Sunday, April 29, 2012
A note about the picture at the top:
That photo was taken on a trip to cross the Denali Highway last summer with my friend Joe. I had racks, but Happy Trails had not sent the panniers yet, so I went to the local Army Surplus store (owned by a Russian fellow who has the vanity license plate "KGBSPY") and bought two .50 caliber ammo cans, sprayed them with black paint from a rattle can, and bolted them on. I was inspired to do so by an article by Lois Pryce that encouraged riders to just make do and go with what you have. Your bike doesn't have to be "drug through the Touratech catalog" as Murph says. It was a great trip, and I'll post a link to the Flickr page someday soon. Of particular note was how Joe strapped his rifle to his camping gear. Mothers with children covered their eyes.
More Upgrades
I also added a Scottoiler for the chain to make sure that it is getting at least some lubrication. I know that I lack knowledge of what is required to maintain the chain drive, so I have tried to minimize the impact of that lack, recognizing I still have to learn about chains and oiling and chain maintenance.
Almost all of the protective devices are from Touratech: heavy duty bash plate, fairing guards, engine guards, chain guards, folding gearshift lever and brake stops. I replaced the BMW foot pegs with Pivot Pegs because the factory pegs were little tiny things. Touratech a;so supplied the rear rack extension.
One important set of guards are the radiator guards, as the radiator sets right behind the front wheel. BMW does not provide a guard, and only has plastic shrouds to direct airflow. I found some beautiful heavy gauge aluminum guards with black powder coating from Kildala2000 in the ADV Vendors forum. He was out of stock, but had half a dozen made up and sent one to me in time for the trip. I mean this is one of the nicest looking pieces on the bike, soon to be covered with gravel dings and bug parts.
The panniers and racks are from Happy Trails. I chose the Cascade boxes because the boxes are narrower and deeper to get the weight lower. I may have over thought this solution, but will find out in the next five weeks.
I also added 35 mm handle bar risers, and braided steel brake lines front and rear. The handlebars now bang against the tank bag, so I will have to replace the BMW tank bag with something a little lower -- or just deal with it.
I also added a Scottoiler for the chain to make sure that it is getting at least some lubrication. I know that I lack knowledge of what is required to maintain the chain drive, so I have tried to minimize the impact of that lack, recognizing I still have to learn about chains and oiling and chain maintenance.
Almost all of the protective devices are from Touratech: heavy duty bash plate, fairing guards, engine guards, chain guards, folding gearshift lever and brake stops. I replaced the BMW foot pegs with Pivot Pegs because the factory pegs were little tiny things. Touratech a;so supplied the rear rack extension.
One important set of guards are the radiator guards, as the radiator sets right behind the front wheel. BMW does not provide a guard, and only has plastic shrouds to direct airflow. I found some beautiful heavy gauge aluminum guards with black powder coating from Kildala2000 in the ADV Vendors forum. He was out of stock, but had half a dozen made up and sent one to me in time for the trip. I mean this is one of the nicest looking pieces on the bike, soon to be covered with gravel dings and bug parts.
The panniers and racks are from Happy Trails. I chose the Cascade boxes because the boxes are narrower and deeper to get the weight lower. I may have over thought this solution, but will find out in the next five weeks.
I also added 35 mm handle bar risers, and braided steel brake lines front and rear. The handlebars now bang against the tank bag, so I will have to replace the BMW tank bag with something a little lower -- or just deal with it.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
First, the bike. It is, as I said, a 2009 BMW G650GS. It is the smallest BMW dual sport, weighing in at 423 lbs (192 kg) with fuel, and a load capacity of another 415 lbs (188 kg). With all my gear on, I soak up 200 lbs of that, and the gear I carry adds another 116 lbs. The panniers and racks are another 30 lbs, and you can see there isn't much excess capacity left for water and food.
The engine is a single cylinder, producing 50 hp at 6500 rpm and about 44 lbs/ft of torque at 5000 rpm. The literature says it should give me 74 mpg at 55 mph, but I've never seen better than 60 mpg. Perhaps I drive too fast or put too much weight on it. There is no excess power here either. Likewise, the alternator puts out 400 w, so excess capacity is scarce for electronics as well.
The wheels are 19 inches in the front, and 17 inches in the rear, both being stopped by single rotor ABS disk brakes. The ABS can be switched off for dirt riding.
Upgrades:
The factory suspension seemed soft to me, with lots of diving of the front end upon even light to moderate braking. I contacted HR Racing in Anchorage, and had them install RaceTech Goldvalve Emulators in the front forks, and RaceTech springs front and rear to accommodate a 180 pound rider. They also modified the rear shock so it can be rebuilt with a kit easily instead of replacing the shock.
Rick Mayer Cycles is customizing the seat to provide better support and comfort. I look forward to a different experience from the factory seat.
I installed a Mirage 1 fairing with touring wind screen from Britannia Composites in B.C. Canada. I thought it would more convenient to mount a GPS there than on the handlebars. Perhaps I got a little carried away. It now has the GPS, a USB port, a RAM mount for the Veypor motorcycle computer, and a switch for the driving lights.
The driving lights are MondoMotos' 3 inch LED MM-12AUX, mounted on a bar designed for a different light set up, but using MondMotos' very excellent wiring harness. They are powerful and really beautiful on the bike. The headlight is protected by a Lexan plastic protector from Australian MotorcycleHeadlight Protectors, delightful people with whom to deal.
Electrical upgrades like the USB port are from BurnsMoto, and distribution is through the incredibly easy Fuzeblock. That is a very useful and useable piece of equipment that eliminates the need to make multiple taps into the electrical system.
The engine is a single cylinder, producing 50 hp at 6500 rpm and about 44 lbs/ft of torque at 5000 rpm. The literature says it should give me 74 mpg at 55 mph, but I've never seen better than 60 mpg. Perhaps I drive too fast or put too much weight on it. There is no excess power here either. Likewise, the alternator puts out 400 w, so excess capacity is scarce for electronics as well.
The wheels are 19 inches in the front, and 17 inches in the rear, both being stopped by single rotor ABS disk brakes. The ABS can be switched off for dirt riding.
Upgrades:
The factory suspension seemed soft to me, with lots of diving of the front end upon even light to moderate braking. I contacted HR Racing in Anchorage, and had them install RaceTech Goldvalve Emulators in the front forks, and RaceTech springs front and rear to accommodate a 180 pound rider. They also modified the rear shock so it can be rebuilt with a kit easily instead of replacing the shock.
Rick Mayer Cycles is customizing the seat to provide better support and comfort. I look forward to a different experience from the factory seat.
I installed a Mirage 1 fairing with touring wind screen from Britannia Composites in B.C. Canada. I thought it would more convenient to mount a GPS there than on the handlebars. Perhaps I got a little carried away. It now has the GPS, a USB port, a RAM mount for the Veypor motorcycle computer, and a switch for the driving lights.
The driving lights are MondoMotos' 3 inch LED MM-12AUX, mounted on a bar designed for a different light set up, but using MondMotos' very excellent wiring harness. They are powerful and really beautiful on the bike. The headlight is protected by a Lexan plastic protector from Australian MotorcycleHeadlight Protectors, delightful people with whom to deal.
Electrical upgrades like the USB port are from BurnsMoto, and distribution is through the incredibly easy Fuzeblock. That is a very useful and useable piece of equipment that eliminates the need to make multiple taps into the electrical system.
This blog is mostly about places and things and people I meet. Coincidentally, it will keep people posted about where I am and where I hope to be going next. For instance, the bike (a 2009 BMW G650GS) is on board a Carlisle Freight truck from Anchorage to Tacoma, Washington right now. My plan is to pick it up Thursday, May 4, and ride it up to Oak Harbor to spend the weekend with good friends to celebrate my wife's birthday. On Monday, May 7, the bike and I head south with the goal of attending Overland Expo 2012. After the Expo ends on May 21 or so, we, the bike and I, head back to Anchorage and home.
Along the way I plan on testing some equipment, some techniques, some food, and just relaxing and riding through the Western U.S. I also hope to learn a great deal. About the bike, about riding, about the equipment I have selected and need to select, about myself, and about the wonderful people who live and work and play along the route. I will try to post about the bike, its equipment, the other equipment on the bike, and all the gear. I also will try to post some photos along the way of the route, the scenes, the people, the food, gear, and the weather. Can't leave home without the weather. So before the ride starts, I will try to post more information abut the bike, equipment and proposed route, and link a SPOT messenger widget to the blog so I can be easily tracked.
Along the way I plan on testing some equipment, some techniques, some food, and just relaxing and riding through the Western U.S. I also hope to learn a great deal. About the bike, about riding, about the equipment I have selected and need to select, about myself, and about the wonderful people who live and work and play along the route. I will try to post about the bike, its equipment, the other equipment on the bike, and all the gear. I also will try to post some photos along the way of the route, the scenes, the people, the food, gear, and the weather. Can't leave home without the weather. So before the ride starts, I will try to post more information abut the bike, equipment and proposed route, and link a SPOT messenger widget to the blog so I can be easily tracked.
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