Expedition Frozen Seal full video. A winter motorcycle ride. Prudhoe Bay via Dalton Hwy! KLR650 /BMW

Expedition Frozen Seal took place in early March 2024.
For 10% or more off of Cardo Systems, use code AK.KLR650 at the following link:
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Additional thanks to my friends from SW-MOTECH USA at sw-motech.us/en/
Hippo Hands at www.hippohands.com
and Grip Studs at gripstuds.com for their support.
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Thanks for watching!
Disclaimer: I am not a professional motorcycle rider or mechanic. I am not trying to claim to be a source of expert advice. I do my best to accurately relay my own experiences and opinions, but the content of my videos are just that: My opinions and experiences. Understand you are taking your own risks if you choose to do something I have done. Take care of yourself. There is only one of you. 😊

[@mikee9065]

"We went out. We chose to go and live life". Massive amount of respect for you two. Thank you for sharing with us.

[@ak.klr650]

Thank you for the kind words and for watching! I appreciate it!

[@bsc1463]

Great job !! ...... and another feather in the KLR'S hat 🙂 for holding up .

[@ak.klr650]

Thanks! 😊

[@shortattentionspangarage1312]

Exactly! The bike that cost 1/3 of the BMW had no problems. It probably would have made it back just fine too.

[@robluce6334]

Let me just confirm this for you, that's insane. Yep.

[@ak.klr650]

😂 I think, planned out like we did it, it wasn't quite as insane and the concept sounds. 😁

[@sachadee.6104]

The Adigan (?) pass images are unreal !! SO STUNNING.

[@ak.klr650]

Atigun, I believe. Some of the coolest area up here!

[@arronchristopher4054]

great video ... look like a fun trip ... great work

[@ak.klr650]

Thanks! 😊

[@emmetmartin4083]

Some achievement to even attempt that ride never mind making it all the way North. Bravo !!

[@ak.klr650]

Thanks! 😊

[@joem5110]

Awesome job guys! I'm going up to Tuktoyaktuk but I'm a wimp and doing it this July.

[@ak.klr650]

That is an accomplishment no matter what time of year! That should be a great time to go!

[@littlefarmer_32]

Have a fun and safe ride, I rode up to Tuk in July 2019. One thing I learned from my ride, don't fret about packing lots of extra gas. Ride safe

[@scottwight7438]

What an amazing adventure!! I was up there in March of 23 but I was in a warm SUV.

[@ak.klr650]

Nice! It is pretty neat up there even in a car! Stunning time of year!

[@Scorge120]

Dude, this is seriously gnarly. I tried to make it up to Tuk in October 2023 on my Africa Twin but only just made it to the Yukon. Need to get studded tires to do the winter riding! Kudos to you guys for being completely insane.

[@ak.klr650]

Thanks! October is pushing pretty late into the year for summer tires for sure!

[@functionalfitness1013]

You guys are nuts!! Awesome job 💯

[@ak.klr650]

😂 Thanks! 👍🤙

[@anthonymalfino1]

Most excellent!!!!

[@ak.klr650]

Thanks! 😊

[@RGB872]

I’m so glad you did that so I don’t have to. Also, props to the mighty KLR for holding up, but the real question is did your milk crate break under these conditions? 😅

[@ak.klr650]

😂 All luggage and bags held up well.

[@rickorezzoli172]

Outstanding video! Let's keep riding brother!

[@ak.klr650]

For sure!! Ready for the next one!

[@562Aksapper]

Awesome!

[@ak.klr650]

Thanks!

[@maksimiliankiefergregl]

Fantastic ride guys. Well done, Congratulations!

[@ak.klr650]

Thank you! 😁🤙

[@AK_ADV]

Awesome trip. Well done 🍻

[@ak.klr650]

Thanks! 👍

[@robreed2999]

Absolutely brilliant and congratulations to you both 🥇🥇👍🏍⛽🇬🇧

[@ak.klr650]

Thank you! 😊

[@AnthonyJoh]

That's amazing! I was just thinking about doing such a trip but though to do it on a URAL because I didn't think it would be possible on two wheels. You guys have proven me wrong and hats off to both of you for such an amazing accomplishment.

[@ak.klr650]

A Ural would be incredible also! You'd still face the same cold temperatures. Balance might be a bit more stable. I think you'd still want tire studs though!

[@nobodycares3897]

As an Ural rider myself the 2 wheel drive is stable on ice BUT the addition of studs onto the more aggressive off road tires is a must.

[@ak.klr650]

​@@nobodycares3897Makes sense! Studs are about the only way to get traction on a light machine!

[@michaelmyang]

Wow, well done! Awesome! I rode my GSA to Tuk and Prudhoe Bay solo last summer from LA and made it back safely. Doing it in March is a totally different kind of challenge. Kudos!!

[@ak.klr650]

Thanks. That is awesome! That's an incredible trip you accomplished!

[@Thewarhorse47]

Great ........video.............Very..........beautiful............my ............friend............and ...I ........leave...................for Prudhoe ................Bay.............in ...............a few...............weeks..................I ..........was.........impressed..........................with.....................the video.................but................the voice.....................over.....................definite...............ly................. needs...................................work.

[@ak.klr650]

Voice over was the product of no script, and winging it at my normal thought speed. 🤣 I could certainly improve by thinking and scripting that out ahead of time.

[@waynebernard1224]

Well done

[@ak.klr650]

Thanks!

[@dcijams]

I've driven a tractor trailer in temps of -39 degrees. and had to shield my drivers door, from the wind blowing in. The coldest I ever rode a bike was 17 degrees.

[@ak.klr650]

That is quite cold! Heater struggles to keep up in some vehicles for sure!

[@dcijams]

@@ak.klr650 can't decide if the KLR would be to small of a bike for me, as I'm 6' 4" tall, & weigh 290 LBs. I'm also looking at the BMW 850 gs & the Moto Guzzi 85TT

[@ak.klr650]

You planning on riding much interstate? What are the top speed limits for your area where you'll be riding? The KLR maxes out at 93 downhill, loaded with me and luggage. I have had the throttle pinned and only been at 75 MPH into a hard headwind in Utah. It would fit you size wise. The biggest disappointment I think most people have with it is the power. I am tickled with it. It fits my riding style, it is simple, very reliable, and easy to work on yourself. Those are the reasons I have them now.

[@DavidTysdal]

Amazing!

[@ak.klr650]

Thanks!

[@chazza1014]

Awesome dude!!! Nice work

[@ak.klr650]

Thank you! 😁

[@rockinroxxi3710]

You two are insane We can be friends 🤣😂😅 I’m riding the Dalton this summer solo. Cheers 🙌

[@ak.klr650]

Nice! Enjoy your ride! Maybe I will catch you on the road one of these days!

[@rockinroxxi3710]

@@ak.klr650 You becha, I’m moving north to Fairbanks and will be setting up a Biker Basecamp to service Dalton Highway riders. See you on the road 🙌

[@ak.klr650]

Sounds like a cool idea!😊

[@sachadee.6104]

"Need a support car with a trailer (and a lot of high end technical stuff)." One should watch Ed March (and his girlfriend) who crossed Dalton hwy AND went cross Canada west-to-east on 90 cc bikes and slept in a tent MIDWINTER.

[@ak.klr650]

I heard about them recently. Very impressive! 👍

[@samuroadventure1227]

That was epic, cool, and phenomenal!

[@ak.klr650]

Thanks! 😊

[@Xt1000]

Awesome video. You can get 3 KLR's for the price of one Beamer.

[@ak.klr650]

True! I wouldn't mind having a BMW. But I don't want to spend the money and am really happy with my KLRs. 😊

[@RMACIAS2460]

Where’s the beer 🍺 and tacos 🌮 in this crazy trip 🏍️🛵🥶🌬️.good video. Whats next death Valley during the summer 😂

[@ak.klr650]

Tacos originate a little farther South. 😂 We sure did enjoy the ride!

[@sisgrl4alwyz]

This was so fun!!!!! Glad i got to come along for this adventure! 😁 P.S.--Can't wait til our Cali to Oregon trip! 🤩

[@ak.klr650]

Looking forward to it! 😁

[@amiemorey]

This was SO fascinating to watch😮 I can't believe some of those conditions, you were so right, it's something very few will ever do. You guys slept in sleeping bags at -37°?!? 😱🥶 I loved what you said, humans are made to do incredible things, and it is exhilarating to push the limits of what's possible ✨ What a cool trip you all did 🙌🏼

[@ak.klr650]

Thank you! 😊 I wouldn't say we were comfortable sleeping at -37, but I did sleep without getting hypothermia. 😂

[@amiemorey]

@@ak.klr650 that's a plus 😅😂

[@ak.klr650]

For sure! 😂

[@elwood62]

Pretty incredible. I enjoyed the short vids you released, but seeing it all together is cool. What did you guys wear for boots? They don’t look nearly as thick as would have expected them to be.

[@ak.klr650]

Thanks! Military surplus "bunny boots." They do a pretty good job of keeping the feet warm!

[@Flaresh]

Great achievement!!

[@ak.klr650]

Thank you! 😊

[@letsfindme8156]

Let me know if you need help our advice. I did the ice road to tuk the last year it was up on my motorcycle and I have about 65 000 km of ice road riding under my belt. You'll have a good time

[@ak.klr650]

We had a great run! Covered the whole trip in this video. 😊

[@CptSlow89]

Damn man... I do not want to walk on this weather not to ride.

[@ak.klr650]

Walking is almost as bad. 😂

[@veiledallegory]

I guess this shows the difference between Japanese and German engineering. Watch C90 Adventures, they rode across Canada in the middle of winter on two Honda C90s from the 90s.

[@ak.klr650]

I figured the design of the single cylinder engine was easier to keep warm, but I don't really know why otherwise the failure on the BMW. I'll have to look up those guys!

[@sachadee.6104]

YES ! That is an awesome, unbelievable feat and crazy funny. Ed March + friend.

[@garyteague9555]

If I did this it would be a smaller motorcycle, like a Honda trail 125 , or Yamaha 200 , Honda 15o 0r something in that range that would be easier to lift when it falls and you will drop it

[@ak.klr650]

Good thoughts! A light bike would make life simpler when you fell!

[@sachadee.6104]

you should watch Ed March on his 90 cc bike doing winter driving to Alaska and sleeping in a tent. He's hilarious.

[@youtubeaccount9058]

Comment from the future: "Early march is the best time of year to ride to the Arctic Circle!"

[@ak.klr650]

😂

[@terrymiller5246]

Amazing trip. For the KLR, what prep did you perform on bike for the cold? Did you only start the engine from heated storage? My 2022 will not start below freezing.

[@ak.klr650]

I actually didn't do much besides installing cables for my heated gear and putting tire studs in. We stored the bikes in heated places at night, and left them run all day.

[@ThomasKinzer]

Embracing the suck. 🤘

[@ak.klr650]

100% 😁

[@MladenBlagojevic-gx5on]

Respekt.........🖐✌💪

[@ak.klr650]

Thank you! 😊🤙

[@jamespalmer4727]

What is the electrical capacity on that klr? Did you put an aftermarket stator in it?

[@ak.klr650]

It has the stock stator. I don't know what it's max output is. I had no issues running all the gear though. I had definitely tested it for multiple hours before this trip!

[@Thewarhorse47]

Question, if you had a support vehicle, why did you have luggage on the bikes? Seems like they would have been safer to ride with less weight.

[@ak.klr650]

Mine just had winter clothing in the side bags. Some camera gear and necessities in the top box. A pretty light load actually. If you had seen the inside of the car, there wasn't much room for anything left. Traveling with 3 kids in the car along with cold weather gear and stuff for everyone, and trying to leave room for two of us, in case of emergency is a project. 😂

[@COM70]

How did your KLR cope with the electric demand ? Small enough alternator.

[@ak.klr650]

It didn't fail me. Idk what its max output is, but apparently I wasn't over it. I had tested it before on a several hour winter trip prior to this ride.

[@youtubeaccount9058]

The knobs on Shinko MX216 dirtbike tire knobs do crack and break off, even in warm temperatures. They bought the pattern from Goldentyre. The GT216 costs a lot more and is made from a much more resilient material.

[@ak.klr650]

Interesting and good to know!

[@wendygerrish4964]

March .

[@ak.klr650]

Yes, March is still a wildcard of winter weather. It is often more mild temperature by March, but we caught a cold weekend!

[@_Corsa]

I have the same bmw, any idea exactly what seal failed? Those KLRs are a beast no doubt!

[@ak.klr650]

We think that the engine was not able to warm up enough while riding to maintain tight tolerances around the seals. I would guess that the metal shrunk a little and the oil pressure blew the seal out.

[@IAm1InTheIAm]

Assuming you guys ran synthetic everything, my guess would be high viscosity/low temperature failure. Those temps on motorcycles, lubrication would be a science.​@ak.klr650

[@ak.klr650]

@IAm1InTheIAm That would've been smart, but not really. Same weight synthetic engine oil I rum in the summer. We had them overnight in a shop each place we spent the night, so no cold starts to deal with. And then we left them running all day after we left the heat. What we would seriously benefit from would be suspension modifications to much thinner fork oil and soft springs probably. That got horribly stiff on the KLR. We definitely had to ride gently as the temperatures dropped.

[@ak.klr650]

@IAm1InTheIAm That would've been smart, but not really. Same weight synthetic engine oil I rum in the summer. We had them overnight in a shop each place we spent the night, so no cold starts to deal with. And then we left them running all day after we left the heat. What we would seriously benefit from would be suspension modifications to much thinner fork oil and soft springs probably. That got horribly stiff on the KLR. We definitely had to ride gently as the temperatures dropped.

[@IAm1InTheIAm]

@ak.klr650 yeah, makes sense. Ya know, you guys are some of the few riders in the world that ride in such absolute extreme cold temps that the actual engineers who designed your bikes would probably work directly with you to find creative solutions to the mechanical problems you've been experiencing- it's a win-win for both- they're getting valuable field testing for free, and you get the best info available for your bikes. Maybe the valving settings on the suspension if it's an option. Good luck!

[@sjmthibault]

Awesome! Now don’t do that again! 🫣🤣

[@ak.klr650]

😂🤣 Maybe on a warmer winter day next time.

[@johndee3793]

Love you honey ❤ Would love to hangout with you sometime,anytime. Your well read & very intelligent.🧐

[@ak.klr650]

😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

[@bradleygibson6887]

Was super stoked to run into this video, but gosh damn, I couldn't watch with this guys computer sounding voice. So dead and flat sounding. Very hard to listen to like that.

[@ak.klr650]

😂

[@danreich4320]

It’s not insane. It’s stupid.

[@ak.klr650]

Stupid might be a strong word. Knowing your capabilities, and having a realistic understanding of the risks, and preparing for those makes something, that is stupid without preparation, a successful adventure!

[@danreich4320]

@@ak.klr650 there’s no upside, Even if you’re successful. Hours and hours and hours of freezing your ass off makes zero sense. And I’m someone who rides all year round.

[@ak.klr650]

I'd call the completion of a project like this the upside. Convenient? No. Joyous, gleeful fun? No. A sense of accomplishment? Yes. Why? Because we could.

[@danreich4320]

@@ak.klr650 Pass.

[@arronchristopher4054]

see false christ comes first

[@ak.klr650]

? Who is false Christ? 🤣

[@glennjaffas6242]

-37*

[@ak.klr650]

Definitely chilly! 🥶😁