Size doesn't matter? - Small IS beautiful :)

[Simon_100]

thanks Simon (thumbs)
I've just returned from a camping weekend with the KL250. I took to NZ some old Oxford saddlebags to use but they were difficult to set up without a pannier rack and keep off the exhaust. Had to use so many straps, it took an hour to fix them in place!
GL gear but it's way too expensive.

Also discovered my new Exped down mattress doesn't fold up very small & combined with my down sleeping bag, I have a very big holdall on the rear rack, although it's not particularly heavy.

If you get time, it would be great to see some close-up pics of how the bags avoid the exhaust on your bike.

A lady had a Beta 200 over the weekend, but not road worthy here in NZ so she was using a trailer to get to the off-road sections. Seemed to go a lot better at the steep hills than my heavy Sherpa!

Hi Elle,

It's good to hear that you're having a great time is NZ

I do have a close up the exhaust clearance, as you can see on the Alp has a good heat shield but in fact the bag is held clear of the silencer anyway - I pass the strap though the passenger footrest support as in the earlier picture on its way up to the Kriega tank base.

ALTR13_bataalp2.jpg (47.53 KiB) Viewed 1525 times

I found that without this 'diversion' the straps are right over the footrest mount so I used the subframe - this made the bag a bit too 'horizontal'. But although this didn't interfere with the rider's legs - both standing and sitting - it made the 'drain' a bit useless.

ALTR14betaalp3.jpg (66.31 KiB) Viewed 1525 times

Drain? Well as the waterproof bag sits in the 'holster' obviously some water can get down the gap. So there's a small drain hole secured with the 'grommet' that you can see in the picture, but if this isn't right at the bottom I suppose a pool will built up, not a problem really though-

After looking at ALTRider's videos I'm looking forward to buying a bag of ice at a petrol garage and riding back to the camp site with a six pack chilling ready for the 'apres-pool' moment (thumbs)

Regs

Simon

[Simon_100]

Another interesting brand in Spain is Rieju. I was waiting for my KTM 690 to be serviced in Cartegeña and looking over the Rieju Marathon 200 (121 kg dry) which is a 21/18 wheel setup.

I particularly like the look of the Rieju Tango 250 (109 kg dry) which has an unusual 19/16 wheel setup.

They both have 6.5-litre tanks which I guess is OK for a small engined bike. I'm pretty sure Yamaha did something similar to the Tango in Europe as well.

I've just fitted mousses in the 690 which will dramatically reduce the tools I need to carry—discard the four tyre levers, two inner tubes, electric pump, bead buddy, valve puller...

Hi Tim,

That Rieju was top three in the shortlist that the Alp eventually won - be careful about the finishing touches, an owner on the HUBB pointed out the 'rubber' brake/clutch lever and flimsiness in genral. I then asked an owb¡ner here for a close up look, sit-on, his 250 and thought better of it - but they still look good!

Have to seen the Derbi X-City and/ Terra? They're 'only' 125cc but look the business and I've known folks ride them to Algeria - after all, 'Smalls is good, smaller is better!' :whistle:

Simon

[Simon_100]

can we please put a ban on these kind of posts, esp when i am sat in my conservatory -2 foggy and carnt play out.

steve

Don't be too downhearted Steve - I've booked my car in for it's annual Spanish 'MoT' test down in Tremp (468 metres) tomorrow, using up my four.days 'grace' allowance in the process. But my house is at 750 metres altitude and the snowfall predicted for tonight? 600 metres!

Regs

Simon

[boboneleg]

So can you use the Hemisphere Saddlebag without the holster Simon as the bag on it's own is a good price but if you add the holster it makes it quite expensive up to the Giant Loop.

Sorry for the thread hi-jack.

[Simon_100]

So can you use the Hemisphere Saddlebag without the holster Simon as the bag on it's own is a good price but if you add the holster it makes it quite expensive up to the Giant Loop.

Sorry for the thread hi-jack.

You're not hijacking the thread at all Bob; I think the whole luggage issue is more critical with a smaller bike, maybe making some extra expense more worthwhile - room for more debate here :whistle:

The ALTRider page is a bit ambiguous - it confused me too! - but the Hemisphere kit includes the holsters, otherwise you're not really buying more than a funny shaped dry sack!

I suppose they're offering the holster separately for folks who want to make up their own kit, using stuff they already have?

Meanwhile, something extra to add to Elle's question: the Giant Loop includes quite a neat looking a heat shield and offer an extra one for bikes with twin silencers - I didn't need this with my standard fittings on the Alp or my X-Co, but I might if/when the X-Co needs an after market silencer . . .

ALTRIder offer a heat shield kit, but this is more apt for exhaust pipes as such and may be a bit small diameter-wise to be much use for silencers.

Regs

Simon

[Brenhden]

Cool, small bikes are the future

I'll look that luggage up (thumbs)

That luggage looks great I love the holster design and the fact you don't need any frame at all. It does seem a little small for me personaly though, I doubt I could fit all the stuff I brought to spain in it, what do you think? I guess it really compliments your Alp as you wouldn't want to weight the little donkey down.

[Simon_100]

Cool, small bikes are the future

I'll look that luggage up (thumbs)

That luggage looks great I love the holster design and the fact you don't need any frame at all. It does seem a little small for me personaly though, I doubt I could fit all the stuff I brought to spain in it, what do you think? I guess it really compliments your Alp as you wouldn't want to weight the little donkey down.

I'm not sure Bren, your set up was a masterpiece of space economy and ingenuity! I've got a picture somewhere . . .

Meanwhile, famous las words:

thanks Simon (thumbs)
I've just returned from a camping weekend with the KL250. I took to NZ some old Oxford saddlebags to use but they were difficult to set up without a pannier rack and keep off the exhaust. Had to use so many straps, it took an hour to fix them in place!
GL gear but it's way too expensive.

Also discovered my new Exped down mattress doesn't fold up very small & combined with my down sleeping bag, I have a very big holdall on the rear rack, although it's not particularly heavy.

If you get time, it would be great to see some close-up pics of how the bags avoid the exhaust on your bike.

A lady had a Beta 200 over the weekend, but not road worthy here in NZ so she was using a trailer to get to the off-road sections. Seemed to go a lot better at the steep hills than my heavy Sherpa!

Hi Elle,

It's good to hear that you're having a great time is NZ

I do have a close up the exhaust clearance, as you can see on the Alp has a good heat shield but in fact the bag is held clear of the silencer anyway

ALTR13_bataalp2.jpg

I just noticed that there was some heat damage to the holster despite the clearance - but the waterproof bag inside the holster was unscathed - so back to the wrench to do something abouyt the Alp's hot spot

Simon

[Redmurty]

small is beautiful, well I've had a life time of women saying "that's just like a penis but smaller" so I think I disagree with the small is beautiful.

But I must admit after doing 5300 miles around the south island on a BMW Daker 650 I have seriously been wondering and pondering my biking future do I need all those CC's

Regards to everyone Si (thumbs)

cheers Spud

[Simon_100]

small is beautiful, well I've had a life time of women saying "that's just like a penis but smaller" so I think I disagree with the small is beautiful.

But I must admit after doing 5300 miles around the south island on a BMW Daker 650 I have seriously been wondering and pondering my biking future do I need all those CC's

Regards to everyone Si (thumbs)

cheers Spud

Welcome home Spud - we've been missing your shining wit :whistle:

Regs

Simon

[Redmurty]

struggling with jet lag at the moment mate so "the wit" has lost some of it's shine. Will do a write up on the Dakar 650 when I am a little more here.

IMG_4688.JPG (74.83 KiB) Viewed 1525 times

"my" little Dakar at the bottom of the south island, as I was always taught "start at the bottom and work your way up son" well you can take the matelot out of the navy, but you can't take the navy out of the matelot

cheers Spud