Prospecting Vehicle

[Asmbandits]

Hello all, I posted this on my journal thread but wanted to share with the crowd here as well. This is my Prospecting vehicle, a 86 Honda reflex trl200 trials bike towing a custom sherpax trailer. All ca plated with working lights, able to carry whatever I may need down some trails that you could only walk or ride a motorcycle down due to width. I added a lot to the trailer as they don't come with everything I have on mine. I upgraded my gps as well to a garmin inreach explorer that's tied to the phone via bluetooth that allows me to view all sorts of different map and data combos. The trailer will fit an entire 2" water pump inside with the lid closed!

 

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[Bodfish Mike]

Totally awesome -- and half the fun is going to be the ride. Had the same bike for a short time and sold to a friend for cheap.
Also be careful what goes down must come up or vice versa.

 

[Asmbandits]

Totally awesome -- and half the fun is going to be the ride. Had the same bike for a short time and sold to a friend for cheap.
Also be careful what goes down must come up or vice versa.

The first time down was a bit scary, going down was actually harder and I was for sure over loaded but I made it in and out thankfully.. The trick is to keep the load as low as possible, if you start going high with the load it will wanna wobble., but with a normal load you can hardly feel it until you start hitting some serious hill climbs.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Are you thinking about some sort of protection for your metal detector hung on the side? One thrown rock in the wrong place, or a limb catching it would probably ruin your day. I wish I had the money for a rig like that - Wow!

 

[Asmbandits]

Are you thinking about some sort of protection for your metal detector hung on the side? One thrown rock in the wrong place, or a limb catching it would probably ruin your day. I wish I had the money for a rig like that - Wow!

Yeah I don't plan on leaving the detector there, just though it looked good and was better than the bar or pick axe or wood axe etc. I probably should have mentioned that originally. I tired to space the mounts to be as versatile as possible so I can carry most any two hand tool I think.. It is pretty pricy but I'm a motorcycle guy at heart and for the right person in the right situation it is worth every penny.

 

[Duckshot]

Are you thinking about some sort of protection for your metal detector hung on the side? One thrown rock in the wrong place, or a limb catching it would probably ruin your day. I wish I had the money for a rig like that - Wow!

What he needs is a tooled leather two-peice fitted scabbard mounted vertically behind the seat like it was a rifle.

That'd be cooler than what he's got now, not that what he's got ain't cool enough already.

 

[mytimetoshine]

Thats pretty Cool man. Innovative! I dont recall ever seeing a trailer rig set up on a bike like that.

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[winners58]

Watch out, California F&G wardens might consider that a "suction dredge"

 

[mytimetoshine]

Watch out, California F&G wardens might consider that a "suction dredge"

Ha!

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[et1955]

Very illegal in most places in my state where there is gold that is why I got an electric bike witch is legal, nice cargo carrier and set up.

 

[mytimetoshine]

Very illegal in most places in my state where there is gold that is why I got an electric bike witch is legal, nice cargo carrier and set up.

is Tesla gonna build a dirtbike? Game changer lol

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[Asmbandits]

Watch out, California F&G wardens might consider that a "suction dredge"

That's funny right there!

 

[Asmbandits]

Thats pretty Cool man. Innovative! I dont recall ever seeing a trailer rig set up on a bike like that.

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There are three different companies using similar designs, Sherpa by kipmoto, motomule and there is one more I remember but don't recall there name. Sherpa in my opinion got it right, the other two aren't built for the ruff terrain. I had been researching this for a while, had planned to build my own but never got around to it. Someone skilled at metal fab could easily build one.

 

[Asmbandits]

What he needs is a tooled leather two-peice fitted scabbard mounted vertically behind the seat like it was a rifle.

That'd be cooler than what he's got now, not that what he's got ain't cool enough already.

That would be really sweet for sure if you could make it work! The riding experience is so nice, no cargo bouncing you around on the bike. I was going to buy a rack made for the bike I had found and still might, just for some extra carrying ability if need be.

Im also adding a USB/12v combo outlet to the handlebars to charge the phone and gps and I can even charge my drone batteries this way. It just showed up in the mail today.

 

[Bejay]

The nice thing about a bike vs a quad is that a single lane trail is looked upon as OK by the Gov Agencies (less than 4 feet wide). A walking/hiking trail is considered OK and not frowned upon. (of course they don't like motorized...so the tracks can often tell a story). A quad leaves two lanes showing; and the agencies don't like quads (motor vehicles). Then, with the two track lanes the agencies measure and if over 4 ft wide they call it a road....and they frown upon people making roads on the public lands they administer. At least that has been my personal experience. Years ago I rigged my Honda 125 trail bike to have racks on the front and rear. I could carry my 3 inch dredge system on it and get down a old mule trail to my spot....about 3/4 of a mile. Nice to see you got something going along those lines.

Bejay

 

[delnorter]

Very nice Amsbandis. Could you take afew picture of it without it loaded? Does the trailer articulate some way? Up / down, side to side?
Mike

 

[Asmbandits]

The nice thing about a bike vs a quad is that a single lane trail is looked upon as OK by the Gov Agencies (less than 4 feet wide). A walking/hiking trail is considered OK and not frowned upon. (of course they don't like motorized...so the tracks can often tell a story). A quad leaves two lanes showing; and the agencies don't like quads (motor vehicles). Then, with the two track lanes the agencies measure and if over 4 ft wide they call it a road....and they frown upon people making roads on the public lands they administer. At least that has been my personal experience. Years ago I rigged my Honda 125 trail bike to have racks on the front and rear. I could carry my 3 inch dredge system on it and get down a old mule trail to my spot....about 3/4 of a mile. Nice to see you got something going along those lines.

Bejay

This is along the line I'm thinking as well. There are a bunch of hiking trails that I could go down but rather not cause any issue I know people would have an issue with it. I try to avoid the foot trails if possible, the majority of trails I take this thing down now are on blm land or designated ohv. The good thing about this rig particularly is its so ridiculously quiet (actually has a aftermarket exhaust system that makes it quieter) sounds about the same as small honda generator. Also its geared so low and has super soft trials tires that leave virtually no footprint and does not disturb the ground of the trail no more than a mountain bike if that.

 

[Asmbandits]

Very nice Amsbandis. Could you take afew picture of it without it loaded? Does the trailer articulate some way? Up / down, side to side?
Mike

Here are some photos as I went while modding that will give a better look at the trailer itself. Also threw in a pic of the cheap $69.00 bike version we started off with that led me to this better version. The bike version actually held up and worked but wouldn't last long. I also included a pic of how I use to have to carry gear lol..

 

[delnorter]

Thanks Asmbandits, really cool.

Mike

 

[Bejay]

This is along the line I'm thinking as well. There are a bunch of hiking trails that I could go down but rather not cause any issue I know people would have an issue with it. I try to avoid the foot trails if possible, the majority of trails I take this thing down now are on blm land or designated ohv. The good thing about this rig particularly is its so ridiculously quiet (actually has a aftermarket exhaust system that makes it quieter) sounds about the same as small honda generator. Also its geared so low and has super soft trials tires that leave virtually no footprint and does not disturb the ground of the trail no more than a mountain bike if that.

In the 60s and 70s the Honda trail bikes were very quiet. I always geared mine with the smallest front sprocket possible and the largest possible on the rear. I also used the largest rear tire possible and the bike would crawl/creep. I never tore up the trail and often would conceal my tracks if they showed. I utilized a historic mining trail that pre-empted FLPMA and I had historic maps that showed the trail....(public right of way). I still use the trail today, but with a quad. The USFS District ranger and a bunch of staff (along with the county sheriff deputy) came and had a meeting about the quad access trails that had also been developed to access other areas. They wanted the other quad trails hidden and not used, but the historic trail could not be closed as long as we maintained only 4 ft width. Quiet is a key issue, along with maintaining "no fire debris hazards". So we clean the trail every spring of dead woody limbs etc. Access maint is a valid form of assessment work. All trails and roads that pre-empted FLPMA are open for use if one knows how to proceed and be respectful of the land....at least that is how we have maintained our access for 38 years. At the end of our mining occupation we drag some big logs over the trail to keep others from tearing them up; who usually romp around, having a good old time tearing things up. Just a little insight as to how we have managed to utilize historic access. One need only read the mining laws to realize the access issue has justifiable merit, and maintaining that access plays a key role in assessment work.

Bejay