View Full Version : Off roading Transalps
wheeliebin
01-01-70, 12:33 AM
posted in 1970 :shock:
wheeliebin
30-11-05, 11:11 AM
Since owning my 'alp a couple of enduro riding friends have pestered me to go out with them (enduro DRZ & WR425), I've always declined claiming the Transalp's not up to it.
Apoligies to all the Transalp off road gods :oops: .
After the Stella and despite being overloaded with luggage, having crap tyres, stiffened suspension and lacking ability the Transalp remained unfazed.
Returning the suspension to stock (used to have 20mm spacers in front forks and increased pre-load on the shock) and reducing the tyre pressures, I still find the suspension too hard. The front forks only seem to use half the amount of travel.
They've suggested less oil in the forks and less pre-load on the shock.
I'm getting worried if I go too far, the poor thing will be dragging it's belly.
Any tips ?
Since owning my 'alp a couple of enduro riding friends have pestered me to go out with them (enduro DRZ & WR425), I've always declined claiming the Transalp's not up to it.
Apoligies to all the Transalp off road gods :oops: .
After the Stella and despite being overloaded with luggage, having crap tyres, stiffened suspension and lacking ability the Transalp remained unfazed.
Returning the suspension to stock (used to have 20mm spacers in front forks and increased pre-load on the shock) and reducing the tyre pressures, I still find the suspension too hard. The front forks only seem to use half the amount of travel.
They've suggested less oil in the forks and less pre-load on the shock.
I'm getting worried if I go too far, the poor thing will be dragging it's belly.
Any tips ?
Get another bike? Your a braver man than me, or u got more money. Alps a different class of bike totally in my opinion. Would you want to do the stella on either of their bikes???? U could pick up a KLR for not a lot of wedge.
Top geezer for being brave enough to offroad the alp. Just one thing though, are you built like arnie or what?, and have u made a new fairing out of the finest oil can plastics?
Paul
wheeliebin
30-11-05, 01:48 PM
Alps a different class of bike totally in my opinion. Would you want to do the stella on either of their bikes???? U could pick up a KLR for not a lot of wedge.
Paul
Whilst they disappear down the tracks on there back wheel I bumble along behind, there bikes would never make it to the stella (unless in the back of a van).
That's what appeals with bikes like the TA & AT, riding the 700miles in comfort to places like the stella (more so the TA) and then having the ability to do a bit of off-roading (more so the AT).
Just trying to improve it's off-road manners as much as i can without losing it's all-roundness (commuting & touring).
Can't afford to have a bike for every occasion, hence i'm sticking with the 'alp for a few more years.
Jeff@TheQuadShop
30-11-05, 02:35 PM
Here is my answer:
http://cdalejef.smugmug.com/photos/18860740-M.jpg
http://cdalejef.smugmug.com/photos/18860742-M.jpg
http://cdalejef.smugmug.com/photos/18860754-M.jpg
http://cdalejef.smugmug.com/photos/18860747-M.jpg
http://cdalejef.smugmug.com/photos/18865801-M.jpg
http://cdalejef.smugmug.com/photos/18865802-M.jpg
wheeliebin
30-11-05, 04:21 PM
Here is my answer:
Ah, one of those Transalp off-road riding gods I was talking about. :wink:
So is it right ?, less oil in the forks for softer damping, more oil for stiffer damping ?
Jeff@TheQuadShop
30-11-05, 05:14 PM
Yes that works for a bandaid fix.
piguglyshandydrinker
30-11-05, 05:59 PM
Hi, Wheelie, the 600's were softer sprung allround than the 650's, but this makes the 650's much tighter when upping the pace on the tarmac.
The 600's used to start to move about on long sweepers above 75 and you'd be brave to go much more than 85.
Dunno about the forks, didn't think they were too firm myself, howabout putting in some lighter weight oil?
As for the rear back the compression adjuster right off, you've done the preload so hows about filling those tin's on the side of the bike with...... CORNED BEEF (much nicer than SPAM don't ya think) :lol: :lol: :lol:
Hope this helps 8)
Phil
Ahh we can all do the water crossings and the off roading.........HONEST. If it werent for the nanny state we live in here in the uk.
For starters the obstacles.
The green wellie brigade. They dont take kindly to bikers off roading on their walks.
NRA. The national rivers authority... We would get locked up for water pollution with oil off the chains of the bikes.
Noise Pollution lobby. Noise in the countryside, and they would get mega pissed about the bike impersonating a jet ski and the noise pollution it creates.
Hse. Health and Safety Executive. Just wouldnt allow it as its fun and there is a possible risk of injury.
Insurance. Public liability insurance....Need a couple of million at least in case of splashing or scaring a member of the public. Very expensive.....
Well thats my excuse for not getting my TA mucky and wet.
Last but not least the cost of the plastics on the TA. More expensive than the public liability insurance :lol:
Respect to the TA off road gods.
Wheeliebin you need any gaffer tape for the holes in the airfilter box? :lol:
Paul
wheeliebin
01-12-05, 05:28 PM
Paul,
Think someones been reading too much, it really isn't all doom and gloom where we go.
We ride and old 'Drovers Road', used for centuries for 'driving' livestock. It's still used by farmers (some sections are too rutted by 4x4, Tractors) and not really the sort of place the ramblers go.
It also crosses old Roman roads, disused railway cuttings.
Only got into trouble once, picked up a railway cutting covered in a sandy pete and discided to explore. Came across two horse riders so pulled over and switched engines off. They went mental at us.........we were on Lord Belvoirs private 'gallops'. :oops:
Why would I need to graffer tape my airbox holes ?
Lower down under the seat is a big scoop for sucking in water.
Phil,
Are you mad ? Corned beef better than luncheon meat ? NO WAY !
John
Mikey Plasnart
01-12-05, 09:55 PM
Jeff@thequadshop you have an unfair advantage, obviously got telescopic legs looking at those pics :lol: :lol: :lol:
Jeff@TheQuadShop
01-12-05, 10:28 PM
LOL....gogo gadget legs.
Must have my wires slightly crossed phil. I thought it was ur ta that had the airbox mods for better breathing.
Does jeffs TA have a pipe up to the handlebars for that depth of water?
Never realised you could take them so deep.
Paul
Jeff@TheQuadShop
02-12-05, 01:16 PM
Nope the intake is stock, it never missed a beat.
they must be some mad tyres that you have fitted though?
Jeff@TheQuadShop
02-12-05, 02:19 PM
Kenda TrackMaster II's
wheeliebin
13-12-05, 10:33 AM
Nearly finished, the suspension is a lot easier on the rougher stuff now. I've tried to set pre-load to have 100mm of static sag but found that once aboard the poor thing was dragging it's belly.
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1277
I've now increased the ride height at the back end by 50mm and will hopefully have some fork extention caps machined up tomorrow.
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1278
Pete Rock
13-12-05, 04:55 PM
I've now increased the ride height at the back end by 50mm and will hopefully have some fork extention caps machined up tomorrow.
Did you just compress the rear spring using the shock´s adjustment capabilities to rise the back?
Fork extension caps? What are those?
wheeliebin
13-12-05, 10:39 PM
Increased the ride height by flipping over the shock linkage, pre-load is set very soft (don't think you can do it with the sub-chamber in place).
Fork extentions replace the fork leg top 'caps' to allow the forks to be dropped in their yokes (limited by brake lines & speedo cable).
Test reply.
Please ignore.
wheeliebin
19-12-05, 07:17 PM
Little project finished.
The Transpuddle :santa:
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1284
Ahh now that's more like it!!!!
piguglyshandydrinker
20-12-05, 12:03 PM
Nice one!
What about ditching the headlight/fairing/clocks and putting a little "streetfighter" light/screen/indicator combo there?
Would shed qiute a few k's, remove any risk of fairing damage and give a psychological "less bulky" feel to the bike!
Phil
Little project finished.
The Transpuddle :santa:
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1284
she got a right fruity look about her now :D cool :headbang:
nice one wheeliebin!
what handguards? and what tyres??
wheeliebin
16-01-06, 11:06 PM
what handguards? and what tyres??
Cheapo universal rally guards from e-bay & Conti tyres.
wheeliebin
19-04-06, 01:55 PM
Just messing with animated graphics :lol:
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=2213
http://www.luckdragon.co.uk/images/IMGP1413.JPG
Similar sort of thing with no gained height!
wheeliebin
20-04-06, 06:21 AM
Similar sort of thing with no gained height!
The blue one looks to be wearing a fat back tyre or is it just the angle ?
Think mine's gonna go on a diet next, it saved about 6 kilos with the exhaust mod, but put it back on with bolt-on crap.
Only slightly fat - a 130/80. I also tend to run them soft, rear in the photo is at 17PSI, I normally run 19PSI front for muddy use. Roadwise - sort of 27-27 seems to work for me!
Ourico_Voador
02-06-06, 02:13 PM
Fork extentions replace the fork leg top 'caps' to allow the forks to be dropped in their yokes (limited by brake lines & speedo cable).
Where can a guy find something like thar? Never had heard of them.
wheeliebin
04-06-06, 02:58 PM
Africa Queens do them for the AT but not the Transalp, I had an engineering firm make them up for me.
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1285
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