Setting up for touring

[cafe650]

After being shocked by the handbooks official loading limits for the Dominator, I wondered what changes you made to your bikes with regard to touring, did you change the fork oil weight, or the rear shock loading, any other changes?

[squirrelciv]

Absolutely nowt bar a little more air in the rear. Apart from my latest attempt a luggage, Ive never had a problem with handling, and even this time things weren't horrendous. Keep a chunk of weight over the rear of the seat area (ie infront of the rear spindle) and it should be fine

[cafe650]

Now it has to be said, "I am a lard arse" weighing in at a little over 18st or 252Lbs.(114kg)

Now according to the Honda manual for the Dominator, it has a max load capacity of 396Lbs (180kg) so if you take me out of the equation, that leaves 145Lbs (66kg) but you are not to exceed a cargo weight alone (I guess they mean on the rear rack) of 20Lbs (9kg) (so that will be the tent and bag then) so that leaves me 125Lbs (56kg) spare for the loaded panniers and frames, I will weigh them as a set before fitting when the frames arrive .
Now I have a ProDuro exhaust fitted one side, so I wonder what weight I have saved on the other by not having a silencer there, anybody know the weights involved of the original system compared to the Laser?

[Lord Vader]

Don't worry "too" much about what is written down.When we did the Haggis run my bike was way(and i mean way)overloaded.I think the important thing is to do a little trial run.Pack all the stuff you want to take,load your bike up and go for a little ride.Check out what she feels like,don't forget the tyre pressure got to be increased.
I'm sure once you done it a few times you will find you take a lot less stuff anyway(not like me,i still take the kitchen sink)
Just take it a bit easyer than normal cause everything takes a bit longer.Acceleration when you overtake as well as stopping!!!I found out the hard way.Never will forget chads face when i flew past him onto the middle of the road cause i could not stop my little supertanker in time to make the turn

[cafe650]

Continuing on with this theme, what do you guys carry as a tool kit when out touring or even just for the weekend.

[Mudwiz]

I generally carry tools all the time, but its easy on a TA, all goes under the seat. (Tools, tube, levers, rope, etc. Almost every thing I can do, I can do by the side of the road.)

[squirrelciv]

I take what I need to take both wheels off and fix a puncture, adjust the chain, remove the spark plug/seat/body panels/tank and change all bulbs/fuses. After that it's down to the AA card

[cafe650]

With regard to this touring thread, I thought some of you may be interested in the panniers I have found that seem a good deal at £64 each...

http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl...%3Den%26sa%3DG

although you will have to budget for fitting kits.
Too late for me, as I bought a pair from Klaus off of e-bay, but the quality is fantastic for the money. Looking forward to fitting them.
Kevin.

[cafe650]

Just a quick pannier qustion

Do any of you guys line your alloy panniers or just leave them as made, I have heard of bed liner being used, where do you get this from, or who does it?

[cafe650]

My H&B pannier frames arrived today, but I have already hit a snag, in somuch that the Allit alloy panniers I bought wont fit. Well not withought a bit of modding.
The problem is that they open from the side and not from the end as some others do, and when trying to open the lid hits the pannier frame mounting bars, before it is open enough to get a hand in. Now I can get over the problem by removing the locking catch and hinges, and moving them to the ends of the panniers, and re-fixing. I will then be left with the rivet holes to fill, but that is not a big deal for me, but it might be for some of you.
I will try to get some pictures to show you the problem at the weekend.