XR400 - touring rear subframe
 

Hi everyone - my friend and I have just got back from Morocco - her on a KTM400 and me on my XR400 (using a support Land Rover to carry our kit like the pansies we are), but I am looking to return in the new year with the XR and travel much lighter/independently.

I'll still be trailering the bike to mid Morocco, but then want the flexibility to travel off for a week or two with a small tent and kit/spares etc., and ideally would like to fit a couple of panniers... I already have a pair of canvas throw overs, but was wondering if anyone produces a stronger rear subframe and rack/pannier mount kit to fit Metal Mule or similar cases?

I'm presuming a stronger (or at least additonally braced) rear subframe would be required as the load range for the XR is only 100Kg in total (being an enduro, rather than touring bike), and I weigh close to 70Kg myself...

Any ideas?

I really would like to use my exisitng XR400 from a cost point of view - buying a dedicated bike (F650 or KTM 640 Adventure for example) would take all of my budget for the trip otherwise...


Many thanks in advance,

JennyMo xxx

I haven't toured on my 400, but I've been on the go on my 650R for almost two years. Good strong canvas throw over's and a small back pack is the best way to go in my opinion. You'll spoil the flexibility of the bike if you muck around with frames and stuff.

The 4 is a steel frame so if it does go wrong, you'll at least be able to find someone to weld it. I'm just kind of hoping mine won't break, it's alloy. You could always get the sub frame re-inforced before you go, just a few braces and stuff.

I broke the main frame of my 650 where it joins the sub frame. I was in Oz so I found someone to fix it easy enough.

Hi,

Try Overland Soloutions for a modded sub-frame. They could probably build one for you with mounts to attach metal panniers, but you'd have to swap the spring in the rear shock for a stronger one. Try them out anyway.

Was it your article in this months TBM?

No need to swap bikes.

I'm assuming that your choice of the XR400 means you'll be riding mostly off tarmac. In this case do you really want to screw up your bikes off-road handling by adding the weight of a metal pannier
system.
You'll be adding over 10kg for a pair of boxes and a frame, before you even put anything in them. On a bike like the XR they'll be mounted well forward, bringing them very close to your legs, which could be a handicap when you're paddling the bike in sand, etc.
A better and far cheaper option would be a pair of throw-overs, and put together a very lightweight frame to hold the bags in place, and clear of the back wheel.

Actually Mark and Skidder are correct on this.

Thanks everyone - I certainly agree about not wanting to add too much additional weight ideally, it's just I was a little concerned about security and more importantly, how resilient to damage canvas bags would be compared to boxes should I drop it on something hard... also, I will be doing a fair amount of off-road riding, so would like them attached to the bike more securely - so perhaps the ideal solution is a custom frame to support the soft bags as has been suggested...

I'll look into it, many thanks...

xxx

ps. and yes, that is Julie and I in TBM this month - I've not seen a copy yet!

Happy new year!

I went down the road on my arse on the first of Jan (good start) and broke my leg. The canvas bags I have did get a couple of small tears in them, but nothing a bit of gaffer tape couldn't fix. I wonder how a box would have coped? Maybe better, but if there was a problem, it'd be harder to fix.

On the other hand, if I was going faster and the tears were bigger, my under pants would have been on show for all of India!

Can't have that, I'm british!

Check these out.....
 

Ive just bought an XR400 to downsize from my TT600R for exactly the type of trip your planning. I found these.....

http://www.moto-sportpanniers.com/dirtbagz/

They make bags and the metal work to support them specifically for XRs.

Don't get metal panniers, they're bad news for real off-road riding. I have met two people now who have ended up in hospital after getting legs stuck under ali panniers while riding off road.

As far as security goes i'd get a good topbox which is also detachable(but locks on). Im looking at the smaller of these hepco and becker ones. I dont think they make a specific rack for the XR4 but i have one for my TT so im going to mod that. To be honest these boxes are really too large for what you're (we're) after, but im struggling to find a better alternative.

Oh yeah, Dont forget your water......

I saw a really well prepared XR in Nouadhibou which i may copy. It had an extra 8-10 litre side rear fuel tank on the left and a clever rack incorporating a maybe 8litre water jerry can(with tap). It had only one pannier on the right hand side to balance the fuel. The only extra bracing was a flat bar on the left side of the subframe from roughly below the light to near where the subframe meets the main frame. If you want to have a nosy i could forward you some photos.

Good luck

Chris
http://moto-hike.blogspot.com

Check out the GIVI soft bags.

Simply
 

Hi
We were two 400XR on Morocco in november, without assistance. We used simply a pair off saddlebag and that hit

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...IMG301 (8).JPG

Yup, I had the same problem with the soft bag squashing the side panel and melting the pannel and a big hole in the bag.

I fixed it with gaffer tape and my sauce pan untill I could get to a Honda shop for the new plastics.

In the end I had to space it out from the exhaust with a piece of timber to absorbe the heat.

The only down side to all this, was the bags sat all cock eyed. The right one sat out further and a little higher than the left.