What's the consensus on attaching a toolbox low down in front of the engine (XT600)? I mean something like a transversally mounted tube, diameter some 12 cm and width perhaps 30-35cm. Do these contraptions tend to result in overheating and problems in the lower end of the engine? The bike has a well perforated skid plate. The tube would fit otherwise quite nicely and not reduce ground clearance etc. (it would a bit below the oil filter level).

Throwing in an oil cooler in would compensate this but since I'm not about to head to Sahara but rather enjoy less extreme heat in Europe I'm not yet set to do that. Experiences on this would be nice to hear. Thanks.

-Kari

Mine sits underneath my pannier.

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fitting a tool box there shouldnt affect cooling much as most heat is generated and lost around the cylinder head/cooling fins.

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rust & dust

Dakota: thats a clean job you have there. Seen this before in some AT but haven't done it (at least) yet since I'd like to get the heavy stuff forward and low. In your choice the weight is closer to the bike than being in the pannier which is good, but higher up (at least I used to have the tools at the bottom of the pannier) and just as far back as being in the pannier which isn't so good.

Brian's note make me wonder about an add-on extension in the back of the front fender that I inherited from previous owner (some 20 cm extra length, same width as the fender and also blocking the "shark fins"). I'm actually not sure whether its against mud flying into the cooling fins or against water potentially flooding the spark plug. Probably reduces the cooling of the engine head a bit. Should I dump it or are its benefits worth it? Again - no desert riding in the cards here.

Hi susan (Dakota) firstly real nice job you have done, quick question for you. What size pipe are you using?

George

It's 9cm. It would probably have taken a pipe a couple of cms wider, but that was the only available at the time. It cost about 8 euros to make including the jubilee clips.

Btw, my name is Alison, but I'll forgive you this time Frank

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Hi Alison sorry about getting your name wrong , but thankyou for the info with any luck i'll be making one very similar this weekend.

Thanks Frank