http://www.51st.co.nz/

**cooneyr** · 10th November 2009, 14:48

Originally Posted by clint640

That's being way too kind to Landrovers

....

Bloody cruiser drivers

I've owned both and tend to agree through, likening a DR to a landy is way to kind to the landy's.

Originally Posted by clint640

....The 640 actually has a 'Retard' setting (no, I don't have it on all the time

) you disconnect a wire & it winds back the ignition timing a bit to deal with low octane fuel.....

The 950 has the same system.

I'd not be to worried about radiators just be carefuly about which bike you pick. On the 9x0's you'd be in a whole heap of trouble if you ever managed to damage the radiator from falling off. Cause the tanks surround it you would pretty much have to smash your tank/s or front end to damage it. I think the XR650, 640's and KLR's are pretty similar. Enduro and MX bikes are a whole other story but who would be mad enough to ride a Enduro bike for 10-20k km around the globe? (now that I've said it there is bound to be some nutter who has!)

Also it generally isn't too hard to find additional fans - fiting them up might be another story though.

Cheers R

**clint640** · 10th November 2009, 14:51

Originally Posted by Bass

Very true dat!
Not convinced about the liquid cooling though.
.

Yep, cooling fins don't break down very often. The fact that the DR is about the only big thumper available that is still air cooled is one of the things that makes it stand out as a remote area travel machine.

Although... some people seem to lunch water pumps etc every other Sunday but I've never had a problem in 80k km apart from one small easily repaired crack after a stack when I had the 12L tank on. The 18L tank wraps right around the rads & protects them pretty well. I think if I was planning a ride to hot places I'd put a second fan on the other rad. (a common mod) Does anyone put fans on DR oil coolers?

Cheers
Clint

**ducatijim** · 10th November 2009, 14:56

Originally Posted by cooneyr

Also it generally isn't too hard to find additional fans - fiting them up might be another story though.

Cheers R

The bloody hot air they expell all over ones self is a cunt in a 35'+ climate while,say; 'paddling' thru sand.

You simply couldn't do it for long( now wait.......the 'experts' will be along soon to try and teach me how to ride

)

I like air cooling too. Dick proof. Multi-tasking. Works for me

**MikeyJ** · 10th November 2009, 19:36

Hey Guys,

Im one of the guys from the 51st Traverse - if you've seen the photos, im the guy who broke his leg. Firstly thanks heaps for putting the link to our site up etc.

We will be taking a few HD cameras over with us on the trip, and have been working closely with the African Odessey boys to make sure we are doing things right. So we will definately be putting together some footage of the trip for everyone - looking into getting some airtime for it when we get back, should be a laugh.

I personally am on one of the 250's, fingers crossed it will take me the distance. I know those DR's are a blimmin tough bike to break, well the engine anyhow. There was a pretty long decision making process to pick those bikes....

Feel free to ask any questions, or if you have some feedback - good or bad, i dont mind.

**Bass** · 11th November 2009, 07:20

Originally Posted by ducatijim

The bloody hot air they expell all over ones self is a cunt in a 35'+ climate while,say; 'paddling' thru sand.

You simply couldn't do it for long:

I think that Jamie makes a good point.
It's not so important over here, but we bought bikes specifically for the outback and it got up over 40 C around Darwin.

I was very surprised at how much heat came back from just that little oil cooler on the DR in tough going and hot conditions. A fan assisted blast would have me concerned about heat exhaustion.

Having said that, a second oil cooler and fan assisting them is not unheard of when uprating the DR.

**clint640** · 11th November 2009, 10:35

Originally Posted by MikeyJ

Hey Guys,

Im one of the guys from the 51st Traverse - if you've seen the photos, im the guy who broke his leg. Firstly thanks heaps for putting the link to our site up etc.
.

Hi mate, good luck with the trip! There's nothing wrong with smaller bikes for big trips, my girlfriend has done heaps of touring on her 250 Kawasaki Sherpa now, including a 8500km Oz trip earlier this year, it's now done almost 40 000 km with no problems. One thing I'd check on the DR250 is the rear subframe strength, It's much easier to weld in some reinforcement now (if it does need it) than after it breaks off in bumfuckistan.

Originally Posted by Bass

I was very surprised at how much heat came back from just that little oil cooler on the DR in tough going and hot conditions. A fan assisted blast would have me concerned about heat exhaustion.
.

Brainwave alert! Today's hot invention from Clint's Adventure Concepts Corporation is the reversible radiator fan. Just flick a switch to reverse the polarity & the fan blows instead of sucks! Coming soon to a KTM 640 near you... or not...

Cheers
Clint

**Bass** · 11th November 2009, 11:36

Originally Posted by clint640

Brainwave alert! Today's hot invention from Clint's Adventure Concepts Corporation is the reversible radiator fan. Just flick a switch to reverse the polarity & the fan blows instead of sucks! Coming soon to a KTM 640 near you... or not...

Cheers
Clint

Suck Mary Jane, suck!!!

"Blow" is only a figure of speech!

**MikeyJ** · 11th November 2009, 12:16

Originally Posted by clint640

One thing I'd check on the DR250 is the rear subframe strength, It's much easier to weld in some reinforcement now (if it does need it) than after it breaks off in bumfuckistan.

I guess we wanted an adventure, what kind of adventure would it be with all the creature comforts of home (I will eat these words when i'm freezing my bum off in Siberia).

Definately been looking into the rear subframe, problem being the warranty we have with Suzuki, they are not so happy with us messing too much with the subframe. Currently we have a 2 year worldwide warranty - you guys think it would be better to flag the warranty and weld up the bike?

We definately have been working out the best way of reinforcing parts of the bikes, especially around the rear end of these bikes - trying to get our way around the issues of warranty.

**jezzaNZ** · 11th November 2009, 12:56

Warranty will count for nothing if you are stuck in the outer reaches of Bunfuckistan so bite the bullet and strengthen what you can now. You will probably have a lot of shit to carry and the weight will certainly be a strain on the subframe. Also I was riding the other weekend here in Melbourne in 30+ degrees on the 950 with radiator fan running full tit at the trafic lights and fuck me if my leg wasn't hot.....I think the fan is a great idea. Big difference in the heat generated by a 950 / 640 vs a 250 I would have thought so just do it.

**clint640** · 11th November 2009, 13:36

Originally Posted by MikeyJ

Currently we have a 2 year worldwide warranty - you guys think it would be better to flag the warranty and weld up the bike?
.

Go hard on the welder would be my advice. As Jezza says, the warranty ain't worth shit unless you are near a dealer & even then they are probably going to want to send it back to head office for inspection.... come back in a month... then it'll take another month+ for them to ship out the part... assuming they haven't seen all the pics that will no doubt be up on the net of the poor little DRZ loaded up with 30kg of gear AND a case of vodka

Although my full tour/camp luggage is only 20kg, plus maybe another kg+ of clothes if cold climates are involved.

One of your crew is an engineer eh? Get him to have a look at it, think about where your racks are bolting on, keeping the load low & forward, & eliminating stress raisers. A few little gussets can make a huge difference. Do it tidily, get a good paint match & Suzuki probably wouldn't even notice.

Cheers
Clint

**clint640** · 11th November 2009, 13:46

Here's the link to some pics of what I did on the 640, the DRZ will be different but it may give you some ideas:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...light=subframe

Cheers
Clint

**Mishmop** · 21st November 2009, 08:13

Hi guys, Mish her from the 51st traverse. Great comments. We have already sorted out the tanks we got sponsorship from the states. So three bikes will have 24ltr and one with a 17ltr and one yet to decide. My favourite line was from Jazz "Warranty will count for nothing if you are stuck in the outer reaches of Bunfuckistan so bite the bullet and strengthen what you can now."
I put a comment up on advrider about panniers but have it all sorted.
Any feed back about the trip or bikes welcome.

**NordieBoy** · 21st November 2009, 10:43

Originally Posted by Mishmop

We have already sorted out the tanks we got sponsorship from the states. So three bikes will have 24ltr and one with a 17ltr and one yet to decide.

What brand tanks?

**NZ CBR** · 26th November 2009, 08:10

I'm a good friend of Rob(who is doing the ride), caught up with him while he's getting the rear of his bike welded and fortified down here in Chch!!

Think its great what you are doing so just keep thinking of every possible outcome and how you will get through it. Theres heap's(Rob and I sunk a few beverages whilst going over idea's). You can never be too prepared!

Ask the guy's on here any Q's and take them with a pinch of salt!!

Good luck