Versatility of the RS

[Ray]

Doable ride, but the RS would not be my preferred mount.

Or trip

Right - but not all of us can afford multiple bikes. We ride what we got. 

Maybe I'm a little more aggressive than most on gravel and dirt, but I had a blast, and didn't really want for more suspension. Had the zip tie on the fork under the gaiters - never bottomed out, and looked like I had a couple cm to spare of the 14 cm available. 

With the newer dual camshaft, the tank holds enough to get from the card lock gas station at the turnoff to the Dempster to get to Eagle Plains, but right - suppose you have to turn around 3/4 of the way there. Even the boys and girls with the big GSAs and after market tanks were usually carrying a little extra (if for no other reason than to look cool).

Given that the roads are not that technical, probably the highlight of the trip was the riders and bikes I met along the way. Very high density of riders making up about 25% of the vehicles on the roads. For example - the 70 y-old former chief of Misubishi communications decided to spend an extra day (with the Suzuki 225 he picked up in Vancouver) at Bruce's Yukon Motorcycle Park in Whitehorse, just to enjoy the unique company and culture. (Vanessa's Thompson's Eagle Claw Motorcycle Camp in Tok, AK is another natural meeting spot as well as the day-use  guest cabin at the BMW dealership in Anchorage.)