Australasian Dirt Bike — January 2018

http://www.adbmag.com JANUARY 2018 | 149

Vin ce

Strang’s DR

km

Vince’s current DR650 bristles with trick

gear. The emphasis with his latest one was

on strength, weight reduction and compliant

suspension to handle as many sand whoops

as he could throw at it. Gone is the Jebtech

rally fairing he fi tted on his previous bike,

which has been replaced by a VSM

windscreen to save a few kilos.

“Last year, while riding the technical

Carson River Track, I realised I needed a

lighter, simpler bike for that style of hard

riding. While the last DR was great in the

more open going with the Jebtech fairing,

I’m not getting any younger,” he says.

Small things add up, so he removed all

the switchgear and replaced it with light,

simple switches, commissioned a fork brace

from MSC to run instead of steering damper,

fi tted an LED headlight bulb instead of an

accesory lightbar and swapped out the

popular Giant Loop pannier frames for a

lighter, lower stainless steel pannier rack

system that centralises mass.

“We were able to reduce a lot of high-up

weight, making the bike easier to ride in

very hard terrain,” he says.

The bike is running a modifi ed DR-Z250

fork but Vince is considering returning to a

DR650 one with Plex Valves, heavy-duty

springs and MSC preload adjuster caps.

The suspension has been lowered slightly

as Vince’s legs are getting worn down.

2017 trix

• Pirelli Scorpion Rally front tyre with
  extra-heavy-duty tube


• Takasago Excel rim laced to RAD gold hub
  (mostly for looks)


• Oversize disc rotor with BF Goodrich
  braided brake line


• VSM/MSC forkbrace


• DR-Z250 fork with .48 springs


• Polisport front guard


• VSM LED headlight bulb


• VSM windscreen
  
  
  • 12V power outlet on headlight shroud
  
  
  • Ignition switch/steering lock removed
  
  
  • Custom acrylic dashboard with LED warning
    lights, ignition switch and grip-heater switch
  
  
  • Renthal 7/8-inch high-bend handlebar with
    no raisers or adaptors, to save weight
  
  
  • Acerbis Multiplo handguards
  
  
  • Acerbis folding mirrors
  
  
  • VSM grip heaters
  
  
  • ProTaper dual-compound handgrips
  
  
  • Acerbis 20L or 25L tank depending on
    range required
  
  
  • Sargent seat
  
  
  • Acerbis plastic sumpguard
    
    
    • Staintune full stainless exhaust system
    
    
    • VSM shock upgrade with 8kg spring (may
      swap out for Vince’s ’97 Safari Ohlins)
    
    
    • 12V USB “live” outlet under sidecover
    
    
    • Custom-made stainless steel rack and
      pannier support brackets
    
    
    • VSM sprocket guard/case saver
    
    
    • VSM rear chainguide support plate
    
    
    • VSM footpeg lowering kit with Mk 2
      PivotPegz fi tted
    
    
    • VSM LED numberplate holder
    
    
    • Rear Excel rim laced to RAD hub. Dunlop
      D606 with extra-heavy-duty tube
    
    
    • Front and rear lowered slightly
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

(^0038904)
Vince is running a skinny handlebar Trailtech Endurance II computer Revalved shock runs stiffer spring Polisport mudguard is tougher