Steel Horse Rover

It’s 8:20. Already the parking lot outside the Blackfoot Motosports service centre has several bikes lined up; and is filling rapidly. One of them is the new KTM adventure bike. Oooooo… Aaaahhhh… it’s beautiful.

KTM. Austrian company. Interestingly, a KTM was the original bike of choice for Ewan McGregor’s + Charlie Boorman’s Long Way Round journey.

As the story goes, when KTM’s SME learned they would be riding The Road of Bones in Russia (appropriately named since anyone venturing (or, more often, sent) there wasn’t expected to return), he advised KTM of the risk; and they pulled the plug before the current even had a chance to begin flowing. Then, BMW stepped up, offering two R1150GSs (same bike as I’m riding). The rest is history.

As I admire the KTM, I can’t help but wonder whether, had Ewan + Charlie been on KTMs, I would now be on one, too. Looking back at Gunther, he’s casting those lovable German Sheppard eyes up longingly from where he’s been resting, one eybrow prominently raised

in anticipation of a possible ride down a twisty road. I can’t help but break into a huge grin and feel a sudden urge to give him a big hug. Whooozzzhhh a good boy… Izzhhh Gunther a good boy? Guntherzz’s a good boy… yesshh he izzhhh… yesshhh he izzzhhh. Hooozzhh-ah-wooozzzhh-ah-wooozzzhh-aaahhh.

I’m becoming aware of an inner voice: “Keep it together, man; you’re standing in the middle of a parking lot for crying out loud,” it councils. ‎

Ahem. Yes. Right.

I am here at Blackfoot Motosports, in Calgary to have some maintenance work done on Gunther. It’s been over 5,000 km since I left the GTA; and he’s in need of some fresh oil and probably brake pads; and I want to switch tires to something with a more agressive tread (a.k.a. dirt bike “knobbies”) in preparation for the roads in Northern B.C. — The Alaska Highway may be paved; but the roads to the campsites likely are not; and the smooth, “road” tires I have been riding on thus far begin slipping even on damp grass because of the engine’s torque.

Justin Swanson, the service manager, has been expecting me; and he directs Gunther and me into the service bay to check in.

I emailed Justin a couple of days back letting him know I would be in town; and asking whether Blackfoot would be able to service my bike. I knew it was a long shot — you don’t just phone up a BMW Motorrad Service Centre and say, “Oh, hi; just noticed it seems to be a nice day outside; yeah, nice day to bring my bike in to have it looked at; d’you mind if if I pop by around 11 or so, after I’ve had a bite of brecky and read the paper?” Yeaaahhhh… Riiiiiiggghhhtttt. Doesn’t happen. Typically, you need to book appointments 1-2 weeks in advance; and once you have an appointment, it’s cast in stone. Don’t be late!

Unfortunately, given I’m pretty-much making my route up as I go, I don’t know where I’ll be a week from now let alone two weeks. But I knew I’d be in Calgary today; and I knew I needed oil, brakes and tires; and I knew Blackfoot was the authorized BMW Motorrad Service Centre.

So, Justin calls me back. He doesn’t have the tires I specified; but he has some that are comparable. Does my bike have ABS? No? Then, he has brake pads as well. When will I be in Calgary? Friday? If I come in early he can slot me in.

YES! And, after reading some reviews on the tires he has, they appear to be a bit-more suited to what I’ll need — 50% dirt / 50% road versus the ones that I had originally chosen, which are 70/30. Yep!

Which is how Gunther and I find ourselves at Blackfoot Motosports today.

Justin goes over the main points of my appointment: oil – check (most bikes run 10-40 around here; but I’ll be sticking with the 20-50 I’ve been running); brakes – he thinks the pads look pretty good; but he’ll have a new set on hand for the technician, anyway; tires – we have a look at the tires that Gunther will wear for the ride up North, good chunky tread but not somuchso as to compromise grip on asphalt.

Then, he takes note of the other minor things I want them to check (the squeaky sound coming from the front (which is no worse than it was back home); the amount of play in the clutch lever; etc.). Beyond merely taking notes, we go to the bike — which is right in front of the counter because the counter is in the service bay — and he triages my concerns. This is a welcome change from the service set-ups I’ve been used to, where I leave my bike in the parking lot, dictate my concerns to someone at a service desk; and then get a diagnosistic report after a technician has looked at it. Today, I’m being given an opportunity to participate in, at least, the triage process.

At one point, Justin goes to the “back” to get one of the other managers, Toby, who rides the same bike, so he can listen to the engine. Minutes later, Toby is on the scene, and listening to the running engine.

“Sounds better than mine,” he comments. (Good ol’ Gunther, eh?)

The squeaking from the front? Justin says it’s likely partly dry fork seals. They’re not leaking; but the dry areas sometimes make this sound as they move along the forks. Nothing to be concerned about.

Once Gunther’s checked in, Justin tells me Lin will be taking care of my bike. “Lin has been working on these bikes since before I was born,” he says. “Then, that’s the guy I want working on my bike,” I reply.

Satisfied Gunther is in good hands, I head off to Timmy’s for a smalldarkroastregular. The words concatenate as the leave my mouth, now, as I’ve had a lot of practice in the last three weeks.

A few hours later, I’m back to check on Gunther. Toby wants to show me something on my bike. He takes me behind the counter — behind the counter; I’m going to the “back” — and into the work area where Gunther is on the bench. The original fuel line quick connectors (“faucets” that connect the fuel line to the gas tank) from 2003 are made of plastic; and are starting to leak a bit. BMW has since started using metalic ones. While not critical, Toby suggests we replace them. Cost? Around $50; and there are two of them. Briefly assessing the impact of a leaky fuel line on The Alaska Highway versus the cost of avoidance by replacing the connectors now, I tell him, “Do it.” I’ll be needing every drop of fuel up there.

It’s getting close to lunchtime, now; and I’m feeling a might peckish. The guys in service

tell me of a local place where I can get BBQ sandwiches. Oh, yeah; that’s the ticket.  Soon, I’m sitting at a table in Holy Smoke BBQ, chomping on a huge (and I’ve got the “small” size) pulled beef brisket sandwich smothered in mesquite sauce. Without doubt, this is one of the culinary high points of the trip thus far. If you find yourself in Calgary I suggest you try this place–not just for the amazing sandwiches; but for the funky, down-to-earth ambiance. (NW corner of Blackfoot Trail and Manhatten).‎

Back at Blackfoot’s service waiting room, I notice a banner advertising BMW off-road, enduro training that Blackfoot Motosports runs. This is

something I had wanted to do before I started my trip; but it just had not gelled. Unfortunate, too; for handling 475-kg, top-heavy Gunther in deep gravel has already proven to be a knuckle-whitening experience.

Out of curiosity more than anything, I ask one of the guys in the service area when the next session is. He’s not sure; but he ‘ll get the person who runs the course — who turns out to be none other than Toby! What are the odds that, out of all the mangers and technicians at Blackfoot, the one guy who rides the same bike as mine, and has been overseeing the work being done on Gunther, also runs the training to teach how to ride my bike in mud and sand and gravel?

Surely, that was where my luck would end; for the chances of the training happening during the few (unplanned, remember) days I am in town were about the same as landing a probe on a comet with accuracy.

Toby’s back, surprised, I think, to see I’m the one inquiring about his training day. What are the odds? Toby tells me the next session is Monday; they’re filling up, but still have room. Monday! Really — what are the odds? If I were a betting man, I’d be playing the lotto this evening. I was planning to leave Calgary on Sunday; but the planets just don’t align this closely every day; and I’m in. We visit Rozzie, who manages Blackfoot Motosports’ events and marketing; and soon I’m signed up. Woo-hoo.

So, I’ll extend my stay in Calgary until Tuesday. Look for an update thereafter — I’ll try to take the GoPro with me.

When I return to Service, Gunther is parked out front; and don’t his new, knobby boots look the part! Can’t wait to get some dirt into the treads

at the Enduro training!

Inside, Justin goes over the work order: Oil… tires… brakes… Brakes. New brake pads have been changed all around; but Justin looks at the old ones; and they appear to have a fair bit of life left in them. On investigation, it appears Lin, who has been working on my bike, saw the new brake pads that Justin had left out; and thought I wanted to replace them regardless of the state of the current ones. Justin gives me the ones that were on the bike (they are still usable) and makes an adjustment to my invoice. They got their wires crossed; and he’s owning it.

I have to say, I am very impressed with the professionalism, knowledge and experience of the service team at Blackfoot Motosports. These guys really have their act together. I tip my visor to Justin, Toby, Lin, Rozzie and the others who stepped up to help me out while I’m on the road.

Gunther is now ready for heading North; and after the training on Monday, I will be too.