Haha I'm more concerned with how thick id have to make the bottom panel of the tank to make it less prone to puncture than I am with the weight. It is a neat idea though.Now you are just showing off! Only 28 pounds of fuel plus the weight of the tank, might be worth it, that would make it steady and stable back there. Certainly would give it a "golly, gee whiz" factor that nobody else would have. Of course then you'd need some plastic tubing and a little 12v pump... Esso, Gulf, Shell, BP, or Speedway stickers on the side?
Don't forget water! You will need it! We each carried a gallon of gas and a gallon of water on our bikes. Gallon of gas 6.2 pounds/gallon of water 8.3 pounds. We also had camel backs with water and would often add ice to counter the heat/humidity.
Hmm. While you might not need the extra fuel, what about water?
Can't help with the border crossing, but @Deviant1 is planning to do the trip on a Yamaha XS750 with knobby tires, so that excuse is null and void. lolI am lovibg this trip plan. Too bad boarders are closed and I got not dual sport or Id be tagging along
K. If the boarders open. Gl gets nobbies and I am in
Tomfoolery. Heck, my hair has already begun to turn grey and dredlock, a milk crate is organically growning in my driveway just in time to become one with my klr, rotella oil now comes out of my faucets at home and kitty littler buckets are turning into fairings in front of my eyes.
....
Yeah, the plan really isn't to pack more as much as it is to get what I do pack lower to the ground vs up high in the pillion position where panniers and top cases would usually sit. I've looked closely at those Uni-Go's. They seem great but also seem to cost more than I'm willing to spend and I never see them pop up used for a cheap enough price. I'm a welder and fabricator by trade lol figured I might as well build one.As someone who has pulled a Uni-go (behind a GL1800) that the wife seriously overpacked, keep the weight low and minimal. Doesn't effect handling at speed on pavement, but slow on gravel gets much harder. And, if it goes down you have that much more to pick up. For an old guy like me, I decided that next time I will pull 80% of it out and leave it in the garage.
I am taking notes on this. Funny, when the plans started for this trip, my original idea was to do a few upgrades to the BMW R90/6 and use it as my steed. I steered away, not because I didn't think the bike would be capable (its the most dependable bike I own) but in the end I just didn't really want to beat it up on the "trail". I am honestly a bit jealous that you did the trek on a couple old 2t enduros. I may have to do it again in a similar fashion.The Arkansas portion is pretty easy, decent dirt roads and two lane pavement most of the way. Most normal people do the whole thing in a couple of days. We did it on obsolete 2 stroke enduro bikes that ate fuel like crazy, ate sparkplugs and had at least one flat each day. It took us two weeks so you know we were in no hurry. Your tank range should be fine at least for Arkansas stretch. We meandered a lot, leaving the TAT to go see friends or visit new places within 25-50 miles of the trail. We stayed in hotels or cabins. We also ate a lot of BBQ and my buddy called it the Beans & BBQ Trail. Be sure to stop at the Oark Cafe. The burgers and pie are good. It is now a destination ride like the Rock Store in California.
Thats definitely on the list once I replace the penny bank stash. I think I'll go with the eagle mike setup on that.If you are going to pull a trailer, I'd definitely do the front brake upgrade. Mine had the larger rotor setup and I loved it.
Haha, Prentice Cooper this spring. Shouldnt be far from you (Chattanooga) Lets make that happen.I mean if you twist my arm I may ride the trail with you on my DR so we can compare
Looking good (well, you know, as good as a KLR can look )
Here's the super lights we did for my buddies KLR
That's fantastic! Ya dun good, boy.
Thanks Gents!Way cool.
Make. It. SoI want double headlights too now
Thanks Mike, and I agree. I hadn't found many that I liked, and even fewer that used the stock fairing in any form. Most looked to me to be a pretty gaudy attempt and didn't fit quite right with the bike, namely this one.....I'm not a fan of some double headlights, but these look as good as they get. Almost as good as the 80's 90's crotch rockets.