spare tires

[Gearless]

The last few days i have done a few mods on my CB500x, As my wife and i are going 2up RTW starting in Jan 2016 I decided that i needed some tool boxes and some way of carrying spare tires. I mounted 100mm aluminum tube on the crash bars and the tire slip over the top and strap in place. Pics below show what i have done, any thoughts!

[mollydog]

Looks like it's working! Once you're out traveling a while, you'll find out if it's OK or not.

Have you weighed ALL your luggage (empty boxes), racks, crash bars and Tool tubes (with tools) ??

I think you may be SHOCKED at the number. Don't know where you're going or how remote you plan to get ... but most times one spare tire will get you quite far. Fronts typically last double the distance of a rear tire, so it's the rear tire you may want to carry.

Those Tool Tubes are HUGE. Unless you plan to do a full rebuild on the side of the road, you may not need quite so many tools ... or tools that are 3 ft. long.

You don't need tire irons since you're tubeless. Just a good plug kit and the skill to use it correctly. You may find that a tire can fit round your pannier or up top on the box.

If weight isn't an issue and no off road planned, then your set up is fine. Depending on where you're going however, deep sand, rocks, mud can be an issue on a heavy bike. (read: overloaded)

When I switched from my Hard GIVI bags to soft panniers, I lost 35 lbs. off the bike. A lot on a 360 lbs. bike. And now the bike is actually ridable off road. (safely)

But two up riding is always a challenge. If you love camping then OK, things will be crowded and heavy. I'd go Hotels and carry less junk and stay closer to Cities that sell tires!

[Gearless]

mollydog,

We don't intend to go off road as such, however we will encounter some dirt roads at times.
Yes just like every motorcycle adventure going around the world weight is a never ending problem. Unfortunately we have to go 2up as my wife does not ride. Additionally our pockets are not deep enough to hotel everywhere. I intend to do a couple of short trips in the next month or so to see how it goes.
I deliberately, rightly or wrongly mounted the tool tubes and tires forward to try and spread the weight.
I did consider soft panniers but decided against them because you can't lock them, and theft will be a problem in many parts of the world if made too easy for opportunists! However I have chosen only small panniers 32lt because i figured what ever one takes you will just fill them.

[reggie3cl]

Those tyres will be just dead weight most of the time. A set of tyres will last the length of Africa no problem, just buy as you go along. At the risk of crossing from another thread, Mitas E-07s will last and give decent grip in most situations.

I went with hybrid soft luggage (Mosko Moto) to save weight and for crash survival- they are loads lighter than metal boxes. Don't think that metal boxes are that secure either, they are pretty flimsy mostly and anyone with a screwdriver could get in so always have the stuff you really can't lose on your person when you are away from the bike at borders or wherever.

If you're going to add weight you may consider reinforcing your rear subframe- and what is in those big old tubes???

[Gearless]

The tubes will hold spares, tools and a few other knick knacks.

I guess one can break into anything, however I have changed the locking on the panniers and I doubt one would get into them without spending considerable time with just a screw driver.

One of the reasons i mounted the tube tool boxes forward is to reduce rear weight to avoided having to reinforce the rear frame.

[reggie3cl]

I guess one can break into anything, however I have changed the locking on the panniers and I doubt one would get into them without spending considerable time with just a screw driver.

Good move. Everyone evolves their rig to suit their needs on the road, but shedding weight is top of most people's list I reckon. Good luck with the trip!

[mark manley]

I carried a spare tyre all the way from the UK to Malaysia then fitted it because I was fed up with carrying it and have never carried one since, they are also available a lot more places now. Your bike does look overloaded especially with carrying a passenger, I would leave the tyres at home, remember more weight puts more load and increase wear on suspension as well as making it more difficult to handle.