The direct answer to your question has already been given. Low, forward and (often overlooked) as "tucked in" as possible.

Nothing wrong with your bike if you can handle it on the dirt. Mongolian dirt is vast and relatively easy. Until it gets wet, but everyone already knows that.

I would also reconsider all your gear though. As Molly said, there is always time to do this, and these days there are plenty of luggage options if you get to the point that you feel like you can change it. But you can still go ahead with your setup even with much less in it.

There seems to be a misconception that it's ok for an overland bike to feel like a beached whale. It's not. It "should" feel as close to riding it without luggage. That's the ultimate price. The soft adventure luggage industry is really young but working towards is really quickly.

My first trip was in 2005 and there was nowhere near as much available like there is now, so I had the same traditional setup as you have. That trip was still the best because everything was a novelty. But I always wished I had less stuff so I could ride it like a motorbike should be. Particularly in Mongolia.

I've moved back to my old rule. If I wouldn't take it hiking for 3 days, I won't take it on the motorbike. A similar rule applies to tools. If I don't use the tools on a standard service, or I could do a task with a tool I've used on another task but less convenient. I'd leave the dedicated tool behind. You can reduce you tool kit to fit in a litre milk carton.

Do you really need a self inflating mattress that's full of foam and thus bulky and heavy? Do you really need a 4 season sleeping bag, or could you sleep in a 3 season and on freezing nights wear your puff jacket and thermals. Do you really need a > 2.5kg tent or would a 1.5 kg trekking pole tent or shelter do. Do you really need a full kitchen kit for the few times you cook a 2 course meal, or would a 1 litre kettle or 1.5l pot do to cook a stew? do you really need jeans, 4 t-shirts and 10 undies?

These questions, IF the answer is not really, can help reduce your kit to a 50l setup + 10l water + tools. But it's all about what your expectations are. Nothing wrong with your current setup, it'll just be a hand full. Most people end up reducing their gear, so these forums can help bypass that for new comers so you don't have to think in a few year, "that would have been awesome on a lighter setup", or "I wish I could have done that route if I had a lighter setup".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igzj...vGbBnvmztnN6aQ

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