V649HP-Kawasaki's new gravel runner

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by fredgreen

You were right about the PO, lots of loose hardware and shoddy wiring...

that guy was so challenged by anything electrical i don't think he could successfully change a smoke detector battery. graduate of a well known university with a degree in a technical discipline, just goes to show that framed piece of paper hangin' on the wall can't cure some things.

you bluenosers run along now and have some fun. maybe you'll have those roads sorted by the next time i get there.

[dentvet]

I probably missed it but what did you end up doing with your silencer? Is that a versys or ninja silencer shown in the more recent pics? Does it have a spark arresstor in it?

I have to swap to something much quieter and maybe i can just trade somebody a stocker for a two brothers.

obviously you made a stocker work even with the taller shock.

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by dentvet

I have to swap to something much quieter and maybe i can just trade somebody a stocker for a two brothers.

that silencer is oem Versys/650R, both use the same part. i did have a TB can on there in some of the earlier photos, but took it off. the stock silencer is already the most quiet available, and a TB can will wake the dead by comparison.

the oem part looks like it will have interference issues with the 650R swing arm/R1 shock i used, but doesn't. close, but still daylight at max extension.

you're using that bike a little differently than i use mine, so for me the oem is the right choice.

i'll sell ya a scratch-n-dent TB can if ya want one. produces a NHRA Top Fuel kinda sound, ya might like it.

[MTrider16]

Dang, its hanging down on the second page again. Any updates?

Put a couple miles on the F8 tonight. Think the new boingers will work out.

David

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by MTrider16

Any updates?

got my hands on some pannier mount parts i was looking for and now just need the panniers. missed out on some used ones, i might have to buy something new for a change, damn. when i get those, then i can fab up the rest of the mount assembly.

glad you were able to get out. reports say that montana got it's annual rainfall in the last three weeks. flooding on the missouri until july. with all the rain and high water i'm wondering about the condition of some of my backroads route west. i'm glad i didn't plan an early trip.

[Roadracer_Al]

JD, I got Pelican 1550 cases from these guys - www.cases4less.com for a very reasonable price -- competitive with used name-brand aluminum cases. I just looked at their site, and I think they're actually cheaper @$102 ea. than when I bought mine.

No affiliation.

Order "1550NF" if you want it without the foam.

a

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by Roadracer_Al

JD, I got Pelican 1550 cases from these guys - www.cases4less.com for a very reasonable price...

thanks for the link, but i'm not using pelicans this time around, although my 1450s are still in good shape. trying something different on this latest rat.

[MTrider16]

Originally Posted by jdrocks

glad you were able to get out. reports say that montana got it's annual rainfall in the last three weeks. flooding on the missouri until july. with all the rain and high water i'm wondering about the condition of some of my backroads route west. i'm glad i didn't plan an early trip.

CDT will be a little above the flood levels. Although there will probably be plenty of snowpack through July. The rain has been a pain. It is good you planned a late trip this year.

Here is a link to the report at this end of the state. Linky

David

[Roadracer_Al]

Yes, the side-loading issue with the Pelicans is a drag. I got cordura liners from an inmate that help solve the problem somewhat.

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by MTrider16

The rain has been a pain.

i predict a pipeline in the future...to lake mead.

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by Roadracer_Al

Yes, the side-loading issue with the Pelicans is a drag. I got cordura liners from an inmate that help solve the problem somewhat.

i like my 1450 pelicans and they fit these bikes perfectly. compact and mount in tight. the side load never bothered me and i just used the "green" cloth shopping bags for liners, usually free or less than a buck.

i've held up on a gear order while i think about it some more. the pelicans might end up on there yet, or i have two other options in the mix. i'm trying to balance the basic load out requirements with total weight and how the weight is distributed. durability and cost are in there too.

[jdrocks]

i'm using the DL1000 front wheel, and as i've said before, this is a very versatile wheel for rat builders because bearings are available all the down to 15mm and a variety of cheap rotors in different sizes will bolt right up.

the rotor on the left is a 290mm SV650 rotor and on the right is a 310mm DL 650 cut down to 300mm for use with the Versys calipers/forks. i'm using one of my 300mm rotors with the DRZ fork setup.



oops, got a little carried away with that cutting wheel and knocked the center right out of that SV rotor, glad it was cheap.



i'll turn that center section down to maximum diameter, mount it on the right side of the 19" DL wheel hub and use it for a block off plate to keep junk out of there.

[jdrocks]

looking at my list, i had "folding shifter" written down. the Motech bars protect the stock shifter pretty well, but a folding end would be better yet. i had an old KLR shifter, spring loaded end, and larger diameter peg which was good too. clipped the end off the KLR part and welded it on the stock Versys shifter. extended the arm 20mm at the same time so my boot fits in there better.

[jdrocks]

next down the list was "folding brake", meaning i needed a folding end for the stock Versys pedal.

on the last build, i made a new end for the OEM 650R pedal and i liked the bigger size, but it didn't fold and that made it less survivable.



so bigger and folding both, ok, i had a KLR250 folding footpeg that looked about the perfect size. cut it off the mount and cleaned it up.



cut the end off the stock pedal and carefully positioned the new KLR part.



aaaah, better all the way. hope it doesn't touch the ground, but i'm in good shape if it does.

[ktmklx]

Originally Posted by jdrocks

looking at my list, i had "folding shifter" written down. the Motech bars protect the stock shifter pretty well, but a folding end would be better yet. i had an old KLR shifter, spring loaded end, and larger diameter peg which was good too. clipped the end off the KLR part and welded it on the stock Versys shifter. extended the arm 20mm at the same time so my boot fits in there better.

Looks good, I'll be using that same folding end on my mutant. My old KLR shifter broke at the shaft mount somewhere in a Montana forest last year. Good thing I didn't throw it as far as could, which was the first thing that crossed my mind.