in Ft. Walton, FL at 8:28 this morning.

Waiting.....

2011-03-14T21:26:00.000-04:00

So sad...

2011-03-14T19:47:00.000-04:00

This trails about 100 feet from where I'm staying and no bike to ride with...

2011-03-14T13:42:00.000-04:00

I can't believe, literally can't process, the fact that I am sitting in Destin and not on my long anticipated road trip.

I am so grateful to John and his family for putting me up, feeding me, driving me around...everything they have done. And I am grateful that I broke down where I did and not 3 hours earlier in the middle of nowhere.

And I have read many ride reports of waiting for parts to be shipped. Of the sitting around while you await the package that contains the key to you getting back on the road. But none of that seems to be able to convince my brain that I am still on the ride, and that this is just a temporary stop.

I feel very disconnected from reality, like I am on the ride, but have stopped time and stepped out of reality into an alternate universe. it makes no sense to me, literally, that I am sitting at a Starbucks, in clean clothes, in Destin. I don't know what I am doing here. I can't relate it to anything planned, or prepared for.

It's difficult to walk around the mall, it's tough to sit at the house, it's hard to watch TV. All I can do is re-check my email, keep updating the UPS site, go look at my bike and randomly polish some part.

Everything else makes no sense.

This is Ella

2011-03-14T10:54:00.001-04:00

She doesn't know anything about clutch cables, but knows a thing or
two about being cute.

Saturday Timeline

2011-03-14T10:48:00.000-04:00

Let's recreate Saturday, using my phone as a guide.

At 1:54 pm, I called John to tell him I was about an hour away from Destin, in Panama City.

At 2:18, I placed my first call to a motorcycle shop in Freeport, FL, looking for a replacement clutch cable. So I snapped the cable between 1:54 and 2:18.

At 2:29, I called a second shop looking for a cable.

At 2:31, I called a third shop, in Pensacola, which could ship one to me, arriving on Wednesday or later. This is when I began to panic.

At 2:32, I called a motel about 5 blocks away from where I was stranded and asked about a room. They had one, $50 a night.

At 2:36, I placed my first call to KTM World, located in Georgia. I have ordered from them before and I thought I had the best chance of getting a cable from them. They had one in stock. But only one. I told them I would call them back.

At 2:39, I began to call my riding buddies, looking for help and advice. I called Brent, then John Baltzell.

At 2:48, I called another dealer, still looking for a faster solution. No luck.

I was putting off calling my wife, knowing that the delay would not go over well. I was still hoping I could solve the problem and get back on the road.

Another call to John Baltzell at 2:51, hoping to figure out a way to get the clutch cable off his bike and sent to me. I called Fed Ex in Key West and found out they closed at 1pm on Saturday, so no shipping options from Key West. John was off the hook.

At 2:53, I called John Hunt to tell him I was stranded. He had been tracking me online and wondered why I had stopped moving. I told him the situation and told him to standby to see if I could solve the problem. I was 55 miles from his home and I was looking for a place to store my bike for the weekend. That was becoming a big problem.

At 3:22, I resigned myself to being stuck and called KTM World and placed the order for Tuesday delivery.

At 3:26 I called John and told him the bad news. He immediately got ready to come get me. I told him I would look around for a place to hide my bike. I wandered around the neighborhood for the next 20 minutes, looking for a place to safely stash my motorcycle.

At 3:42, I placed my first call to my wife with the bad news.

I had 2 more conversations with John Baltzell discussing strategy for hiding the bike at 3:46 and then 4:11.

I had another short conversation with Colleen at 4:21.

Over the next half hour, I took all the packs off my bike and broke out the tools. I managed to get a pair of Vice Grips to secure the clutch cable to the clutch lever and took a couple test rides around the parking lot. I thought at this point I could ride the bike to John's house if he was following behind me.

At 5:04, I had a last conversation with John Baltzell. John Hunt arrived and we loaded my packs into his car and made preparations for riding the bike the 55 miles to his house.

I was riding directly into the sun, at horizon level, so seeing traffic and stop lights was extremely difficult. My goal was to use the clutch as little as possible, by timing the lights so I didn't have to come to a complete stop. Over the 55 miles, I used the clutch only 4 times.

At 6:41, I had a conversation with Colleen, so I was at John's house by then.

By 6:30pm, bike was in Destin in John's garage, where it sits today, waiting on a simple and inexpensive part.

Much thanks to John, for dropping everything and coming to get me, and to my friends in Key West who helped me on the phone with ideas, possible solutions and just plain support while I was stranded.

And a special thanks to my wife, who puts up with my motorcycle trips and the chaos that they create.

no luck

2011-03-14T10:05:00.001-04:00

Apparently clutch cables are not something that motorcycle shops keep in stock.

I waited nervously as 8:30am Monday approached so I could begin to call the very very few shops open on a Monday. At 8:31 I called Racetrack Powersports, a full-service dealer of KTMs, Hondas and other brands.

When they answered, they told me clutch cables are an order item and they only had one in stock. A short one for a sports bike. I was placing all my hopes in Powersports and it was a crushing blow that they didn't have what I needed.

The only other option was Jerry's Motorcycle repair, which was recommended by Powersports. They usually aren't in on Mondays, but Powersports said they were today. I called, they aren't answering....

So as of now, I am stuck until tomorrow. Delivery is scheduled for before 10am, but we'll see.

This is killing me.

2011-03-14T10:00:00.001-04:00

I miss my wife, terribly.

update / summary

2011-03-13T11:25:00.000-04:00

At about 2pm Saturday, as I was riding through Panama City, Fl, I pulled in my clutch lever and the cable snapped right where it connects to the lever. An uncommon but not unheard of failure.

I quickly pulled over and was conveniently next to a large parking lot. I was on my way to meet my co-worked and friend John Hunt, who lives in Destin, Fl, about 55 miles away from where I was. I called John and he immediately left to come get me.

In the meantime, I called around to find a replacement cable. After many calls, I found one in stock in Georgia. The problem was it was late Saturday and no one could ship until Monday, so I wouldn't receive until Tuesday at the soonest. I ordered the cable for Tuesday AM delivery.

I then set about trying to figure out a way to get the clutch working so I could get the bike to somewhere safe. I managed to get some Vice Grips to secure the cable to the lever and tested riding the bike around the parking lot. Success! I could probably ride the bike to safety.

When John arrived, I had him follow me and I rode the 55 miles to his house in Destin, only having to use the clutch 4 times the entire ride. I shifted with care without the clutch, only using it at stop lights.

Today, Sunday, most motorcycle shops are closed. I am going to try to track down a cable from another bike or another manufacturer that might fit the bike. That way I could be on my way Monday afternoon instead of Tuesday afternoon.

Wish me luck....

At work

2011-03-13T10:15:00.000-04:00

Vice Grips and Misery

2011-03-12T23:15:00.000-05:00

broken down

2011-03-12T22:53:00.000-05:00

Everything ground to a sudden halt today when my clutch cable snapped.

I have made my way to my friend John Hunt's house in Destin, Florida, about 55 miles west of where I broke down. He and his beautiful wife have graciously allowed me to stay with them until the replacement part arrives Tuesday.

Basically the trip is over now. Once I get the bike fixed it will be a headlong rush straight to Austin.

2011-03-12T14:45:00.001-05:00

I just gained an hour. Boy did that help. I lose it tonight, so it all
evens out, but I needed it today.

Sent from iPhone • 512.240.2216
www.gregneedham.com

2011-03-12T13:24:00.001-05:00

2011-03-12T13:00:00.001-05:00

2011-03-12T12:59:00.001-05:00

Florida Panhandle

2011-03-12T12:53:00.001-05:00

Abandoned motel near Perry, FL

2011-03-12T10:25:00.000-05:00

Side trip

2011-03-12T08:42:00.001-05:00

Newberry, Florida

2011-03-12T08:38:00.001-05:00

Packed

2011-03-12T07:25:00.000-05:00

Cold morning

2011-03-12T07:16:00.001-05:00

Heading to Alabama today.

Day 1 - Key West to Micanopy

2011-03-11T21:01:00.000-05:00

521 miles total today.
Left Key West at 5:15am and arrived in Micanopy right around 7pm. Long day.

Steve Paneriello, John Baltzell, Brent Texeria and Ivor Townsend all met me at 5am and escorted me out of town, riding to the south end of the Seven Mile Bridge just as the sun was coming up. A really nice way to leave the island.

Tomorrow it's on to Alabama. Here's a map of my check-in points today. You can follow my progress at the map at the top of the page by refreshing throughout the day.

You should be able to click on the image below to enlarge.

2011-03-11T20:44:00.000-05:00

Motel heaven

2011-03-11T18:52:00.000-05:00

Last hour...13 on the road

2011-03-11T17:25:00.000-05:00

2011-03-11T14:13:00.000-05:00

2011-03-11T13:27:00.001-05:00

Halfway to tonight's stop

2011-03-11T13:25:00.000-05:00

2011-03-11T11:52:00.000-05:00

2011-03-11T11:49:00.000-05:00

Big Cypress Preserve

2011-03-11T11:27:00.000-05:00

To the Everglades

2011-03-11T10:27:00.000-05:00

To Texas, by way of Card Sound Road

2011-03-11T09:06:00.000-05:00

Leaving Key West - 5 am

2011-03-08T21:50:00.002-05:00

New tires

2010-11-27T20:44:00.001-05:00

Saturday Ride

2010-11-22T10:09:00.001-05:00

Gratuitous Photo

2010-11-19T15:14:00.002-05:00

New...

2010-11-19T12:06:00.000-05:00

New Rubber, new chain and sprockets, new jets. Next week new oil, new filters and a new KTM roadbook holder.

New jets and clean carb

2010-11-15T10:00:00.000-05:00

With the help of my good friends John and Steve, we took out my carburetor this weekend and installed a new jet, drilled out the slide and cleaned everything up. I also installed the KTM Racing Airbox Cover which is a stainless steel plate with a mesh opening. It allows better airflow to the engine replacing the stock cover which completely seals the left side cover of the airbox.

The carb looked in very good shape when we got it apart. Very clean and no real wear on the moving parts. I replaced the stock 142 jet with a 160 and drilled out the two outer holes in the slide, just slightly bigger than stock.

Once the bike was back to together, the power difference was immediately noticeable. Smoother at low speed riding and a great surge up to 7000 rpm. A real improvement to the bike.

I couldn't have done any of this without the help of John and Steve. Especially the parts donation from John. Thanks to both of them.

new and old

2010-10-06T09:15:00.000-04:00

Here's my KTM next to my last bike, the BMW 1150 GS. It never looked this good when I owned it. Theo Glorie worked his magic and is slowly restoring the bike to its original glory. This is the second bike I have sold Theo and each time I want to buy the bike back after he gets done with it.

Mileage check

2010-10-05T16:54:00.000-04:00

2,287 miles on the bike to date.

ride, sting, fall

2010-09-11T19:15:00.000-04:00

A couple photos of the 640 at Bahia Honda and the old bridge separating the Atlantic from the Gulf of Mexico.

What's interesting about the photo is just as I took the last photo there was an intense pain in my wrist. I had a bee in my riding gear and it had just stung me. At that moment, my bike's centerstand sunk into the gravel on the right side and the bike fell down the small hill, landing on the gravel with a thud. My helmet went rolling toward the water, gloves following and I scrambled toward the bike with my suit half off trying to get the bee out of my suit.

Gas was dripping, helmet rolling, wrist searing...a comedy of errors.

down she goes....first time

2010-09-05T20:36:00.000-04:00

2010-09-05T10:20:00.002-04:00

Labor Day Weekend

2010-09-05T09:42:00.001-04:00

click to enlarge photos

Labor Day Weekend video

2010-09-05T09:31:00.000-04:00

2010-08-30T20:54:00.001-04:00

Click to enlarge

epic ride and one month with the 640

2010-08-30T09:24:00.000-04:00

Took a great ride Saturday with John Baltzell. We rode from Key West to Palmetto Motorsports, did some shopping and headed back down to the Card Sound Road riding area. Total trip was about 340 miles. John was on his BMW 800 GS for the trip. At Palmetto, we checked out the new Husabergs, the KTMs and John bought a KTM jersey and a Thor Impact Rig SE Chest Protector. A great piece of protective equipment and it's on my list of wanted gear. You can wear it on the outside or under a jersey. In the photos below, John has it on under the KTM jersey.

We hit an amazing rain storm on our way down the trails, south of the Homestead Motor Speedway. Helmets fogged up, puddles getting deeper as the rain kept falling and it was a blast. We got to the South end of the trail and decided we would turn around and head back in. The rain cleared and we had an epic time, flying up the trails, slowing for water crossings, then hitting the throttle again for blazing runs in the wet gravel and mud.

It was a great day and a great ride. It has been almost exactly a month riding the 640 and this was the best day on the bike so far and a great test in multiple conditions. We rode 60 miles or more on Florida turnpike and freeway, where the speeds average 70+ and exceeding that on occasion. The bike was steady and I never felt down on power. On the trails it's a revelation after a couple years on the BMW 1150 GS. Light, fast and with an amazing suspension, I was able to ride much faster and with more confidence than ever before.

I have put about 1400 miles on the bike in the first 30 days. In the next month, I will be switching out the tires for the knobbies and doing the first oil change. Looking forward to that.

Sunday Ride

2010-08-23T08:23:00.000-04:00

Tech Day

2010-08-21T18:36:00.000-04:00

Today was Tech Day, working on my old BMW 1150 and John Baltzell's KTM 640 Enduro. New tires all around, some repainted body work and lots of misc. work.

14,000 miles

2010-08-20T16:44:00.000-04:00

Card Sound Road Ride

2010-08-14T18:27:00.004-04:00

10 hours, 296 miles.

4 litres of water, 2 Red Bulls, 1 16 oz. Gatorade, 1 Gatorade Prime 4 oz. pouch, 1 Starbucks Double Shot, 1 Latte, a glazed donut and a protein bar.

Left Key West at 6am, back home at 4pm.

Lots of trails, lots of heat and lots of fun.

More from Card Sound

2010-08-14T18:22:00.000-04:00

Aftermath

2010-08-14T12:17:00.000-04:00

2010-08-14T09:43:00.000-04:00

In the woods off Card Sound

2010-08-14T09:41:00.000-04:00

2010-08-05T08:29:00.000-04:00

First short ride

2010-07-31T18:44:00.001-04:00

About 60 miles today. What a great bike. I managed to hit some muddy trails, some pine needle covered back woods and then a fast run along the ocean. Click to enlarge any photo...

Clean...

2010-07-31T10:20:00.002-04:00

click to enlarge any photo

...for now. Between the Florida climate and my habit of riding through all the mud I can find, it won't look like this for long.

2010-07-30T18:52:00.000-04:00

Random photos

2010-07-30T07:46:00.003-04:00

It's home

2010-07-29T17:45:00.001-04:00

click to enlarge photo

Picking up the 640

2010-07-29T14:20:00.000-04:00

Dörty Älgers on the KTM Adventure 640

2010-07-15T14:22:00.001-04:00

I don't know who Dörty Älgers is, or what he does, but the man can ride.

engine

2010-07-15T09:20:00.001-04:00

The KTM LC4 engine. A tried and true workhorse.

test ride

2010-07-14T11:37:00.002-04:00

My old BMW 1150GS next to my other friend Brent's 640. This was test ride day, prior to purchasing my 640.

The story begins...

2010-07-14T09:19:00.005-04:00

Bought from my new friend Brent in Utah. Should be here in 2 weeks. A beautiful 2002 KTM 640 Adventure. 13,165 miles and ready to go. Here's the ad that ran for the bike on Adventure Rider:

"...Up for sale is my smooth-running KTM, pretty much stock 02 640 Adventure. 13,165 miles. Water pump done at 11k miles and has the new Excel front wheel done from the recall. This baby purrs as if just off showroom floor. Well, actually better.

Scorpion Tires currently on it, about 400 miles on them.

I have a rear brand new TKC 80 ready to mount Comes with sale, purchased 20 days ago.

I have a brand new TR8 Rally for the front ready to mount, purchased 20 days ago.

Oil system is clean and maintained regularly.

New air filter.

New comfort seat bought 3 months ago.

Comes with original seat also. One Crack in the orange part of the seat.

New fuel cap.

New battery as of 5/2010.

Comes with easy connect to maintainer (charger) with sale.

New oil filters (main one and left engine side one on and in bike)

Like I said this bike has been a commuter, freeway and sightseeing rides up local fire roads.

This is truly a pristine 640..."