Bensien
Race Dog
For a few days it has been my privilege to host to an extraordinary gentleman from Switserland, who is on the second last leg of a solo round the world bike trip, starting in Cape Town and going via the middle East back to Switzerland.
For this leg he started with an almost new DR650, researched all the known issues and their cures and then did a complete strip down and rebuild, replacing the suspect gearbox internals with aftermarket parts, buy leaving the engine standard, except for a bigger diameter after market pipe with a GSX-R titanium can.
The rest of the bike has had the following modifications:
If I were to build a bike to travel solo round the world, I could not think of anything that I would want to add or take away from this bike, except to use standard lights and nor LED's. We had a very hard time finding replacement bulbs.
I took a few hasty snaps before he left. It's a pity I didn't do it earlier before the bike was loaded. It looks a bit overloaded, but that's because the tyres on the bike won't make it to the next place that carries stock. I know what it is like to be stuck in remote town for days on end waiting for replacements to be couriered.
For this leg he started with an almost new DR650, researched all the known issues and their cures and then did a complete strip down and rebuild, replacing the suspect gearbox internals with aftermarket parts, buy leaving the engine standard, except for a bigger diameter after market pipe with a GSX-R titanium can.
The rest of the bike has had the following modifications:
- 30 Litre Safari tank
A rally styled tower with LED headlamp , Trailtech Vapor , additional engine monitoring gauges, a GPS bracket, power outlets and a mount for a Spot tracker
A custom fairing to fit the tower and the contours of the tank
Bar risers with fat Magura bars, decent hand protection and a steering damper
Excel rims (18 inch on the rear)
Ohlins suspension
LED lights and indicators
An engine protection system consisting of a bash plate, two steel toolboxes instead of bars and a container holding enough oil for one change.
A custom built luggage carrier that is supported by the main frame to take load of the sub frame, and also incorporates a 10 litre water tank on the left in the space that is taken up by the exhaust on the right.
After market front and read mudguards
A Scott Oiler
Pivot Pegz on redesigned brackets that move them lower and back
Metal chain guard, sprocket cover, better quality chain slider, engine case savers and a lot of carefully thought out small alterations and modifications designed to improve reliability and ease of maintenance.
If I were to build a bike to travel solo round the world, I could not think of anything that I would want to add or take away from this bike, except to use standard lights and nor LED's. We had a very hard time finding replacement bulbs.
I took a few hasty snaps before he left. It's a pity I didn't do it earlier before the bike was loaded. It looks a bit overloaded, but that's because the tyres on the bike won't make it to the next place that carries stock. I know what it is like to be stuck in remote town for days on end waiting for replacements to be couriered.
