X-Country modifications / accessorising.

[King Rat]

Just in case it get slost or fragmented, I thought I would start a new topic for me to keep asking ridiculously stupid questions on...then you can keep your rip snorting all in one place.

So guys, the headlamp mods?
Phillips standard bulb uprated wattage? Or ADVmonster H4 replacement?

Extra fuel tank - the Long Haul portable / attachable fuel tank is $55 delivered for a 5-litre one.......£50 for 5 litres, as opposed to £275 for an X-tank. Hmmm decisions.....

I reckon I have found some half decent panniers that will work with the Hepco pannier rails and rack - several options:
Demon Tweeks have some.
Bike Tek
Ryde

I have a 60litre SW Motech roll bag for across the seat already. otherwise the 80-litre Moto Detail kit looks ideal size and style.

Bash plate - BMW Challenge one the best affordable option to replace the plastic original? Hot weld might be lovely stuff, but I am skint having just bought the bike!

In order of importance, which mods are most urgent please? Of course, number one is Mickey's shock replacement.

 

[Xchallenge]

It depends how your wanting to use the bike for what order you do the mods, you going to use it off road?

I can highly recommend the scheffeller bash guard from Germany, not to expensive and it is pure quality!

For the headlight a cheap upgrade is a good h4 led bulb, I have one which is 36w, straight plug and play. If you want further light then led spots are a good option

 

[King Rat]

It depends how your wanting to use the bike for what order you do the mods, you going to use it off road?

I can highly recommend the scheffeller bash guard from Germany, not to expensive and it is pure quality!

For the headlight a cheap upgrade is a good h4 led bulb, I have one which is 36w, straight plug and play. If you want further light then led spots are a good option

Excellent feedback thank you - 'off road' requirements at the moment will only be farm track type stuff - I have a ford near me I want to try...it is about 1ft deep and 20 yards across, but is a grass bank with tyre tracks each side. So far this has not been attempted, because i am too cowardly.

Bash plate - great nod, thank you. Erik at hotweld (I actually know him from years ago, when he was a member of the NCC - National Chopper Club) suggested Bashplate.de if anyone else is wondering. I am off to find this here 'Scheffeller' item.

Headlamp - have you a part number or suggested source please?

 

[Micky]

Don't be in a rush to spend money on it Simon ... ride it, get some miles on it. Make sure it's a keeper, and you'll soon know where to spend your money. I try not to ride at night, so upgrading headlights never a priority.

I've always believed in good suspension, good suspension can be worth 20hp

I've got an X-Tank for mine, but never really found the standard tank lacking ... I want a pee and a coffee every 100 miles these days anyway

Ride and enjoy

 

[solidstate100]

In order of importance, which mods are most urgent please?

None of the mods are "Urgent" - the bike is actually quite together in stock form. initially, I would spend your money on fuel, get used to it, see how you use it, and focus any spends there.

Unless you are into serious off road/moto cross, the standard bashplate is fine. really.
Unless you are screamimg down country lanes or unlit autobahns at night the standard headlight is fine. Honest.
if you are traveling in modern europe or north ameriaca or a huge amount of other delevopled countries the standard tank is fine. There are garages. You are not going to run out of petrol. Buy a jerry can for a fiver, strap it to the back if you are really worried.

Relax.

 

[Micky]

None of the mods are "Urgent" - the bike is actually quite together in stock form. initially, I would spend your money on fuel, get used to it, see how you use it, and focus any spends there.

Unless you are into serious off road/moto cross, the standard bashplate is fine. really.
Unless you are screamimg down country lanes or unlit autobahns at night the standard headlight is fine. Honest.
if you are traveling in modern europe or north ameriaca or a huge amount of other delevopled countries the standard tank is fine. There are garages. You are not going to run out of petrol. Buy a jerry can for a fiver, strap it to the back if you are really worried.

Relax.

Ha ha ... I couldn't agree more

The girlfriend Sue (Gracie on here) and myself rode through Mongolia and the Gobi Desert on the standard tanks of the F650GS's and only once had the petrol warning light on, but we never ran out of fuel, and never had to top up with the extra fuel we carried

 

[King Rat]

Thanks guys - I do appreciate this help.

Headlamp is something I do like - we live in an unlit area with very dark, muddy country lanes. I suppose a glow worm in a jar headlight does slow me down! The 1150 Adv headlight as standard could only be described as POOR, especially on dip. I haven't had a chance to see this one in the dark yet - but brighter for me is always better, unless it really is pretty good already.

Mikey, your sidelight mod or daylight driving light would be good to know what to get for that. I won't have any spares for these consumables and need to get the bike sorted. I always carry spare lights and a few other 'get me home' bits (on the Adv I carry a StopNgo tyre plugging kit and compressor ALWAYS - I never go with out it. I also tend ot have high vis vest and First Aid kit in the top box, gaffer tape, electric tape, a red Teklite wand (emergency red light). On longer trips with the 650 I shall have tyre levers and spare tube in the emergency kit...it has been a long time since I changed a tyre, (20 years!) so I will need practise!

As you all say, getting to know th ebike will be important, but I have a list of work jbs to get to, from the West country to Scotland - a day ride even at this time of year can easily be a 500 mile round trip, and given there are few hours in which to work (good daylight) that means I will be doing long miles in the dark. I have handlebar muffs already - I might get some more for this one so I can jump on either...but I think I shall mostly use the little bike in the winter. I do like the road presence the Adv provides though - other drivers do tend to take notice of the big brute coming down the road at them! The economy of running the little bike is a big attraction though. I bet tyres last ages.

I need to stock up on filters and oil too. As I don't have the hand book to hand, and I don't think there is a Haynes manual for the bike, what resources are there for working on the bike please? Even simple things like adjusting the chain - something I haven't had to do since I sold the Ducati SS900 (bevel drive, of course) in about 1990! Please don't remind of how much they are worth now!

Oil changes, filter replacement, spark plug replacement, chain and sprocket replacement ( in a year or so time probably - it has pretty new ones on)...what other routine maintenance is there? Water, I forgot it has water! What kind of antifreeze % would you recommend, for right through the winter?

i am taking up all your time - I think it is arriving tomorrow, or it mightbe next Tuesday... which Tuesday wasn't specified!

 

[Micky]

I can sense your bubbling excitement

I hope the Xcountry serves you well for the longer trips .... I would set off round the world on mine tomorrow, but I can't/won't leave my dawg

Chain adjustment couldn't be simpler, five minutes max. Good chain spray in preference to a Scotoiler for me every time!
Aerosol can of Motul or similar ... remove the nail or whatever, let all the air out and reinflate with the can (seals the puncture and blows the tyre up) Got me out of trouble on a couple of occasions, and helped no end of others. There are those on here that disapprove of such a repair but trust me, it works just fine and never let me down

The LED light I use is just that, a bright light, doesn't really help with visibility, but had it years. There are now LED lights that search way down the road ... the standard headlight is absolutely feckin' useless

I've toyed with the idea of finding a Cibiè concave headlight replacement as fitted to the Renault 4's of old ... but the Xcountry reflector has three mounting lugs on, not found anywhere else

 

[Xchallenge]

Excellent feedback thank you - 'off road' requirements at the moment will only be farm track type stuff - I have a ford near me I want to try...it is about 1ft deep and 20 yards across, but is a grass bank with tyre tracks each side. So far this has not been attempted, because i am too cowardly.

Bash plate - great nod, thank you. Erik at hotweld (I actually know him from years ago, when he was a member of the NCC - National Chopper Club) suggested Bashplate.de if anyone else is wondering. I am off to find this here 'Scheffeller' item.

Headlamp - have you a part number or suggested source please?

bashplate.de is the scheffeler metal I meant, they are top quality products with a great service. For me it was an essential part as I use the bike hard off road!

I cant find the exact led light I have on Ebay anymore, but there are plenty of other ones on there.

I also fitted two Rigid Industries dually spot lights which are uber bright! My current light set up draws no more power then the standard halogen H4 bulb did alone!

Good lighting is a requirement for me as riding at night is something I do often!

As Mickey said good suspension is worth a lot! I changed out the standard Marzocchi forks and put some WP48mm's on, along with a hyper pro rear shock, the bike handles like a dream in the dirt!

Like others have said get used to the bike first and I'm sure it will become apparent what you need to change or not

 

[Xchallenge]

And get some photos up!

 

[King Rat]

And get some photos up!

As you wish...one anyway! She has just been delivered, and I have dropped Roger back to the train station for him to begin his life on public transport.

I plucked up the courage to go across a field the other day, having gone to see the little bike. The area was fabulous, so before heading straight home I did a little exploring in the daylight that was left.

This is what I have been struggling with, good tyres though, karoo 3s.









The sharp eyed will spot the indicator wrapped with yellow electrical tape! yes, another dropped scar...only the straw inside the lens cover though that the screw goes through. I can't be bother to put a new one on, I'll stick this one on with some silicon.

As she arrived...only with the bits and pieces of extras that came strapped all over her taken off. Festooned she was...original rack and screen and mounting racks. Spare TKC80, Scottoiler oil...etc

 

[King Rat]

First couple of mods done.
LED headlamp bulb, not tried it at night yet, but it is like a HID in daylight so I am hopeful it will point in the right direction and reach further down the road.






Next up, I needed some panniers that would fit against the H&B pannier rails already fitted when she arrived. I was pointed at the 58 pattern bags from Silverman's Miltary. I haggled and got brand new ones, with waterproof liners (dry bags) for £40 the pair. I thought that was a bit of a result and they fit perfectly. There are loads of extra straps too, which can be used for securing extra kit if needed.





It was mighty cold first thing this morning - I used the panniers to cart my fishing kit for a couple of hours on the Derbyshire Derwent at Cromford. Icey roads the whole way, but the light nature of the bike meant I managed to control the slides I encountered and keep her upright. Just as well I was going slowly (I am not really a hero rider, just a very careful one).





The little bike is definitely a keeper.

 

[Micky]

Good one Simon

The bags look the biz