I installed mine today. Hung it off the SWmotech pannier frame using two holes in the frame that are redundant for Givi panniers and a simple plate. For the instalation on my Scrambler I had a clamp plate made up with threaded holes to support the plastic of the tube mounting... (almost) got it inline with the frame tube so it looks noice......it will when the bracket has some paint on it.... How it looks from behind... An idea that I came up with which is an advantage of my thick plate is that if you use a longer middle screw, it can be used as a locking device:- a) to stop the top coming loose. b) to stop thieving hands getting at the contents without an Allen key. Job done. Just got to get out for a ride to make sure it doesn't fall off or foul the chain guard. And then strip it all off for some black Hammerite.
Had to do a front XC tube exchange roadside today. 25 minutes start to finish at a relaxed pace. Bead broke easily with hand pressure. The warning sign: Bike wanted to go straight when I wanted to turn as I came to a stop sign. A very small hole and a very fast leak down. I'll patch the damaged tube for a spare....
I posted awhile back the mounting of the Seahorse 520 cases. They've been good for grocery getting and running errands etc. but just thought they'd be too small for trips so I ordered a set of 720s. Same width as the 520s but now I've got lots of space. The 520s will be going on my wife's DR. Just a bit wider than the mirrors Happy Trails pannier mount kit, uses knobs inside the bag so it's a quick tool less job to remove the bags. Here's a couple shots showing how I think the Happy Trails racks will protect the passenger pegs with the bags on or off. from the top
On the rider's seat the fabric is deteriorating, and not at a seam. It's happening at two spots: on the right rear portion of the rider's perch maybe 1" away from the gap between it and the passenger seat, and at the right front about mid-thigh. Anybody have this problem? Sorry I don't have pictures because I'm at work. Could this be an item under warranty? I bought the bike new and have owned it for 15 months (30,000 miles)...seems a bit premature for the cover to deteriorate.
Have you ever put anything on it? One guy here mentioned he Amour-All'd the passenger seat and it started deteriorating. I only have 15k, but my seat looks fine,
I assume you have a center stand? If so, how do you keep the front end off the ground while working with it? Nice work!
you take the front wheel off the bike and the back will be heavy enough to keep it back heavy.(with center stand)
Snapper, had a bad experience putting Armor All on the seat of my first streetbike, so I steer clear of putting that stuff on the seat.
Yeah, What these guys said. If you didn't have a centerstand you'd have to do it "dirt bike" style- lay it on its side. For the front make sure you have a 17mm allen head (not provided in the factory tool kit).
If you don't have a center stand you need one of these: http://endurostar.com/ The Tiger is about max size for one, but they will work. They are rated up to KTM950/990, and the tiger isn't any heavier, so good to go. I've used one on my Versys, it was about 450lbs fueled. Great solution, very compact. Once a bike is on a sidestand they are very easy to lift one end just lifting and pushing a bit. This guy's little invention is brilliant.
Awesome, thanks everyone. I've done plenty of work on bikes, but it's always been in my garage. Not too experienced with getting stuff done out in the field.
It's always nice to take care of work in the garage but being prepared for a field assignment will keep you from walking or calling for trailer assistance....
I put Armor-All on mine at the service depts direction, didn't help at all. They replaced the seat under warranty yesterday.
Good to know. Mine is doing the same. It was a demo and I suspect they had used "something" to try to clean off all of the shoe scuffs from people getting on and off. My rear seat was a gooey mess. Has been since I got it with 1600 miles. It's better now after armor all but the actual vinyl pattern is gone. Needed to be recovered in a better color than grey anyway. Why oh why couldn't they have used the same vinyl as the front seat?
Does anyone think an appropriately farkeled roadie could do the TAT? If so what farkles? Knobbies, bark busters, engine guards for sure. And this isn't a roadie vs XC debate - lets just say a roadie is what you have and trading up isn't an option. Can it do it? Comfortably?
Are you riding the whole thing or just certain states? You need to prepare for a lot of gravel. That stuff will beat the hell out of your bike. Especially if you go fast. At minimum you need a skid plate, front fender extender, & some kind of mud flap to protect the rear shock. Tires depend on your skill in gravel or sand/mud. If you have no experience, then you need knobbies for sure. If you've been riding dirt for years, then a 50/50 tire is OK. No matter what bike your riding, if it's soaking wet then your going to hate east AR. The rice fields push sediment all over the road & it's slick as owl shit. Bring a mud shovel in case your front tire locks up. If you find yourself in over your head, then turn around. Sometimes the bad areas can last for miles. This is a full knobbie on my DRZ in east AR
Good idea - but the fact is, 90% of the pannier racks USE the rear peg's tubing for a support point! Happy Trails Touratech Hepco Becker GIVI SW Motech Metal Mule ...and ...and ...and... A shame really as I'd like to remove them - but I have the Metal Mule panniers....
Rob Dirt summed it up pretty good. XC or not you need the same things in my opinion. I would bring tubes just in case you tear a side wall or just simply damage a tire to the point it won't hold air. How much of it are you planning to ride? That will depend on the tires I would say you need. A front knobby for sure! TKC front is good for about 6,000mi of mostly tarmac so much more if you ride all off road. Either TKC rear or Heidi. Other than that, engine guards, skid plate, and front fender riser. thats my 2c.