Australian FJ Rally 19th March 2016.

[Arnie]

You've still got lots of room in that top box.
Fill the extra space with 1/2 a slab of your favorites :-)
And you can take 3 or 4 of the products from the wineries near Harrietville back to your Mrs 

[Troyskie]

Whilst we're on 'what to take', what not to take, any suggestions on tank bags?
I've read a variety of opinions & it's 20 odd years since I last had to choose one, so my preferences are likely very old hat.

[Troyskie]

Got my shirt, so even if I forget EVERYTHING else, I'll have that, (Lime green and hot pink  )

[roverfj1200]

Whilst we're on 'what to take', what not to take, any suggestions on tank bags?
I've read a variety of opinions & it's 20 odd years since I last had to choose one, so my preferences are likely very old hat.

I have used this one for years. I removed the bottom section. Holds on the tank with the magnets and want scratch as long as you keep it clean.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MotoDry-Tank-Bag-TRIPLEX-3-STAGE-DESIGN-Waterproof-Motorbike-Motorcycle-/251141846133?hash=item3a79387475:m:mUZV2AIo2AQncvBPMio5zaA

[X-Ray]

I bought a tank bag very similar to the one Richard lists, from Aldi when they had their bike accessories specials. So far top quality, 3 layer bag, think I paid around $70.00.

[ribbert]

Whilst we're on 'what to take', what not to take, any suggestions on tank bags?
I've read a variety of opinions & it's 20 odd years since I last had to choose one, so my preferences are likely very old hat.

Troy, tank bags are a bit like oil and tyres, everyone has different opinion on what's best and most will recommend whatever they have.

As you know, I do a lot of trips and a tank bag is a very important part of my kit. It's like the centre console in the car. Somewhere you can instantly lay your hand on frequently needed items. Not stuff I won't need until I've finished for the day.

I have an expensive ($200), large, expandable tank bag with all the usual features. After using it for a while I ditched it in favour of a smaller one. IMO tank bags are not something to increase your luggage capacity but somewhere to stow readily retrievable items such as phone, glasses, camera, wallet (even fags, if you're one of those despicable smokers) etc. The large one was too wobbly to wrangle the waterproof zips while riding, and the stuff you need gets lost in the stuff you don't need if you use it for general luggage, the wallet gets lost among the socks and jocks and I don't generally need an underwear change through the day, however there was this one time when I went for the brakes and.............

I think I was the original user here of the Givi Tanklock system and many have since joined in. The ring permanently mounts around the filler cap and the bag simply snaps off the ring with a press of the lever. I have done probably 100,000 km's with this including dropping the bike a few times and knocking it off without damaging the integrity of the fastening system. It's one of those things I have positive thoughts about every time I use it, particularly when re fuelling.

I have two of these Givi bags, large and small, and while I prefer the small one, the purchase of a larger camera may force me back to the larger one when travelling. Either way, they both use the same fitting, I can swap them around as needed. The small one now lives on the bike permanently for general use, not just trips.

What prompted me to buy this particular bag originally was the no contact with the tank (paint) My tank has original paint in very good nick and the last thing I wanted to do was scratch it up with a tank bag.

Regardless of the paint though, I like the speed and interchangeability of the fastening system, it takes me less than 1 sec to remove it and less to refit it.

I no longer need a map pocket on the top of the tank bag. I used to carry a paper map of the general area I was riding through but can't recall the last time I referred to one and unless I'm going somewhere without coverage which is rare, I have substituted an ipad for the paper map.

Google maps planning, good GPS programming and ipad back up (large format map viewing) have virtually eliminated the need for paper maps, and it's so much better.

Many here refer to the fun of poring over a paper map at a coffee stop on the road being a lot of fun. Nostalgia aside, the fun is finding the best route and like it or not, the net beats maps hands down at this task. I can even switch to satellite, zoom in and check out the road surface, sealed, unsealed, one or two vehicle width etc. No contest! And, I'm an old fart!

Luddites need not respond. Like the rest of you, I used paper maps all my life but I embraced modern technology and moved with the times in this area, it makes riding way more fun. I have ridden more new roads and discovered more new places in the last 10 years than I found in the previous 40 thanks to the internet. Many of these places were simply un findable on paper maps and ultimately, it's all about the riding. I stopped seeing the fun in trying to read a rain soaked map in front of the headlight in a gale in the middle of nowhere a long time ago.

I'd rather be riding than trying to figure out where the fuck I am, where the fuck I want to go, or how the fuck I get there.

Troy, you can buy GPS's for pocket change these days, don't bother with the bike specific unit, just get a car one, they will tolerate a surprising amount of rain or invest $10 in a weather proof clear sleeve for it, I have one for the phone to use in my jacket pocket.





As you can see, there is no contact with the tank.

Look up Givi Tanklock bags, they have probably expanded the range by now.

Troy, the bottom line is, it depends what you intend using it for. Different folks have different ideas of their function.

Then there's the option of garbage bags ocker strapped to the tank.........


Heading off for 6000km trip in '73. Oh how clothing and luggage has changed. I made that sissy bar just for the trip. The reason for space behind me was for a pillion I was picking up on the way and taking as far as Brisbane, with his luggage as well!



Off the shelf bike luggage was virtually non existent then.

My mother had dozens of these photos of me leaving on trips and only told me late in her life that standing there at 4.00am in -2c temps in her purple fluffy slippers and dressing gown that she believed the odds were high that it might be the last time she saw me, sad really. As a young bloke I was not even remotely tuned into this.
Now, as the parent of kids with a love of adventurous activities I have some understanding of the hell I put my parents through, my poor mum!

Noel

[Troyskie]

Great info fellas.
Noel, I looked up the Givi info & there might be a problem with the fit of the tank lock bag to the 1100 as the tank cap is forward compared to the 1200, plus the fuel cap doesn't have the outer ring that the 1200 does, so fitting the permanent ring might be an issue.
Right now I'm not too stressed about minor scratches on the tank of the 1100 as it will require a fair bit of work later in the year.
For this exercise I'm probably going to look at a cheap, temporary solution, so it might be one of the magnetic jobbies.
As I've a room booked, (and hopefully a room on the way from Pete's), I might just go with the old gear sack rack & what ever cheap tank bag I can find.

Another question. As I'm not crossing Oz, or riding much alone, what basic tools/spares on top of the basic spanners, screw drivers, spark plug socket, oil, chain lube, cable ties, and bailing wire should I plan to take?

I could go super basic and take some changes of clothes and my credit card  .

[Urban_Legend]

Noel. You use a clear plastic film on your tank don't you?  If not I am sorry,  but do you know where it is available from and how hard it is to apply.  It might be good for us 1100 owners who use tank bags and are afraid of scratches.

Mark

[ribbert]

Noel. You use a clear plastic film on your tank don't you?  If not I am sorry,  but do you know where it is available from and how hard it is to apply.  It might be good for us 1100 owners who use tank bags and are afraid of scratches.

Mark

Yes Mark, I have used it on my tank for years on trips or big day rides.



This is the tank after peeling it off.'

I bought a kit from "Tank Slapper" pre cut for the FJ but if it ever needs replacing I would just buy a square metre of it and cut it out myself.

It is most commonly called static cling film, it is cheap, readily available and commonly used in all sorts of industries.
It has no adhesive and can be applied and removed repeatedly with just a mist of water onto the area you want to apply it to first, smooth it out, job done. I have cycled my many times over many years and it's still great.



Showing film applied to tank. The spots are air bubbles I no longer worry about pressing out.

It is thin enough to conform to these curves but thick enough to maintain its shape. In Winter I soak it in hot water for a couple of seconds to soften it up a little, makes fitting it to shapes easier.

A quick look on eBay shows it is widely available and cheap. You could also try a local sign making shop for an off cut.
It is a generic product. probably from someone like 3M.

You can imagine what my paint would have looked like after thousands of kilometres of this with no protection. My pants legs were also solid with gritty clay



When you get home just peel it off, stick it on the window (otherwise you'll never find it again) till next time.

I also have a piece for the top of the tank I don't use and one for the top of tail I now wished I had.

You idea of using for temporary protection under the tank bag is excellent.

Noel

[X-Ray]

Great ideas re the clear film, well worth doing (something I should do)

I love your great go anywhere attitude with the FJ Noel. I have to say it would be a cold day in hell before I went cross country with my FJ and had it covered in muck like that photo. Of course it all cleans off etc, but I would buy an adventure bike for that. 

[Urban_Legend]

Just ordered some clear wrap and some carbon look stuff. Should be here early next week, Going to use the carbon stuff to cover the battle scars on the fairing. hope it all works.

[rlucas]

I love your great go anywhere attitude with the FJ Noel. I have to say it would be a cold day in hell before I went cross country with my FJ and had it covered in muck like that photo. Of course it all cleans off etc, but I would buy an adventure bike for that. 

They're all adventure bikes. It just depends on your mindset. 

[Urban_Legend]

So no roads like this on the way to The rally XRay

[ribbert]

I have to say it would be a cold day in hell before I went cross country with my FJ and had it covered in muck like that photo.

It's only mud Ray and those sort of trips make waaaay better memories and enough screen savers to last years.

Below is the bike a few days after returning from that trip (a few days cleaning that is!)

[Nova]

GPS, iPhones, and Google maps have yet to replace paper maps in one significant way. You can't lay one out in the ground while you work on your bike on the side of the road to catch that nut you WILL drop multiple times and curse yourself for dropping over and over. Not that I would know anything about that.