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23 Apr 2007
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R.I.P.
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: california
Posts: 3,824
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bartman10
Hey there.
Don't know much about the springs. They seemed fine on the test ride. If you're really concerned send me some better ones and I'll fit them.
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You won't be needing them. I'm sure you can simply ride 'round it. If they were fine on your test ride then I guess you're good to go! Sounds like you've got all this suspension stuff under control.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bartman10
Got a Dromedary bladder for fuel. This is 10 L giving a total of 23 L I'm confident this should be enough, according to others who have ridden in the areas we are planning to go. We're not afraid to take local advice though, and if locals tell us that there's no gas available we need to we'll buy some jerry cans on the road.
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I'm not familiar with a Dromedary bladder. 23L is 6 US gallons. Should be great. Jerry jugs come in handy. How is this 2.5 gal bladder carried? On the bike? On your back? Does it slosh around at all? Leak?
Quote:
Originally Posted by bartman10
We've got a bit of sheepskin for the seat. Done several 500 km days on the DR without complaint. What's more to say that we're not going to get far with the stock seat is plain rude. We're using the stock seat and we're going to do 15,000 ks.
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Ah, Sheepskin, of course! Sounds like you've got it all sussed out. What a great solution! Now why didn't I think of that before spending good money on a Corbin! 
Confidence is good.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bartman10
I'm sure its going to be tough in the mud and sand. Thats part of the challenge. A guy has ridden a gold wing across Russia, and another guy who I know personally has taken a yamaha FJR, there's also the 2 actors who used big BMWs. I'n not saying it won't be tough, I'm sure we'll make it.
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No Doubt.
__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!
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23 Apr 2007
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Gold Member
HUBB regular
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Leeds, United Kingdom
Posts: 86
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lone Rider
What size sprockets are you running?
Maybe I missed it, but something like JB Weld for fixing a holed case might be good.
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Hey there, got 2 sprockets. Standard gearing for the road and one with fewer teeth for when the going gets tough.
We've got some Kneed-it for holed cases etc. It's a hard epoxy putty, sounds very similar to JB Weld. Can be used on gas tanks and radiators too.
Cheers.
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23 Apr 2007
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Location: USA
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Fuel Filters
I like the clear-cased paper filters that are used on lawn equip.
IMO, much better than the little rock element sifting filters.
You guys have thought this out well.
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23 Apr 2007
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Leeds, United Kingdom
Posts: 86
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog
I'm not familiar with a Dromedary bladder. 23L is 6 US gallons. Should be great. Jerry jugs come in handy. How is this 2.5 gal bladder carried? On the bike? On your back? Does it slosh around at all? Leak?
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Hi there, the bladder straps onto the top of the left hand pannier case.. You can see it quite clearly in the middle photo.
The main advantages of a bladder is that they don't slosh at all, becasue there's no air in them, provided you tie it down properly, and they pack down small when you're not using them, which is about 2/3s of the time.
Several members of HU seem to be using them... Had a mate who went around Aussie using one and found it to be fantastic. There's a risk of rupture in a big crash, but a plastic jerry can will rupture too if it hits the deck at speed.
Cheers,
Mark.
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29 Apr 2007
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Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: the world
Posts: 87
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dr650
Hey Batman like the look of your dr. I rode my dominator over here from the UK and just picked up a dr to do the next trip to south america or africa or er can't really decide yet. I have only done a couple of thousand km on my dr so far but can't belive how good it is even loaded down with luggage on rough tracks great choice I think. I down in Timaru if your going for a spin round the country before you leave would be good to catch up cheers richrtw@hotmail.com
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19 Jun 2007
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Sydney
Posts: 15
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Dual-Star email Address
Hi can anyone give me the email address for Dual-Star? I want to order a centre stand for the DR650 but I cant get the website email link to work and they are not answering the phone.
Cheers
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19 Jun 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Silktrailie
Hi can anyone give me the email address for Dual-Star? I want to order a centre stand for the DR650 but I cant get the website email link to work and they are not answering the phone.
Cheers
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It's my understanding that they advertise a centerstand, and have done so for many years, but are not able to actually deliver one. This isn't a recent problem.
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21 Jun 2007
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Join Date: Jun 2007
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DR650 Center stand
Thanks Lone Rider, I suppose this means short of customising my own down here, maybe the SW Motech one! Any one now if the Suzuki factory one for the V-storm might fit with a bit of lengthening? What other options are there?
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21 Jun 2007
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R.I.P.
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Beyond the SW Motec one, I don't know any other companies that make a center stand for the DR650. I'm sure the SW one is fine. I don't think the Vstrom
one would work however, quite a different bike. (I'm on my 2nd Vstrom).
Cheers 
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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!
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5 Aug 2007
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From Soft To Hard...for the long road.
DR650 update:
Well I've learned alot in the last 3 or 4 months about the DR. Reading back is funny, as I see all the things that haven't worked out and mistakes I've made.
I've managed to put on about 4000 miles on this bike so far, done a few nice dual sport rides loaded up and am continuing with mods as budget allows.
As the suspension has broken in the soft front end has become a problem. And the static sag on the bike also is a No-Go. So Jesse at Kientech is on my list to get the Eibach springs front and rear. Must have been those nasty rocks sections and whoops out in Death Valley that did it.
I've also decided that for Mexico/Central America that soft bags won't hold everything. So since I have a GIVI rack for a DR650 and GIVI bags sitting in my garage, I'm going to use them. The GIVI bags are from my old Vstrom....and the rack from a friends blown bike. I got all of it free so may as well use it.
I'm also struggling over tires for this upcoming trip....I'll post about this later.
Patrick
Still in Prep mode!
Soft bags too small
GIVI racks alone
Just bags
With top bag
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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!
Last edited by mollydog; 6 Aug 2007 at 00:03.
Reason: edit
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6 Aug 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog
...............I'm also struggling over tires for an upcoming trip...........
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If you don't need a real knobby style tire, maybe give the IRC GP110 a try. It's an unusual design and works very well on the road. I've gotten 5k each from 2 rears and many miles (I forget) from a front.
Chaparral has them at decent prices. Even the 5.10 will fit, if you want to go fat.
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6 Aug 2007
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Join Date: Feb 2007
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Mollydog,
Won't those boxes scrape in corners? They look pretty low.
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6 Aug 2007
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R.I.P.
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Low is good. I leaned the bike way over with the bags on in the garage...seemed like plenty of clearance. I'll let you know if they touch when I do a test ride. This is the first time I've had them on the bike....haven't even put a mile on the bike with bags mounted.
They look low I think because that side stand leans the bike way over.
What I really liked about the way GIVI did this set up is that they put the bags
pretty far foward and low to maximise mass centralzation. Makes a huge difference in handling and stability when you start adding weight and going fast through corners.
Lone, I'll take a look at the GP-1. I used one in Baja on my XL600 in 1992. It lasted well but sucked as a knobbie ....but most 50/50's do I guess. See my other plea for help I just put up.
Patrick
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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!
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6 Aug 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog
....Lone, I'll take a look at the GP-1. I used one in Baja on my XL600 in 1992. It lasted well but sucked as a knobbie ....but most 50/50's do I guess. See my other plea for help I just put up.
Patrick
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Not the GP1, but the GP"110". They are very different tires.
The GP1 is similar to a K270.
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6 Aug 2007
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Bags
Patrick,
Great looking bike, but it looks to me like the bags look a little out of place on the DR. Dirt orientated DS bike matched with a street orientated luggage system. Not sure if I could resist having a nicely set up bike with offroad capabilities like the DR without getting drawn into some interesting terrain and then when the inevitable fall happens, wishing that I had more dirt orientated bags.
You might want to consider a set of Pelican 1550s, they are only $100 each online, (cheaper even if you wait for them on ebay) one can easily make a home made attachment system, and if one hits the dirt, IMHO they survive crashes better than aluminum boxes at moderate speeds and look even better with a few scratches on them!
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Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
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New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!
Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.
Read more about Grant & Susan's story
Membership - help keep us going!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
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helps answer the question - Why Go? Inspirational stories by veteran travellers Greg Frazier (5 times RTW), Peter and Kay Forwood (193 countries), Tiffany Coates (Mongolia Mayhem) and Rene Cormier (University of Gravel Roads).
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The definitive guide to planning your motorcycle adventure! This insanely ambitious 2-year project has produced an informative and entertaining 5-part, 18 hour video series. "The ultimate round the world rider's how-to!" MCN UK.
Dual-Star email Address
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