Thoughts on R1250 off-pavement to the Arctic Ocean (Dempster Highway, Northwest Territories, Canada)

Ride what you got.
Thoughts on R1250 off-pavement.


"Real" front suspension instead of telelever not only allows the bike to kneel into corners on the roads from St. Louis to the tundra, but also allows better control off-pavement of suspension characteristics with the throttle. Found the 5.5 inch suspension more than adequate for gravel, washboard, and potholed mud - where the answer for just about every potential problem was more throttle.... (What a blast! Flat trackin', baby!)

This year, pretty much only the Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR is a good option for R17 120/70 and 180/55. Plenty of clearance on the front fender.

Had a blast on the Denali, Taylor, Top of the World and Dempster Highways.
arctic ocean 50 percent PXL_20260801_192028951.MP.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Old Denali Highway looking back east to Denali....
Denali Highway looking East 0.5 PXL_20260725_194139127.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Old Denali Highway - Maclaren Glacier.
Maclaren glacier 0.5 PXL_20260725_222037756.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

I've rode my RS a fair amount in dirt. It does pretty well, and I found it to be easier to control than the GS I bought later. On the RS the road 6's did very well in the dirt, save really deep sand or gravel. But even then I could control the front somewhat ....
I had to go to michelin wilds on the GS to have any control over the front in deep sand or mud. It also sits much higher. I do like the RS ..... still. But the GS with the wilds on it, is pretty adept, I was able to fly though stuff that I struggled with the michelin anakee adventures (the road 6 is at least as good as anakee adventures imo).
5 inches of modern suspension seems to be plenty for 95 percent of riding imo .....
sounds like a great ride .....

Other than tires and stock height clearance, many bikes can handle that run…depending on the rider.