Something old, something new..

Got my posh new Klim Dakar trousers sorted last week - thank you very much to Patsy Quick and her team at Desert Rose Racing! Turns out the size 38 are monstrous compared to the 36, which happily fit perfectly. The joys of buying over the internet.. but well worth it, for the price they look and feel fantastic.

My other kit success this week was the arrival of my eBay Sidi boots. Never thought I'd own a pair of Sidi's, but these were (yet another) eBay bargain, that fortunately turned out to fit great..

.. gradually getting our kit list ticked off. Looking forwards to piling it all on the bikes and putting some of it to the test over the summer now..

TOP AND TOE...

Well, I can honestly say that's me kitted!....Another fantastic e-bay win has secured my Daytona boots for 50 rather than the 300 you would usually have to pay and new held induro lid is also in the post :) wow........I'm a lucky girl for sure and all I have to do is save my socks of from here on in to ensure we make the 6 weeks as fantastic as possible....the closer it get the more excited we are feeling and I can't believe it's only 6 months to go, time has flown past and will continue to do so no doubt......

Racks on, racks off..

Finally fitted the bargain rack and panniers from last year to the BM at the weekend. Fitting was impressively simple, quick and looked pretty solid considering how minimal the rack is. Nice English instructions and parts that just slotted in and worked (take note Touratech!!).

The wrap-around style makes them relatively neat and compact and the lock and quick release mechanism is also envy-inducingly efficient.

Think P is a bit miffed after seeing my plans to bolt all manner of adventure touring gear to the outside of my solid ally tins, but I think both have their share of pros and cons. I'm sure 4000 miles to Morocco will be a decent test for both of them..

M&P - bodge fabrications Ltd has more work ahead now I have enough ally to finish my sump guard. I also grabbed this wheel arch dumped in a hedge near work. Nice black, curved and angled plastic, that is going to be perfect for some hand guard extensions.

I also drilled a few 25mm holes in the fuel can rack (see previous post) to make it look a bit more funky. Also glued some foam pads in to muffle vibrations. Just need to mount to the panniers via some rubber grommets and it'll be done.

Who knows.. if weather is decent again this weekend might even get to ride the bikes too!!

IT's Christmas!....

yes I know were way past that but feels like it this week in MandP land....My new Revit jacket has arrived and so did Marks new pants :) unfortunately they didn't fit and by the look of them were several sizes too big but ~I'm sure Marks mate Patsy Quick at desert rose racing will swap em out no problems...

The Alpha jacket I got for a total bargain at £129 brand new from ebay, everyone else is selling for £214 so Woohooo!!!, great comfort and really well made multi climate touring jacket with handy pockets at front just like my old camo jacket, many vents and adjustments to get it snug or as loose as you like, removable liner hi vis bits.....will give it a test run tomorrow but think I made the right choice, revit gear seems to be top draw for quality...

-Paula

M&P Fabrication LTD

Used some of my 3mm Aluminium sign to make a fuel can carrier last night. I thought it might be good practice to figure out what is possible before I start on my sump guard. So in my make-shift workshop (complete with improvised sheet metal bender - in left pic) I cobbled together something that, I think, looks pretty decent and the can sits tightly into.

I've still got to get hold of a hole cutter and attach it to the pannier, but pretty pleased with it.

Straps were off eBay for a couple of ££'s. Ally was free. Whole thing cost not much over £5 including the can! Sorted.

- Mark

.. and the prep goes on ..

All go on the tour preparation this week, with the garden waterlogged and DIY on hold for washing machine repairs we got a few more bits done on the bikes, grabbed a few more bargains and I've embarked on my own bike DIY project too..

Paula managed to pick up a bargain ally chain guard (below) to replace the big chunky - yet soft and flimsy BM original one (left). More metal and less plastic - always good in our book!

The perfect cure for the disappointment of the F650 failing its MoT for a leaking fork seal. Especially annoying since we only got the seals replaced about 600 miles ago!

Following the same mantra of metal over plastic, I came into possession of a large 3mm aluminium sign (perfectly legally I hasten to add). Which I hope to craft into a replacement to the pretty ugly, grey, plastic lump of a sump guard provided by Honda. Doesn't look much yet - and probably won't be catwalk material when finished either - but with a bit of luck it should at least be functional and add a bit more personality.

.. I also finally fitted my centre stand and Scottoiler. Stand was easy, took 5 minutes and just means I got better options in the event of any wheel/tyre problems. The oiler was pretty simple too, just took a while longer to route the lines and mount the dispenser under the chain guide. As much as I don't mind chain maintenance I like the idea of the chain oiler and once I've done a few longer rides with it, we'll see how it goes.

.. and finally a couple of phrase books (French & Spanish) from a closing down clearance shop, that contain a handy motorcycle section with handy - but hopefully totally useless - phrases like "the brakes don't work"?!

.. Mark

New Forest

Saturday was fantastic weather, so we headed off to the New Forest for the day. Paula was a bit hung over from the previous night out with the girls, so it was two up on the TA. Had a great ride down and always enjoy the forest roads, with their casual speed limits and wandering donkeys, pigs and ponies. Ticked off our first National park visit for the ABR Nature Rally 2011 and visited the Wildlife center there to snap some photo and watch the wolves for a while.

Ride back was a little chilly since we stayed until sunset, but still good to be riding and we soon warmed up after picking up a Chinese (meal) on the way home.