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Photo by Sean Howman, The Pamir highway in an unseasonably cold late October, Tajikistan

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Sean Howman,
The Pamir highway in an unseasonably
cold late October, Tajikistan



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  #16  
Old 12 Apr 2014
MEZ MEZ is offline
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Andy your so right..!!! Britney Spears naked & smuthered in donut icing riding a bespoke RTW K75gs offroad over the woopydoo's section....... We digress, nah I'll be fine mate, riding the bike isn't the issue, ultra reliability is what I'm seeking plus the engineering challenge that lies ahead..!!


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  #17  
Old 12 Apr 2014
MEZ MEZ is offline
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Backofbeyond, is this the very same B-of-B I met at the 2013 Elephantreffon Rally, you pootled up on a B120 ..???


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  #18  
Old 12 Apr 2014
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Mezo I think B-o-B meant Mez not Mezo....!!!!!!!


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  #19  
Old 12 Apr 2014
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Wow, ur Pops knew his stuff then, I like the old stuff also but can't get away from the fact that the GS is a fantastic bike. I bought my '06 GSA from new & will never sell her. Don't like any of the models after '07/08 ?!?!
I'm shipping one of the bikes to OZ eventually as part of the master plan but as we all know plans can go to rat shit yeah..!!!


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  #20  
Old 12 Apr 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MEZ View Post
Backofbeyond, is this the very same B-of-B I met at the 2013 Elephantreffon Rally, you pootled up on a B120 ..???
Small world isn't it!

This bring back any memories -




Latest project on the B120 - thinking ahead to next winter and trying to make a set of ex Land Rover snow chains fit.

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  #21  
Old 12 Apr 2014
MEZ MEZ is offline
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Yes indeed...!!

We owe you an inertube also...!!! (Mark does anyhow..!! XL600..??)

So your fancying the same build..?? I had one bike back then, I now have two, doing a side by side build in prep for 'the big trip' some time in the near future. There will be plenty of pics posted on the build so keep em peeled..!!!

Mez
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  #22  
Old 13 Apr 2014
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Yes, it's always amazed me that the tube held out. If you can blow them up that much and they survive I'll just pack some bicycle tubes for the bloop in the future

I was all set to go to the Alt-Elephant at the Nurburgring this year on the Suzuki but we had a DIY crisis at our flat in France so I went down to the Alps instead. I've applied for a place on next year's TaurenTreffen which is what the snow chains are for.

Re the 75GS, post up your work in progress - the good, the bad and especially the ugly. After the XLs if anyone can make this work you can!
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  #23  
Old 13 Apr 2014
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Lol...!!! Yes indeed, thanks. Ironically I played that video clip you took on utube last night, I've built a few specials in my time but these 'K' bikes are really getting my juices flowing I can tell you..!!
Always in your debt, Mez...!!!!


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  #24  
Old 14 Apr 2014
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Wait a minute, nobody told me I couldn't take a GS around the world!! Otherwise I wouldn't have done it!!

And I feel like I'm missing out of the big boys gang because my rear drive hasn't failed.........or anything else.

It's so unfair. I'm always the last to know I might as well give up riding and become a forum "expert"

No wait a minute I'll go for another ride across Russia. Now which one to use? The GS, no the rear drive will fail. The "83 Tenere? no that's too old and won't make it. The XT660z Tenere no apparently that's underpowered and too heavy too.

Oh god it's all too depressing

Now back on topic. I loved my K75C but in this order

The fuel pump went (well was gone when I bought it)
The water pump shaft and seals went.
and the tank rotted through at the lowest point (damned condensation in FNQ tropics)

But apart from that the engine just kept on going, and was so smooth.

I did see one in Elizabeth Street in Melbourne once that had been modified to go off road. Looked a bit funny but it was covered in mud so the guy that owned it must have thought it worked.

Good luck with the build and let us know how you get on.

Chris
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  #25  
Old 14 Apr 2014
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Hi Chris, I both squirmed & pissed myself there, that was a cracking retort & oh so fkn true..! I'm on all 3 sides of the fence here, again it's a statistic thing but I'm glad you made us all choke on our own words..!!
What I'm doing is a contradiction in terms really, why leave a GS12 and zoom off on a home brew jobbie when not only you but an awful lot of others also have done the same ?? God knows..??!!!!
Don't care really, I love building bikes, check out Doug Wothke's Harley off-roader ?!!!! For me it's all about the building of the bike & I reckon I've chose the best engine/doner bike to kick off.. As for wieght of the thing, I reckon yourself Chris can also vouch about chucking a 12 around the loose stuff, tyres are the all saving grace here.
Thanks for the snippit of info, another 'tesco' moment...!


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  #26  
Old 18 Apr 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chrispy View Post
Wait a minute, nobody told me I couldn't take a GS around the world!! Otherwise I wouldn't have done it!!

And I feel like I'm missing out of the big boys gang because my rear drive hasn't failed.........or anything else.

It's so unfair. I'm always the last to know I might as well give up riding and become a forum "expert"

No wait a minute I'll go for another ride across Russia. Now which one to use? The GS, no the rear drive will fail. The "83 Tenere? no that's too old and won't make it. The XT660z Tenere no apparently that's underpowered and too heavy too.

Oh god it's all too depressing

Now back on topic. I loved my K75C but in this order

The fuel pump went (well was gone when I bought it)
The water pump shaft and seals went.
and the tank rotted through at the lowest point (damned condensation in FNQ tropics)

But apart from that the engine just kept on going, and was so smooth.

I did see one in Elizabeth Street in Melbourne once that had been modified to go off road. Looked a bit funny but it was covered in mud so the guy that owned it must have thought it worked.

Good luck with the build and let us know how you get on.

Chris
To condense, run with what you've got and have a complete blast doing it
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  #27  
Old 18 Apr 2014
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TM1-SS, correct attitude cheers bud..!!

First hurdle for the early stages yesterday, the KTM (50mm) yolks don't have enough 'offset' for the frame. Gutted, can't use them and no way round it, found some Apprilia Caponord 1000 50mm yolks that should surfice, there's a whole front end up for grabs but want to run with the KTM 50mm extreme forks...!! I'm sure this will be just one of many hiccups in proceedings if past experience is anything to go by...!!!!
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  #28  
Old 10 Jun 2014
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It starts to take shape here with some very rough draughting going on..!! Tubes are being cut n bent and some ally sheet folding too...!!!
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  #29  
Old 10 Jun 2014
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Looking good Mez!!
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  #30  
Old 10 Jun 2014
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Beautiful start! Keep it UP!

Sort of reminds me of this custom bike:
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