The 650 Dakar Thread

[rkover1]

Originally Posted by ElReyDelSofa

Interesting, I have an '06 sounds like I just get to spill antifreeze on the floor

Yep. I tried to rig up a system to catch it all, but of course....

doc

[herrhelmet]

Originally Posted by Parx400

I did the western part plus part of the shadow of the rockies. It was 2500 miles. The bike was a handful in NV but besides that it was fine. My buddy was on an XR650R and honestly that was a better bike for the ride. I made the mistake of changing my shock spring before we left. It was way too stiff an kept the rear kinda high. Bike was hella twitchy.

My fender plus cutting the side panels made it worse. not sure why. I think the fender it blocking air and lack of a front fairing is letting the air go up. I hold my hand down there and im getting next to no air flow into the radiator. Im sure the massive forks I used is not helping. Maybe a dif fender would work better.

I've never had any heat issues at speeds above 35 mph on or off road with either set up. I overheated a few times in the dez with the original pod/beak in sand washes. With the podectomy/chopped beak I had for awhile I added a manual fan switch which I had to use a few times on hot day single track or hillclimbs. Mostly on days over 85°

Your Dakar race skid box may keep the engine warm too. The problem with these bikes is overloading them, and with all the stock bodywork around the head, its always going to be hot up there. Radiator is undersized too.

[LoJack]

Needs some side panels that flare out at the front to pull the air in maybe. Might look kinda weird, though. It's kind of barrel chested already.

[Don Coyote]

Originally Posted by LoJack

Needs some side panels that flare out at the front to pull the air in maybe. Might look kinda weird, though. It's kind of barrel chested already.

Hey, if you want a KLR, Kawasaki makes them already. 90% of a Dakar's ability to stay cool comes from looking cool... ;-)

[GSBS]

Originally Posted by Parx400

]
My fender plus cutting the side panels made it worse. not sure why. I think the fender it blocking air and lack of a front fairing is letting the air go up. I hold my hand down there and im getting next to no air flow into the radiator. Im sure the massive forks I used is not helping. Maybe a dif fender would work better.

FWIW, I used the Acerbis Motard fender (About $30) after I did my fork conversion earlier this year. At first I tried a YZ fender I got for $10 because of a discoloration flaw in the plastic, but at 75-85 mph it was vibrating and flopping around from wind resistance.

The motard fender is smaller, stiffer and narrower than the stock Dakar one or the YZ fender and has air vent slots molded into the rear section, though you have to look hard to see them in the photo above. Another benefit was that it doesn't flop around at higher speeds. After nearly 8K miles I've had no issues with overheating whatsoever.

And BTW, my bike now has over 80K miles on it and has always had more heat emanating from the right side than the left. I just figured it cuz that's where the hot radiator is.

[1911fan]

Originally Posted by herrhelmet

With the podectomy/chopped beak...

What are you referring to?


1911fan

[isgila]

+1 on the motard fender.
It does sprays a little when it rains. Other than that no heating issues
7 days ride from singapore to burma border
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

[herrhelmet]

Originally Posted by 1911fan

What are you referring to?


1911fan

[mattomoto]

No overheating issues with motard fender other than excessive spray (great if it's dry out which is most the time around here)



Or low fender:

[Parx400]

I have a black 950 low fender I cant wait to put on.

[mattomoto]

Originally Posted by Parx400

I have a black 950 low fender I cant wait to put on.

Sweet. You will love it for keeping you clean. Watch out for thick, heavy mud however.

[mattomoto]

Working on loosing stuff off the bike again. More to come



I figure if this bike can run with out one of these and it is the same engine and frame configuration...

[Don Coyote]

Originally Posted by mattomoto

No overheating issues with motard fender other than excessive spray (great if it's dry out which is most the time around here)

What are the problems with the stock fender besides spray?

[tomatoe333]

Originally Posted by Don Coyote

What are the problems with the stock fender besides spray?

Replacement price if damaged. The spray was the big issue for me, I actually ruined two helmet visors on a 3-day trip due to the dirt coming up. The two visors cost more to replace than a "real" dirtbike style fender.

I did have to relocate the horn, but that took about an hour, some wire, couple of connectors, some solder, and heat shrink tube.

[kubiak]

Originally Posted by mattomoto

Working on loosing stuff off the bike again. More to come



I figure if this bike can run with out one of these and it is the same engine and frame configuration...

let me know how it works out without the bottom support, i been wanting to take mine off too!