[Jan Marais-van VuurenMember]

Hi TB, Nickj etc,

now that you guys have given the Mitas Dakars a decent trashing on your Silverton, Oodnadatta, SA ride, how do you rate them against say the Dunlop 606?

I am looking for a decent trail set up for next year’s Tenere Tragics ride and your input will be most appreciated

Cheers, TT

[Jan Marais-van VuurenMember]

Hi Toes,

Your question covers a very wide range of devices. To keep it simple, I use a small Garmin 62 with OzTopo 3 map loaded. It is a handheld device that mounts to the handlebars as well as a car bracket. It is good for all kinds of activities such as bushwalking, motorbikes, cars etc but the screen is small.

My view is that the best device currently out there for both motorbikes and cars (including all roads, on and off road) would be the Garmin Zumo 660 with OzTopo 3 map loaded.

Hope this helps.

Cheers, TT

[Jan Marais-van VuurenMember]

Hi Eagle,

Personally, I do not trust SPOT’s reliability for getting a safety message out. I use mine to give some comfort that I am still moving (that is if it functions which it does most of time) and “where is Jan?”.

For getting a SOS out, I always carry a GME MT410G 406 MHZ PLB on my belt so if I need to seek urgent assistance, I can get the message out. That is the only reliable international emergency service as it uses the dedicated Cospas-Sarsat international satellite system for search and rescue (SAR) and not a commercial system with limited global coverage (SPOT uses Globalstar – a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation for satellite phone and low-speed data communications).

As we are very often away from civilization, it gives that little bit of extra piece of mind.

Cheers, TT

[Jan Marais-van VuurenMember]

Hi Kat,

I am actually toying with the idea of doing the APC next year. I am currently working though some work options and will decide soon (hopefully).

The Tenere is as ready as it will ever be (apart from full knoblies) so I have no excuses..

Cheers, TT

[Jan Marais-van VuurenMember]

Thanks guys,

I guess the answer is to expect the unexpected in blind spots/corners and to ride accordingly.

Cheers, TT

[Jan Marais-van VuurenMember]

This is why I wanted as much frontal protection. Better safe than sorry!

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=14339994&postcount=2767

Cheers, TT

[Jan Marais-van VuurenMember]

Welcome Ock! I take it you are the same Ock I met on Advrider?

Cheers, TT

[Jan Marais-van VuurenMember]

That is good idea Jimmy. My interest in this mod is to protect the radiator, water pump hose, radiator expansion tank etc from flying debris.

As there is about a 50mm gap between the B&B bash plate and the engine, I guess that a piece of cut and glued rubber in between could give some additional protection, especially from direct rock impacts,

Cheers, TT

[Jan Marais-van VuurenMember]

Happy birthday Nick. Hopefully we get to go for a ride together at some stage.

Cheers, TT

[Jan Marais-van VuurenMember]

Hi Krusty,

what was your fuel consumption for the trip?

Mine worked out to 414 km traveled door to door and I got 21.6 km/l. This is indecently the worst fuel consumption I have had in 10,000 km but given that our trip was also the most 1, 2, 3 gear changes made in my life, it would explain it :laugh:

Cheers, TT

[Jan Marais-van VuurenMember]

After my great ride out with Krusty yesterday, I can now safely say that my new K60 tires are scrubbed in for all terrain

By comparison to the last week’s ride over the same convict trail with the Metzeler Tourances, the Heidenau K60 are a huge step forward. They are not knobblies and do struggle a bit in wet Aussie clay but they hook up like there is no tomorrow in dry terrain and was pretty good on the sand and loose gravel patches. I managed to get trough everything without too much trouble and think they are pretty close to ideal for all terrain adventure touring. They also handle sealed roads and fast corners pretty well.

In short, I am pretty happy with my decision and feel that the K60s are perfect for my type of usage.

Below is a photo of the test results
[attachment=2809]DirtyXT660Z.jpg[/attachment]

Cheers, TT

[Jan Marais-van VuurenMember]

Hi Krusty,

thanks for a great day out mate. I was most impressed with how a fully loaded bike can fly :laugh: For those who do not know, the man is quick in the dirt and it was good to have somebody in front that knows the area!

I had a couple of “Oh shit” moments where the road turned into about 2 cm layers of slime, mostly in dark corners due to yesterday’s rain. Thankfully I managed to keep upright and keep the pace (kinda) when grip returned 😆

Here is a link to all the photos uploaded (I now have to make good on a promise to take my lovely wife out for a bite to eat).

http://s1086.photobucket.com/albums/j452/TenereTravelers/Saturday%2010%20September%202011/

Thanks Krusty & I am looking forward to the next one

Cheers, TT

[Jan Marais-van VuurenMember]

For those interested, you can track us on my SPOT here:

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0xMkQHtX0eyoyyNTRde8ngXltKmBqURJW

PS: I also always carry a GME MT410G 406 MHZ PLB with GPS when out and about so if I need to seek urgent assistance, we can get the message out..

Cheers, TT

[Jan Marais-van VuurenMember]

Hi Krusty,

Count me in (I e mailed you directly as well).

Cheers, TT

[Jan Marais-van VuurenMember]

Hi Krusty,

PM send. I may be able to join you.

Cheers, TT

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