RUST magazine: RUST #44

adventure
w
FUEL, AND
MORE FUEL
The pipes are generally so on
account of the rear tank. The whole
rear of the bike, where your average
air box, battery tray and rear fender/
number boards and pipe are is
given over to the carriage of fuel.
The rear tank holds 16 litres and is
served by its own pump, a switch
on the bars selecting whether you’re
drawing from this rear or one of the
9-litre fronts, which are sided and
again have their own pump, with
super trick carbon fibre protector
too.
The frame is a double lattice type
set up. I doubt this is purely a legacy
of the transition from the 690 days –
simply a snooty relic to distinguish
a rally bike from a lesser brethren,
I’d suggest its more to allow the
retention of the huge top-fed inlet.
I’d say the latter as the motocross
frames are more than man enough
to take the stresses of the rally bike
(as per the Drag’on bikes which use a
modified WR-F frame to fine effect).
Whatever, the frame is stunning
and the upper lattice also means
there’s no need for a lower cradle,
which means more room for the
underslung two-litre water tank,
integral to the huge carbon skid
plate and is also the best place for a
‘useless’ 2kg – nice and low. It does
mean the transition to a ‘stressed
engine’ set up, where the engine
takes an element of the forces
transiting through the chassis.
36
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