[quote=Tim Cullis;146926] The AdventureSpec bash/bar combo (4th of Nick's pics) would have prevented this.

+1

They are a quality bit of kit.

hi minkyhead, its the luck of the draw with the waterpump. my sumpgaurd is sufficiently wide enough to fend of all i have thrown at it. it's up to you, bars gaurd or combo.

i would suggest a chain guide to stop derailments. again it might be a case of refitting the chain or it could be as some have found out a bit more serious. zou and molgen required swing arms[ if you need, give me a shout i have a solution]http://www.xt660.com/showthread.php?t=14756&page=2&highlight=paddy near the bottom

as i do push on a bit and dont be shy on drop offs. i found the peg mounts to be a bit weak, they are easily welded though [off the bike] tt make a stronger version. for normal use the standard ones are fine but worth keeping an eye on

i may be wrong but i think darren may be mistaken about the ratios. iirc. all bar him were on 15 tooth fronts and he on the 14. allowing us the long legs for the open trails.

to date mine is still on the 15/46 even with the 18'' wheel and full of the swing arm michelin desert tyre, thought my technical trail technique is about clutch / speed. the engine has loads of low speed torque, for me it's fine.everyone have thier own preferences!

heavier fork oil, i know i used a different setup on the heroes but i feel the forks are fine for regular trails, sure better springs like the hyperpros help. mine bar the atf oil and the preload wound up suit me fine, how extreme are you planning?

your rear pad wear seems excessive [[im only starting my second set with 25,400mls]still on original fronts 18,000 fork brake change]. is all free and working correctly? or is the pedal high and inadvertly being dragged? the second set were kyoto cheapos from webmoto and are bedded in on the heroes 5,300mls and are hardly worn

for me; for another race the fork wheel set-up is going back and stronger peg mounts
for an adventure no changes required! just right

Totaly agree, it all horses and stuff.


No, confusion is the key to my earlier comment, you are correct.

thank you for the replies

i think ill cut some chequer plate and just beef thing up around the pump knowing my luck ill run over the very same rock as tim did
ill work somthing off the engine bars

im pretty smitten with the 14/46 at the moment ..i deffo wont need a 15
off road 40 50 mph is as fast ill be going .. i had a bad off two years ago and until recently havnt been able to ride off road ..i was /did jack it in sold me offroader ..
ive changed me mindset a little and just want to enjoy the journey and keep as best i can within a safe /safer limit

it seems better for picking my way through stuff and i can use 2nd a lot more without
the the bike shaking itself to peices
it will tug along on tickover in 2nd now over slippy undulations ..which allows me to sit my untalented ass on the seat and pick a line .. with the soft pulses in 2nd is better than the revs in 1st . im quite pleased with how tracktable it is with this gearing

i just find it so much more pleasent all round .. b road blasting /town work and very slippy slow stuff
except of course on the longer tarmack haul ..but a sat nav 73mph is around 5k revs
the speedo higer up is around 9mph out
i may set off with the 15 and put the 14 on after spain ..

brake pads are somwhat of a mystery . i ride the engine mostly
.. ill get two sets..i think what ever is in it is just soft ..

chain guide i think is a good idea there is a fair bit of slack reqired
cos if the suspension movment
could you tell me which bike did you pinch it off?

thanks steve

chain guides http://shop.jimaimracing.co.uk/acata...in_Guides.html

The smashed water pump on the pic you posted was mine and I have a friend who wrecked his pump twice.
So i guess it's a matter of luck .
I would suggest finding some way to protect it, especially if you're headed into rocky trails.

Drop the bike on the wrong spot, and it's bye-bye water pump.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_h_hIYKggHWM/Su...j6kcsTA/20.jpg
That's with the OE guard.

Smashing the pump in the middle of the desert is not a pleasent experience.

this is all good stuff thanks
the shotcomings of the o/e bars .. and sump guard it coudnt be that hard to make the guard fit round the pump in the first place ...grr
so brittle as well me old drz pumpwas in exacly the same place

im going to plate up around it both sides for peace of mind

it looks to me the crash bar set up protects the pump less than the o/e bars ..mmmmm
of course it protects the radiator better ..



thanks for that .. a very motivational photo :bricks:

cave man plan ..ill stick a pic up when ive done it a peice of cardboard as a template .. no fancy seams
just a peice of ally chequerplate some rubber backing a vice and a ferkin big hammer :036:

http://shop.jimaimracing.co.uk/acata...in_Guides.html

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/2285/plateedited1.jpg
By minkyhead at 2011-01-22

just had a thought about plan b

fowlers of bristol supply spare housings 36.95 ..plus postage

im thinking this may not be a bad investment ..

Because of all troubles with protection, I decided to make one bash plate on my own.
I am building one, that will cover all...
-will protect water pump
-will protect engine block
-no heavy tubing
-lightweight aluminium 3 mm plate
-cheaper than anything

Right now its out of the autocad and proceeding on plasma cut...
It will soon be made.
Will post some pics.
If interest will be good, I can make them some more for any of you guys.

hi minkyhead, the website does no single out the guide rubber i used, though they show it complete with ali surround [to the left and low down]. they were used throughout the range, as a target '03 450exc is the one i use, usually less than a tenner for the genuine units, its not the first bike i have converted my gasser 300 has been on one for years.

the only additional advice is you may want to consider using rivet link as the guide will rub the protruding link ends off letting the clip drop off!.

i have a couple of brackets ready to go if your interested, checkout http://www.xt660.com/showthread.php?...wingarm&page=2

Did 3 weeks in Morocco last year on my Tenere, Had the ADV-Spec combo guard , recommended , i took some spare levers , didn't use , but had a couple of major offs and bent and deformed brake pedal , its seems to bend well :) , had to goto a guy in Merzouga to bend it back by bashing it very hard on an anvil :)
So i may take a spare next time.
Other than that , spare tube/tubes and a means to inflate, remember prior to going protect you rectifier. spare chain rivet and link and tool
Lessons learnt , go light as possible , i took two rollbags for everything inc tent and sleeping bag , cooking kit etc , no panniers.