Havent really added to this thread, as all I have been doing is commuting to work. Had a few glitches to fix....leaking brake line, abs sensor alignment, brakes not giving me the feel i wanted. But on the weekend, I did 1000km, 750km of which was on dirt - low medium high speed forestry trails, farm roads, gravel, red clay, bit of mud, and a small amount of single track through a gum forrest. All I can say is, HOW F*&KING GOOD IS MY BIKE ! The same stuff I was using as practice for the GS Safari last year, on my 09, was now much, much better. It ate the corrugation, the potholes, the tree roots. The lighter front end made it easy to loft the wheel over obstacles. Never bottomed once. Not once. Last year I had to limit speed, this year the bike laughed at me...I didnt challenge it at all. Big thanks to Lukas, and Paul (HDB).
No. I have a Britaania Composites Mirage 2 http://www.britanniacomposites.com/index.php/products/mirage214
KTM unfortunately does not make a middle-weight twin that gets respectable gas mileage. If only the 800gs had high quality suspension, a lower center of gravity and weighed 100 pounds less ... Anyway for the original poster nice job with the new front end, looks sweet.
How does the front brake work compared to stock? Weaker stronger? What rear shock did you replace stock with ? I'm guessing you tried dual disk ktm front set up to no avail?
One question - if you were going to replace both the forks and the brake rotor, could you not have started with a 700 and saved some dough? Not trying to troll, just curious. The engine performance of both are roughly on par, as long as you stay under 80mph.
What size water bars can you actually now jump - 1 foot, 2 foot with gear and the new suspension? Reason I ask is that coming down from bluff hut last weekend and riding along 16mile track to bindaree hut is a flat stretch of track that you can ride 2-3rd gear and slightly launch off the water bars. I wonder if your gs is now capable of that given the suspension mods? If you can jump the gs then your mod sounds fantastic - instead of just rolling over the water bars.
I can comfortably get air off the erosion mounds. Before I modded the rear, I was up around Walhalla with a couple of inmates. Hitting erosion mounds at about 50-60km/h. Front did not bottom once....back did a few times.
Hamish, does the 19" front wheel work with ABS ? Is there a thread for info on the 19" front ? Also are you keeping the stock battery or getting a lithium battery ?
I have a 21 for dirt and 19 for road. Smarter men than I worked out that the abs ring from a f650. 19 in wheel means the abs works fine. I bought a lithium battery...am returning it. I bought one based on a recommendation and it is not fit for purpose. Don't know why but when temp falls below about 15 degrees it will not start the bike.
...maybe. Never thought about it. This is my second 800gs and I learnt most of my lessoins the first time. Only thing I did this time that I regret is buying electronic adjustable suspension. Shouldn't have.
Shortfall of current lithium technology. You can turn on the high beam for 30 seconds to get the battery warmed up and it should turn over then. It just can't source the same CCA as a lead acid.