I would like to thank all the contributors to this section. New to long distance travel the advice has been great especially the hard/soft luggage question. Ive given 15 weeks notice at work so should be long enough to get ready, sort out aches and pains etc, eventhough Im going to travel Australia first.
Luggage has been wittled down to soft panniers only because I have 2 sets sitting in the garage, 1 a dry rider set and the other an Australia Post set. I will make a frame myself and either modify a gearsack rack or build one myself. For something lockable same again I have some sheet steel so might as well put that to use. Tools will be enough to some simple repairs such as punctures, tyres, oil change, air filter, and valve clearences.
Center stand is first on my shopping list once the registration has been paid, just had the RWC done.
Still undecided on extra fuel. I like the idea of a big tank but have only found Acerbis ones so far but they are lacking in colour choice. A 10 ltr can could be the go or buy a steel tank and get it modified. Are there any manufactures who make large tanks for a 1998 model xt600 with a choice of colours?
Camping equipment and clothing are still sections Im wading through but have at leasted decided on a petrol stove. It appears alot of personal choice goes into equiping for a trip but knowing some of the advantages/disadvantages people have found with the vast aray of items available have certainly give me some ideas that I have never considered. Thankyou Ernie.

If you are making your own soft luggage bars it is relatively easy. I made a set for an 1985 XT600 I had from threaded bar( about 10 or 12mm). I was a student at the time so my tools were limited so I think I must have bent the bars into shape using a hammer and some wood to bend it around. The bars are already threaded so I found widened holes in rear frame through which they would fit and then bolted them on ( already pre threaded bars so no need to make threads) . The threads on the bars which touch the luggage bags will wear at the bags but I got around that by wrapping insulation tape around the bars. I did many a trip with that set up and it never let me down, however the luggage wasn't waterproof ( I think they might have been bagsters) and I would never use soft luggage again for that reason alone.

Colour choice ??? It's a travel bike ! Who cares if the tank isn't a perfect colour match. It will stop you running out of fuel in the middle of nowhere lol..

A 10L can on the back is HEAVY !!!!

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Hi. Thanks Ted for the reality check. I want to use the bike not look at it so Ive ordered the acerbis tank but not due in Australia till end of July. Started the rack , have found an old rack made for an XL600 that needed minimal work to fit where the pillion handles bolt on and will brace off the pillion peg bracket incorparating a frame to keep the bags clear of wheels and exhaust. Ernie.

Post a picture up when you're done !!

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Hi. Will post picture once done and thanks for your site Ted . Its nice to see something similar to what Im aiming for.
Ernie.

Here mate, I dug up an old tread I did about my XT600E. People added to it too so very useful..

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...pictures-26741

I also put a note of what I would of done after trying it in South America.

Post 47...

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Finally got the bases for my rack made.The 2 side braces are bolton. I used the pillion peg bracket. The rack was from a xl600 and I put the frame on to hold a gearsack/ventura style bag. Just a cheap one ($78) from ebay. Owes me about $20. All the material was from the scrape yard. I am going to fill my pannier bags and fit so may have to add a little more to stop them hitting the bike but they are smaller than I thought so may get some bigger ones.
Ernie.

Attached Images