Beautiful pictures!! I visited Spain for the first time last summer, next time I hope to have a motorcycle to ride out there. There's some beautiful country out there.
Hey spanish biker, really great pics. I really have to visit the Pyrenees asap. Btw, is this your Valkyrie on the last 2 pictures? Do you still have it? I'd never sell mine. Iknow, ther are no XCos on the pic, but here's a pic of my wife, me and our dog with our Valks
Nope, I've never owned a Valyrie, in fact that's not my wife either :) We're old frends who lost touch years ago and ran into each other last San Juan (Midsummer fiesta) in a village in the middle of nowhere weird, spooky, etc.! BTW, that landscape looks somehow familiar - where were you? Regs Simon
You've got to believe it - spain has to be one of the best places in Europe for biking - so many different landscapes and climate for one thing - then there's the food . . . If you want some inspiration follow my tour of 2011, most of the images come from that. Last year I 'did' north to south but got too far behind with the reports, must make up for this sometime soon :) Regs Simon
Actually I wanted to go out for a ride today, but due to some massive partying yesterday with a few drinks I decided it would be better to do the spring cleaning on my xco. After being done with that I still had some time and pulled out my ´84 Gilera and polished it up a little bit. Tomorrow I´getting my new TKC´s for my xco and then I´m heading for a ride through the black forest next weekend. https://warmbronner.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/bmwxco/28797741_DrTp59#!i=2445006757&k=bwBdQHJ https://warmbronner.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/bmwxco/28797741_DrTp59#!i=2445006916&k=sgx2xdJ https://warmbronner.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/bmwxco/28797741_DrTp59#!i=2445007521&k=RgnNJBG
I´d like to know if the apparently lower 2009 seat has a different part number from the 2007-08. Could owners of both model years please post here the seat part number? I need to know if I can achieve the lower seat height of the 2009 model in a 2007 model by swapping the seat. It will also be interesting to find out if they differ in shape and how this changes the riding position!
Welcome Rosa. Others have researched this for their own needs, I haven't... but from what I've read, this will get you started: The 09 was lowered via: 1) a shorter fork and lowered clamp position, 2) a shorter shock, and 3) the seat being thinner (am I missing anything?). If you look at the microfiche you can see that the part number on these items are different between these models. The fiche shows the wrong picture for the seat so I'm not sure about those part numbers myself. Many riders wanting the best model for off road usually want the 07 because it has longer suspension, it sounds like you have an 07 but ideally you should be on an 09 since they made it shorter just for buyers like you! For the fork and shock: the fiche shows the 07 fork as 894 mm and the 09 fork as 869 mm. And the shock: 07 is 337 mm and rear 320 mm. The affect on seat height is not direct but a calculation based on geometry. The seat itself is the same basic shape but is thinner where the rider sits on it. I have the 07 and find it comfortable (yet don't like the "bucket seat" feel where the passenger's seat is higher). Yet many (big?) guys with an 09 seat find it very uncomfortable, but you might not. Occasionally people here want to swap seats due to their height so you might try that (of course then there is shipping $$$ :) ALOS: Be sure you have maximized your adjustments: - Shock: At the bottom the "eye" is adjustable that sets the length of the shock (and ride height) so loosen the locknut and make sure it is set to be as short as possible (no threads showing, as in left side of picture below). You can also use the big black knob at the top of the shock to decrease the preload as much as possible which puts less preload pressure on the shock spring so it will sag more when you sit on it. Decreasing preload lets the shock bottom more easily, so this assumes your weight is light enough that you won't bottom the shock when you ride offroad - if you do you might have to investigate this more and it is a separate issue (DAMHIK). - Forks: Optionally, you can lower the bike by lowering the front fork where they are clamped in the triple clamps (so more fork tube sticks out at the top). This will affect the geometry of the bike and the way it handles, not that this will be dangerous necessarily but I'm saying it as a standard warning. Shock mods: - Note: Anytime you change a shock to lower ride height by decreasing the preload, this increases the "rider sag" (the amount the bike sags down when you sit on it), and remember that you also lose that amount of travel in the shock (it will bottom the shock sooner). More of a problem for rough off road use. - It might be possible if you are a lightweight rider, to have your shock spring changed to a lighter spring if that is what it needs. Or ask here if anyone wants to sell an 09 shock cheap. It is really a crappy shock for rough offroad use (except maybe for lighter riders) so many have taken them off and are just sitting around their garage (mine has a blown preload so don't ask me :). - If you get serious about this ($$$) you can also buy a very high quality aftermarket shock from Wilbers, HyperPro or Yacugar that will fit this bike but can be made much shorter, in fact to almost any spec you want. I have been on a Wilbers but am now trying out a Yacugar. The cheapest ones are their emulsion model (no separate reservoir) which mount easily and handle street and lighter off road use. I'm gonna guess they start at maybe $600 (not sure). See my SHOCKS page for more info. Here is a pic of the OEM shocks for the 09 (top) and 07:
Snooker, I did some research, but wow, your input covers more than everything I should know about the model differences! Let me explain my dilemma: I am 5'3", I have a factory lowered 2010 F650 GS and I struggle with it. It is heavy and I can´t flat foot on every situation - in uneven surfaces off road, this means falling. This bike is simply too big for me, because only the shock is lowered - the distance for my arms to reach the handlebar and the handlebar height are not ideal for my size. When I am on the highway it is excellent, the 800cc twin engine is fantastic - but for manouvering and controlling at low speeds, cornering, etc - it is a challenge. My previous bike was a F650 CS so I am familiar with the 650cc thumper engine. I liked it a lot, but I discovered the wonderful world of "GS", so I don´t want a naked bike anymore - I want a dual sport bike!! So I am considering the X Country for my "GS" use: a 50-100 miles highway ride, then a not too challenging off road route. My friend is selling his 2007X Co and I did a quick urban test ride. I can only tiptoe, but I could see potential for lowering. However, I´ve found the seating position a bit too forward and over the "tank". Perhaps standing on the pegs offroad this won´t make a difference, but in street use, it felt like my previous bike, the Kawasaki KLX 250 SF (motard). At the moment there isn´t a 2009 model available (there are very few units in this country), so this is why I asked about the 2009 seat shape. I know it´s easy (but costs $$$) to replace the seat, but considering also the lower shocks, forks and seat height, do you think I should wait and test the 2009 model when one becomes available? Did you have the chance to ride the 2009??
My wife is also 5'3", we have a 09 XC. The bike has been lowered even further than the factory lowering of the 09. We used a wilbers kit to replace the front spring and lower the rod inside. The rear has a Wilbers also which lower the bike correctly and evenly. What we did to check the effects of lowering the bike without investing money yet we put some wood 2X4 pieces under her feet and another attempt was to remove the seat and sit on a towel placed over the frame rails and tank. The wilbers lowering kit would also fit a 07, you would be installing a much shorter shock and springs than stock.
Decided to put bar risers and heated grips on the xcountry on the weekend. To fit the bar risers(15mm), I had to relocate the throttle cable to give a bit of freeplay. I had a bit of an issue undoing the bolts to on the clamps and had to remove the top of the airbox. Fitting the heated grips worked out ok, ran a switching wire for the relay off the parking light in the headlight, put everything back together, ran the bike, everything worked, grips heated up, all good. Started bike tonight and it ran like a pig. Will only idle for a few seconds, if I blip the throttle, it will backfire, keep running then stop. It will start again straight away, just same result. Disconnected all my electrical work, same result. Battery is on a trickle charger, so should be ok. Reading some posts, batteries can be a problem. I have had the bike for just a few months and have no idea how old the battery is. Are the symptoms a battery problem? I had to disconnect the battery during the electrical work, but I have done this before with no problems. Any ideas?
Ok, so for lowering purposes the 07 model should be fine (but I still want to see the ergonomic difference of the 09 seat!) Where did you order the Wilbers kit in the USA, and it is custom made for height/weight?
I hope this picture makes the difference visible. Left is a '09 with standard height. The 09 seat is not only lower than the 07, especially towards the faux tank. It's a lot narrower too, about 4 cm, so it's much easier to flatfoot the bike.
Hi, when you order a Wilbers shock they ask you your weight, height, etc, plus what style of riding you do, how much luggage you carry and how often you do this, whether to tale a pillion, etc, etc. I'm delighted with mine - but it's amangly sensitive, you have to remember to change the pre-load under all circumstances, payload, etc. Regs Simon PS it also takes a long delivery time, at least 3 weeks here in Europe, so possibly more across the Pond :)
Check to make sure nothing pulled loose (hoses clamps etc) when the top of the airbox was removed.you can also try a thfottle reset mabey.
I see the difference, and I prefer narrower! So it looks like the 09 seat is the one listed in the BMW microfiche as "narrow bench seat", part number 52537716855 - if you can confirm... I also saw in the Wilbers catalogue that I can lower an 07 either 50mm or 75mm, whereas the 09 can only be lowered 40mm (but the 07 factory fork is shorter than the 09). I will do another test ride on the 07 to find out how much lowering I´d need and decide whether I should wait for an 09 to come up for sale (God knows when!) or grab my friend´s ´07! Will keep you posted...
Check your battery voltage first to see if the battery is OK. Sounds like you may have an intermittent battery connection. Check the battery cable connections and look at the cable lugs. When BMW mashed the battery in there, the lugs get bent at odd angles and may fail after time.
Thanks for the ideas.Throttle reset is open and close throttle with ignition on after battery has been disconnected and reconnected, then switch off? Have done that if that is the correct sequence.I have not checked the earth connection on the battery, will check that tonight. Starter turns over ok, will check voltage during cranking tonight. What should it stay at? Was going for a ride on Saturday, maybe now on the 800. Still fun, but not as much!
The stock seat is terrible. I would not keep the X bike if I had to keep the stock seat. I went with a Corbin that I ordered with extra dishing and a little more scooted back. Mine is an '09 and Im 6'2" tall. The stock shock with a stronger spring works fine for me and with preload tightened up I have to stretch to flatfoot it. I dont jump clay pits or ride it like a 250. I do a lot of off-road running but it's not the dry, hard rocky type desert terrain. My set-up works great for me. I use the bike more as a - Dual Sport. For me that means all conditions - high-speed highways, sporty curvy roads, in-town errands, dirt trails and dirt roads. The little bike does great. I often do some long-distance running, interstate etc, to get to the off-road stuff and the bigger front sprocket is terrific. The Corbin seat (after rare washing) - Long-distance dual-sport ride (tent, sleeping bag/mattress and week's cothing) - Rocky climbing trails- Fun on the curves-
Not trying to overdo the pics, guys. Just trying to keep the thread going here ! X - C - O ........ X - C - O All together now- XCO XCO