You can download it from the Kawasaki site too, but it’s split up into more than 10 parts. I downloaded them and concatenated them into a single PDF for your convenience: 2007 Kawasaki Ninja 650R Owner’s Manual PDF .
The night was incredibly windy. I had to get up at and tie the tent down because I feared it might collapse. The stakes did not hold in the sandy ground, so I found some rocks and tied the tent to them instead. On the plus side, the wind swept all the clouds away, and the night sky at altitude and away from any cities or towns was breathtaking. I tried taking some pictures, but they didn’t come out well - I was shaking too much from the strong wind and the cold....
I need a warmer sleeping bag for the desert. When I got up, it was cold and raining, so I made my tea and oatmeal inside the tent, trying hard not to set it on fire. I packed my stuff and went riding on some unpaved roads and trails until I was out of the desert. It’s a pretty nice area (for a desert) but it’s full of bullet casings and shot up TVs....
Something is checking out my tent. I have the shovel ready next to me. It’s probably just a desert mouse. The original plan was to cross the Death Valley north to south in a 4 day, 3 nights trip with camping and going off road as much as possible. As it turns out, you’re not allowed to go off road in the death Valley, and you’re not allowed to camp within two miles of any road....
Last update: March 2021. The first time I went on a longer motorbike tour, I was very unsure how to prepare, and what I was going to need. I’ve done several motorbike tours of different type (camping and not, solo and with companion, longer and shorter) and across different countries. I also have some bicycle touring and other camping experience so I think I might have a little bit of advice on how to prepare and what to bring....
On the last day I left Ontario with destination San Francisco. It was hot, but otherwise pretty uneventful at first - just freeway riding, some gas and water stops, the usual. Nothing out of the ordinary. Until freeway 580 in San Leandro. I suddenly started feeling some vibration - I initially thought that it was due to the uneven road. Then it got stronger, and suddenly the bike started fishtailing a little....
The new underpants and the touring pillow worked wonders - I don’t think I’d have made it without. The reduced amount of ass-grip I get on the bike would be a problem on curvy roads, but since everything in Arizona and southern California is flat, that was not an issue. I set off in Tucson with “somewhere near LA” as today’s destination. That means highways and freeways all the way. It was incredibly hot, and I had to stop half a dozen times to drink water and cool down....
I brought several pairs of underpants on this tour - that’s the kind of guy I am. They are all of the same type, and that was a big mistake as it turns out. Also, my riding gear is rainproof, all-season gear from Switzerland, so I’ve been sweating like a cheese in the sun for the past week. And my DRZ, being basically a dirt bike, has a seat the design of which must have been inspired by a 2x4....
Today was a good day. I left Magdalena and took a small road towards Cucurpé - on the way I explored some unpaved side roads, rode through some cattle and horse farms, and finally came back to the paved road. But the fun started after that. 80 kilometers of perfect motorcycling roads - twisty, great scenery and just enough potholes and debris on the road to keep things interesting. An awesome day I took a break in Arizpe, a very beautiful little town on the way....
Today I went down to Caborca (yesterday’s original destination). Nothing too interesting except some shot up trash cans. Then took a smaller road to Tubutama. On the way there, I decided to take a break and used the shadow and the bench of a small chapel in the middle of nowhere. For reasons unknown to me, there was a used pistol cartridge on the ground in the chapel. The people from Sonora sure like to shoot....