BergDonk's DR650

[Phreaky Phil]

Good work on the FCR. I'm waiting for mine to turn up. Be interesting to see how your jetting works out. I wont be fitting mine immediately as i'm in the middle of making pannier frames.

[BergDonk]

Originally Posted by Phreaky Phil

Good work on the FCR. I'm waiting for mine to turn up. Be interesting to see how your jetting works out. I wont be fitting mine immediately as i'm in the middle of making pannier frames.

I have 2 projects to go, the pannier frames for the Wolfman bags I have, and reinforcing the swingarm. Be all good for the centre and Kimberly in June/July.

And I just noticed I transcribed my pilot wrongly, 38 now not 40. I've edited the previous post.

Steve

[farcall]

Thanks for posting up the FCR info.

I'm considering ordering one from mx-rob and even though it's plug'n'play, I'm as thick as 2 short planks when it comes to mechanical things... 4 planks if it's the carb. If the thing didn't fire up after fitting the FCR it'd be game over for me. What to do???

[BergDonk]

Originally Posted by farcall

Thanks for posting up the FCR info.

I'm considering ordering one from mx-rob and even though it's plug'n'play, I'm as thick as 2 short planks when it comes to mechanical things... 4 planks if it's the carb. If the thing didn't fire up after fitting the FCR it'd be game over for me. What to do???

I've been playing with bikes for over 40 years now, so if it doesn't work 1st time for you, send me the airfare and I'll drop by and fix it else I might be riding that way later this year

Steve

[Bushmechanic]

good stuff Steve, nice to see pics and writeups of projects like this one

thats a good deal on the WP CCs and the shock

I like the seat cover too

[BergDonk]

Originally Posted by Bushmechanic

good stuff Steve, nice to see pics and writeups of projects like this one

thats a good deal on the WP CCs and the shock

I like the seat cover too

Hi Bushy,

Thanks for the support, good to hear from you. The deals on ebay were too good to pass on, and the results have been justified. Its a wonderful, go anywhere, tourer.

You've been quiet over on UHE of late, Taffy get to you?

Maybe catch up when I head over with Azza, assuming I'm back from the Kimberly before he heads off?

Steve

[Bushmechanic]

Looks like Ive been missing some really great deals on ebay, will have to check it more often.

Re the swingarm cracking being re welded and and then re cracking, has anyone put a patch over the reweld ? if its a vertical weld in a problem area it prolly should have a patch with a horizontal bead top and bottom ?

Yes took me a while to concede but Ol Taff is just too tedious to communicate with for my liking the online stuff is full of only mild misunderstandings, by comparison there are 192 emails in my inbox from him .

Not sure when Azza rides out, but yes be great to catch up, there are a few local spots I haven't been for a while be glad to show you around if you have time. Goes without saying of course that you can use my shed FWIW to fix up stuff if you need to.

[BergDonk]

Originally Posted by Bushmechanic

Looks like Ive been missing some really great deals on ebay, will have to check it more often.

Re the swingarm cracking being re welded and and then re cracking, has anyone put a patch over the reweld ? if its a vertical weld in a problem area it prolly should have a patch with a horizontal bead top and bottom ?

Yes took me a while to concede but Ol Taff is just too tedious to communicate with for my liking the online stuff is full of only mild misunderstandings, by comparison there are 192 emails in my inbox from him .

Not sure when Azza rides out, but yes be great to catch up, there are a few local spots I haven't been for a while be glad to show you around if you have time. Goes without saying of course that you can use my shed FWIW to fix up stuff if you need to.

I was looking for a while for some forks, Snowy and LukasM, and rocks around here, and my Bergs suspension got me thinking that more than what I had woul be worth the effort. No fixed agenda, just a cartridge fork that wouldn't be too hard to fit. The WP CCs turned up and after explaining to my wife the benefits, I had her approval to bid. You have to have a want, then patiently keep looking, and eventually it turns up. My 3 mates over here with DRs have asked me to keep an eye out for an Ohlins for them after testing mine, and one is about to fit some DRZ250 forks that were at a wrecker in Canberra at a fair price. He doesn't want to change the ride height, or travel too much, and will have to get them modified to suit with springs and valving, and will end up more expensive than my WPs which have, for me, perfect valving and springing stock.

A mate of Frank's in Sydney specialises in alloy frame repairs and modifications so that is where my swingarm will end up. Plating the suspect weld certainly seems like a way forward. Looking at the weld, I assume its a tensile failure mechanism. I want it fixed, before it fails.

Taffy is a special case, no doubt. I did catch up with him last time I was over in Blighty. It was a good night, but he does have issues. Maybe I'll come home from the Kimberly via the Canning and catch up then. Shed offer appreciated, and keen to see the new frame in action too.

Did 400 kms yesterday and was mainly thinking about the FCR. One other bike along was an almost stock DR650, the one about to get the 250 forks. We had a plan to get to the coast, and that would have been interesting to check how much leaner I can go, but we ended up staying up high. Another day... FWIW, the FCR is better, more snap, and reponsiveness, but if all you do do is cruise, then there is no value over and above a properly setup stock BST40. The more technical the terrain and riding, the more the FCR's benefits are appreciated. Fuel consumption so far seems about the same, but I need to do some more kms to confirm. I started with a full tank, and after 393 kms still have 200+ kms in the tank.

Likewise with the suspension, as terrain gets more complex, the benefits are realised. If you don't go anywhere but dirt roads and easy fire trails, there is no point to a conversion, although I'd always recommend the proper springs for your weight. And on the DR650 that invariably means heavier springs, and then the damping is overpowered. So if you can do stuff yourself, the cost of a conversion is not that much different to an upgrade of the stock components, which will never be as good, but then are nevertheless good enough for most.

As Dale Lineaweaver once said, the best you've ridden, is the best you know.

Steve

[BergDonk]

Time to finish my racks. I got some Wolfman pannier bags last year and have been trying to make time to make some racks to suit. I used some 8mm bar for the outer frame and and 6mm bar for the 2 vertical risers. Some 25 x 3 and 25 x 4 flat for the attachments and should be OK.

I printed out a picture of the Wolfman frames off the web and scaled the dimensions from it. I didn't buy the genuine item because I wanted them a bit lower and further forward, and gotta justify the MIG. Cost about $10 + a day in the shed. I also changed the strap that goes over the seat so I don't have to sit on the buckle.

Will test this weekend as am off to the Wallerwang and the Hunter Valley.

[BergDonk]

Ready for loading.



The tank pannier bags I got at the same time from Procycle too. After some playing about with webbing they work well, and have done a couple of trips to date, including 900 kms to Dargo and back via Pinnibar and Billy Goat Bluff last year.

The Gearsack is an old one that still provides great service. It was purchased new in about 1982 and has been on my then GPZ1100, ZX10, and ZX9R. Probably done 200,000 kms and only replaced the zip once. pity they don't make them anymore.

As previously mentioned, the rack is a Ventura one i had that I cut up to fit and dispensed with the 'roll bar'. They can hurt in awkard situations!

To keep some shape and attach it I raided the kitchen for a nylon cutting board and had some aluminium flat in the shed and some webbing strap. Works well, and gotta see if I can wear it out. The pic below shows the inside.



Still enough room for a dry duffel on the pillion seat.

Steve

[BergDonk]

And I got these LED driving lights on ebay. Bolted on to my blinker mounts with no mods. they are 1500 lumens and draw 10 watts each so just piggy backed them onto the high beam circuit which I previously upgraded with a Philips + 80% bulb and wired direct to the battery via a relay.



http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....m=120678251855

[BergDonk]

I got a second hand swingarm from the wrecker which is currently in Sydney with a specialist frame builder ally welder being beefed up. I plan to collect it on Monday.

Almost ready for the big one in June and July.

What have I missed?

And I forget to mention that once my racks are tested, I will pull it all apart, tidy up my welds and get it all nickel plated.

Steve

[rowdy_im]

Originally Posted by BergDonk

I have 2 projects to go, the pannier frames for the Wolfman bags I have, and reinforcing the swingarm. Be all good for the centre and Kimberly in June/July.

And I just noticed I transcribed my pilot wrongly, 38 now not 40. I've edited the previous post.

Steve

Wheres the photo,s Mr BergDonk
I can,t be seen hanging around in DR pages for too long ,,,the KTM brothers may think I have defected

Rowdy

[BergDonk]

Originally Posted by rowdy_im

Wheres the photo,s Mr BergDonk
I can,t be seen hanging around in DR pages for too long ,,,the KTM brothers may think I have defected

Rowdy

Lust, you have a 625 and now lust for a DR650? Which pics did you have in mind?

Just realised the lights are 30 w each, so will fit a relay. No biggie.

And the long range fuel tank arrived for the ute today, water tanks to come. This is proving to be an expensive trip. Must be your fault, it was your idea...

Steve

[a1fa]

She is all ready for a long range adventure. You go man!