Adventures with my TE310 - the beginning

[WbCherry]

It's been replaced by BaseCamp, their new, multi platform software.

Can't get it to run on my netbook. But, let's be honest, my netbook is used for procasturbation.
It won't open Google Earth either.
One always pays a price for nekkid sluts.

Putting it on my desktop hasn't been a priority. Captain Bligh went 3600 miles on a rowboat with a watch and a compass. I have maps and years of public television.
I can name at least 12 different trees. And instantly recall the nocturnal habits of wombats.

Books require publication, which implies mastery of entertaining readers. Neither of which I have.
Only an understanding of the driving motivation of humanity: fantasy.
People like to picture themselves in the good life. My skill has been keeping people away..not really hard, but not condusive to fatherhood.

 

[Slowpoke]

Seems it would be a responsible thing to do for you to go spend a weekend or two at an offroad training class. Also, if you do not get an external oil cooler you will go through more oil and put more strain on the engine than necessary - to the point that it might end your trip. I'm sure you've heard this plenty of times but the TE/TC/SMR bikes are meant to have top end work done far more often than you are planning, and you can't do it on the trail. Good luck - you might want to work a number of Husky dealership visits into your schedule for top end work, valve checks/adjustments, etc.

Saying and believing you can take what is very much a race bike on a trip that is better suited to a TE610, DRZ, or F650GS, etc... let's just say that there's a reason it wasn't designed for multi-thousand mile trips. And that's why I own a SMR450 and a F800GS. Right tool for the job.

Have fun. Buy more armor.

edit: ok I read every page of this thread. this is cracking me up. boy has first dirtbike, conquers world. hahah, man you would really do well to sell the TE and get a DRZ or KLR right now and eat the loss of money. have fun... you're gonna need way more time and patience and money than you have planned right now, and don't expect to get over any CO passes in May.

Bookmarked... I'm here for the lulz

I've used a TE 250 for longer distance stuff and it can work fine, if setup properly. WBC has done a lot of stuff in that regard, but (IMO) also has left a few things out that would make his life a lot easier(such as a small windshield). However it's his trip, not mine. I certainly wouldn't recommend changing bikes. Guys have done the TAT on stranger & more inappropriate things...
1/2 the trip is just getting everything ready. The other 1/2 is doing it.

I agree about having an external oil cooler (or extra capacity tank, or both). This bike will need an oil change pretty much every day, or every other day with the stock setup........ The longest I've went between changes on full syn was about 20 hours. Normally every 10-15 hours.......

If He keeps the RPM below 6500, he should only require 2-3 valve checks on the trip.

 

[mnb]

let's just say that there's a reason it wasn't designed for multi-thousand mile trips. And that's why I own a SMR450 and a F800GS. Right tool for the job.

The SMR450 is a race bike, not a distance bike.

 

[Freaky]

I think he uses the BMW for his distance work.

 

[MontyCarlo]

This trip needs Vegas betting house odds.

I'd probably be doing things a lot differently but to each their own

 

[WbCherry]

gosh.

 

[mnb]

gosh.

Screw the naysayers, dude. You'll have issues on the trip no matter what bike you ride. Prepare as best you can, adapt as you can on the road and carry on. And remember most of all, try not to let problems get you down. It's one of those trips of a lifetime. Treasure those memories.

 

[jtemple]

Screw the naysayers, dude. You'll have issues on the trip no matter what bike you ride. Prepare as best you can, adapt as you can on the road and carry on. And remember most of all, try not to let problems get you down. It's one of those trips of a lifetime. Treasure those memories.

It wouldn't be adventure riding if nothing went wrong.

If I could choose any Husky for that trip, it would be the 630. But, ride what ya brung, I say!

 

[WbCherry]

So, anyway

I decided to buy a tent.
That's it and the sleeping bag up top. Everything else fits in sides with room to spare.
1gallon RotoPak....should have got the 1.75 gal.
Need to relocate my tool tube. Maybe in front of the bash plate.

Tank bag is modified with an SAE connector for phone/GoPro charging. Yes, I know its crooked. Holds Camelback, cause I hate wearing it. Little clip-on thing is a leash for the camelback tube.
Need to wire the aux lighting to a handlebar switch. And move the crankcase vent higher, behind the headlight. But, I'd rather walk my dog.

Tent and sleeping bag are about 6 pounds, together, on top.
Havent weighed the sidebags yet. It's low and forward, getting it off the subframe. The steel rack strut is dispersing the weight like planned. Grade 8 bolts whenever I get bored.
Gas tank offsets the weight of the muffler.
An extra gallon-sized mylar bag will act as another fuel reserve, when I need it. It'll have to sit up top...an extra few pounds.

Also need to get around to greasing the shock linkage, tapping for zerks.
You guys are such good company...don't wanna let you down...or stop posting altogether so you find someone else to annoy.



It's my money, my time, and my health.
If your BMW is so miraculous, then ride it wherever your shitty attitude came from, and fock off.
I'm sure you'll be remembered for...maybe...2 or 3 days.

 

[Slowpoke]

Looks good-
If you have the chance, I'd suggest taking it on a ~100 mile shakedown run thru a bunch of trails, backroads etc. It'll give you a good idea of what needs adjusting/changing or what might wiggle loose. Easier to sort that out at home than part way into the first day of your trip.....

I'd also suggest getting a couple of $10 aluminum aftermarket mirror mounts and use them to mount your mirror/lights. The stock magura mounts are about as tough as an oreo cookie and are the first to break in a crash (ask me how I know? LOL) -they're just made out of cheap potmetal. If the left one breaks, you might be without a clutch, til you get it fixed. If they break the mount on the master itself, it's a ~$200 fix & a bunch of back bleeding. I've broke both the left mirror mount and the clutch master at separate times in the past, both during lowspeed fallovers. A friend broke his just tightening the little 6mm bolt one time.

 

[Freaky]

Looking good I'm really impressed with how it looks. This bike will be fine for this trip mate, I've covered 1200 miles of nothing but off road racing without a fault, yes you'll be doing some oil changes as I have done but all will be good. If you were doing this on a GS1200 adventure I wouldn't be interested but you want a challenge, it's a man thing!

 

[huskyte310]

That skid plate looks real nice and it looks like it covers the bottom of the frame too. Where did you get that skid plate from.

 

[WbCherry]

Looks good-
If you have the chance, I'd suggest taking it on a ~100 mile shakedown run thru a bunch of trails, backroads etc.

Soon. I was waiting for the bags for a full-weight run.

Great to know about the mirror mounts. Thank you. I was kinda wondering about that.
Running out of room on this handlebar. Maybe HDB mirrors and topclamp for my birthday. Or go without mirrors altogether.
Relocating the aux lights sometime...they're too d@mn big, but I wanna keep them. I like riding at night. More peaceful.

If you were doing this on a GS1200 adventure I wouldn't be interested but you want a challenge

Exactly.

Where did you get that skid plate from.

Previous owner.

 

[WbCherry]

it's a man thing!

Some pretty tough chickies out there...don't discriminate.
Just killed by mortars in Syria:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17134284

 

[Slowpoke]

The aftermarket mirror mount I have is only about 1/2-3/4" wide. I think it was made by Motion-Pro or ? Check your thread pitch & size before ordering/buying. It looks to me like you could squeeze them in beside the existing mounts. I'd personally not risk going without a mirror for that length of trip.......

 

[Tessier]

This company might be able to offer something on the mount side to help you www.rammounts.com I feel like my handle bars get cluttered with just a route sheet holder and mirror.

I can't wait till you start rolling. This is going to be an amazing adventure and can't wait to follow it! Hurry up and get going would ya! LOL

 

[WbCherry]

Tell me about it...
I'm thinking of heading to Louisiana in the mean time. Find a voodoo witch doctor to hang alligator teeth on my radiators.

Are alligators endangered? Can I shoot one?

 

[mekanik]

Tell me about it...
I'm thinking of heading to Louisiana in the mean time. Find a voodoo witch doctor to hang alligator teeth on my radiators.

Are alligators endangered? Can I shoot one?

I think you need to wrastle one for this story !

 

[WbCherry]

A plan emerges...

 

[shotgun]

It's my money, my time, and my health.
If your BMW is so miraculous, then ride it wherever your shitty attitude came from, and fock off.
I'm sure you'll be remembered for...maybe...2 or 3 days.

My attitude comes from experience with long offroad trips. I see you about to make a number of mistakes and disregarding (some) advice from seasoned riders. If you want to think I'm an asshole for laughing that's fine. I'll feel bad when you adventure off and make mistakes that could have been prevented but I will still laugh because you misinterpreted advice and internet tomfoolery for insult.

I used my 07 TC450 for multi-day offroad, truly offroad because it wasn't plated, trips across the nevada deserts. I used my TE250 for long technical offroad/road trips all over the sierra and northern nevada deserts. I've done countless trips in Baja and Death Valley. And I've been riding all over the world. However, because I don't ignore the fact that things do go wrong, I also made the proper mods that you are neglecting to make to ensure I didn't get myself stranded. You think that subframe won't bend with all that you're carrying if it's not welded and strengthened with extra gussets? You think a rotopax is a good choice for the subframe location when you could carry the weight correctly by buying an IMS or other large tank? You think you don't need an oil cooler?

On my multi week trips I carry about 1/2 of what you have loaded on your bike there and that's including gear for 20 degree nights.

Btw, not taking a GPS or SPOT Tracker to some of the places you're going to be going is not only foolish but negligent when you have a child at home. But sure, I'm the asshole for making suggestions. Go conquer the world, if you don't run out of oil beforehand. I guess I'll go finish planning my next RTW trip... what do I know about travel anyway?