T1 bike setup and prep

[Martin]

Post your questions here about bike setup and preparation.

[mhuerth1]

Is the Rekluse clutch a critical upgrade for success on the tour or is it easy to live without. How about a steering damper?

[Carrie156i]

My general thought on aftermarket accessory component questions like this with regards to the tour: 1) Will using it prevent the potential failure of a stock component, 2) will using it improve the performance or handling of your bike, and 3) will using it prevent rider fatigue.

I personally run both, and have for many years. For me, the damper is 1) oh shit insurance and 2) a way to combat fatigue. So its a yes answer to questions 2 and 3 above. As for the Rekluse, again for me, its a yes to questions 1 and 3. It is clutch insurance and helps reduce rider fatigue. One could argue the does it improve performance. For some it could. Do you stall the bike a lot? Would it not stalling on a hill make your day better? Then maybe it's a yes to question 2 as well for some riders. I have hand problems so for me it's a must. Even if I didn't, clutches take a beating on the tour and a fragged clutch has ended many tours. I'm not aware of any tour hopes being dashed specifically because a rekluse was used.

Just my 2 cents. And in the name of full disclosure I am a Rekluse Support rider. That being said, and much like Martin, I don't represent any company that I don't fully stand behind their product. Take that for what you will.

[cdalejef]

Go with what you've been running on your bike. If you've been using one, use it on the tour. If you haven't then I wouldn't worry about using one. Stick with what you are familiar with.
Personally I have tried them but they just don't suit my riding style.

[Pundy]

There's no doubt that a Rekluse can save you a ton of energy. Having said that, and referencing Jeff's comment above, if you haven't run it before and you haven't missed it, then don't just install it and then run it for the TOI. You may end up hating it, and then you'd be putting at risk your chances of success. I'm building a new bike for my upcoming attempt this summer, but every part that I'm putting on the bike I have used in the past (actually most of the aftermarket parts I'm simply transferring over from my old bike) so I know they will work for me. Knock on wood....

[Martin]

If you want to run a Rekluse, run a Relkuse. Get the non-autoclutch version if you don't want the Interwebs chuckleheads making fun of you. Most bomber clutch ever made and mine have survived years of abuse with just a couple of adjustments each year. Properly adjusted they last pretty much forever which is the feature I like. I have one on all of my off-road bikes. They are fairly transparent in use and you almost can't go wrong. The LHRB is even better. Having said all of that though I would recommend getting one NOW and not a week before your Tour. It's a really bad idea to show up at Mal-aud with stuff you have not thoroughly vetted. The only reason not to get one now is that they do make your engine run a bit hotter if you are ham-fisted with your right so if you are already on a grenade I'd eschew.

Steering dampers are pretty sweet. Scotts or GPR are my favorites. Again, get it now if you are going to use it.

[David Powell]

I have been debating back and forth on the decision to run bibs or the ultra heavy duty tubes. I have ran bibs for years and feel very confident they can make the trip provided they are the proper size and properly lubed. However, we believe we will likely be changing our rear tires in Salmon on the end of D5 and don't want to carry the large enduro tire irons necessary to install a new tire with a bib. While doing research on other options, I ran across "Tube Saddles" (https://tubesaddle.com/). This appears to be a great idea that will virtually eliminate "Pinch Flats". However you can still get a puncture flat and you can still tear the tire carcuss, but I believe pinch flats is the biggest concern faced on the Tour. So I have decided that I will run the Ultra HD Tubes with Slime and the Tube Saddles for the Tour. Just sharing information in case you haven't seen this product and if you have experience with Tube Saddles, please share your review.

As recommended by the install instructions, I did relocate the rim lock to within 4 inches of the valve stem, so I did have to balance the wheel and it took 4 ounces of weight to offset the rim lock/valve stem.

Also, the GoldenTyre Fatty looks like an awesome tire.

Thanks

[oregonlmd]

My tour packing list. Checked twice, then twice again. Then maybe 293847239847 times more.

I broke it into 4 categories

1. Tools and Repair
2. On the Body
3. Riding Support
4. Other

Tools and Repair

• 2/3/4/5/6 allens
• 3-4 pr nitrile gloves
• 6/8/10 sockets
• 8/10/12/13 wrenches
• Axle nut wrench
• Chain oil
• Chain repair kit
• Fuel line clamps (2)
• Fuel line plug
• Fuel pump
• Fuses: 10a (4), various (6)
• Gerber multitool
• KTM B&F pliers
• Multi meter
• Needlenose Vise Grip
• Phillips & Small straight “sockets”
• Pump
• Rag
• Safety wire
• Small roll elect tape
• Socket Driver (KTM tee)
• Spare bolts
• Spark plug socket
• Straight tip normal size screwdriver
• Tire levers
• Torx bit for KTM fasteners
• Wire and butt splices
• Zip Ties: 4”/7”/24”
• Fuel Line, 12”
• JB Weld
• Patch kit with a ton of large patches
• Spare tube
• Quick Steel

On the Body

• Boots
• Neck Buff
• Cold baselayer pants – silkweight
• Cold baselayer shirt – silkweight, black
• Normal baselayer shirt
• Moose bodyarmor shirt
• Evening shirt (thin)
• Evening shorts (thin)
• Gloves (warm and cold pair)
• Goggles (dark and clear)
• Helmet
• Helmet liner
• Jersey
• Pants
• Compression bike shorts (triathlon style)
• Rain Jacket
• Socks (2)
• Ltwt shoes
• Pearl Izumi waterproof overgloves (they haven’t made these in years)
• Sunglasses

Riding Support

• Emergency bivvy
• Cam straps (rescue)
• Garmin mount screw tool
• Gas bag
• Gas bag camstraps (2)
• Helmet light, battery, & charger
• Lighter
• Pen & Notebook
• Saw – Silky Bigboy
• Spare filter
• Xtra water reservoir
• $1K cash
• Filter Skinz (6)
• InReach w/micro SD cable for in hotel
• Maps
• Phone charger in hotel
• Comm radio and charger
• USB charging stuff on bike
• Water filter
• Bike rescue kit
• Fuel transfer dongle
• 1^st aid kit

Other

• Bike registration and ins card
• Ear plugs (6-10pr)
• Toothbrush, sml paste, floss
• Glasses
• Lip balm
• Moose handguards
• Pills for pain
• Razor
• Salt Stick capsules
• TP – Very small roll
• Vitamins
• Spare shifter
• Energy foods and snaks

Some of this was carried by my teammates, but almost all of it was on or with me. It’s a lot of things and Martin does swear its way too much stuff, but I handled the weight and bulk just fine, and frankly it wasn’t all that weighty nor bulky. I’m 5’10, 175lbs, was pretty fit but not a specimen of fitness, and am certainly not what most would call muscular. The tools and repair list is probably over the top and I used almost none of it. However, we would have been able to take care of an astonishing number of mechanical calamities that could have otherwise been tour-ending disasters. Peace of mind? Yep. The Tour is a mind game and stacking the odds in our favor was worth a couple extra pounds.

I welcome questions and even comments.

[Mike]

Can I buy that “very small roll of TP” from ya.....

[Martin]

Some of this was carried by my teammates, but almost all of it was on or with me. It’s a lot of things and Martin does swear its way too much stuff, but I handled the weight and bulk just fine, and frankly it wasn’t all that weighty nor bulky. I’m 5’10, 175lbs, was pretty fit but not a specimen of fitness, and am certainly not what most would call muscular. The tools and repair list is probably over the top and I used almost none of it. However, we would have been able to take care of an astonishing number of mechanical calamities that could have otherwise been tour-ending disasters. Peace of mind? Yep. The Tour is a mind game and stacking the odds in our favor was worth a couple extra pounds.

I welcome questions and even comments.
[/QUOTE]

Since you were with a team of three you shared the task of carrying at least a few of these items. Teams of two have less opportunity to do this. Soloists have none. That's the principle reason the three team version is longer - to compensate for things exactly like this.

As I recall your team had an incident near the end of D3. Did you make the rider who was off the trail get himself and his gear back up by himself? Of course not. So all of you benefited from having three people to share the load.

Having completed the Tour as a member of a three person team, a two person team and a soloists (several times) I can assure you that the smaller your team the more you need to pare you kit down to a gas tank on two wheels.

[Eastforku]

Does anyone have any experience with the IMS 4.25 gal tank on a 2019 300 XCW? If so, how was the fit and feel of the tank? I was thinking at first this might be overkill size, but after more research, finding it's more of the norm.

[Jefff Jensen]

I have a 4.25 gallon Acerbis that will fit your bike, call if you want it. Jeff Jensen 5039397477

[Sean Casey Ogden]

The 4.5 gallon IMS will get you roughly 170 miles range on D1 style riding with a steady pace, crisp jetting, on a well maintained bike. Of the three my buddies and I run capacity has been 4.9 gallons totally full. Quality is good. Full it's a bit of extra weight on the front, from 3/4 to 1/2 empty you have slosh. The weight you can manage but the slosh on technical is not ideal. The 4.5 tank is three pounds heavier than the stock and running the OE radiator plastic with the large IMS is cosmetic.

[SeanMacNee]

I’ve had an IMS 3.6 gallon tank on my 2017 te250 for several years and the quality is top notch. I recently received and installed a 4.5 gallon tank for my 2020 fe501 and again the fit and finish are very high quality. The main thing I like about IMS is the metal inserts used to hold the fuel pump and other items to the tank.

[OregonComrade48]

Hoping to get some opinions on fuel capacity needs. I have a KTM 250 EXCF that gets 45-55 MPG mixed riding:

Option #1) 3.1 gal tank + 2 gal fuel bladder
Option #2) 4.1 gal tank + 1 gal fuel bladder

Based on comments, looking for a 250 mile range which I think (will have to test) 5 gal will get me on the 250cc. I'd prefer option (1), but open to opinions. Having never used the fuel bladders, it seems sketchy, but seems like guys have had good luck with them.

Cheers

N

[Mike]

I think the longest day without fuel for 2020 T1 was approximately 270 miles, if all goes as planned..... my bike ranged 45-50 mpg. I left with 7 gals of gas on the long days up north, sure, it might be overkill if everything goes as planned, but it rarely does. I didn’t want gas to be my demise. You can find yourself 50 miles down a trail or dirt road then you need to turn around and backtrack 50 miles to make a work around if needed..... If you run 5.1 gals like you are suggesting and get the low end of you mpg at 45 that’s only 229 miles of range.... 🤷♂️ The personal choice of how much extra (fuel, tools, clothing, first aid...) that you need to carry for the “what if’s” is all based on your own risk tolerance.

I carried enough fuel to go 50 miles more than the longest day based off my lowest mpg.... I had a 4.1 gal tank and 2 giant loop fuel bladders (1gal, 2gal) they were rolled up and not used unless extra fuel was need.

Have fun planning!

[OregonComrade48]

I think the longest day without fuel for 2020 T1 was approximately 270 miles, if all goes as planned..... my bike ranged 45-50 mpg. I left with 7 gals of gas on the long days up north, sure, it might be overkill if everything goes as planned, but it rarely does. I didn’t want gas to be my demise. You can find yourself 50 miles down a trail or dirt road then you need to turn around and backtrack 50 miles to make a work around if needed..... If you run 5.1 gals like you are suggesting and get the low end of you mpg at 45 that’s only 229 miles of range.... 🤷♂️ The personal choice of how much extra (fuel, tools, clothing, first aid...) that you need to carry for the “what if’s” is all based on your own risk tolerance.

I carried enough fuel to go 50 miles more than the longest day based off my lowest mpg.... I had a 4.1 gal tank and 2 giant loop fuel bladders (1gal, 2gal) they were rolled up and not used unless extra fuel was need.

Have fun planning!

Cheers - thanks Mike, good feedback.

[msteward]

Been working on my crf450x getting it ready. Had a bit of trouble fitting tank with TT fan that I had. Setting up appointment with Konflict to get suspension done next month. Also got new Cyclops headlight and TT voyager pro mounted up at least. Here are some mods I had to do to fan and some heat barrier on the bottom of tank. Also for those who have same bike you will need to pick up a front tank stay from a 05-07 crf450x to mount the Acerbis 4.1 gallon tank. Mine is an 09 and did not have this. You can see it on the tank picture at the top, it's the black piece above the shiney.