Mollydog,

Won't those boxes scrape in corners? They look pretty low.

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

__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Not the GP1, but the GP"110". They are very different tires.

The GP1 is similar to a K270.

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!

No doubt the GIVI bags look goofy on the DR... .but it's what I had laying around. I know the Pelicans and would certainly consider that set up, thanks for the heads up!

I know they are tough bags...I have used them in my work since 1985. Even got a couple free ones when baggage handlers did minor damage to two of mine in Africa.

I'll look into them and adapting them to the GIVI racks.
I don't like the way they open that much...all your stuff falls on the ground.
I guess you have to get the inner bags?

If the GIVI's get busted up i'll just jetison them and use a large duffel bag found locally or have leather saddle bags made. The GIVI's you see on there came off my old Vstrom, which hit the ground twice....just some scrapes on the GIVI's. No other damage. Just lucky I guess.

Bark Busters coming...they are cheapo ones (TusK) so not sure how they'll work. Thanks to Lone Rider and others I've narrowed down my tires.
More to do:
Ordering new chain and sprockets next. (DID VM X ring)
Installing HD Metzeler tubes w/SLIME.
Decided against windshield after doing several long rides.
Still to do Springs front & rear.
Paper work, reading and research.

What am I missing?

Cheers!

Patrick

__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

[QUOTE=mollydog;146281].........What am I missing?

................QUOTE]


Inline fuel filter....and a bottle opener....:dunno

When are you going, generally where and for how long?

Yep, I tend to use what I already have as well so I can certainly see the merit in not spending any more money

The Pelicans become much more user friendly when attaching a small wire from the opening lid to the main compartment that prevents it from opening more than about 80-90 degrees. And as you suggest, inner bags are great because you can grab them and carry into your accomodation without bringing the dirt along. The specifically made ones are about $100 online or a approx. smae sized old duffel or back pack works pretty darn well. And if I can find the right seamstress in some small town...

Thanks for the reminder. I've got a couple I'd like to try out. Which ones work the best on the DR? The IMS tank limits space and hose routing...ideas?

Bottle opener? ah, right....not many twist offs down south!

I'm trying to leave in September. Plan is to see some place in Mexico I haven't seen in years. Real de Catorce and the dirt roads around there (Peyote country), some of the highland towns, a friend in Oaxaca, southern coast.

Explore some of Guate, visit where I used to live in Solola', onto Salvador for some water sports, Caribean side of Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica.
Panama? Not sure. Need help there. I may continue on, depending on time and money...into S. America to hook up with friends in Argentina in January. All this time premitting.

Good question. Nothing special. I could easily go with soft bags, I just want to try something new. I've done three multi-day dual sport rides with the soft bags. Even for just a 4 or 5 day ride....they were FULL! I guess I need to lighten up. I know how to do this...(honest) but don't want to! I'm old, and set in my ways. I may change my mind yet. Some serious thinking/evaluation about this now.

Mountain Man,
Thanks for all the great comments too! I didn't know the Pelikan lids were strong enough to mount. Interesting.

The whole security issue is always of concern too....nice outline.
i've been there. I've also learned not to have cool doo-dads on my dash or handlebars. Quick and clever fingers will see them disappear in an instant.

Will update this soon....thanks to all!

Patrick

__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!