Long Ago the ole Mountain Bike was created to travel the road less traveled. That turned into the Trans America Trail and others. Made some good friends along the way, created some great memories and had one hell of an adventure.

Started with a plane old 1976 DT400C. Added a rear rack, rock pan by Dman himself, front oil cans and some new tires. Basic stuff for an adventure ride. On the old forum, lost is months of rhetoric, discussion, planning, bike building and prepping for the Trans America Trial.

2006 was the start of process. Going thru the bike, prepping, trying to make sure the damn thing would make it from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma to Monticello, Utah. No reason why it shouldn't.

Decided to tear the bike down, full service on the frame, and a rebuild of the motor. Luckly my local Yamaha mechanic and mate wanted to do the motor. So off to Greg for the build.

Loaded and headed to the shop for Greg to do the Motor build.

Got the motor finished started the modifications for the TAT.

Oil Cans for 2 stroke oil.



Rear Rack.


Rock Pan by Dman!!!!

I believe I may have archived the full original TAT thread from the old forum. If I can find it, I’ll try to tak on the project of replicating it here.

More research added the need for gas. Found a OEM gas tank which fit the bill.

Mounted Nicely, so road trials it was. Took a 400 mile road trip to get things understood and defined.


Few tweaks here and there, out to the woods for a few hundred mile final shake down before the TAT journey begins.

Needs to be done. All the pictures that were lost too?

Road Trials done, introduction to my new mates I had been planning with for the TAT adventure. Date set, and meet at Greystroke to begin the trip.

Random Picture of the 2007 Journey. Broken Arrow, OK to Monticello, UT. Section 1

Prepping for the trip West. Unique day, none of us had met in person. Interesting group to get to know...….






Maybe some of the guys on the trip can add some pictures as well. Dman, JGresh, Makotosun

I have a lot of the photos, at least the ones I was able to salvage before photobucket and village photos decided to crap out. I believe I have all of the original posts.

First day out Mark & Gary had a few problems. Dial a Seize was messing the Makotosun, Exhaust issues with Mark.



Not far from Greystroke, Mark loaded up on the chase truck, headed to Blackwell Oklahoma, start working on the bike, see what he could sort out. Rest of us moved on. Mid-afternoon, Makotosun started getting worse with the top end finally over.

Down the TAT

More of day 1