Introducing Harry

[wysper]

Take less crap with you.......really look at what you need and only take that with you, it is surprising how little you do need, a tank bag and one seat top bag is all I need for 4 to 5 days.
That includes a sleeping bag, wet weather gear, changes of important clothing and enough spare layers for snow, tools, first aid and emergency food & water.

Less weight is good so be selective about your gear.

Good points. Tent, sleeping bag, thermarest are the bulky items. Take up a fair amount of space, it is the space more than the weight at this stage. I can travel pretty light usually so it is the above items I want to ensure I can carry and I will make the rest fit where it can LOL.

[dino3310]

weekend rides went from this
to this
then to this
seems like on every over nighter i learn to pack less

[wysper]

Thats awesome dino.

I presume you don't take a tent with you and either stay in cabins or other venues?

Maybe I should try and skip step one and two

[Bass]

A DR can be persuaded to carry a fair bit.
This load included: -
Extra fuel
Water
Food for 4 days
Camping gear
Cooking gear
Extensive spare parts
Tools
Clothing
Camera
Chargers
etc
etc

The handling was pretty crap, but.

[That looks like fun]

weekend rides went from this
to this
then to this
seems like on every over nighter i learn to pack less

Packing only what you need as oppsed to what you want is the secret
But why did you not pack the fishing rod again I have often thought of how to pack mine

[pete376403]

Packing only what you need as oppsed to what you want is the secret
But why did you not pack the fishing rod again I have often thought of how to pack mine

One of these perhaps:


http://www.sella.co.nz/general/sport...r/rods/6cd5tm/

[dino3310]

retire to shared cabins when i can, in summer i just use a blue plastic from warehouse tied to bike and pegs.
my rod holders are just pvc down pipe with cap on one end with a little rubber in there to stop vibes, bungy to rear foot peg and rack. can take 3 rods and 2 rod holders surf casting(one pvc holder on each peg)
dont bother much now with the XR, i miss the top box(great for bait and beer)

[wysper]

Right, after giving Harry a wee lie down in the sand on Murawai Beach lately, I have found the major bike damage is bent handle bars.

Now I understand that the stock bars on the DR are pretty soft, so my options here are either replace the bars with stronger ones or bend the original ones back straight.

On the plus side I think the softness of the bars mean that nothing else was damaged as the bars twisted instead of anything else.

What would you guys do? Straighten the bars or buy new stronger ones?
I am leaning towards straightening them. Would rather bent bars than bent steering bits!! (technical term used there to cover all sorts of lack of knowledge!)

[NordieBoy]

I find the original bars are too low anyway.

[Padmei]

I straight\ened mine however didn't like it so bent them back

[dino3310]

I find the original bars are too low anyway.

fook i reckon, totally recommend 1 1/2 - 2" risers with pro taper or simular......
way better control.

even stronger bars bend

[Crisis management]

I vote for just straightening them at this stage as you may well find that once you have a bit more seat time you will have a better idea of what height / sweep bars you want, you may well buy the wrong bars for you at this stage.

Wedge the wheel against something solid and bend them back.

Get 2000kms on gravel under your belt and you will have a clear idea of what bars you want. Anyone for a west coast ride this weekend?









Promise not to damage anyone this time Brent.

[wysper]

I vote for just straightening them at this stage as you may well find that once you have a bit more seat time you will have a better idea of what height / sweep bars you want, you may well buy the wrong bars for you at this stage.

Wedge the wheel against something solid and bend them back.

Get 2000kms on gravel under your belt and you will have a clear idea of what bars you want. Anyone for a west coast ride this weekend?








Promise not to damage anyone this time Brent.

good thoughts.

not this weekend but next weekend I am off to a mates place in TGA and he is going to help me fabricate some pannier racks, we will look at straightening the bars then.
I will pop into Boyds this week just so they can cast their eyes over it and make sure there is nothing else bent!

[Woodman]

Leave them bent. Seriously you will get used to it so much tthat if you put straight ones on then they will feel bent.

[yafeetup]

depending on whether they are just out of line or truely bent, straighting them will weaking them more. They have been stressed do you really wanna go to lift the front wheel one day and have them break. Nothing worse than riding with bent bars, buy some good quality ones.