Trans Africa
 

:helpsmilie:Starting to deck out my DL 650 for a Trans Africa trip, need a few tips, it is the usual route Egypt, Sudan etc. What tyres can you suggest the off road is not something I go looking for but I do have to negotiate the Wadi Hailfa to Dongolas sand and gravel, also we are going the Lake Turkana route so lots more sand and rock. After that mainly tar with the occasional gravel road etc. Also I have only the standard shocks on are these OK or should I change them, if there is anything else you can recommend that I should do please advise. I am going to run with Trax panniers as well any comments on those will be well recieved also. Do I need those Fog Lights as well.:confused1:

Thanks
Paul

Yep, one advice, dont change to anything which you cannot be 100% certain it will last. Some of the aftermarket shocks, for example, need much more regular maintenance than stocks ones do. I´d probably go with better springs only.

Ground clearance is what this bike could use some more. Other than that, and assuming you wont be riding any real off-road, its quite capable.

No foglights for me, as this bike´s already got one of the best headlights in the business. Its electrical output isnt so great, so I´d use it for something more useful.

Thoughts....
 

I'm a huge fan of Mitas tyres,
MITAS a.s. - Enduro Trail
I run them on both my F650s and get about 14,000km out of the back and 25,000 out of fronts. I use the E-07 type, but the E-08 rear might be better for the start of the trip in the sand, and carry an E-07 for later? Have you done much sand riding? It's something that gets much easier with experience. Carry a good air pump and be prepared to drop your pressure often. The very best thing you can do for sand riding is keep the weight down! On tarmac, they are very good too, allowing me to run at the front of the pack of the local sports-bike riders group, with the only bike NOT a four cylinder.

I have no experience with alternate shocks for these bikes so I can't tell you much, except that the standard shocks seem pretty robust. Get the spring rate right for the weights and set the static sag (get back to me if you need advice with this). Pre-load adjustment IS NOT for increasing the amount of load a suspension can carry. All you are doing is preloading the spring; ie getting it partly to it's weight carrying compression. A load on the bike will do the same thing! If it's too light to carry the weight, squashing it a bit will not improve it's ability to carry the load.

Fog light? No. More to break and more "bling" to attract attention. If it's really foggy, wait for the fog to clear.

Trax panniers? Have you considered soft side bags? Easpecailly is sand they are great. Combined with a good secure topbox for the valuable stuff, the soft side bags won't come up over your legs in a spill. Almost everyone I know who has changed from hard cases to soft would not go back. One of the best makers of soft bags is in your country;
Andy Strapz - Motorbike Bags, Straps, Panniers, Over Gloves - Australian Made
Tank panniers are also a good investment. They let you carry some weight forward, off the rear end and provide wind protection for your legs, and impact protection as well.

A LoobMan or similar chain lub kit is also a very good idea.

I think you have selected one of the best overland bikes on the market.

Regards

Nigel in NZ

Don't get a loobman...

They are fine for tarmac will will self destruct in about 10 mins as soon as the going gets rough and the zip tie feeder snaps CONSTANTLY and is a pain to change.

I know this through experience.

LoobMan woes?
 

I sorry to hear you didn't have a good run from your LoobMan, Ted. I don't come on here to directly promote the LoobMan kits (as evidenced by my recommendation of a LoobMan or similar), even though I sell them. I even directed Paul to the international sales site. But I must say I have sold and/or fitted at least a hundred LoobMan kits and I have never had anyone come back to me to say they are unhappy. That doesn't mean they all worked fine, but I expect I would hear from some. Care taken in the mounting is everything, but you can't allow for things like stone strike.

To quote Ted:
"will self destruct in about 10 mins as soon as the going gets rough and the zip tie feeder snaps CONSTANTLY"

I have had mine on both my F650s, one a Funduro and one a GS, for about 2 years and a combined total of 20,000km. Most of the kms were done on tarmac, but a lot was on the gravel back roads and 4WD tracks, of which there are an abundance in NZ. I have worn out two zip tie feeders on the bike that has done 15,000km, but I have never snapped one, other than the first pair which broke off the first time I rode the bike. That was my fault. They mostly snap when the feeder gets too close to the sprocket teeth.

I'm sure Ted, that your appraisal is accurate for your experiance.

Regards

Nigel in NZ

Hi Nigel... I have to say, my review was only based on my own experience.

It worked fine when on the road but the vibration from riding corrogated roads and potholes broke mine. I can't remember how close the sprocket was to the ziptie but I remember having it where it would actually oil the sprocket and not the floor :) That broke 3 times in about 6 weeks and it was a messy pain to fix in a hotel room lol.

All these feeders have their pro's & cons but for the price, I really shouldnt complain too much. As you say, they wouldnt still be in business if they didnt work for the majority of people..

Thanks for your reply :thumbup1:

Ted

to comment on the original questions.....
Tyres:
Ive just done 3000 kms of gravel, dirt and a bit of tar in outback Oz on my v strom wearing Metzler Karoos. I reckon they got another 1000km left in them. They worked well off road though. I had not probs and was traveling with 2 dirt/ enduro bikes.

The problem here in Oz is that there are not many options for knobley tryes for these wheels. The TKC 60s were well expensive!!!

For your trip i'd look at the heidenau ...cant remember the number but thet do a chunky tyre that will fit the strom.

Bash plate is invaluble if your traveling over rocky terrain. I didnt bother with crash bars and despite numerous spills (on mud and sand) i didn't damage the rad or tank. just cracked the indicator.

I need to sort out my screen to reduce the buffeting - but if sure your on that already.

For trans africa id get a centre stand for chain lubing, punctures, and general maintenance. I manage with out one now, but when i was in africa loved the ease of getting access especially if your n your own.

good bike for the trip though.

Paul

Firstly thanks to everyone for the advice, but I need more, where in oz is the besy place to buy a skid plate from also do I need a Rad Guard as well, also I am not convinced of the soft panniers, in what way are they better than hard panniers, I am also looking into the recommonded tyres, one other thing my bum hurts after a couple of hours has anybody used a air hawk ?

Thanks
Paul

B&B make the best bash plate for the vstrom in my opinion- i have one. and i think they now do that is compatible with a center stand. They also do a rad guard. I don't have one.

I used the hepco and becker plastic black paniers on my last trip. they didnt stand up well to to the rigours of dirt rod riding and spills.

I liked the metal boxes when i was in africa. they are heavy, but they are sturdy and lockable. Metal Mule- great but freakin expensive these days!

Tyres- i just put a heidenau k60 on my strom. if it wears well it would be great africa tyre. semi knobley.

Airhawk = yes I use one Paul - it is the 'Rolls Royce' for your bum!-but it is also an extra item that needs looking after (very desireable and removeable... but it is waterproof unlike my alternative now which is the good old fashioned sheep skin - good ones available for about £11
A wee bottle of Neatsfoot oil is great when you wash your sheepskin that will get dirty to give new life & flexibility to the skin.
As I use mine as a pillow too, as soon as it rains..off it comes from the seat and into a plastic bag!:innocent:

I had a new set of Andy Strapz but sold them- they are very good - probably the best soft bag option around IMHO-but they did not suit my needs- - as I prefer the security/volume and weight carrying capability offered by MM's- Soft luggage has its advantages but when it comes to sticky fingers.... there are many posts of people having stuff/tools etc pinched from them. Horses for courses- each has his/her own preferences- I dislike top boxes

+1 as Nigel Marx said for Mitas E07's
I have Scottoiler on the 650 - as well as using a DID-X-ring 520 chain but remember to clean and dry the chain and to turn OFF the oiler before riding in sand!