BMW F800GS - The 20,000 mile report

TheCowboy · 08-22-2009, 05:07 AM

I am on day 20 of a 21 day trip from Minneapolis to Seattle and return and will hit the 20,000 mile mark this morning.

So far I have only encountered two problems:

1. Runs rough and wants to die in the rain (fixed - move that little tube that hangs down from the engine and sucks up moisture from the pave)

2. No rear brakes - not sure why yet, BMW has looked at it and scratched their heads. Sometimes I have rear brakes, sometimes I don't.

Other then that the bike has performed perfect. I have done all the maintenance myself - no issues. Oh yeh, it did eat up a rear TKC80 in 2500 miles - the front TKC80 lasted 6000 miles - WTF-over?

Cowboy2

Gangplank · 08-22-2009, 08:27 AM

Great post. I have 3700 miles on mine in six weeks with NO problems. I sometimes also have the rear brake works good, other times kinda soft thing. Not sure what the dealio is there either. I suspect air in the line. Seems it is mushy when it gets hotter. Not 100% on that one. My rear fluid did go dark really quickly after new, so just thinking I'll blead them today.

But other than that the only problem I have with the bike is that I can't use it for everything I need to do. Doesn't hold much stuff when i go to the hardware store.

zaner32 · 08-22-2009, 04:21 PM

Could the rear brake issue be because of chain lube overspray??

I lube the chain with the bike running in first gear on the centerstand. Sometimes, a little bit gets on the disk. I take a clean rag with some brake cleaner sprayed on the rag and clean it up.

llamapacker · 08-22-2009, 04:49 PM

Hey Cowboy2, my wife and I met you two in Detroit Lakes as you were starting out.

I moved the tube over before our trip on wife's F650GS and no problems with the many rains we encountered on our trip.

4973 miles total for us. See ya.

huckleberry · 08-22-2009, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llamapacker

Hey Cowboy2, my wife and I met you two in Detroit Lakes as you were starting out.

I moved the tube over before our trip on wife's F650GS and no problems with the many rains we encountered on our trip.

4973 miles total for us. See ya.

What tube? and where do you move it to?

Ron Wardman · 08-22-2009, 05:56 PM

Just went passed 16K on my just completed ride on Vancouver IS. Very happy with the bike but have had one problem with the rear brake. I have it adjusted with a lot of free play but once in a while, for some reason, it heats up and causes an almost lockup. 3 times I have had to stop, remove the retainer piston clip and disconnect to allow it to cool down. I don't ride the brake as I am used to dirt riding and depend mostly on front braking, not wanting to lock up the rear. Any insight as this problem? Still using the original chain. Getting ready to replace the rear tire for the 3rd time.

blender · 08-22-2009, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huckleberry

What tube? and where do you move it to?

I'd like to read a good description or view a couple photos of this also. I did something similar on my KLR, however I just can't picture where is is on the F8GS.

The Griz · 08-22-2009, 06:04 PM

They're talking about the tube that hangs down off of the bottom of the charcoal canister. The end of it is down by the skid plate.

Bushwhacker · 08-22-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blender

I'd like to read a good description or view a couple photos of this also. I did something similar on my KLR, however I just can't picture where is is on the F8GS.

Read this thread on F800 riders -

http://f800riders.org/forum/showthread.php?t=25304

Long thread with lots of discussion and lots of photos and the final solution is not until near the end of the thread but basically put a T in the vent hose hanging down from the Charcoal Canister and run a line up high maybe under the seat.

That way you have the vent line hanging straight down for the canister to drain and the hose up high to suck air so only air comes in and it does not pull water up thru the hose hanging down.

llamapacker · 08-22-2009, 06:22 PM

The vacuum line comes off the bottom of the charcoal can and needs to be rerouted next to the kickstand to get it out of line of the tires.

The riders that go into water crossings, put a T fitting just below the can and route another vacuum line up under the seat so the vacuum will draw air and not water, but still be able to drain overflow fuel down the stock line.

It fixed the running in rain cutting out dying problem.

blender · 08-22-2009, 07:02 PM

Thanks all for the clarification. Perhaps even I (Mr. Mechanically-Challenged) will be able to find it and do the fix.

08-22-2009, 05:07 AM	#1
TheCowboy ^OP back in the saddle again Joined: Feb 2008 Location: The frozen tundra - Minny Sota Oddometer: 595	BMW F800GS - The 20,000 mile report I am on day 20 of a 21 day trip from Minneapolis to Seattle and return and will hit the 20,000 mile mark this morning. So far I have only encountered two problems: 1. Runs rough and wants to die in the rain (fixed - move that little tube that hangs down from the engine and sucks up moisture from the pave) 2. No rear brakes - not sure why yet, BMW has looked at it and scratched their heads. Sometimes I have rear brakes, sometimes I don't. Other then that the bike has performed perfect. I have done all the maintenance myself - no issues. Oh yeh, it did eat up a rear TKC80 in 2500 miles - the front TKC80 lasted 6000 miles - WTF-over? Cowboy2

08-22-2009, 08:27 AM	#2
Gangplank Advenchaintourer Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Reno/Tahoe NV 89509 Oddometer: 2,028	Great post. I have 3700 miles on mine in six weeks with NO problems. I sometimes also have the rear brake works good, other times kinda soft thing. Not sure what the dealio is there either. I suspect air in the line. Seems it is mushy when it gets hotter. Not 100% on that one. My rear fluid did go dark really quickly after new, so just thinking I'll blead them today. But other than that the only problem I have with the bike is that I can't use it for everything I need to do. Doesn't hold much stuff when i go to the hardware store. __________________ Shiver'd Fork Conversion Elka Suspension Group Buy Precision Trackdays Reno NV

08-22-2009, 04:21 PM	#3
zaner32 In over my head Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Moncton Oddometer: 621	Could the rear brake issue be because of chain lube overspray?? I lube the chain with the bike running in first gear on the centerstand. Sometimes, a little bit gets on the disk. I take a clean rag with some brake cleaner sprayed on the rag and clean it up. __________________ 97 DR350SE 09 F800GS "When nothing goes right, go left!

08-22-2009, 04:49 PM	#4
llamapacker Studly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2007 Location: Doyline, Louisiana Oddometer: 876	Hey Cowboy2, my wife and I met you two in Detroit Lakes as you were starting out. I moved the tube over before our trip on wife's F650GS and no problems with the many rains we encountered on our trip. 4973 miles total for us. See ya. __________________ 2013 HyperStrada 2012 Super Tenere For Sale 09 Monster 696 (wife's bike)

08-22-2009, 05:56 PM	#6
Ron Wardman Beemerguy Joined: Aug 2004 Location: South Oregon Coast Oddometer: 249	16,000 Just went passed 16K on my just completed ride on Vancouver IS. Very happy with the bike but have had one problem with the rear brake. I have it adjusted with a lot of free play but once in a while, for some reason, it heats up and causes an almost lockup. 3 times I have had to stop, remove the retainer piston clip and disconnect to allow it to cool down. I don't ride the brake as I am used to dirt riding and depend mostly on front braking, not wanting to lock up the rear. Any insight as this problem? Still using the original chain. Getting ready to replace the rear tire for the 3rd time.

08-22-2009, 06:04 PM	#8
The Griz North Forest Rider Joined: Nov 2008 Location: Minneapolis, MN Oddometer: 3,650	They're talking about the tube that hangs down off of the bottom of the charcoal canister. The end of it is down by the skid plate. __________________ PAUL BUNYAN FOREST RIDERS MC 2013 KTM 300 XCW 2012 KTM 990 Adventure R

08-22-2009, 06:22 PM	#10
llamapacker Studly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2007 Location: Doyline, Louisiana Oddometer: 876	The vacuum line comes off the bottom of the charcoal can and needs to be rerouted next to the kickstand to get it out of line of the tires. The riders that go into water crossings, put a T fitting just below the can and route another vacuum line up under the seat so the vacuum will draw air and not water, but still be able to drain overflow fuel down the stock line. It fixed the running in rain cutting out dying problem. __________________ 2013 HyperStrada 2012 Super Tenere For Sale 09 Monster 696 (wife's bike)

08-22-2009, 07:02 PM	#11
blender Just another rider Joined: Jul 2004 Location: The Middle Coast Oddometer: 691	Thanks all for the clarification. Perhaps even I (Mr. Mechanically-Challenged) will be able to find it and do the fix. __________________ Steve Madison, WI

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