Good to see that thing getting used in far off lands. Nothing worse than getting all dressed up and having nowhere to go. That original tank got you through Siberia without any problems? I don't remember getting much more than a 120 miles out of that thing before reserve. A fine creation you have there. I dig the soft luggage. I think I'll be heading that direction too. Any detail shots of the longer swingarm? Where'd the center and side stands come from?[/QUOTE] I have made another fuel tank behind the battery. It takes 4.6 liters. And that helps with these trips. With this amount of fuel 350+km's was no problem (off road with luggage)
The soft luggage is the thing to go for on trips like this. Now I used the Steel pony's. But they are worn through in 6000 km. on several places. And i didn't crash. And there were no sharp things against the bags. The swing arm is a 5cm longer one. This is the center stand.(Boxer Supplies) The side stand I have is one from a X challenge. I welded a bracket on the frame. Thats the only option because of my bash plate .
Sorry Prutser, but I have to post another pic of your ST. <a href="https://hardwaregrrl.smugmug.com/Other/misc/16038929_6qzPj6#!i=2012861798&k=D2q35Hx&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="https://hardwaregrrl.smugmug.com/Other/misc/i-D2q35Hx/0/L/38074035571506783362246979954n-L.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a> I always dreamed I could take my bike to russia or siberia and follow walter around, it's nice to see that the bike can handle some shit!
Love the bike. I see you have no engine guards. As soon as I can get a different side stand I want to ditch mine. These things are really good at smashing into the valve covers. Is that sump guard worth having? Do you find it fills up with mud or sand?
I have seen the same amount of damage with engine guards as without. So I will take the risk. The sump guard is great. But sometimes it does fill with mud.(this time it was about 6kg ) But this was when my tires looked like this. Normally I don't have problems with sand and mud filling the bash plate. This was just a bit to sticky......
Thanks Mark. The bike is used a lot for single track and trail like riding. Before I used a R100GS. With the original GS 24 liter tank you could feel the weight of the fuel to much. So I build this ST and tried to get the weight a bit lower and more to the back. It works really well. Handling is much better with the same amount of fuel.
I was thinking of doing the exact same thing except as a tool box / misc storage instead of a fuel tank. The only things I wouldn't want to put in soft luggage are spare parts that I'd need on a long trip (oil or air filters, or anything else easily crushable) They could go in a big tool box under the seat. I was thinking of laying it up in fiberglass or carbon fiber, but the aluminum tank looks pretty nice too. I'm also moving my battery forward under the tank (I think), so a tool box could also occupy the normal battery location.
For a re-build all road R100R I made a fiberglass toolbox on that place. Personally I like my tools to be a bit easier to reach. So when I am traveling I don't have to take the luggage and the seat of to grab my tools. But I'm still thinking about where to put them safe and dry.The last trip they were in a bag on one of the racks above my cylinders. But after every river crossing my tools were wet for days.( toolbox...next project ) For another bike I made a bash plate that holds the battery. That bike feels like its half the weight of a standard bike.Really a huge difference . But for this ST I think I will leave it like it is for now.
But what should I do with it? apart from dumping that F'ugly Fairing This is the first picture, I have to arrange to get it home now.
