Part 7: Cross-Country Motorcycle Trip: The Dalton Highway on a 20-yr old Harley Davidson Road King

Part 7: Cross-Country Motorcycle Trip: The Dalton Highway on a 20-yr old Harley Davidson Road King
This episode covers the entire length of Alaska's Dalton Highway, aka the Haul Road, aka the most isolated road in America.
Ultimate Coast-to-Coast / America's Longest Book Drive: 7500 miles for 7500 books on a 2003 Harley-Davidson Road King Classic from Key West, Florida to Deadhorse Prudhoe Bay, Alaska.
Ride along as I raise funds and awareness for Promising Pages, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a love for reading among children and providing them with access to books. Visit CrunchMoto.com to learn more and donate.
The Iron Butt Association's Ultimate coast-to-coast challenge is Key West, FL to Deadhorse Prudhoe Bay, AK in 30 days or less.
Website:
www.crunchmoto.com
Instagram:
/ crunch.moto
Music Licensed on SoundStripe
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[@coreyboothe2627]

Just found your channel in my feed. I have binged watched the entire series tonight. Great adventure for a great cause. Very well done production.

[@CrunchMoto]

Awesome, thank you! Stay tuned for more videos about planning, things I'd do differently, etc.

[@danieldussan6754]

That’s what I call an ADVENTURE!! Great videos, hope to see more of your things on two wheels 🛵

[@CrunchMoto]

More to come! Thanks for watching

[@user-xn9ns3qy7z]

I watched all 7 and each time I said I want to ride that. When you got to Dalton hwy I said I do NOT want to do that one ;) Great videos.....

[@CrunchMoto]

Thank you! Glad you liked them

[@JS-ov9jb]

I'd love to see a video of the bike after the ride. A list of aftermarket parts you had and what you'd of done different. Great series, awesome adventure!!

[@CrunchMoto]

Will do, thanks for watching! Stay tuned…

[@user-mf7yq5xr9s]

I did that trip in 2012 ,,, Fort Myers to Fairbanks 5000 miles on my Ultra Limited ,, trip of a lifetime,, hard on the bike though,, 😉👍🇺🇸

[@6394robbie]

Excellent adventure and videos!!! Just watched the series and it was epic.

[@CrunchMoto]

Thank you

[@billsteeves2974]

No polar bear plunge??? Dont blame you, I wouldnt do it either. Man it was awesome sharing the trip via video with you

[@CrunchMoto]

I plunged my feet in and that was cold enough 🥶. Glad you enjoyed the videos

[@dyrosto1]

Watching this series was truly inspiring. Seeing the struggles and setbacks you faced along the way made me appreciate your determination even more. It's a powerful reminder of how perseverance can lead to incredible achievements. Thank you for sharing your story with us!

[@CrunchMoto]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@bikerjones5618]

They don't work on bikes older than 2010? Lame.

[@CrunchMoto]

Yeah- I had heard of that before, but never experienced it personally

[@jenstybring]

That's what made the biggest impression on me too from this episode. Not the potholes, not the mud, not the insects but the dealers reply.

[@CrunchMoto]

@@jenstybring It surprised me for sure, but it all worked out in the end. They got me all sorted out and held my bike for a week at no charge until the shipper could pick it up.

[@progressforward3257]

Exactly, that’s ridiculous. However for just a new tire, that’s insane

[@johngeorg9491]

Exactly! F$#k China Davidson!

[@oldbikenewman]

Congratulations on accomplishing your goal! You reminded me of the difference between people like myself who enjoy riding their motorcycle versus people like yourself who have a passion for riding their motorcycle. Thanks for sharing. Godspeed

[@CrunchMoto]

Thanks for watching! To each his own, keep enjoying your bike your way! That's what makes motorcycling great... so many different ways to enjoy it. Cheers

[@wasatchoverlanders2065]

Great video. I rode the Dalton in July, from Utah and made it to Deadhorse on the 9th. I dumped my bike in the SAME spot going up Atigun pass haha! That trip was the best experience of my life. I stayed 2 days at Brooks camp to take the Arctic tour, eat "free" food and do laundry. We probably passed each other July 12th on the Dalton as that's the day I rode from Coldfoot to Northpole, AK. I stayed at the same cabins on the pond on the way there and back, as you did.

[@CrunchMoto]

Sounds like a great trip! What bike were you on?

[@wasatchoverlanders2065]

@@CrunchMoto I was on a BMW 1250 GSA. Seemed like the perfect bike for that particular trip. I was surprised and happy to see a few Harleys and a Goldwing on the Dalton and in Prudhoe bay.

[@samueljeppsen9785]

I envy you, mate. I've ridden from Key West to Homer Alaska, twice. 2010 and 2014, both times on a Harley, both times in the Hokahey. But never went up the Dalton Highway. I can also see that by the line you drew on the map, you went through Chicken, too. I've never been there either. My first time was on an 03, 100th Anniversary Special, Sportster Custom, same silver over black. Still have it, 78K miles now. My next time was on a Dyna Superglide. Still have it, 120K miles. I too bought a new tire from the HD place in Fairbanks. My first time I was 59, the second time, I was 63. But I never went up the Dalton HIghway, or the Haul Road as it is more commonly called by Alaskans, as it has too many horror stories about motorcyclists trying to gight the elements. My respect son. You did good. Better than me. I'm impressed and really enjoyed your trip up and back. Dios sea contigo mi amigo. (God be with you my friend)

[@CrunchMoto]

Thanks for watching. I appreciate your kind words.

[@dcijams]

did you run with Bodi ( Ohio ) & Jeff Cowhn)(Florida)

[@brucem8129]

Great series! Legend!!!

[@CrunchMoto]

Thank you, sir

[@mymidlifemoto]

It's sort of infuriating that they won't work on an older bike, because they will share as hell sell you one! Just found your channel on a recommendation from @restless mule. This is pretty epic, awesome adventure.

[@CrunchMoto]

Thanks for your watching! You’re right they, they even had a used ‘03 for sale.

[@roberthugh878]

Great ride! Love the video! I also own a 2003 Harley and find incredibly disappointing that Harley won't work on my bike. Harley should be working on every bike they've ever produced no matter what year it came out.

[@CrunchMoto]

Amen!

[@user-ej9pr5ly8v]

I agree, however it's a sales tactic to get people to keep buying new bikes, support local shops

[@bostjanplut]

Congratulations on achieving your goal. No matter the haul, the road king can do it all. Thank you for making this video. 👍

[@CrunchMoto]

I’ve always said the Road King is the best all-around motorcycle.

[@WalterB_883]

Just found your channel and watched the Fla. to Ak. trip. That was awesome (but the Dalton was insane). Glad you made it safely. Will have to watch some of your other series.

[@CrunchMoto]

Thanks for watching!

[@rkline3644]

Nice video. I did the trip "solo" from Deadhorse to Key West on June 24th to July 2nd of 2023 on my 2015 Victory Vision. I just got the email from "Kneebone" of the IBA that they just verified my ride. Just waiting for the certificate. 5702 miles according to their verification. The weather during my ride was definitely better than your time through. I like how the adventure bike riders and truckers acknowledged the tour/cruiser rider fortitude to undertake this perilous and exhilarating run. I went from Fairbanks up in 14 hours, stayed at the Aurora, then went back to Fairbanks in about 14.5 hours straight. That last 58 miles of asphalt south of Deadhorse was so welcome. At an average speed of 48 mph, my Victory made the Coldfoot to Deadhorse run, 240 miles, on a single tank (6 gallons) I still had my spare gallon just in case.

[@CrunchMoto]

Sounds like a great trip!

[@562Aksapper]

Kuddos to you! I rode up to Deadhorse about a month before you on a BMW GSA, don't think I would try it on a Harley Road King. We lucked out with the weather, no rain or mud.

[@CrunchMoto]

No rain or mud? Does that even count as riding the Dalton? Jk, sounds like a great time

[@562Aksapper]

@@CrunchMoto I take that back, it was raining the morning we left Deadhorse. It cleared up when we got to Atigun Pass and blue skies all the way to Fairbanks. It was so nice, we rode all the way to Fairbanks in one day.

[@RestlessMule]

Very impressive!!! This is a big accomplishment on any bike, but to ride that road on a Road King demands a lot of respect, imo. I’ve really enjoyed this series. What’s next?

[@CrunchMoto]

Thanks! I'll post a some videos with more detailed explanations of this trip in the next few weeks.

[@curtmartens458]

Just found your channel and watched through this amazing journey of yours. Wow!

[@CrunchMoto]

I’m glad you found it! Thanks for watching

[@CrunchMoto]

I also have a series from San Diego to Jacksonville FL… it was earlier in my KZbin career so some of the editing is quite as good, but still very watchable.

[@makeshiftmotorco4413]

Whoa brother, I thought I was doing so riding but man, you Sir are the man. This vid was such an eye opener for me in regard to taking this trip. I’m going to need a different bike. Thanks for bringing us along for this amazing journey!

[@CrunchMoto]

Glad you enjoyed it! I'm going to post a few videos with more details about planning, road conditions, things I'd do differently, etc.

[@danielhill1302]

Excellent video and an Outstanding Adventure. Thank you for sharing and Ride Safe.

[@CrunchMoto]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Dinoxt12]

Couldn't pay me to go to Alaska...the Weather Sucks there just about all the time. Good luck, keep the trip moving on. I tip my helmet off to you...I have a 2009 Heritage and man it does not like Dirt all.

[@CrunchMoto]

Man, I love that about motorcycles! You ride yours when, where, and however you want and I’ll ride mine however I want. Take care of that Heritage. If I didn’t have a Road King, that’s the bike I would buy.

[@johnmacdonald1878]

You are nutz, But I’m seriously impressed. I went over the mountains in the rain, It was just above freezing. You can’t tell from the go pro just how steep it is up and down, or how incredibly slippery it is. it was by far the most challenging days ride I have ever done. After the rain the dry road was no big deal. I did on a GS adventure bike with off-road tires and I know what that was like, You did it with regular street tires on a RoadKing. Mine was an amazing ride. Yours was epic.

[@CrunchMoto]

Amazing! Thanks for sharing. If I ever do it again, it will be on an ADV bike.

[@ToddWoodman]

Great job. Really enjoyed it. Much respect to you.

[@CrunchMoto]

Much appreciated!

[@ScramblerStories]

Congratulations on the accomplishment! Jack was awesome. He's got the perfect voice to do some narration in the style of On Any Sunday. We were in Homer by the time you made it to Deadhorse. Did the Dalton on the last few days of June.

[@CrunchMoto]

Thanks for watching! It’s beautiful up there. Can’t wait to get back.

[@bstargel]

What an amazing journey for such a great cause! You are a certified bad a** for doing that trip on a bike! 🤯 My friend took his RV from Miami to Alaska this summer and I thought that was tough. Beautiful scenery and some intense moments but you handled it like a champ! Thanks for sharing! 🙌

[@CrunchMoto]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@simplman3288]

for future trips, you should consider trying rain-x on your windshield and visor

[@CrunchMoto]

I honestly never thought of that. Thanks!

[@progressforward3257]

After he dumped it over and it wouldn’t start. I was like good ole Harley Davidson. 😂lucky it started

[@CrunchMoto]

That bike has been through a lot.

[@robertking5701]

Man i sure was hoping you were going to do the return journey on the Road King

[@CrunchMoto]

I wish time allowed for that. Had to get back to family and work.

[@hemi398]

An epic journey. Thank you for sharing.

[@CrunchMoto]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

[@GregALang]

Loved these videos! Thanks for sharing.

[@CrunchMoto]

Thanks for watching! Cheers

[@Thomasj876]

Amazing Trip, what an adventure!

[@CrunchMoto]

Thanks for watching!

[@sstingrae]

Awesome ride!!

[@CrunchMoto]

Thanks!

[@stevenbuis4490]

You did it!!! Congratulations

[@CrunchMoto]

It wasn’t always pretty, but I made it!

[@twinstickwizard3941]

You discovered the 3 Rs of travel in the north, Road Dust, Road Construction and Rain. In any combination.

[@CrunchMoto]

You know it! Thanks for watching 👍🏼

[@skipperdabio]

Wow! I’ve always wanted to make this trip. I have a street bob so it is nice to know that it is doable. My main take aways were to have really good waterproof gear, probably some dual sport tires (like a TKC80), and a ton of perseverance! Nice series, thank you for taking us along.

[@CrunchMoto]

Thanks for watching! Don't forget some extra fuel.

[@KRE03051]

Awesome job bro!

[@CrunchMoto]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@pinball2002]

Looks like my mile long road out of camp a few days ago. The road looked just like that after raining all night. Was pure hell getting out of there. Was on a 2018 Goldwing.

[@CrunchMoto]

Nothing like a heavy bike, street tires, and mud.

[@rauloliva8819]

Awesome videos/series. I live in Miami, fl and I am planning on doing this trip next year June or July. Learned a lot watching the videos. Im planning on either riding from Miami, fl or flying to San Francisco renting a bike there and going from there all the way up to that same spot.

[@CrunchMoto]

Thanks for watching! Good luck on your trip!

[@oscars6030]

Amazing brother, just.. unbelievably amazing!!!! May I just ask how long you been riding? I’m a rookie and can’t wait to ride at your confidence level 😎✌🏼

[@CrunchMoto]

Thanks for watching. Been riding since 1999

[@roadkingrider6532]

Damn man! Much respect!! Unbelievable. I think I’d of put some knobby tires on.

[@CrunchMoto]

Thanks for watching. Knobby tires definitely would have helped.

[@kelvinknaff9903]

Personally, I think you’re out of your mind. Congratulations!

[@CrunchMoto]

Most of my friends and family agree with you

[@Jake_RideH2]

WOW!! What a trip that was!! As exhausting as it was, I hope you enjoyed it. What ended up happening to the bike a couple videos back when it was getting horrible mileage? What are some things you encountered and didn't expect? Lessons learned? Anything you'd do differently to the bike?

[@CrunchMoto]

The mileage was due to speed and headwind. Once I slowed down and the weather improved the mileage improved. Lessons learned: 600 miles a day is too much to sightsee along the way. 400-500 would have been ideal. The bike performed flawlessly. Off-road tires and better suspension would have been helpful on the Dalton. I'm glad I did it on the Road King, but if I ever do it again, it will be on an ADV bike.

[@Jake_RideH2]

@@CrunchMoto Thanks for the follow up! Your series has me considering adding this as a dream ride, but it definitely looks very advanced. What suspension are you running right now? Have you considered upgrading?

[@CrunchMoto]

@@Jake_RideH2 It was a completely stock suspension on the trip and I definitely bottomed out the frame on the Dalton. I believe that’s how the kickstand spring ripped off. I plan to upgrade the suspension now that I’m back once I save some cash.

[@afsoccommando]

I have read ride reports for this trip for years. Yours is the first VLOG on it. A riding buddy and I are in the planning stages of making the same ride. Although he is on a GSA and I an Pan America so parts of it should be quite easier. Would love to see a spreadsheet of your costs and lodging. I never saw you camp out so I wonder if the lodging was just worth it over setting up a tent. Great job and congrats!

[@CrunchMoto]

Thanks for watching! Yes, I'll post a few more videos with details about planning, cost, etc. To answer your question, I chose hotels for the convenience. After 10-12 hours of riding, the last thing I wanted to do was deal with setting up (then taking down) a campsite. If I had shorter riding days, I may have camped a few times. I did have a tent and sleeping bag with me for emergencies, but I never used them.

[@afsoccommando]

@@CrunchMoto Yeah, when planning I noticed that lodging across Canada wasn't actually as high as I expected. The costs in Alaska weren't all that bad either until you hit Deadhorse then the price goes through the ceiling.

[@kevinchandler243]

Incredible series. Do you still have that 2003 Road King? What kind of condition is it in now? Major repairs needed after that ride?

[@CrunchMoto]

Thank you. Yes, I still have it. No major repairs needed, but I’d like to upgrade the suspension in the near future

[@chriswalker8074]

What kind of dealership wont work on a bike older than 2010 lol, its a freakin tire!

[@CrunchMoto]

We worked it out in the end. They were all really nice guys there... but you don't want to know what I paid :)

[@sierrafoxtrotgolf3638]

Congrats on persevering! Not the best choice of bikes for that trip, but dammit, you made it. Do you not run a GPS other than your phone?

[@CrunchMoto]

Thanks for watching. My other bike is a 99 BMW r1200c. Out of the two of them, the Road King is the better choice. It’s the ultimate “Run what you brung” scenario. No GPS other than my phone and paper maps. Helps me see the bigger picture rather than just looking for the next turn.

[@rickwaters9246]

always ride in the center...

[@CrunchMoto]

Center of what?

[@RealRonTV]

Great video! Gonna plan my own trip from South Florida myself soon. What month did you do this ride on the Dalton?

[@CrunchMoto]

Mid July

[@RealRonTV]

@@CrunchMoto damn that looked brutal. Do you think the dalton to the circle is worth it or should I just hit Alaska and turn around?

[@CrunchMoto]

@@RealRonTV Whether it’s worth it is really up to you. I set out to ride from the Southernmost point to the Northernmost so it was worth it for me. The road gets worse the further north you get until 50 miles outside Deadhorse. Many people turn around at Coldfoot as it’s inside the Arctic Circle.

[@RealRonTV]

@@CrunchMoto I guess I could alway decide what to do based on the weather forecast at the time. Thanks again for the video! You’re awesome

[@brentcassidy357]

Who did you end up using to ship your bike home? Great trip btw! You did a good job of what it’s really like to do the Dalton.

[@CrunchMoto]

I found a broker who took care of the logistics. Truck to Anchorage --> boat to Seattle --> cargo van to North Caroline. It was faster than I thought, but they tried to get more money from me once the bike was en route, so I won't mention them by name or recommend them.

[@mikegastelu]

That's pretty bad HD doesn't work on older HD ? Does not make sense..🤬

[@CrunchMoto]

It took some convincing, but it all worked out in the end. They’re a good group there.

[@yryazanov]

Hello. How much did you pay for bike shipping? Thank you!

[@CrunchMoto]

I think it was $3500 but I don’t remember exactly.

[@yryazanov]

I found company to transfer my bike from Anchorage to PA for $2000.

[@simplman3288]

dont work on anything older than 2010? that sounds strange to me

[@CrunchMoto]

It was the first time I'd heard that in person. I have read that online from other people who ride "vintage" motorcycles :)

[@joem5110]

7:47 When did "Self Service" start asking for tips?

[@CrunchMoto]

Before I answer that question, let me just turn the screen around and it’s going to ask you a few questions… 😂🤣

[@RestlessMule]

@@CrunchMotowell done. 😂

[@bigal9052]

they dont work on Bikes older than 10 years and H D is wondering why they are going out of business

[@CrunchMoto]

I can understand to a point... if they start taking apart an old bike and discover a bunch of additional problems they could get stuck. However, my bike is clearly in good enough shape to ride from Florida and all I needed was a replacement tire. They eventually came around and were really great to work with, but it was nerve-wrecking for a while.

[@James-oh1wp]

I thought the exact same thing … especially since it was a TIRE!!!!

[@jgdssp226]

What month did you went in that trip? Sept? Oct? Why not on July? Wow I just noticed you went July!!!

[@CrunchMoto]

Yep- July… Mosquito season!

[@jgdssp226]

@@CrunchMoto While I was watching your video I was thinking it was fall season because of the weather and overcast sky, then I noticed the date. I'm planing on going there This year from mid June and get there begining of July, (I'm in México), but I was thinking weather was better than that in summer.