xCountry rear subframe removal.

[mikecbrxx]

I'm hoping to mount the Acerbis low down just in front of my right foot on a bracket which I need to make.

I would have said that this was an extremely bad idea.....like mounting it on the front of the bash plate you also mention. This makes your fuel tanks very vulnerable AND in front of you. This is not where you want them to be in case of a rupture during an 'off' or when riding over rocks. If you intend to use the bike offroad that is.

On my Kazak trip last year I actually hit a rock so hard that it cracked my Scheffelmeier bash plate and bent Erik's right hand footpeg hardpart almost double. I think this would have ruptured any plastic tank in either of the 2 positions you have mentioned.

If you are going to use Acerbis tanks, put them behind you and inside your luggage rack to get some protection. My xtank is covered by my rack and then by Magadan bags. Almost no chance of a rupture.

 

[Drumacoon Lad.]

Yes Guys, Thanks for the comments and I'm beginning to realise the siting of the tanks it going to take some further working out. Of course the Xtank would be the preferred option but I don't have the £500 to spend on one so looking at a cheaper option. I've been considering siting the Acerbis on the front of the bash plate because that solution was used by jtw000 on his XCo to ride from UK to Pakistan without problems. I could site one Acerbis behind my Dirtbagz frames in a similar position to Antti, but that only gives me 5L extra and I'm looking for more. I wonder if there is a larger tank like the Acerbis that I could mount behind the pannier frames... If I go with the 2nd Acerbis may have to site it on the side of the engine but in a frame to give some protection.

I have also been talking to some guys who race karts and they need extra tanks for some of the endurance races. They have doubled up on Acerbis tanks but found that a bottom feed from one of then works well. As I understand it, in this setup they would mount one tank just higher than the other, have a tube coming out of the higher one into the lower one the the higher tank drains into the lower tank. I need to talk this through with them once the bike is back together.

So at the moment I've had the welding done(photos to follow before I mount it for Antti). I've modified the plastics a little to accommodate the bracing which has been welded underneath the join in the frame. Next thing will be to mount the frame and hopefully remember where all the screws came from...but family stuff will mean that will have to wait a few days more.

I've also fitted Mikeboy's bash plate which is a solid piece of kit and looks like it will give good protection. However, mounting it made me realise it is only held in place by 4 medium size screw and I wonder how they will withstand a heavy bash on the plate. If I don't end up mounting an Acerbis on the front of the plate then I'll mount a toolbox there, similar to the ones used inside the pannier frames on R1200GSAs. If I do this I will look to support the bash plate with the cross member of the frame, just above the top of the bash plate.

Lastly, I've been talking to Yacougar about suspension but until the factory is back from holidays we can't make progress.

Once, again thanks for the comments.

 

[IJGser]

My bike was the prototype for that bash plate! If your worried about the bolts get the holes heli coiled to take larger bolts. I have done this with a few bolts whist modifying my Xchall (think thats what its called)

Reading this has reminded me how lucky I was to pick up a TT tank for £300

 

[Losttheplot]

Pinkytiff and myself have just finished a ride across the US on challenges. Both bikes suffered from loose bolts around the subframe, but on the whole were pretty good

If using an xtank arrangement, make sure the bike isn't to soft on the rear shock. We had an incident where the chain and sprocket travelled far enough up to contact the tank, knocking a hole in it. Thankfully it was easily remedied with araldite.

Also, consider maybe using a few 1l fuel bottles instead if you really need extra over what an xtank will offer. It will give you a much more flexible solution, especially if using a petrol stove.

Hth

Nathan

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

If using an xtank arrangement, make sure the bike isn't to soft on the rear shock. We had an incident where the chain and sprocket travelled far enough up to contact the tank, knocking a hole in it. Thankfully it was easily remedied with araldite.

Also, consider maybe using a few 1l fuel bottles instead if you really need extra over what an xtank will offer. It will give you a much more flexible solution, especially if using a petrol stove.

Hth

Nathan

That's great advice Nathan

I have seen a chain guide & x tank interface, purely on the road on a XCountry

I would definitely consider the 2x 1.5l Trangia bottle option for extra fuel which can simply be added to hard or soft luggage

 

[mikecbrxx]

If using an xtank arrangement, make sure the bike isn't to soft on the rear shock. We had an incident where the chain and sprocket travelled far enough up to contact the tank, knocking a hole in it. Thankfully it was easily remedied with araldite.

This happened to me too, though nothing to do with a soft spring. The problem was that the inset in the original X-tank was not quite high enough so that, in extreme conditions, it was just possible for the running gear to hit the tank. This has been rectified now by the manufacturer at a cost of about .5 litres of fuel, on the larger X-tank.

It should be possible to remove the rear shock completely and not have the tank connect with the rear sprocket.......tho that will probably apply only to the standard 47 tooth one.

You need to be careful about making the rear suspension too strong or you could end up transferring too much stress to the swingarm, which has been known to break.

 

[mikecbrxx]

I have seen a chain guide & x tank interface, purely on the road on a XCountry

Johnny, are you referring to the plastic chain guide mounted above the chain? If so, this should always be removed when mounting the X-tank.

BTW, another option for extra fuel is a fuel bladder. These can be rolled up and stored away when not in use. I have one, even with the X-tank, and it was the only reason I was able to make some of the routes I did last year. If anyone is interested...see below. Its not perfect but it was convenient as there were only 3 routes that required the extra fuel. The rest of the time I had ample on-board.

When not in use, I stored it above the X-tank as you can just make out in this image.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Johnny, are you referring to the plastic chain guide mounted above the chain? If so, this should always be removed when mounting the X-tank.

I was, but my friend wasn't told that

I can understand the need for XTank fuel on RTW, but if you're just doing Europe, then a couple of fuel bottles should do the trick for the more isolated areas

 

[mikecbrxx]

I can understand the need for XTank fuel on RTW, but if you're jsut doing Europe, then a couple of fuel bottles should do the trick for the more isolated areas

Very true

 

[GFJ]

Fuel Bottles

I've been pondering this one for a while, and also not had the money for a TT tank.

I only need Europe based travel at the moment, and have decided on fitting a couple of these to the bike somewhere, which coupled with fuel bottles that I already have, will give me an extra 2 litres of reserve, which, whilst not a lot, will help.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190881096769?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649Fu

My mate had fitted one of these to his givi rack that he'd adapted for his xcountry. I'll be fitting mine to the xchallenge, though as I'm trying to avoid a rack, I'm not sure where they'll go. Possibly upper fork legs???

If anyone can fine them cheaper, can you post up? You can buy them in bulk from China (but we are talking minimum order >1000's), and the states they are $5-6, but postage kills it.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I've been pondering this one for a while, and also not had the money for a TT tank.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190881096769?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649Fu

Go to your local John Deere tractor dealer, they are instruction manual holders for John Deere Tractors

They may be cheap there, as a part or they may have some kicking around the workshop, in exchange for a box of biscuits for the workshop fitters' morning tea breaks

 

[mikecbrxx]

Go to your local John Deere tractor dealer, they are instruction manual holders for John Deere Tractors

They may be cheap there, as a part or they may have some kicking around the workshop, in exchange for a box of biscuits for the workshop fitters' morning tea breaks

Or even here if you want it simple and mailed to you from inside the UK. Not so cheap though.

Another way is to go to your DIY store and buy some plastic tube from plumbing section and a couple of end caps. Then fabricate your own mounting system...which you will be doing anyway. Depending on what you buy, it can give much more storage. I tried both options before giving up on this sort of storage system altogether.

 

[GFJ]

Go to your local John Deere tractor dealer, they are instruction manual holders for John Deere Tractors

They may be cheap there, as a part or they may have some kicking around the workshop, in exchange for a box of biscuits for the workshop fitters' morning tea breaks

Cheers JB. Will chase up when I get back.

 

[Drumacoon Lad.]

Ally Frame Weld

OK, it has taken a while but I've now had the frame welded and reinstalled on the bike. As Antti had asked, I took a couple of photos. I followed the design of the repair from a few posts on here and ADVrider and this was copied by my welder.

It was necessary to cut into the plastics a bit to accommodate the new support but not a big issue.

The last 2 photos show the bike after the work. With the frame welded I've put a topbox on, but will not overload it. Still need to find a home for the Acerbis tank which is in the RH Dirtbagz pannier, so I'll be visiting my welder/fabricator this week to discuss options. Also need to chase up Yacugar for my suspension upgrade. I've got a metal toolbox in the garage which I'll probably mount on the front of Mikeboy's great bash plate.

It's coming together......but would get me to South Africa?