Just got myself a 2011 WR250R and now am getting it ready to do the TAT next year. I cant convince myself that it is worthwhile to pay over $700 for a tank bag and saddle bag system from any of the mainstream distributors. So I am deciding to take this on myself and try to keep it on a tight budget.
Lets start with the tank bag, I purchased this off ebay, it has alot of room for gloves, phone, wallet and some small items.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Molle-Tacti...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item35de856ab2
It has 4D rings on each corner and an anti slip backing. There is also a sholder strap that tucks into a pocket on the back. Currently I am just securing it with paracord but have purchased some straps from Canadian tire for $7 and will be using those instead. This is not waterproof but I will have everything in a bag (my phone is already waterproof) in ziplock bags. I will also try to use a shower cap as a rain guard.
On the back I am making some saddle bag racks. I am trying to spend under $140 for the whole setup including racks and bags. I but some 1/2" OD (.060" wall thickness) tubing from metal supermarket. I got much more than I needed 20 feet cost me $30 after tax.
I got a simple hand bender, this one was a bit expensive only because I didn't want to drive to Princess Auto. This is basically what I bought.
http://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/1-2-in-tubing-bender/A-p8161002e
The tab that holds the tube at the beginning of the mandrel is a bit weak. If you are worried about it put a hose clamp around the tube and the handle to take some of the stress away from this tab. I mounted the bender in my vice as it takes alot of effort to bend the tube.
Because of the way this tube bender is setup you cant do a perfect closed loop. You have to offset your bends at an angle, this is no problem you can bend it straight again after.
Once I made the hoop it looked like this.
Simply put it on the ground and stood on it to compress it all. After cutting it at the overlap and doing some manual fine adjustments with the bends it looks like this.
It is not perfect but good enough for my first try. I made two copies of this, since I was too lazy to go back inside and grab my drawing I just eyeballed these. The two aren't perfectly the same, one is about a half inch wider than the first since but once its on the bike no body will notice.
Maybe this is all already common knowledge and I am just boring everyone. If so I wont continue posting but if there is some interest in this I can post updates this weekend as I plan to have the first mock up done by Monday. I can also post up drawings of how you should bend your own tube if you want to follow this same process.
Lets start with the tank bag, I purchased this off ebay, it has alot of room for gloves, phone, wallet and some small items.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Molle-Tacti...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item35de856ab2
It has 4D rings on each corner and an anti slip backing. There is also a sholder strap that tucks into a pocket on the back. Currently I am just securing it with paracord but have purchased some straps from Canadian tire for $7 and will be using those instead. This is not waterproof but I will have everything in a bag (my phone is already waterproof) in ziplock bags. I will also try to use a shower cap as a rain guard.
On the back I am making some saddle bag racks. I am trying to spend under $140 for the whole setup including racks and bags. I but some 1/2" OD (.060" wall thickness) tubing from metal supermarket. I got much more than I needed 20 feet cost me $30 after tax.
I got a simple hand bender, this one was a bit expensive only because I didn't want to drive to Princess Auto. This is basically what I bought.
http://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/1-2-in-tubing-bender/A-p8161002e
The tab that holds the tube at the beginning of the mandrel is a bit weak. If you are worried about it put a hose clamp around the tube and the handle to take some of the stress away from this tab. I mounted the bender in my vice as it takes alot of effort to bend the tube.
Because of the way this tube bender is setup you cant do a perfect closed loop. You have to offset your bends at an angle, this is no problem you can bend it straight again after.
Once I made the hoop it looked like this.
Simply put it on the ground and stood on it to compress it all. After cutting it at the overlap and doing some manual fine adjustments with the bends it looks like this.
It is not perfect but good enough for my first try. I made two copies of this, since I was too lazy to go back inside and grab my drawing I just eyeballed these. The two aren't perfectly the same, one is about a half inch wider than the first since but once its on the bike no body will notice.
Maybe this is all already common knowledge and I am just boring everyone. If so I wont continue posting but if there is some interest in this I can post updates this weekend as I plan to have the first mock up done by Monday. I can also post up drawings of how you should bend your own tube if you want to follow this same process.
