New Owners - Stupid Questions Thread

[CaliKarl]

Originally Posted by JRWooden

+1 I think ...
If BMW didn't think that extra bleed screw was needed they would not have put it there...

I've not seen a "twin" that without ABS installed,
but on at least other BMWs the non-ABS bikes do NOT have a bleed screw on the master cylinder ...
just the one on the caliper ......... so there is something going on there ...

Try tying in the lever overnight ... you've got nothing to loose there ...???

Otherwise you might need to take the master cylinder off and get it to a machine shop?
A good shop should be able to remove the busted bleed screw.
If you decide to go that route I'd buy/take a new bleed screw with you that way the machinist will have the dimensions of the replacement part which may help him/her select the most correct EZ-out or whatever their tool of choice would be...

Guess what: I zip-tied the lever overnight as you suggested, and the brakes are back to normal. But, a big butt, they are quickly getting diluted, spongy and weak again. So air is getting in somewhere, correct? And by zip-tying it, it expunges that air. Let me know how to proceed. Cannot take it to a dealer; not for a month or so, at least. Thanks all.

To JRWooden: Going to Westwood now, on the GS. Playing tennis at the stadium courts.

[CaliKarl]

Originally Posted by CaliKarl

Guess what: I zip-tied the lever overnight as you suggested, and the brakes are back to normal. But, a big butt, they are quickly getting diluted, spongy and weak again. So air is getting in somewhere, correct? And by zip-tying it, it expunges that air. Let me know how to proceed. Cannot take it to a dealer; not for a month or so, at least. Thanks all.

To JRWooden: Going to Westwood now, on the GS. Playing tennis at the stadium courts.

Hmmm....

[JRWooden]

Well... that's interesting ...................

This is just my uneducated opinion, but I think you've got air in the system and since the bleeder on the master cylinder is inoperative ... I'm not sure how you'll get it out. More time with the zip-tie could not hurt ............

If you take it to the dealer I expect they will install a new master cylinder ... they are likely not equipped to repair one, and even if they were, the service manager might not want to do so on account of legal concerns....

How did it come to pass that the master cylinder bleeder became uncooperative?

[CaliKarl]

Originally Posted by JRWooden

Well... that's interesting ...................

This is just my uneducated opinion, but I think you've got air in the system and since the bleeder on the master cylinder is inoperative ... I'm not sure how you'll get it out. More time with the zip-tie could not hurt ............

If you take it to the dealer I expect they will install a new master cylinder ... they are likely not equipped to repair one, and even if they were, the service manager might not want to do so on account of legal concerns....

How did it come to pass that the master cylinder bleeder became uncooperative?

The bleeder by the reservoir is stripped - that's all. Wrong size wrench, I suspect. The reservoir guard, by Wunderlich, was hit when the bike went up an embankment, nearly 11 ft., and tumbled back down to the road. But hey! Zip-tying the brake helped enormously. Thanks again for your advisement.

[JRWooden]

Originally Posted by CaliKarl

The bleeder by the reservoir is stripped - that's all. Wrong size wrench, I suspect. The reservoir guard, by Wunderlich, was hit when the bike went up an embankment, nearly 11 ft., and tumbled back down to the road. But hey! Zip-tying the brake helped enormously. Thanks again for your advisement.

If the hex is just rounded off I'll bet you can buy a new bleeder screw,
put a pair of vice-grip pliers (or maybe a 6-point socket could be pounded on)
on the old bleeder and get it out of there.

Install the new one and life might get good?

I "shouldn't" be installed with all that much torque... famous last words...

[dmasliah]

So I started to put my rear tire back on after changing to a new TKC80.
I noticed that the inner brake pad had fallen out and was hanging by the pin. I could not get it back in, so I pulled the pin and replaced the brake pad. However , it fell out again when trying to replace the tire.
I noticed that the clip thingy that holds the pad in was bent.
So I took both pads out, put the tire back on, then replaced the pads. ( Clip is in) The brake disk now keeps the pads in place, and Everything Seems to work OK.
Do I need to replace that clip thingy now, or can I wait till I change the tire again?
Thanks, Dan

[peripateo]

Well, after 190 miles and one week of ownership, I've already dropped her. I was doing some slow-speed practice up on the pegs in some rough grass and while attempting a small radius turn, she decided to take a break and laid down. Thankfully, the Touratech upper and lower crash bars did their job!

But, hey, it's a GS. I suppose you'll drop it eventually if you're riding it the way they are made for. Amirite?

[4TooMany]

Originally Posted by peripateo

But, hey, it's a GS. I suppose you'll drop it eventually if you're riding it the way they are made for. Amirite?

If it makes you feel any better, I dropped mine at the end of the ride coming home from the dealer after I picked up the bike. Literally 15 miles on it!! My foot slipped off the center stand as I was lifting it up, and over it went. My wife ran and hid because she thought I was going to freak out. But yeah, it's going to happen sooner or later, might as well get it over with quickly.

[grndzr0]

Anybody know of some cheap aftermarket bars that fit the 650 twin? Or does anybody have some stock F8 bar mounts they want to get rid of?

Wife took a spill or 2 this weekend, and her bars are looking like they belong in a Dr. Sues book.....

Ryan

[grndzr0]

Originally Posted by dmasliah

So I started to put my rear tire back on after changing to a new TKC80.
I noticed that the inner brake pad had fallen out and was hanging by the pin. I could not get it back in, so I pulled the pin and replaced the brake pad. However , it fell out again when trying to replace the tire.
I noticed that the clip thingy that holds the pad in was bent.
So I took both pads out, put the tire back on, then replaced the pads. ( Clip is in) The brake disk now keeps the pads in place, and Everything Seems to work OK.
Do I need to replace that clip thingy now, or can I wait till I change the tire again?
Thanks, Dan

I would just wait until you have it apart again. It just holds the pads in place while the rotor is out.

Ryan

[grndzr0]

Originally Posted by 4TooMany

If it makes you feel any better, I dropped mine at the end of the ride coming home from the dealer after I picked up the bike. Literally 15 miles on it!! My foot slipped off the center stand as I was lifting it up, and over it went. My wife ran and hid because she thought I was going to freak out. But yeah, it's going to happen sooner or later, might as well get it over with quickly.

Thats why Im a proponent of having the crash bars installed at the dealer!!!

Ryan

[Loutre]

Originally Posted by 4TooMany

If it makes you feel any better, I dropped mine at the end of the ride coming home from the dealer after I picked up the bike. Literally 15 miles on it!! My foot slipped off the center stand as I was lifting it up, and over it went. My wife ran and hid because she thought I was going to freak out. But yeah, it's going to happen sooner or later, might as well get it over with quickly.

[Sutherngintelmen]

Originally Posted by grndzr0

Anybody know of some cheap aftermarket bars that fit the 650 twin? Or does anybody have some stock F8 bar mounts they want to get rid of?

Wife took a spill or 2 this weekend, and her bars are looking like they belong in a Dr. Sues book.....

Ryan

I bought these for my f8gs when my bars absorbed too much energy. Don't know if there's difference with 658 so will guess not and prolly wrong.

Here's the thread but pics all deleted by Apple.

If you have bmw oem hand guards you will need to set a helicoil for threaded insert and tap for hand control mounts.

[PA Slammer]

Originally Posted by grndzr0

Anybody know of some cheap aftermarket bars that fit the 650 twin? Or does anybody have some stock F8 bar mounts they want to get rid of?

Wife took a spill or 2 this weekend, and her bars are looking like they belong in a Dr. Sues book.....

Ryan

When I bought my F800GS a few years ago as a demo with 3000 miles on it, the bars were a little torqued, higher on one side than the other. Before I purchased it I asked that they be replaced. They ordered the bars and had them shipped to me. While I waited for them to be delivered, I started to look and see what I would have to do to replace them. I then noticed and subsequently researched that the bars have a bit of play in them at the mount to allow for adjustment. After loosening the bolts, adjusting bars and retightening them, they were perfect. I can't believe the dealer didn't know or try this as it was the owners daily commuter.

So long story short, I have a new pair of bars without a scratch on them. I have the receipt as well somewhere. I tried selling them once, but unless you need them, nobody wants to buy them.

I believe I priced them for $225, but I'll have to check. Whatever I priced them for, it was less than what they were new. PM me and we'll work something out. I'm 30 minutes south of Pittsburgh if we're anywhere close. As well I'm planning a ride to visit (set tires in) all 37 states south and west of PA in Oct. So if you want to wait and meet up somewhere that may work. Or we'll just look at shipping costs.

PA Slammer

[4TooMany]

Originally Posted by grndzr0

Thats why Im a proponent of having the crash bars installed at the dealer!!!

Ryan

I was going to, but I don't like the BMW crash bars. I put SW-MOTECH crash bars on it 3 days later.