Loaning my bike to Zen Overland
 

I was in the area so I popped into Zen Overland in Wells yesterday.

The guy who runs it, Gabriel, is a very cool guy who'd like to start machining and fabricating bits for the Tenere, but needs to get his hands on one for measurements.

I'm going to be leaving my bike at home for a month while travelling and I had the thought to loan him my bike.

Does anyone see this as a bad idea?
He has already designed and built a rear luggage rack, which costs �57. A darn sight cheaper than Touratech's or anyone elses.


We discussed things like:

Soft Pannier rails
Headlamp brackets
Rad covers
Chain guides
Bash plate


I'd also like him to look at proper PU cush drive rubbers!


Can anyone think of other things that the Tenere needs?
And whether you guys would actually buy things that you need/want for the bike rather than fabricating them yourselves (I realise the tenere is a tinkerer's paradise)

Any input here would be really appreciated before I hand him the keys next week.

Cheers,

Steve.

Rear chain guide that doesn't require drilling into swing arm. I'm sure it could be easily done and you would sell a few.some sort of clamp that fits around the swing arm and then attach and a brand guide to that.

The problem with the TouraTech luggage racks are that the actually look pretty good as well as being functional and not too heavy, but something very similar for less cash would of course be nice. I've not seen others that look as good. The SW Motech ones look clunky by comparison.

What about some kind of extension to the standard Yamaha pannier rails so that you have the option to use soft luggage, but also the OE rails and panniers? (I have a vested interest as I have the OE panniers and will be happy to use them on road, but will use soft panniers for off-road trips.)

Finally (and this might be a bit ambitious) What about a fork upgrade kit so that people can buy a used set of forks (whatever is the most popular/easiest to use as a doner) and then a kit including the required steerer tube, steering lock-stops, brake hanger etc that might be needed? -

Just throwing these out there as a few ideas.

Log the forks idea

Yeah Gab is a pretty cool guy.
Any news on spangly new bits?

I think you hit the nail on the head a set of pannier frames/rear crash protection that isnt pannier specific that would allow you to strap/hold soft panniers from flapping into the rear wheel

I couldnt find anything off the shelf that wasnt �150 + so i ended up making my own. Yes they are a bit heavier and not the same quality but they cost me about �20 including a big thanks to help from my dad.

Apart from that most of the other mods ive done are all stuff already been looked at by other manufacturers

Given the WeaveMcQuilt's bike was on loan to Zen in July my suggestion may be a little late.

What I'm after is tool storage - Zen sell the very useful looking tool tubes:

http://www.zenoverland.com/user/prod...-STD-001_1.jpg

http://www.zenoverland.com/tools/too...-standard.html

Large, Medium or Small

I think the medium is probably the best bet.

However, the problem is how to mount one?

What would be useful is some brackets that allow you to attach the tube to the front engine mounts (in front of the reg/rec, above the bashplate, but also allowing for the bashplate mounts?) but without affecting the wheel.

Or, somehow on the inner side of the pannier frame, so it doesn't interfere with the pannier operation.

Anywhere else one could be fitted?

Or even better! Something like this great looking toolbox to fit Touratech pannier racks - and not interfere with ARDcase panniers!
http://www.advdesigns.com/lockingtoolbox.html

Made up brackets to fit them under the exhaust:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...925_121428.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...925_121451.jpg

Used a gate hinge for security with a couple of little padlocks.

If anyone wants them, �30 for the pair plus postage.
They're filthy and I'm not going to clean them either, I'll just chuck them in a box and send them :-)

Yes. I'll have them!

I can pick them up with the exhaust we discussed.