Tips For Riding To Alaska On Your Motorcycle

Important Travel Information (Many of these are good for ANY long trip!)

Things to do before you leave:

Join a Roadside Assistance program (Road America, AMA, whomever) - nothing like piece of mind for only $20 to $30!
Make sure you are aware of and in compliance with rules regarding border crossings (call US & Canadian customs). Great link - AMA border crossing tips: http://www.amadirectlink.com/features/2003/bordercrossings.asp
Pick up a copy of the Milepost - (http://www.milepost.com) to study the route and note what you want to stop for.
Make sure your bike is properly registered and licensed and that you have proof of ownership. Do not take your title!!!!
Make sure your bike is ready for the trip. It’s 4000+ miles and most motorcycle brand’s recommended oil change interval is 2,500 to 5000. Plan to replace your rear tire afterwards as well. Your front tire should be good for 15 to 20,000. There won’t be time for service on the road, and expect any shops along the way to be busy.
Register your cell phone to work in Canada and the lower 48.

Things to take:

Riding gear, rain gear, heated gear (if you have it), and clothing you can layer. Long sleeve white cotton t-shirt will help prevent dehydration on a hot day and can be used to layer on a cold day. Take long underwear (mountains can get cold). Driver/s license, motorcycle registration, copy of birth certificate, and passport.
Emergency contact and medical info, proof of MC ownership, proof of insurance including Canadian coverage, Roadside Assistance Card, Ride Itinerary with scheduled stops, MC owners manual, driver’s license, credit cards, around $300+ in cash (for Canada have @$200 Canadian), airplane tickets, and anything else you consider a MUST.
Tire repair kit, siphon hose, MC jumper cables, tool kit, quart of oil, a couple of 30-gallon can liners, and a flashlight. Just make sure someone in your group has this stuff. Shipping your bike back by air? Your tire repair kit’s the CO2 cartridge and rubber cement is considered hazardous materials and can’t be mailed/shipped!

Ride Guides:

Check the route and mileage to insure you have enough time to make the distance and still be able to do and see what you had planned. Form your own small groups and plan your day.
Leave a copy of your ride itinerary with your family/friends.
Setup some call in checkpoints along your route so that if something happens, your family/friends will know something is not right and react accordingly.

Good Informational Sites: