Now the winter nights are going to be upon us I’ve started another winter project to keep me occupied.
This was my last one a couple of years ago viewtopic.php?f=15&t=129915#wrap
The shed has weathered the last two years well and everything is solid and sound and no scrotes have broke into it.
I’ve acquired a 1997 xt 600 Yamaha with 38000 miles on it.
So far it has had a new exhaust fork seals and oil.
Front and rear bearings new chain and sprocket some gaskets and a full service.
I’ve put a USB charger on it I’ve got a couple of caged led spotlights to fit but I’m not sure where to fit them yet .?
The xt has a couple of plastic panels that I’m not going to replace that attach to the fuel tank I might attach the lights to the brackets that the panels fit to on the tank or attach them to the forks as I intend to do some wild camping in Wales and Scotland and the lights on the forks will give a better spread when turning on gravel dirt roads.
As I did with the shed I will be scrounging blagging bits and pieces .
I like a bargain and bought a new helmet 3 pairs of gloves and a textile armoured jacket along with a pair of Oxford boots for £120 of someone who hadn’t used them and put them on Facebook for sale a right result because they all fit perfect.
More to follow.
I need to pass my bike test so I have done my CBT and hazard theory test .
I start my lessons this month and hope to pass my test October ish.
I bought some waterproof panniers to throw over the seat £30 of eBay .
Blagged some flat bar to make frame to support them. I
Couple of new tyres on it.
Fitted some led indicators with a buzzer to remind you to switch them off.
Donated by a mate.
Givi top box and low mounted plate also bought cheap of Facebook.
Plan is to go to the isle of man may next year with my mate then the western isles of Scotland in July and do some sea fishing and wild camping.
exploreargyll.co.uk/journey-details.php?id=7
I’ve got to work to get the money so I’m jumping back on the wagons every other weekend to get my spends in and the the money to pay for my tests and ferries next year.
Haven’t drove a wagon since June 2015
after doing it for 26 years so I hope it’s like riding a bike and you don’t forget.
Post some more pics as he project advances and throw some pics up of the work I’ll be doing to pay for it.
Fantastic. Ride safe dude, take it easy out there.
James the cat:
Fantastic. Ride safe dude, take it easy out there.
Thanks.
I’m after an acerbis fuel tank 23lt capacity if any one has one doing nothing the original is 15 lts and I would like the extra range.
Prepared to pay the right money and postage.
Few more photos to show some progress it’s all just knocked up at the moment fit and adjust so to speak ill keep the thread going till it’s conculsion next year all advice of experienced bikers,travellers welcome.
Blagged this sheet of stainless to fab a heat shield to protect the pannier .
Prefer soft panniers hard ones take a beating if you drop the bike.
Made a bracket of the forks for the led spots they clear everything on full lock which I’m happy about.
And I’ll have a good spread of light where ever I’m aiming at .
The lights are not as big as they look in the photo.
Led super bright indicators.
Bigger stronger foot pegs better grip for standing up when off road.
New exhaust sounds like a chinnock give the neighbours something to start a petition about lol.
If anyone has any tips about the xt service wise faults bodges etc please feel free to comment or if you have toured the western isles put some pictures up .
Till next time.
The stainless sheet I blagged to make a heat shield with was just a bit to thick to bend .
So I had a mild steel adr board holder used on tankers donated it’s already painted black so I’m going to make a heat shield out of that.
Along with that I had a plastic document holder given to me and I’m going to drill a couple of holes in the bottom rail and attach it to the bottom of the nearside pannier rack and use it to carry a tool roll and puncture kit.
Braided hose fitted front and rear all cheap as chips as I work in a commercial vehicle factors selling spares and you get to know all the local hauliers and everyone in the trade and people buy of people so I’ve worked hard building relationships, set of pads and a disc and the caliper sorted by a specialist who supplies the company I work for with calipers.
Forks have had a rub down and a lick of paint.
Led spots are now fitted just need adjusting after painting the metal work.
They are super bright and cost 15 quid result.
I can’t quite get the right perspective using the camera on my moby but they don’t stick out as far as it looks on the photo.
I haven’t wired them in I just tested them using a battery .
I’m waiting for a switch to come and then I’ll hard wire them in .
I’ve had a triumph tiger screen given to me I’m scratching my head on how to make it fit but it will come to me.
It will be a godsend on the trip up to Scotland next year .
Till next time.
Finished the pannier rack and mounted the document holder I’ll fill it with some tools and tyre levers and a puncture repair kit.
Although I might get a collapsible fishing road and shove it in.
My woman reckons I should fill it with satchets of sugar coffee tea bags and those little milks you get at coffee machines. 
Not a bad idea to be fair.
I’ll give it a lick of paint to tidy it up
The other side’s done but I’m still faffing about with the heat shield.
Got sat and sun work this weekend with a local haulier they run Daf 105 s so see how I get on its been 2 years and 3 mths since I was behind the wheel but hey ho on you go.
Those two shifts will pay for the 3 lessons I need to take before I book my motorbike test.
Till next time.
Hiya Phil , I am Dt fan my self 
.
Horses for courses Dan.
Give me a ring Monday and I’ll have the kettle on for when you pick that load sensing valve up.
Ouch with the price but at least there was one on the shelf.
I’ll have a word and see if I can shave a bit off the price.
The pannier racks are finished as is the heat shield on the offside.
All the welds ground down rubbed down and painted satin black.
The adr board was a good donation as it saved a bit of paint and prep.
I’ve filled the frame in with it save all the road muck spraying onto the backside of the saddlebag.
The exhaust side I’ll fill with non-flammable things so no worry about things getting to warm plus the heat will dispearse between the exhaust and the heatshield
Going to book some lessons in October and get my mod1 test out the way.
Till next time.
Fitted a waterproof double usb charger and a new switch on/off start etc .
New seat fitted.
Led light brackets painted and lights adjusted, in line fuse fitted for USB charger.
Doc holder fitted to pannier rack.
New fuel lines fitted.
New headlight bulb.
Next job to clean the swing arm up, fit some new spokes to rear wheel and clean the rim up.
Had a change of plan about going to the western isles I had a good look round on Google maps and in my opinion it’s a bit flat and barren so I think isle of Skye and the Cairngorms seem to be a better bet for scenery and mountains.
We will be doing some wild camping as well as staying in bed and breakfasts so the bike will come into its own when exploring the Cairngorms.
Although I’m not looking forward to the punch up the M6 M74 its only half a card in a lorry from me to Glasgow so I’ll soon have it done on a bike.
Till next time.
Had a screen of a triumph tiger hanging about so thought it would be as useful bolting it to the bike as kicking it round the garage.
Also on the ride up to Scotland it might just deflect enough wind to make it more bearable than taking it all on the chest and buffeting my head back.
Not to concerned about looks it’s functionality for me and as cheap as possible.
Anyone got an opinion as to having a screen or not ?
Anyways mod 1 test is looming hope to get that out the way then the last hurdle mod 2 and hopefully have my bike licence boxed off.
Till next time.
Looks like it is coming along nicely, I would say the screen is a worthwhile addition, they look ■■■■ but they do a great job of deflecting the wind and rain. I had a BMW 1200 gs and had an extension piece from touratec, very worthwhile.
Thanks for that UK tramp , the screen does look a bit Heath Robinson but there is nowt like a bit of character…
This GS 1200 is my mates who has strapped everything bar the kitchen sink on it, to be fair he has thinned his kit out a bit.
It will be a drag up to Scotland on the XT but no pain no gain.
Till next time.
Screen is properly fitted now and I can adjust it so it will be a bit of trial and error when I get on the road next year.
Bit of metalwork and bending and some messing about but all good in the end.
Some photos of the fabbing and framework needed to graft the screen on.
Till next time.
Enjoyed your last project and I’m enjoying this one. Often thought of using plastic drain pipe for waterproof storage like your document holder. I like the ingenuity that goes into the projects. As to the screen I wouldn’t ride without one as the buffeting can be very tiring on a long trip. When you get it up and running experiment with the angle and the height as a badly set up screen can be as bad as riding with out one. If you want more storage you could always make a single wheel trailer!
Thanks and keep posting please.
knight2:
Enjoyed your last project and I’m enjoying this one. Often thought of using plastic drain pipe for waterproof storage like your document holder. I like the ingenuity that goes into the projects. As to the screen I wouldn’t ride without one as the buffeting can be very tiring on a long trip. When you get it up and running experiment with the angle and the height as a badly set up screen can be as bad as riding with out one. If you want more storage you could always make a single wheel trailer!
Thanks and keep posting please.
Thanks very much for the advice knight 2 , I’ve been told to fettle the angle of the screen and handle bars clutch and brake levers to suit me .
I’m a bit snookered at the min as I’ve still got my mod 1 and 2 to do…
But the plan in the new year is to have some Rideouts to Wales with a tool kit in the top box and adjust as I go along and get it sorted before heading out in may to Scotland.
I’m planning to do some miles on the beast to get to the stage where you don’t have to think about riding it just enjoy the ride and scenery which I hope will distract me from having a sore backside, back and shoulders etc.
As it stands the beast is coming on grand I’ve still some work to do with the help of friends and at the moment there will be 3 of us going one on a gs 1200 one on a Honda 500x ? My self on the xt and maybe Len a brave soul who has just bought a Chinese 125 in need of some work who is adamant that he has absolutely no problem with pounding the beat up to scotch on the old roads
Bravo I say can’t wait to be fair and I’ll carry on with the updates and progress of the old ■■■■■ tour of Scotland on their machines.
If anyone has done this type of thing around the west coast of Scotland and has any recommendations for campsites and quality bnbs pls PM me or post a link ta.
Till next time.
youtu.be/YX1yOVskQow
This guy did Ireland then down thru England on a Honda varedo 125 which is where the insperation came from Len to do it round Scotland on a Chinese 125 .
Good advice from Knight2 about the screen. There’s nothing worse than the top of it being in your eye-line. So you’ve either got to ride hunched up looking under it,or bolt upright looking over it.
I can’t wait to hear if the Chinese 125 makes it there and back 
Best of luck
Your mate is quite right you don’t need a big bike to travel long distances read about this bloke.
and if your ever interested in long trips this site is the one to go to.
