Siberia/Mongolia/stans 2020. Gotta get my bike ready to ride!

skibum69

Well-Known Member
So...first off I'll blame Bob for this thread and the RR that should follow as he's the one who put me up to starting these threads for a little something different.

How this story began. RTWPaul and EvergreenE stopped in here for a week a couple of summers ago when they were still together touring around on their DR650's. We had a fun time and I really enjoyed meeting the man behind the RR's I'd been reading on ADV for years. Really good guy who lives on his bike, literally, and has many stories to tell.

Time moves on and about a year ago Egle and Paul split up while in South America so Paul's plans changed...again. He started dreaming big and planning a massive offroad route around the world. In one of my conversations with me he told me he was heading back to Siberia as the last time he tried it was under water from severe flooding. He asked me if I wanted to join him for that trek. Hmmmm...let me think about that. For about a minute!

Here we are many months later and I'm pretty much committed despite my financiial situation, when the hell is this opportunity going to come around again?

His next step was to change bikes again as he wanted something more dirt capable and lighter for the next round of adventuring, he decided to go with a KTM 500EXC as there are a couple of guys already out there doing RTW style riding on them proving they are up to the task. That's cool by me as my 525 is basically just an earlier version and mine still has very few KM's on it.

My '07 525XCW was built for the '08 Dakar but that was the one they cancelled. The bike went to Lisbon but was never raced so almost no miles on it. It has spent too much time in the shop so even now I doubt there's 2000 km's on it. This 6 speed machine is fun as shit and will wheelie in 3rd gear!

How I got it, ready to race!
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Paul knows bikes! He used to have a custom bike building shop in Vegas, I've seen some pics and they were pretty cool if you like that sort of thing. He has done numerous builds for various applications and on his 3rd trip around the world he knows how to build them for the long haul. Makes things a lot easier for me as I'm just mimicking his build to get mine set up for the run.

He sent me his list of build bits and I already had quite a few mods but there's still plenty to go. If you're interested in what he did to get his ready check out his build thread. He also has a current RTW RR up on ADV.
https://advrider.com/f/threads/adventurizing-a-ktm-500exc-for-rtw-riding.1369978/

Here's my blank slate, a little more blank then I'd like at the moment.
Current setup, what's wrong with this picture?
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The tank is an MDX but not big enough, I think I'll be looking for the 25l Ascerbis super tanker.

I was draining the oils to pull the clutch and three very little ball bearings and a piece of race came out. Damn!
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Keith at the Toy Box and I examined the parts diagrams and could not find that bearing anywhere! A chat with a 525 guy in Vegas put me onto the water pump. I have a new one coming in the mail. In preparation...

A side benefit to pulling this lump out is that it will be much easier to learn how to adjust my valves. I managed to put my 640 motor back in and get running so I think I can do this one too.:p
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A Pro Moto Billet side stand was on the list, got that covered.
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billet clutch cover, it was ready to go on my bike for Dakar but didn't
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Not on Paul's list but I already had these CJ Designs light mounts. I have a set of Twisted Throttle D1 lights that were on my 640 which I may put on here. We're not planning to be riding at night but shit happens.
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To be continued...
 
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