Safari Tanks breath NEW LIFE into the DR650 project bike

[Phillip RowanMember]

I have been slowly doin up the 2005 model dr650!!! which i picked up for good price from Rockhampton QLD,,,,,,, shes alittle rough around the edges, had been sittin outside under a tree for a number of years,,, so the plastics were a little faded,,,, bottle of plastic renew and bob your uncle- sparkling again…

I purchased the bike with both the original tank and a 30 litre SARAFI tank in DR blue,,,,, however when i got the bike home i discoveded that the tank had a minor crack where it joins the frame- pretty much directly under the riders groin area!!!!!m so i decided to get the tank plastic welded,,, only cost $35 ,,,,

With the tank fixed – i undertook a run to Buladelah pub last weekend to meet up with some fellows riders and do a run on the back roads up to gloucster, turned out to be a good day, finsihed off with the heavens opening up on us on the way back to Bula pub. second day i headed back home to Bonny Hills ,, and decided to take the back road up from Crowdy head, this road is pretty corrugated,,,, so i was a bit worried about the plastic welding holding up on the welding on the 30 litre safari tank????

On contemplation about an up and coming ride out to western NSW, i thought i should look at ensuring the tank repair could hold up to the potential pounding it may recieve on those brain numbing roads???? so i thought i would contact AQUALINE( makers of Safari tanks)… wanting to know what io could do to improve the chances of the tanks recent plastic welding holdinh up on a extended outback journey?? ie filling the fault area intenally with resin etc

I was patched through to robyn( BLOKE) in the tech dept?? and explained to robyn the issue i had with the tank and what i had done to date to rectify it,

WOW!!!! his reply was the following “We will be sending you a brand new naked tank” – on the condition that i send through the make date and cut the area of fault out of the original and send through – so safari could do analysis on the area of failure… HOW BLOODY GOOD IS THAT!!!!! talk about standing behind your product fellas.

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Other than that, over the weekend fitted new hand gaurds- from MUD and TAR motorcycles at Wauchopia??? got the hand gaurds and the fitting kit all up for $89.00 ( with OB discount of course), next is a front screen from screensforbikes.com – thay make a brilliant lookin screen for the DR650..

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List of thing to do
1. upgrade suspension front and rear- tecknik
2. bashplate
3. set of 606s tyres
respoke rear rim- replace original rim onto her- lose the 3.75 widy rim
4. pannier supports
5. pannier bags
6. lowering kit for footpegs
7. larger rear spocket- 2 teeth at least
8. with what $$$ is left- spares spare spares??????????????
Cheers
THE ROWAN

[Jeffrey SmithMember]

How good is that Phil, a new tank even though you got it second hand. Adventure riding certainly is spreading here at OBT.

[Mick DMember]

To think they warrant the tank even though you weren’t the original purchaser is bloody great after sales service !!!

That is the sort of after sales service, that puts the likes of Safari up there as market leaders in their field.

[GregMember]

TheRowan wrote:

List of thing to do
1. upgrade suspension front and rear- tecknik
2. bashplate
3. set of 606s tyres
respoke rear rim- replace original rim onto her- lose the 3.75 widy rim
4. pannier supports
5. pannier bags
6. lowering kit for footpegs
7. larger rear spocket- 2 teeth at least
8. with what $$$ is left- spares spare spares??????????????
Cheers
THE ROWAN

What’s with the larger rear sprocket are you trying to slow it down?

The pannier frames and bags I would recommend Adventure Moto, ring Steve tell him you are an old bull, boulder has a set, Gaz has a set and so do I and I am happy with mine better than the Andys and they are good. Steve also can help you with the foot peg lowering kit and the bash plate all with OBT discount

Look forward to seeing the progress

TB

[Gary BloxsomeMember]

Phil, Had a look at the Screens for bikes and checked out the screens for my DRZ 400. As I know nothing about them, any body get a better suggestion than SFB’s as I need to get one for the 3 States ride.

Cheers Gary

[GregMember]

Nickj got his screen thru Sutto’s with all his stuff (discounted) dont know what brand it is but seems a good thing

TB

[Phillip RowanMember]

Cheers TB-

Not trying to slow her down – but tryin to keep her in the right rev range. tall geared- got to ride the clutch to get her goin out of first— would probably burn out clutch when shes fully loaded? i will give steve a call know

cheers
Phil

[Brendon CarreMember]

I can highly recommend the Wolfman panniers and racks from ADV moto, they have plenty of room and keep the weight down low!! Before you go the lower pegs try the bar raisers with a high bend bar set up as the lower pegs can ground out and cause problems. I know Lotsa had problems with them and on his advice I am going the bar option first.

[Nick JacksonMember]

Trailboss wrote:

Nickj got his screen thru Sutto’s with all his stuff (discounted) dont know what brand it is but seems a good thing

TB

Suttos sorted me out with a screen for the Cameron ride, I don’t know the brand but I’d say they’d have a record. It handled dust, rain, hail , snow and TBs roost very well. !! I set the screen as high as possible and it worked a treat, I would recommend it !
It fits Drz and Dr 650

[Phillip RowanMember]

Nickj
Thats a screensforbikes.com screen — just put an order in for one today- looks bloody terriffic,,,,,, DR 650 startin to look good!! ye yer
The rowan

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