The new bmw800gs

[awayatc]

BMW are very arrogant indeed... (lack of) dealerships through NZ are a weak point.

[warewolf]

The problem is that BMW don't want to share the dealership with any other brand.

More dealers = higher costs, esp per bike sold
Sharper price = lower margins

Ain't gonna happen.

[Ruralman]

The problem is that BMW don't want to share the dealership with any other brand.

More dealers = higher costs, esp per bike sold
Sharper price = lower margins

Ain't gonna happen.

Well they should try a lot harder to get a dealership in Dunedin to service the southern area. I like the look of these bikes as well but stuffed if I will go to ChCh to buy a new bike (I would a second hand one) and be so far away from the dealer to sort out any niggles - or to get a test ride.

I would like to know how they rate as a pillion perch?? - they look to me that they would be great for the solo back country rides but not as good as the Tiger for a well loaded up, two up, trip??

[Kokopelli]

My wife has bought an F650GS/2, It's a neat bike. She can just manage it with a low seat and the forks slightly pushed through. We didn't want the low suspension model. She had the single with a low suspension and that bottomed out getting onto the Rainbow, not to mention the Old Man Range.

The new F650GS is a very capable gravel touring bike and that's all we were expecting. The engine is great. It's still got a clunky first gear. I would consider the The F800, but I already have an R800 and I don't mind dropping that.

I got to ride the F650 today, as both my other bikes are out of action. Just goes to show, that two bikes aren't enough. At least the R80 had the courtesy to break down within pushing distance from home. I guess the clutch rod is toast, but I've got a ride to go on, on the 25th of April :-).

[pampa]

I saw one today, it looket to me that the front suspension is not adjustable (pretty cheap if not), is that correct?

Cheers,
Pampa

[Kokopelli]

I saw one today, it looket to me that the front suspension is not adjustable (pretty cheap if not), is that correct?

Cheers,
Pampa

Yep, not adjustable.

[pampa]

I wonder why BM sells 'quality' bikes with cheap suspension. Mine has the cheapest forks that Marzocchi has, according to a guy on Advrider who call the factory ...

Yep, not adjustable.

[Kokopelli]

I wonder why BM sells 'quality' bikes with cheap suspension. Mine has the cheapest forks that Marzocchi has, according to a guy on Advrider who call the factory ...

To make more money? At least the stock suspension was easy to ditch on the 1150, but I guess good forks would be spendy.

[pampa]

They certainly would (don't even think on buy BM). The rear shock for my bike (not the an air one) is about US$900 and even the springs for the front are relatively expensive (original is not progressive either) ... unless u can by from another bike but then u need to make them fit which is OK but on not on a bike that's reasonable expensive ...

To make more money? At least the stock suspension was easy to ditch on the 1150, but I guess good forks would be spendy.

[Phreaky Phil]

My wife has bought an F650GS/2, It's a neat bike. She can just manage it with a low seat and the forks slightly pushed through. We didn't want the low suspension model. She had the single with a low suspension and that bottomed out getting onto the Rainbow, not to mention the Old Man Range.

The new F650GS is a very capable gravel touring bike and that's all we were expecting. The engine is great. It's still got a clunky first gear. I would consider the The F800, but I already have an R800 and I don't mind dropping that.

I got to ride the F650 today, as both my other bikes are out of action. Just goes to show, that two bikes aren't enough. At least the R80 had the courtesy to break down within pushing distance from home. I guess the clutch rod is toast, but I've got a ride to go on, on the 25th of April :-).

What went wrong with your R80 ?

[Kokopelli]

I am not sure yet. All of a sudden the cable went slack and the clutch would no longer disengage. The cable is fine of course. I've pulled the lever off the back of the transmission and removed the spring an that little plastic barrel. The rod won't budge.

If I have time I'll pull the swing arm on Saturday and possibly the transmission. I hope it wasn't the result of some oversight when I changed the clutch. It had been working rather well up until yesterday.

[Phreaky Phil]

I thought you may have the problem I had a few years back where my clutch did the same thing. On a hot day my clutch disengaged then stuck in that position. After some fidling, and may be because it cooled down it released. Then stuck again !!!! Once I got it unstuck I rode home without using it. The plastic plug thingys are known to swell slightly and cause sticking. I had a whisker machined off mine and havent had a problem since. If the push rod part of yours is jammed then it may be something more sinister

[Kokopelli]

I've just spent the day working on the R80GS. I had the transmission out again, but everything looked fine. The clutch rod was ok. The little barrel with the bearing showed signs of wear and its little housing had a slight step worn into the sidewall. The was a bit of gunk in the barrel housing. I assume that came from the barrel itself, as it must have been spinning inside the housing. As I had a new clutch cable, I installed that on assembly.

Well, everything is up and running again. The clutch lever takes more force to pull than it needed before, but it does its job. I guess I'll have to have a bit of faith in the clutch, while doing the 42nd again