Welcome Alex! Nearly exactly a year ago I was at the same stage as you! Had just decided to do a big biking trip and in September flew to Canberra and rode my new '10 DR650 back to Charters Towers...in floods and rain! Are you living in Charters Towers mate or just starting the trip there? Can give you plenty of advice on the north as used to live up there and have travelled regularly in the Cape, although not on a motorbike...yet.

Feel free to email with any questions etc but sounds like you're on the right track mate! Enjoy and good luck!

I live in Charters Towers, Been here 2 years now and will probably be here a while longer. I lived in Ingham and Proserpine as a kid so I am familiar with most of the North coast up to Innisfail. I have never been North of Cairns though and I am looking forward to exploring the FAR north of the state.

I changed my chain and sprockets over to a 520 set-up today, mainly for availability of replacements when I go exploring . I also went into the workshop and fabricated an aluminium number plate bracket and Im waiting on led bolts to light the plate. This was purely due to the fact that I prefer the look of a shorter rear mudguard and smaller lights for the plate compared to the huge stock one.

I did a little lap of the town this evening after tinkering with the bike, The more I put my mark on it with little mods, the more I love riding it... it's my freedom machine !

I'm still having a ball making my DR650 the way i want it.
Here are a couple of pics of my number plate bracket to replace the huge plastic job. Probably not everyones cup of tea but I like the look.

Next on the list is the 4.9 US gal IMS tank and possibly Pirelli rubber. Any thoughts on tyre choice ? I'm looking at a 130/80 rear that will give me good traction on the dirt but not excessive vibration on the road as I will be doing plenty of highway riding.

Heading to Paluma next week to meet up with one of my 4 DR riding Brothers !