ADV350 - Ask me any questions
- Thread starter ADV
- Start date
That's interesting.
What are the best modifications or changes have you made to the bike for your travels?
Tyres?
Spotlights?
Luggage?
Protection?
I like the bike too, and if I were to downgrade from a V-Strom now, I would go for that bike, or perhaps a Zontes?
What are the best modifications or changes have you made to the bike for your travels?
Tyres?
Spotlights?
Luggage?
Protection?
I like the bike too, and if I were to downgrade from a V-Strom now, I would go for that bike, or perhaps a Zontes?
I'll come back tomorrow and answer each of your questions with photos. It's getting a bit dark to take photos to illustrate today.
Tyres
I haven't found the need to switch from the excellent sticky stock tubeless Metzler Karoo Street. They suit my riding style and terrain in the mountains and on faster roads.
Costs about ฿5000 balanced and fitted for a pair front/rear.
These tyres have excellent alround grip in wet and dry conditions, allowing for serious scratching with a good safety margine. I do not pretend this is an off road tyre although I do venture onto single track clay and loose fine gravel.
From the attached photo you will see what appears to be a single large central tread block. When the tyre is new this is actual two tread blocks (but wears down to one).
The rear tyre has 3.5mm wear left before the wear indicator is reached. Front tyre has 2mm remaining before the minimum wear indicator. The pair has covered about 12,000km. No odd tyre cupping wear to report.
In the dry season I'd have no problem running the tyre to about 17,000km. However, in the wet season I'm about ready to change now.
This is because I can feel the tyre starting to struggle to shed water. Also, now a bit squirrelley on bitumen imperfections, which doesn't occur with a less worn tyre (before it wears to a big single central tread block).
(Rear tyre)
(Front tyre)
I like to treat tyres as good insurance, replacing early (other than dry season) to help ensure optimum contact patch adhesion for staying upright.
I've had one oooh moment fanging it on Paradise Road in a 90km/hr bend when the rear tyre let go briefly. But traction was regained by a quick body shift . One other time was a low speed sharp inclined corner with a scattering of dry bamboo leaves. The rear tyre slipped out but as soon as it was off the leaf litter it bit in hard to the bitumin surface.
These tyres give me confidence that only my stupidity will let me down.
I haven't found the need to switch from the excellent sticky stock tubeless Metzler Karoo Street. They suit my riding style and terrain in the mountains and on faster roads.
Costs about ฿5000 balanced and fitted for a pair front/rear.
These tyres have excellent alround grip in wet and dry conditions, allowing for serious scratching with a good safety margine. I do not pretend this is an off road tyre although I do venture onto single track clay and loose fine gravel.
From the attached photo you will see what appears to be a single large central tread block. When the tyre is new this is actual two tread blocks (but wears down to one).
The rear tyre has 3.5mm wear left before the wear indicator is reached. Front tyre has 2mm remaining before the minimum wear indicator. The pair has covered about 12,000km. No odd tyre cupping wear to report.
In the dry season I'd have no problem running the tyre to about 17,000km. However, in the wet season I'm about ready to change now.
This is because I can feel the tyre starting to struggle to shed water. Also, now a bit squirrelley on bitumen imperfections, which doesn't occur with a less worn tyre (before it wears to a big single central tread block).
(Rear tyre)
(Front tyre)
I like to treat tyres as good insurance, replacing early (other than dry season) to help ensure optimum contact patch adhesion for staying upright.
I've had one oooh moment fanging it on Paradise Road in a 90km/hr bend when the rear tyre let go briefly. But traction was regained by a quick body shift . One other time was a low speed sharp inclined corner with a scattering of dry bamboo leaves. The rear tyre slipped out but as soon as it was off the leaf litter it bit in hard to the bitumin surface.
These tyres give me confidence that only my stupidity will let me down.
Spotlights
I am using Lobo L11 for night riding and Lobo L7 for daytime running lights.
The Lobo comes with a during harness that includes a rotary dial to adjust the power level. High-low switching is independent of the ADV350 headlight switch, which is a bit of a pain, but I've got use to it now.
Night riding in the mountains has become so much fun that I often make nightly mountain commutes between Thoed Thai and Maesai just for the fun of it.
I purchase an extra yellow lenses cover for the Lobo L11 as they didn't come with the yellow lenses cover that the L7 did.
The Lobo were expensive, but I have no regrets purchasing them.
They have significantly extended my riding pleasure during both high and day.
Also, other vehicles do move out of the way for me, or don't pull out so often into my path, with the lights on.
Purchased from Lazada.
I am using Lobo L11 for night riding and Lobo L7 for daytime running lights.
The Lobo comes with a during harness that includes a rotary dial to adjust the power level. High-low switching is independent of the ADV350 headlight switch, which is a bit of a pain, but I've got use to it now.
Night riding in the mountains has become so much fun that I often make nightly mountain commutes between Thoed Thai and Maesai just for the fun of it.
I purchase an extra yellow lenses cover for the Lobo L11 as they didn't come with the yellow lenses cover that the L7 did.
The Lobo were expensive, but I have no regrets purchasing them.
They have significantly extended my riding pleasure during both high and day.
Also, other vehicles do move out of the way for me, or don't pull out so often into my path, with the lights on.
Purchased from Lazada.
Luggage
Im using a generic top box only just big enough to fit a full faced helmet.
The mounting rack is Revolution (brand) forged aluminium. I think the rack is a crazy overweight over engineered lump of aluminium.
With hindsight I'd have preferred a lighter rack option.
In the dry season there is enough cavernous space under the seat to store light rainproof jacket, shoes, clothes and toiletries to tour for weeks (without heavier rain season gear).
Touring in the rainy season I use an additional (small size) Lobo waterproof bag, which comes supplied with excellent elastic straps and buckles.
Rack and topbox purchased locally. Lobo bag purchased from Lazada.
The luggage volume works perfectly well for me with this combination.
Im using a generic top box only just big enough to fit a full faced helmet.
The mounting rack is Revolution (brand) forged aluminium. I think the rack is a crazy overweight over engineered lump of aluminium.
With hindsight I'd have preferred a lighter rack option.
In the dry season there is enough cavernous space under the seat to store light rainproof jacket, shoes, clothes and toiletries to tour for weeks (without heavier rain season gear).
Touring in the rainy season I use an additional (small size) Lobo waterproof bag, which comes supplied with excellent elastic straps and buckles.
Rack and topbox purchased locally. Lobo bag purchased from Lazada.
The luggage volume works perfectly well for me with this combination.
Protection
I am very happy with the light weight (3kg) quality engineered Hepco and Becker crash bars.
I originally purchased Thai made bars from a manufacturer recommended to me. Unfortunately the weight was over 9kg. The welding quality poor. The metal form bending meant the whole bike was stressed into a new shape in order to fit. These bars went straight to the scrap metal recycler.
The Hepco and Becker bars are by no means 'crash protection' because the ADV350 has pathetic mounting points. H&B acknowledge this themselves, calling the bars styling bars. However, they are good enough to mount the Lobo lights securely.
The bars have two mounting points on either side. There a little bit of flex movement when hiting potholes at the front of the bar. This caused the Lobo brackets to make contact with the ADV350 fairing. I have sove place silicone adhesive pads on the contact points.
I really like the scale (tubing diameter) size of the H&B bars. They don't look like construction scaffolding strapped to the bike.
They were expensive but worth the styling and quality. Purchased from the Thai H&B importer (special order).
I am very happy with the light weight (3kg) quality engineered Hepco and Becker crash bars.
I originally purchased Thai made bars from a manufacturer recommended to me. Unfortunately the weight was over 9kg. The welding quality poor. The metal form bending meant the whole bike was stressed into a new shape in order to fit. These bars went straight to the scrap metal recycler.
The Hepco and Becker bars are by no means 'crash protection' because the ADV350 has pathetic mounting points. H&B acknowledge this themselves, calling the bars styling bars. However, they are good enough to mount the Lobo lights securely.
The bars have two mounting points on either side. There a little bit of flex movement when hiting potholes at the front of the bar. This caused the Lobo brackets to make contact with the ADV350 fairing. I have sove place silicone adhesive pads on the contact points.
I really like the scale (tubing diameter) size of the H&B bars. They don't look like construction scaffolding strapped to the bike.
They were expensive but worth the styling and quality. Purchased from the Thai H&B importer (special order).