Mr. Guy
11-27-2008, 10:44 AM
Hi All,
I've noticed there seems to be a lot of you that are thinking about dual-sport bikes. So I thought I would list some of the things that have worked for me and maybe Trailace, Chief and the other dual-sport riders can add to it.
My first bit of advice is after you buy your bike is just ride it for a couple of months. Do this to see how your really going to use it. When I bought mine I thought I would just ride around near home, but then discovered I like riding quite a long ways on it. So I ended up useing it for something different than what I thought I would. Ride it around a little and get a feel for it before you start a farkle list.
My second bit of advice is take everything I say here with a grain of salt. Your results will vary. What works for me may not work for you and vice verse.
The farkle list, things I am using.
1: Corbin seat, best money I've spent.
2: IMS 4.9 gal gas tank, extra range is nice.
3: Cee Baileys windscreen, I cut mine down a little smaller
4: factory Suzuki luggage rack, something to tie the camping gear to.
5: Tag Metals alum. fat bar, after filling with BBs and with stock barend weights really cuts down on the vibrations.
6: Dual-Star bash plate, peace of mind engine protection.
The DE-farkle list, thing I have used but ended up taking off.
1: FMF Q2 exhaust, I took this off when I finally got tired of listening to my own bike.
2: Dual-Star center stand, this thing is heavy and the chain kept hitting it making noise.
3: Auxiliary lights, I almost never ride at night and one of the brackets broke so I took the other one off.
4: Chain and sprockets, I tried a few different sizes but went back to stock.
5: Bark Buster bars, I just didn't like my hands being cramped behind them.
Which brings us to tires. Unless your a dedicated trail rider I don't think you need full knobbies. If you end up riding like me, mostly highway hauling a little camping gear to a national forest and riding a little gravel, you would be better off with an adventure touring type of tire. Something like Pirelli Scorpion A/Ts or the like. Great on the highway with good grip on gravel and dirt, but not a mud or sand tire.
Well that's my opinion. Take it for what it cost you. Hope it helps someone.
Guy
I've noticed there seems to be a lot of you that are thinking about dual-sport bikes. So I thought I would list some of the things that have worked for me and maybe Trailace, Chief and the other dual-sport riders can add to it.
My first bit of advice is after you buy your bike is just ride it for a couple of months. Do this to see how your really going to use it. When I bought mine I thought I would just ride around near home, but then discovered I like riding quite a long ways on it. So I ended up useing it for something different than what I thought I would. Ride it around a little and get a feel for it before you start a farkle list.
My second bit of advice is take everything I say here with a grain of salt. Your results will vary. What works for me may not work for you and vice verse.
The farkle list, things I am using.
1: Corbin seat, best money I've spent.
2: IMS 4.9 gal gas tank, extra range is nice.
3: Cee Baileys windscreen, I cut mine down a little smaller
4: factory Suzuki luggage rack, something to tie the camping gear to.
5: Tag Metals alum. fat bar, after filling with BBs and with stock barend weights really cuts down on the vibrations.
6: Dual-Star bash plate, peace of mind engine protection.
The DE-farkle list, thing I have used but ended up taking off.
1: FMF Q2 exhaust, I took this off when I finally got tired of listening to my own bike.
2: Dual-Star center stand, this thing is heavy and the chain kept hitting it making noise.
3: Auxiliary lights, I almost never ride at night and one of the brackets broke so I took the other one off.
4: Chain and sprockets, I tried a few different sizes but went back to stock.
5: Bark Buster bars, I just didn't like my hands being cramped behind them.
Which brings us to tires. Unless your a dedicated trail rider I don't think you need full knobbies. If you end up riding like me, mostly highway hauling a little camping gear to a national forest and riding a little gravel, you would be better off with an adventure touring type of tire. Something like Pirelli Scorpion A/Ts or the like. Great on the highway with good grip on gravel and dirt, but not a mud or sand tire.
Well that's my opinion. Take it for what it cost you. Hope it helps someone.
Guy