As Ted says, suspension DOES matter ... if you've used a Suzuki Burgman to gauge suspension quality ... then I understand your frustration. No matter what's done to a Burgman, it will always try to break your spine when ridden over any sort of rough terrain, G out or pot holes.

I know the Burgman 400 (the 650 is lots better, still not suited to rough roads with cargo) The 400 has truly dangerous suspension on and off road, add a load and some "pace", and your in real trouble. When you tear off all the fluff and plastic and see the design, it becomes obvious why it's so bad.

I concur regards your comments about "bragging rights" and Guiness records; too many ADV Riding "Stars", doing it as the "Next Big Thing", lots of jumping on the fame and fortune on the Moto ADV Travel band wagon, collecting of stickers and passport stamps Commercializes it, makes it UNAFFORDABLE for average folk. (eventually)

Coming out of off road racing I was lucky enough to ride well set up race bikes at speed through horrendous conditions. Those days are long behind ... but I still insist on good suspension on my old DR650 nail. Many would say it's a "dog" off road ... and in part, they'd be right, when you know what "Good" suspension is about. Most don't have a clue.

But with the right suspension components set up properly the old Pig is 100% better. Not a race bike ... but a safe conveyance when loaded up with gear, doing 1000's of miles over nasty terrain. On that bike ... a suspension up grade, IMO, is a "must do". Many fewer "face plants" and a TON of more confidence in all situations. What is that worth?

Riding a floppy old wet rag at any sort of pace over the rough stuff is down right dangerous.

Suspension is the one thing worth paying for.

Hmm, well I also used to roadrace my RD350 back in the mid '70s before I decided to ride it two up from Australia to the Uk, then solo through the Sahara (with 50+litres of fluids bungy strapped to the packrack).

Yes, the roadracing and the international travel were both undertaken using the same bog standard forks and shocks that the bike left the factory with - matter of fact the RD is still being ridden today with that same pair of 40 year young shocks?

As for other bikes, yes my Burgman is a 650 and yes it hates corrugations, but it has still gotten me to many places most people tell me it never should have.

My KLR650 also managed to carry me across the Simpson desert earlier this year - on bog standard suspension and with a completely flat front tyre for over 300kms of the sandy tracks. Honestly, the difference in handling was unnoticeable - the only reason I knew I had a flat was the sound from the front end (I thought I'd done a front wheel bearing), yes I could've fixed it (had spare tubes with me) but I figured I may as well get back to civilisation (Birdsville) first as I was more than likely going to get another flat anyway.

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Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman

I suppose on soft sand, you wouldn't. I might of even helped your progress.

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

Okay... Let me rephrase this... And ask you all... Would you buy this ?????... And I'm going to lay out costs quite simply..

I bought a very nice 2001 Honda Dominator. I'm going to prepare it to a very high 'Overland standard' Then I'm going to sell it. It's a personal experiment. And if I can't get what I paid for all it's parts, then I'm going to keep it for a future trip.

Costs.....

Bike £1700 on Ebay with 18,000 miles
Service items : Pads, seals and bearings, oil, filters, plug £150
Acerbis Tank : £250
Acerbis hand guards £60
Dakar Enduro high bars £50
Hagon progressive fork springs and oil £100
Hagon rear shock with stiffer spring £350
Screen £50
Sheepskin £20
Luggage racks, frame hooks etc £100


That's going to be about £2800

A lot of money for a 'Dominator' but VERY cheap for a bike that is capable, and probably perfect of a RTW trip with no extra work or cost required.

This is not including the great deals of labour time. I am a professional Motorcycle Technician. You'd pay £110 an hour for me to prepare a bike where I work..


So, if you were in the market for a RTW machine.. Would you pay that ?? Less than £3000 !! For that bike ????

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

I am slightly confused here as you had one of these for sale about a month ago, but maybe this is the same machine and you're considering preparing it as you've described ?

Personally, I wouldn't pay that simply because, as you said, it's a lot of money for a Dominator.

I'm unsure why you would do this though as you would put in a lot of time and effort for free and at best break even.

Yes it's the same one..... Less than £3000 for a heavily upgraded Dommie is cheap as chips in my opinion.. A leaking, falling apart, beaten up F650 Dakar with a 'about to blow up' engine costs that...

I'm not doing it for folly... I just want to know if it's sell-able. If not, then I'll HAPPILY keep it for a big trip. At sub £3000 , I think it's cheap as chips.

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

I do have to disagree with your Dakar comparison though as I recently (last month) sold my F650GS (not the Dakar version admittedly) with panniers, top box, not leaking, falling apart, beaten up, in fact rather good, for £2250.

But if you aren't doing it for folly and will happily keep it for a big trip then I guess it's a no lose situation really.

I applaud your Dominator project. I assume there are Brit riders out there looking for well set up bargain overlander bikes and would appreciate your project and would be willing to pay for the extras you've added.

£2800 works out to around $4200 usd. That's a bit over what one would pay in the USA for an equivalent bike (NX650, XL650L, XL600R, DR650, KLR or XT600) But your bike is set up with quality extras and hopefully ready to hit the long road. IMO, that's worth $1500 usd easily. It WILL need a real seat however.

Comparing value for money with BMW, plus one Dominator. In the USA, BMW F series prices are higher than Japanese 600's, new or used. In the UK, I see prices are closer. But as most know ... the F series BMW's have a long list of issues of their own ... but guys here still spend thousands on them, rebuild them and ride them for years.

IMO, the Domie needs a few tweaks to make it tough enough to handle a load over rough terrain for perhaps another 25K miles:
1. 18K on the clock? .. means I'd have a close look at the top end. Maybe freshen it up? Cam? Valves? Valve seats? cam bearings, head?

2. Rear sub frames are famous for bending/cracking. Weak. Re-inforce to carry a good load over rough terrain.

3. Stators can (and do) fail ... i've no idea why. (about $400 usd)

4. XL/Dommie/NX motors run quite hot in warm climates. Honda's radial valve head design is the reason. That motor needs a good oil cooler to survive and very good synthetic oil.

Good luck with the sale!

It doesn't seem a lot to me; as you say, it's a good deal! I recently had a switch replaced on my F800 (this is how it was described to me) and it cost me £188!!! Ouch indeed. The labour alone makes what's suggested worth while!

Having said this, I would personally like to make choices on upgrades myself. As has previously been stated, each addition to my bike has been chosen for a specific trip and, as such, mean more to me than 'off the shelf', as it were. Good luck either way, though!

I work in a BMW place. And we have a Touratech showroom too..

Where a lot of people like to chose their own gear, A LOT of people actually don't.. They rely on our parts guy to recommend them stuff. Or just buy whatever was recommended by a forum, a friend etc..

Our parts guy doesn't even have a bike licence.. He's an intelligent bloke but he doesn't know what makes a good overland bike...

As I say, it's a no lose situation.. That bike will be ridden overland by me if no one else...

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

I'm just going off what I see..... Dakar's are more valuable than the F650.

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

Ted,

I enjoy dicking about with bikes so it's unlikely I'd personally pay someone to fettle and sort a bike for me for a trip, but here's a few thoughts.....

Maybe if you were to market the bike(S) something like....

Prepared for long distance travel by experienced overlander and qualified motorcycle technician. No unnecessary expensive bits fitted, just the important modifications to ensure you enjoy your trip of a lifetime.

You could also offer some customer support and maybe get some extra by putting together a tools and spares package.

If you managed to sell a few at break even (ish) and they actually got used for purpose then you need to get endorsements from those riders about how great the bike was and what a thoroughly decent, honest and helpful chap you are.

That was pretty much the plan....

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

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

The more I look at bikes and deliberate...the more I think if I could now buy a brand new of what I've ready got I wouldn't hesitate...

That's exactly what I was thinking....

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