Kiwi Safari Team to Dakar 2014

Isn't Jonky the minister of tourism....all you need to do is pm the PM

Jonky? John Key? PM. An inmate to pm?
Took me a little while ... they change PM over this side of the ditch so often it's hard to remember that we generally only change the PM by voting in NZ.. Here, a PM gets voted in, then kicked out, a replacement slides in, gets kicked out and the original voted PM comes back in ... only to get voted out (we'll see the last chapter in September). Then we start all over again with another idiot and his party.
Lucky there isn't an inmate called "Jonky" or he would have been confused if I'd sent him an email.
Ciao
JayBo

subtle play on words but you cracked the code.

So 4 days ago the 450RFR passed inspection at the Department of Transport inspection service and now it wouldn't pass for sure!




The seat is on it's way to the fabulous James Renazco for "the treatment". I was sooo impressed with the special seat he built me for the 530 when I was rallying that, so I really don't have a choice but to look forward to the same brilliant work again. I expect I'll spend a lot more time on the bike than Coma, Chalico, Caselli, etc, so I'm sure I'll get my monies worth and really appreciate the comfort of a Renazco seat rebuild.

I'm now preparing a list of anything I come across that needs replacement that I don't already have. I already have a few things like the chain guide, swingarm chain slider, brake pads, etc but also know I have lots of stuff to buy yet including chain, sprockets, etc. I'll also get the forks and shock serviced while everything is apart.

Not too much planned in the way of modifications but possibly going to get the header pipe ceramic coated to reduce the exhaust temperature in the bashplate area and reduce the risk of catching fire, as several other 450RFR's have done in the past. There are a couple of other things that might be changing on the bike, but I can't say anything about that yet. Watch this space.

Other than that, it'll be a top to bottom dismantle, clean and check every single part and re-grease and replace anything that needs it. Looking carefully for any areas that are wearing or signs of contact, eg on wiring looms, etc. I also suspect that the counter shaft oil seal is leaking, as there seems to be more oil being flicked up than I put on in the way of change lube. I'll confirm that when I have the chain and countershaft sprocket off.

I'll let you all know what I discover.
Ciao

I do like a trellis frame...

Good job Jaybo, keep the pics comming. Can you keep a list of each tool you use so we don't miss angthing in the dakar tool roll/box.

Glad to hear the seats getting the Renazco treatment, Will it get the KST logo?

Its not quite the same thing but my crf's going to get the same treatment starting this weekend (man i'm itching for a ride, been 9 months)

CRF?

The DRZ was too much power for him- had to go for one of them fancy girly liteweight bikes.

Just when it was getting safari ready too.

With the new baby/house/dakar/new job i decided it'd be a while before i got a decent adv ride in so i swapped it for a 05 CRF450r, unfortunately it now needs a new stator before it gets dirty again. Hope to get to a few XC's and flat track mx this season if i get a leave pass

Anyway back to DAKAR business

I got a nice big box delivered from Italy today:


Let's see what's inside then:


Gotta love Carbon Fibre:




I can't wait to bolt it together and try it on the bike. It's unbelievably light. I know the whole fairing is 1,100 gms, but I can't remember what my standard one weighs. I do know that the difference in weight between my standard 450RFR fairing and a standard 690RFR fairing is 800gms. It's going to be good!

Noice

Great to see another Kiwi in the Dakar, big challenge but I'm sure you'll be well prepared .

Best of luck amigo, I'll be keeping a keen eye on your progress ..............

That carbon is pure bike porn.

Check out what the mailbox had for me tonight when I got home from work!!!



Pack your bags Ben ... WE'RE OFF TO ARGENTINA!!!

Congratulations Jaybo...go Kiwi Safari Team

YES!! Congrats Jaybo

Always knew you would get in but didn't want to jinx it
Now the adventure begins

Congrats again

HELL YEAH!!!!!!!

Finally planning can start in ernest To celebrate i'm going to go for my first ride in almost 9months.
Jaybo, how's the training going? Have you worn out the 530 yet?

That's awesome guys, shit just got real

cool boys!

Congrats Jaybo. Excellent news.

Good stuff! It seems so far off but time is gonna start flying for you guys now.