Hi

I have just a bought a new DR650 which I intend to use for a trip around Australia and the USA. Do I need to purchase a bigger fuel tank (Safari make a fairly large tank) or will I manage with the standard tank? I would like to buy a Corbin seat and there are different seats for the different tanks.

Peter

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Peter

http://peter-onamission.blogspot.com

Hi Peter, Im using the DR650 in Africa at the moment and have the Safari Tank, its fantastic i would recomend it, the standard is just not enough. Im also using a single seat from a GS1150???BMW that i sorced at a bike shop for $80aus. had to do a few brackets to get it to fit, this gave me room to fit a nice rack to rear where passenger would be, keeps the weight over the wheel instead of hanging off the rear. All the best ull love the DR. regards Brian B

IMS makes a 4.9gal tank for about $220us.

Thanks Brian B and Lone Rider. Brian what luggage are you using?

Peter

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Peter

http://peter-onamission.blogspot.com

The last photo I saw had Andy Strapz expadition Panniers on it ..

Before that it had plastic gerry cans with the lids cut off and canvas tops made up ..

Bikes like people evolve with time and place.

I would have though the single seat would have been an excop bm bike solo seat ..

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Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S

Hi Peter, Yes using 'Andy Stapz Bags' and on top, behind the solos seat i have a water proof ruck sack, paid $150 new, used by canoers/water sport people. All my gear has been great. All the best Brian B

Yep, I'm using the Safari tank also, not only bigger but also stronger than the original, handy for offroad work! Also using Andy Strapz bags that have been excellent. Get yaself a B+B bashplate, a staintune exhaust and some barkbusters and you'll have areal Aussie DR!! Love to see some pictures of your bike Brian, I like the idea of the single seat... Mine's here if you're interested -

Melbourne to Moscow

Good luck to all.

Hi Madmadsen

Thanks for the advice. Are the Andy Strapz Bags waterproof and what are you using for a topbox? Do the Andy Strapz Bags need a bracket to keep them off the bike and if so, what did you use? Are you using the standard DR seat with the Safari Tank and how do you find the seat? What are barkbusters? Is the handling a problem with the weight?

Apologise for all the questions but trying to get as much advice as I can before deciding on which equipment to use.

Thanks

Peter

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Peter

http://peter-onamission.blogspot.com

Are the Andy Strapz Bags waterproof and what are you using for a topbox? Do the Andy Strapz Bags need a bracket to keep them off the bike and if so, what did you use? Are you using the standard DR seat with the Safari Tank and how do you find the seat? What are barkbusters? Is the handling a problem with the weight?

Hi Peter, sorry but i know your not asking me but here goes. The Andy Bags are perfectly water/dust proof, 35,000ks of dust and rain. I have a steel loop around the back of the bike out of 18mm mildsteel, good to hang things off and pull/lift in tricky situations. On the said loop i have flat alumin. to keep the panniers from the exhaust etc. The ride of the bike is not effected with the tank any more than all the luggage u will have on it. Obvoiusly the bike handles differant as it should fully loaded, but ive found it sits beter as it has that extra weight. As for the ones who put a differant exhaust on the bike, i keep away from stuff like that, u are going to live with a lot of noise on the travels and LOUD exhaust are very tiring, earplugs can only do so much, and why would u want to upset the enviroment for a few extra hp. All the best Brian B

Brian's onto it! Seem's we have the same idea's! Although due to planning my entire trip in only 5 weeks including buying and prepping the bike I didn't use any brackets to hold the Andyz bags but instead slung them over the back half of the seat as I didn't have time to make any brackets! Amazingly it worked ok, it also means the weight is further forward and lower if you mount them like this. I will be building some brackets for them though when I get home (same as what Brian described).

I used waterproof backpack liners inside them to be sure everything stayed dry, I don't think it is really needed, but I did notice water on the inside once after a day of water crossings (12 of them) in Mongolia where they had been submerged a couple of times! I didn't notice any water getting in during normal riding in the rain though.

The top box is a Pelican brand case that I used for camera's and anything else that would fit. I mounted a 12 volt plug inside it to charge batteries which worked well. A couple of Andys Strapz over the top to strap extras too also worked.

The Barkbusters that I used are the "normal" ones that have the extra wind deflector you can attach (not sure what the model is called), they're NOT the "Ergo" model anyway. They worked as you'd expect and saved the lever's and brake resevoir a couple of times and provinded a bit more wind protection. I used some Renthal 'bars to keep our English cousins happy.

I used the standard seat and managed to pull off a few 900+km days on it. It's not exactly comfortable, but it is not as bad as some people make it out to be. Although it all depends on your arse I guess?!

Handling is as Brian described, you get used to it pretty quick. I just upped the rear preload a bit, didn't have time/money to do the suspension properly and it all worked ok.

Damn good bike the DR...