Complete Noob

[hellokitty]

:woohoo:
I am new to this style of riding - I got a 98 BMW F650 from Santa.
I am used to riding a 1200cc Harley Davidson Sportster, and I can't remember what is used to be like when I rode a 2 stroke dirt bike a million years ago.
One of my issues is that I can't hear the engine and am unsure when to change gear. Should I look at the revs? This is the first bike I have had with a rev counter.
It (obviously) handles very differently than the Harley, and being so quiet, it gets up in speed very quickly without me realising. The only noise I get is when we are moving fast.
I also get sore hands and forearms, so I need new handles? I am leaning too far forward it seems. Any idea on good handlebars?
Any tips in general? Thanks :facepalm:

[jrandom]

http://www.motott.co.nz/

:sunny:

[jrandom]

I am used to riding a 1200cc Harley Davidson Sportster

Yes. You can pretty much control a Sportster blind drunk with both hands tied behind your back. You've been getting away with not knowing how to ride; you'll have to fix that now that you've got a proper bike.


Should I look at the revs?

Yes.


I also get sore hands and forearms, so I need new handles? I am leaning too far forward it seems.

The F650 has an upright riding posture. You're not leaning forward and putting weight on your hands (although it might feel like it after getting off the Sportster), you're just death-gripping the bars. Loosen up.

[hellokitty]

Yes. You can pretty much control a Sportster blind drunk with both hands tied behind your back. You've been getting away with not knowing how to ride; you'll have to fix that now that you've got a proper bike.

The F650 has an upright riding posture. You're not leaning forward and putting weight on your hands (although it might feel like it after getting off the Sportster), you're just death-gripping the bars. Loosen up.

Yes I know I have to start riding properly now, and on gravel too - will be a challenge and I am looking forward to it.
I did have the noobie death grip on the ride home from the shop in the pouring rain and strong winds too - the lightness of the bike was a shock in the winds too - 100 kilos lighter apparently. I
do feel the grips are smaller to what I am used to, and the handlebars are straight bars, I think I need bars that come back more - I have short arms.

[jrandom]

the lightness of the bike was a shock in the winds too - 100 kilos lighter apparently.

The F650 is 75kg lighter, assuming your Sportster weighs the same as mine. The difference might also be due to the BMW being taller with a higher center of gravity.

Both nice bikes. I'd have an F650.

The Sportster would probably go better in gravel, though.


I think I need bars that come back more - I have short arms.

http://www.protaper.com/

[The Baron]

Hi

Yes look at the revs on this bike - keep the revs above 3000. If below 3000 change down.

I would ride it for a while before changing the bars IMO.

Congrats on the new bike.

The Baron

[hellokitty]

Hi

Yes look at the revs on this bike - keep the revs above 3000. If below 3000 change down.

I would ride it for a while before changing the bars IMO.

Congrats on the new bike.

The Baron

Thanks, I was wondering what revs I needed as I used to the loud volume of the Harley, and my old dirt bike was a 200 and would let you do whatever in any gear!
I will ride it for a little while with the existing handlebars and try to relax more.


The F650 is 75kg lighter, assuming your Sportster weighs the same as mine. The difference might also be due to the BMW being taller with a higher center of gravity.

Both nice bikes. I'd have an F650.

The Sportster would probably go better in gravel, though.



http://www.protaper.com/

Yeah the Sportster is fine in gravel, and is fantastic in the pouring rain on twisty roads.
The BMW is so tall, even with the suspension wound down. Easy to handle on the road, so we will see how I manage on gravel on my tippy toes...

[Padmei]

Sounds to me like you're not a complete noob but merely changed bikes. As you ride it more, like with your sporty, you will learn how to bond with it & what feels right.
I reckon the big difference as was pointed out earlier is how the weight is carried higher. I hve gone from a KLR650 which is very top heavy - I dropped it a lot when stopping & trying to do 3 point turns - to a old fat bmw which has its weight lower.

You will soon learn to love it. good luck

[jrandom]

Come to think of it, curiously enough, I've just gone in the other direction - 1988 DR750 to 1200 Sportster. I'd still have the DR750 but I blew it up.

Don't ride big singles like they're GSXRs.

<img src="http://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/167825_485653630676_618350676_6443073_8278285_n.jp g"/>

<img src="http://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/167064_485653605676_618350676_6443072_6381087_n.jp g"/>

What prompted you to get the F650?

[hellokitty]

Come to think of it, curiously enough, I've just gone in the other direction - 1988 DR750 to 1200 Sportster. I'd still have the DR750 but I blew it up.

Don't ride big singles like they're GSXRs.



What prompted you to get the F650?

I ride like a nana anyway! I have always like the look and the idea of the dual purpose bike. I have always had cruiser bikes and I vowed I would never have a Harley, but then I fell in love with mine. I have been going on and on for ages about wanting a BMW and when my husband decided to get rid of his Fury, he traded it for a Suzuki TL1000R and got my BMW as some cash as well. He was sick of hearing me go on and on.
It is a good looking bike that I know will be heaps of fun.

[Eddieb]

Wow, you must have a different Santa to me ;) Welcome.

[sinfull]

even with the suspension wound down. ... That comment worries me !!!

[hellokitty]

Wow, you must have a different Santa to me ;) Welcome.

Mr Hello Kitty got sick of me going on and on and on.... he got it to shut me up I think!


That comment worries me !!!

Why? Will it handle badly or will I damage it? Should I get it lowered? I am just too damn short.

[Ocean1]

I also get sore hands and forearms, so I need new handles? I am leaning too far forward it seems. Any idea on good handlebars?
Any tips in general? Thanks :facepalm:

Setup. If it's got a centrestand then put the bike on it, if not get someone to hold it from behind.

Sit on the bike, close eyes. Sit naturally, for most dirtybikes that means your arse is over your feet. CLOSE YOUR EYES. Reach out with your elbows slightly bent and put your hands at bar height. Unclamp the bars and roll them back or forward until the grips are as close as possible to your natural reach. There's a limit, don't roll the bars too far from standard. Once you're happy that the bars are as close as possible clamp them up again, (check the book, there's a procedure and a torque setting to use).

Unclamp the clutch and brake levers and re-nip them so you can move them easily but they stay put. Rest your fingers on the levers. Your fingers should be in line with your forearm, perhaps pointing down a little.

If none of that helps then go handlebar shopping, but give it a fair go each time you tweak it first.

[sinfull]

Mr Hello Kitty got sick of me going on and on and on.... he got it to shut me up I think!



Why? Will it handle badly or will I damage it? Should I get it lowered? I am just too damn short.
Not so much damage it but you should read through this (http://www.gostar-racing.com/information/motorcycle_suspension_set-up.htm) so you know how it works and why correct sags etc are important ! Dual purpose may be slightly different sags etc but someone will no doubt be along shortly who knows more than i as i'm not an off roader !

But to answer the should i get it lowered question, i'd say yes !

[Motu]

If the F650 has dirt bars they are set up for ''elbows out'', which is what you need for off road riding, and also works very well in gravel and twisty back roads - but which for road use will give pain from hands all the way to shoulder blades. Harden up, the dirt bike riding position is the best for all round control of a motorcycle.

After 10 years of adventure bikes and arm pain I set my airhead up with a dirt riding position using flattrack bars - the width,height and reach are exactly the same as an XT600,but the bars have a different wrist angle. I can now ride all day with no arm pain, a lot of that is because it's a BMW, but just the change in wrist angle is also a major part of it.

[Shewolf]

welcome hellokitty - may see you out and about no doubt, I'm also on the shore.

There's lots of rides available thereabouts and all over so we're bound to catch up.

Now most importantly - what colour did Santa bring?

[Woodman]

Welcome.

The other factor in riding position/handlebar placement is that it needs to be comfy when you are standing. Its a compromise, but then so is DP riding. Learn to ride standing, it is way way easier to control a bigger bike on gravel than sitting.

But in the mean time just get out and ride so you have some experience to compare the various set ups to.

[nzspokes]

Was that the yellow one I saw you looking at?

Im eyeing up the CB900 hornet they have.

[Beem02]

Congrats on getting the F650! What colour?

We've had 5 of these: 2x F650 classics (including a 1998), an F650CS, F650 Dakar, and SWMBO currently rides an F650GS single. They are great bikes and can take you pretty much anywhere in NZ if there's some sort of road or track involved - Just be aware they're not a light weight.

Some thoughts based on experience...

Re lowering: there is a wealth of info on the net if you want to spend the time working through it. See http://faq.f650.com/FAQs/LoweringKitFAQ.htm
(http://faq.f650.com/FAQs/LoweringKitFAQ.htm)My wife is shorter than me, so we tried the BMW lowering kit on our 1998 F650 - lowered it OK and quite significantly, but slowed the handling to a point where it didn't feel right, so we took the kit off. On her F650GS we have slipped the forks up (lowered the front) by about 15mm and keep the rear preload set soft but with damping turned up a bit - This works fine, with the handling good even when carrying lots of gear and one of the kids on the bike at highway speeds (but it may not work if you ride the bike hard out all the time). Getting the balls of both feet down is the key point, you don't need to lower so much that they are flat but that handling is also compromised.

Previous comments (Ocean1) on handlebar setup are on the money. Try some adjustments with the current bars while on centrestand. Bear in mind that lever positioning and therefore hand reach to the levers can be a factor in how it feels. The F650's should have you in a very natural riding style, sitting pretty much like on a chair (straight back, knees bent at right angles etc) the reach to handlebars will feel high if you have come off a sports bike, but low if from a cruiser.

If handlebar height is OK, but the reach is so far that your arms are straight and you are leaning forward, i.e. short arms, then it will be hard to keep relaxed and natural, elbows loose etc. And your riding will suffer a lot in side winds. In this case check out some handlebar risers, as some can offset the bars back towards you; or try a different handlebar bend, but as Motu said be careful when positioning or changing them so you don't get an uncomfortable wrist angle.

Good Luck

[hellokitty]

welcome hellokitty - may see you out and about no doubt, I'm also on the shore.

There's lots of rides available thereabouts and all over so we're bound to catch up.

Now most importantly - what colour did Santa bring?

Santa brought me a white one because it will not clash with my pink gear! Hahahhaha


Welcome.

The other factor in riding position/handlebar placement is that it needs to be comfy when you are standing. Its a compromise, but then so is DP riding. Learn to ride standing, it is way way easier to control a bigger bike on gravel than sitting.

But in the mean time just get out and ride so you have some experience to compare the various set ups to.

I am going to a friend's place tomorrow and I will take the bike for her husband to look at. I haven't tried standing up yet as there are so many other things to get used to and adjust!
I rode today and was much more upright than the last time, so I guess each time I ride it I will relax more.


Was that the yellow one I saw you looking at?

Im eyeing up the CB900 hornet they have.

Do I know you? Mr Hellokitty got a yellow sportsbike.... is that what you were thinking of? I meet people frm this site and I never know them by their KB name - what is your real name?

[hellokitty]

Hey Beem02 - the colour is white!
I was thinking about the handle bars while I was riding, and they seem to be the right height, they just need to come back an inch. Once I was aware of my posture and sitting upright, it was much better.
The major thing seems to be the skinny little grips. I can get my fingers all the way around the grips and they give me terrible hand pain (I have arthritis and carpal tunnel issues). On my Harley, I have these big Oxford heated handgrips which are very comfortable. I think I need to get new grips before I can even begin to thibk of handlebars. I rode for 15 minutes before I couldn't stand the pain.
I will have to go around the bike shops and see what fat grips I can get to fit.

[hellokitty]

Was that the yellow one I saw you looking at?

Im eyeing up the CB900 hornet they have.

Were you that guy that told me to ride it like I stole it?