Markharf,

Thanks for the info I will check those links out.

My girlfriend and I have done 24,000km with 1100lb (Monteal, Alaska and Sam Diego). *We have done some pretty bad off road riding with all our stuff. *I always drive slow at full weight. *There was a bad mountain, rocky, sandy, steep, cliff road (i can post the video) that i made it down at night and after spending 3 days down there finally got the courage to ride back up. *We have never really bottomed out (stock suspension). *

With this weight in the beginning i had 800lb on the rear wheel and 300lb on the front. *It was very hard to steer with the front so light (compared to the back) *I added bicycle bags over the front which really help and a one gallon spare gas can to the crash bars.

I bought EBC HH brake pads after getting 23,000km on the stock front brake pads. The thing i am most worried about is braking hard to avoid an accident. *The braking is much slower with all the weight.

Why we are riding a KLR650 2011. *I wanted a cheap bike that i could add to. *I love that the KLR Has been unchanged for so long so parts are everywhere. *The bike is very simple and bullet proof. *In third world countries there are more people that have KLRs. *The are small cheap bikes here but expensive big bikes there (hard to find BMW in small town Africa). *My girlfriend and I like the idea of living with as little as possible and we are always trying to get ride of more of our stuff.

We went though the stock back tire after less than 1,200miles.* Now we use 80% road tires and 20% off road (not 50/50 like stock). *We got 6000miles from the rear anakee 2, and i now have a shinko trailmaster on the rear with 3000mile ( it should make it to 4000miles). *Front anakee 2 has 9000 miles will make it to 10000 or 11000. *The stok front made it to 6000miles. *Original chain with 24000km is almost done (i lube it every 600km or after it rains).

I hope the bike with be good on bad roads but i have a center, stand tools and a spot satellite messanger if i get stuck. *We have no schedule and our tent and everything with us. *If we breakdown that will be good place to make camp (its all part of the adventure). *I want to cover what i can and try and make sure we are as safe as possible (good brakes) after that i just see what happens. *

I didnt think i would be this easy so far so i look forward to more adventurous times ahead.

I would love to post pictures (i took 9000 so far) and video (i have lots from hand held and go pro, i am currently cutting 15 about 5 minute videos of the trip so far) here can anyone help me with that? *Can i post picture from my i phone to here?

Let the adventure continue
Alex