In STUCK, Noraly managed to bury the rear wheel up to the axle in the very fine sand. i would hazard a guess that this kind of wear and tear does not promote chain longevity and perhaps she should start wearing a couple of spae brand new chains - one slung over each shoulder bandolier style, crossing her chest. Having changed the sprockets and chain on my V Strom once, I don't envy her doing it herself in the hinterlands, but at least she will have the parts.
Itchy Boots
- Thread starter kiltman
- Start date
Sadlsor
Site Supporter
I would bet you that she has at least a chain repair kit with her tools... another link or three, master link if used, spare clips and a chain breaker tool.
What did I win...?
What did I win...?
Depends. Where you think she is hiding those spare chains. Or does Sahara sand only attack one or two links selectively when a chain is buried in the sand? My friend who too the ATV trip into those same dunes said the sand was finer than any beach sand he had ever seen and it made walking difficult because your feet sank deeply into the stuff. I'd bet @CYYJ can verify this.
Sadlsor
Site Supporter
The chain wear may accelerate, but it's not like she's riding in that sand for months.
I would think a real world example might be something like, she reduced the life of her 20,000 mile chain by 1 or 2 thousand miles. (Totally pulling these numbers out of the air, just as an analogy.)
Think of all the places she's ridden, and how many times she's actually had Alaska serviced. Not a lot of shop service, so I suspect she's pretty handy at regular maintenance and just doesn't record it all. Especially chain maintenance.
But I don't know that with certainty.
< raises hand > that's me ... never read the books or seen the movies.
Toes are freezing ...
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OP
kiltman
Site Supporter
When the question was posed on FB on what she regularly breaks, I thought it would be her sidestand….never even thought about a chain guard…it doesn’t take much.
Incredible views, just stunning.
Incredible views, just stunning.
Looks like her model has been replaced with a new one that is even brighter. Not cheap but it seems to do well. If it lasts on her bike it would probably last on mine. https://www.amazon.com/RT71-Pro-Rug...094WCWF42/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
I found that incident interesting. Every chain guard I've ever had occasion to work near was covered in dirt and chain lube. It was impossible to go near it without ending up with dirty greasy hands. Yet she pulled Alaska's off without so much as a smudge of dirt on her cheek. Maybe washing her chain and sprockets in Sahara dune sand cleaned off all the dirt.
When I first got my V Strom, I adjusted the chain to be a little too loose. It only took a couple of hundred miles to wear a hole in the guard. Plastic doesn't have the staying power of metal, but it won't jam things up so badly that you need a blue flame wrench to remove it.
I was holding my breath more than usual today. Not a terribly smart ride, but how was it to be predicted? Hope her luck holds out and it turns out ok.
Today was mc breakfast day, and we have at least 4 of us who are actively following Noraly. I brought up two points. She is either fearless or nuts - I pointed out a couple of issues ago that I thought riding the dunes was foolhardy given the possibility of getting stuck or hurt, and she did it again. This time riding along a mountain road w/ ice and snow and a significant drop off on the side of the road. Maybe we are just old fuddy duddys, but I had two fellows agreeing with me.
When I was 24 or 25, I did an 11,000 mile loop around the US. I visited relatives in NM, a friend in California, interacted with folks along the way, was even offered a job in a guy's import/export company when I helped him fix his car in SF. I was on the road for almost 3 months and after the first fouor weeks or so, I was lonely for close friends and people I knew well. It boggles my mind how someone (Noraly) can go on for YEARS riding around the world, making no significant contact with people. For example, in her recent Oasis episode she had someone acting as a tour guide, and while he was friendly, I saw no real emotional connection. One of the guys I was talking to said in a much earlier episode someone asked her if she had any romantic attachments (aka a boyfriend) and she replied w/ something to the effect that she did not need that. Okay...more power to her.
When I was 24 or 25, I did an 11,000 mile loop around the US. I visited relatives in NM, a friend in California, interacted with folks along the way, was even offered a job in a guy's import/export company when I helped him fix his car in SF. I was on the road for almost 3 months and after the first fouor weeks or so, I was lonely for close friends and people I knew well. It boggles my mind how someone (Noraly) can go on for YEARS riding around the world, making no significant contact with people. For example, in her recent Oasis episode she had someone acting as a tour guide, and while he was friendly, I saw no real emotional connection. One of the guys I was talking to said in a much earlier episode someone asked her if she had any romantic attachments (aka a boyfriend) and she replied w/ something to the effect that she did not need that. Okay...more power to her.
Ah... her motorcycle.. duh...
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This has to be looked at on an individual basis. Some people are lonely in a crowd, some, never.
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kiltman
Site Supporter
Not hard to be lonely in a crowd - esp. if you don't know anyone. I get your point, however, I don't know anyone who would be comfortable doing what she is doing. Perhaps part of the problem is that I live in a big city, always have, and have created my own network of friends and acquaintances. I enjoyed certain aspects of my trip back then, and did not enjoy having no one with whom to share it (until I got home). Once upon a time I dreamed of sailing around the world, and read extensively books by folks who had adopted the cruising life. Invariably, many of them sailed, settled for a time, made friends, explored, and moved on. Noraly is constantly on the go....
Some people are true individualists and just don't require the company of others. Her contacts with the people who run gas stations / guest houses / motorcycle shops / etc. seem to be enough. She has a friend or two and family that she visits from time to time but just doesn't seem to need a constant companion to any degree. She's a true free spirit and doesn't let anybody harsh her mellow. Not that she and Mellow have a thing goin' on.
Sadlsor
Site Supporter
And you know that.... how, exactly?
As some have said, the adventure begins when the plan falls apart. Business owners know this, as does most people, without thinking about it 
None of Noraly's viewers would ever see the skill and friendliness offered by Ramdan. Some would like to think the damaged shift lever and air box as an (un?)planned prelude to meet Ramdan.
I suspect Ramdan's friend, an English teacher, will share this episode
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None of Noraly's viewers would ever see the skill and friendliness offered by Ramdan. Some would like to think the damaged shift lever and air box as an (un?)planned prelude to meet Ramdan.
I suspect Ramdan's friend, an English teacher, will share this episode
.
I thought Ramdan was great. Skilled and friendly, he did what most mechanics in undeveloped countries do - if you can't get the part you make it. I bet that airbox repair will last until she overhauls Alaska again.
I have no idea why she even wanted a new chain guard. The chain looked bone dry with none of the usual dirt and crud on it. She must be washing it daily.
I have no idea why she even wanted a new chain guard. The chain looked bone dry with none of the usual dirt and crud on it. She must be washing it daily.
Always the simple issues that can be very frustrating, like a small bent piece of metal !
Seems folks have gone lax with Itchy in here, or not as participatory < shrugs shoulders >
Seems folks have gone lax with Itchy in here, or not as participatory < shrugs shoulders >