'01 DRZ 400 S 1 up

[motomac]

OK, here is my set up for the TAT this September. Those tires will not be on there when I start the TAT. Not sure what I'm going to put on, it won't be those GP1's.

[Ironheadziggy76]

Looks good Mac! P^ Still liking the MotoFizz bag?

[motomac]

The Moto-Fizz bag is a great item. Tent, sleeping bag, and tool roll are in there and still have bunches of room.

[Trailace]

Looks good man I can't wait. :D

[motomac]

Can we go tomorrow???!!!

[Mr. Guy]

Good looking setup Mac. You'll have fun for sure. A lot of guys around here like those GP-1s.

Guy

[motomac]

Thanks Guy, I haven't had them off road yet, but will do a lot of desert week after next. I will see how they do.

[Alan]

I'm sure someone has asked before, but how does that little 400 do on the highway to get to the desert? I know my son's KLR 650 will do expressway speeds if pushed, but the KLR is much happier on backroads doing 60.

[motomac]

I've had it up to 80 on the freeways here in SoCal, and it is just about at its limits, but does OK. I am looking for ways to avoid the freeways to keep the Rs down and the speed about 60.

[Sharpie]

Thanks Guy, I haven't had them off road yet, but will do a lot of desert week after next. I will see how they do.
Nice setup. I had the IRC GP1's on all last season on the KLR and loved them. The sidewalls seem light but held up well doing some heavy offroading.
This season I'm trying out the Kendas and so far on the road they are awesome. Haven't tried them offroad yet.
http://www.motocampers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=38&pictureid=543

Curious about your saddlebags, are they motofiz also? They look great. How do you like them?

[Ripshod]

The Moto-Fizz bag is a great item. Tent, sleeping bag, and tool roll are in there and still have bunches of room.

It looks like you haven't opened the expansions. Mac, I'd say you have room for firewood in there.

[motomac]

It looks like you haven't opened the expansions. Mac, I'd say you have room for firewood in there.
The expansions are open. That is the medium MotoFizz. And there is room for a little firewood, but once I set camp, there is a bunch of room for firewood.

[Mr. Guy]

Nice setup. I had the IRC GP1's on all last season on the KLR and loved them. The sidewalls seem light but held up well doing some heavy offroading.
This season I'm trying out the Kendas and so far on the road they are awesome. Haven't tried them offroad yet.
http://www.motocampers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=38&pictureid=543

Curious about your saddlebags, are they motofiz also? They look great. How do you like them?


Hi Sharpie,

I've run 3 sets of the Kenda K761 on my DR650 and have been very pleased with them. They're great on road and not to bad offroad as long as you stay away from mud. No good in the mud.

Guy

[motomac]

Those are similar to Metzlers Tourance which I was thoroughly comforatable with on my AK run last year on the KLR. I'm thinking I'll need a bit more knob on the stretch of TAT we will be doing in September. The Tourances were not all that great when the road turned soupy with rain. As far as Tourances on the road, they are great. I did Deals Gap with them last year and I had less than an 1/8 of chicken strip when I got finished. Touched a foot peg on the KLR once and I didn't have lowering links.

My saddle bags are Nelson-Rigg and the rack is from Turbo City Tom and I bought them through New Enough.

[Mr. Guy]

Dang Mac,

Touched a foot peg, I know on my DR that means the handle bars are about 9" off the pavement. That's leaned over LOW.

Guy

[motomac]

Dang Mac,

Touched a foot peg, I know on my DR that means the handle bars are about 9" off the pavement. That's leaned over LOW.

GuyI got to chasing one of those young whipper snappers on one of those SuperMotos!!!! When he started sliding the back end out, I quit.

[Mr. Guy]

Good plan, My friend Jake until recently rode a GSX1000R, now on an ST1300. As soon as he saw a twist in the road, the next time I saw him was at the next stop sign, and he always had his helmet off and a cigarette lit before I got there. :rolleyes:

I never tried to keep up with him, not good for my health.

Guy

[Sharpie]

Hi Sharpie,

I've run 3 sets of the Kenda K761 on my DR650 and have been very pleased with them. They're great on road and not to bad offroad as long as you stay away from mud. No good in the mud.

GuyThanks for the feedback. If the weather ever clears here I might be able to try them on the FS roads.

[Sharpie]

Those are similar to Metzlers Tourance which I was thoroughly comforatable with on my AK run last year on the KLR. I'm thinking I'll need a bit more knob on the stretch of TAT we will be doing in September. The Tourances were not all that great when the road turned soupy with rain. As far as Tourances on the road, they are great. I did Deals Gap with them last year and I had less than an 1/8 of chicken strip when I got finished. Touched a foot peg on the KLR once and I didn't have lowering links.

My saddle bags are Nelson-Rigg and the rack is from Turbo City Tom and I bought them through New Enough.

I was looking at the Tourances also. They are a little pricey.
I got both front and reaer K761;s for $99

Do you like the Nelson Rigg bags?
I'm looking for softbags vs hard as most are cheaper and I would like something that I could take on/off rather easily. Thanks.

[motomac]

I was looking at the Tourances also. They are a little pricey.
I got both front and reaer K761;s for $99

Do you like the Nelson Rigg bags?
I'm looking for softbags vs hard as most are cheaper and I would like something that I could take on/off rather easily. Thanks.I had Happy Trails hard bags on the KLR, but got the soft bags for the TAT because the hard bags were too big and when you dab, they catch your foot and it hurts when your ankle gets bent backwards. I figured I'll probably be dabbing a lot on the TAT, so soft bags wouldn't bend my ankles as far!!! I like them and they hold almost as much as the Happy Trails. They have rain covers, so if we get wet, my stuff should stay dry. I think they were $99 at New Enough.

[bigTom]

Hey Mac

How did the Tourance mount? I helped Bob put a Metzler on his ST last Saturday, it was like trying to stretch a frogs A$$ over a 55 gallon drum. Hard work, even with a changer. It was the new, higher weight rated tire, and the sidewall was really stiff. Worse than any 880 I ever put on my Yammie...

[motomac]

The hardest part of mounting the Tourance was getting the tube air nozzle through the hole in the wheel. They are indeed difficult to mount even with the tire changer, but I spooned them on. The front one went on with no problems.

[Flingshot]

OK, here is my set up for the TAT this September. Those tires will not be on there when I start the TAT. Not sure what I'm going to put on, it won't be those GP1's.


Nice Mac! I've been so busy lately I havent logged on for about 3 weeks!
The bike looks great! I cant wait to see it in person.
I just got my seat back from a place called "Bitchin Stitchin" here in Denver. They added a Gel pad and made me a nice removable sheep skin cover as well.
Ill post some pics soon.

[motomac]

I just tested out the DR in the desert for two days of sand and didn't spend much time in the saddle. Was up on the pegs for long periods at a time. That may change when I get knobbier tires on, but GP 1's are not sand friendly.

[Trailace]

I just tested out the DR in the desert for two days of sand and didn't spend much time in the saddle. Was up on the pegs for long periods at a time. That may change when I get knobbier tires on, but GP 1's are not sand friendly.
What psi were you running in the tires?

[motomac]

What psi were you running in the tires?
10 in the rear and 8 in the front.

[Trailace]

10 in the rear and 8 in the front.
Man that is low do you have rim locks?

[motomac]

No, but I intend to put them on next tire change.

[Trailace]

No, but I intend to put them on next tire change.
I have one on the rear but not on the front. When you add them to the front it hard to balance the tire. :eek:

[motomac]

I have one on the rear but not on the front. When you add them to the front it hard to balance the tire. :eek:
You balance your tires??? :eek::eek::D

[Trailace]

You balance your tires??? :eek::eek::D
No but if you put a rim lock on the front you need to do something. Some guys use 2 rim locks but that makes it hard to replace/fix tires.

[motomac]

Is it September yet???:rolleyes:

[Trailace]

Is it September yet???:rolleyes:
I wish!

[Mr. Guy]

Is it September yet???:rolleyes:


I remember thinking the same thing last year. It'll get here sooner than you think.

Guy

[Lowrider]

Hi Moto,

The bags look really nice on the DRZ. I'm putting together a 2005 E for the road and I'm thinking about ammo cans just to provide a bit of security if I want to lock things up at night or other places. You make a very good point about the fact that hard bags don't give at all so I'm thinking about moving the cans back and up a few inches to give a little more "leg room". Glad you mentioned that fact. I had concerns about getting my leg caught between the ground and one of the cans so it is good to hear you confirm my fears.

I'm planning the TAT next year...This year is New Foundland, Labrador and NS in Aug on the ST. If the TAT goes well, I may try AK and back in 2011.

Good luck on your run!!

Joe

[motomac]

Joe, I had hard bags on the KLR and never locked them my whole AK run. Never had a problem with theft or curiosity lookers.

[Lowrider]

In most places I would agree. I've driven the AlCan twice in a truck and had things stolen on both trips. The retards stole my charcoal grill on one trip...how low can you get!!!

A couple years ago a friend and some of his fellow rider stopped in a BBQ joint in NC for lunch and while they were inside someone took a piss in his helmet. Never happened to me, but I always leave room in the Givi for mine now.

The other reason I was considering soft bags is they are flexible and will take odd shaped things more easily, but on the other hand they don't provide as much protection as hard bags in case of a fall either.

I bought one of those cheap Bestop top boxes and am amazed at the quality for the price. I saw a picture of a dual sport with three of them mounted, one on top and one on each side mounted sideways so they opened up like the bags on the ST. It looked like a neat idea except that they stick out a long ways on the sides.

Since I have an E model, I must build a new sub-frame to support whatever I put on the back and this gives me a lot of flexibility on how and what I attach. Your set up is at least making me rethink the soft bags. I have a couple dry bags that I use for canoe trips so I could just use racks to hold them on each side.

I redesigned my seat to give a wider seat area in the back and was planning to put a bag in the rear part of the seat to use as a lower back rest for highway riding so I plan on putting a flat spot and some tie downs for that purpose too. Building the bike is half the fun!!

[motomac]

I got a rack made by Turbo City Tom from New Enough that holds the bags. Very well made rack and mounts to the frame of the bike. Solid. Check it out on the www.newenough.com site. Click on hard parts and search TCI racks.