BMW G650X Challenge Thread Index

[jonnyc21]

Originally Posted by mcgarrett

I'm close to pulling the trigger on an X-Challenge that was just fitted with an Ohlins rear shock. For most folks this might be good news, but I'm inseam-challenged (30") and have concerns about being able to lower that shock. I sat on Butters' bike with the stock air shock lowered a bit with no issues, and I've already bought the BMW low seat to help even more. The dealership is willing to swap out the Ohlins for another shock that I'd buy (maybe a Hyperpro), and they won't charge labor. Also, I'd have a practically new Ohlins to sell.

I don't really know much about suspensions and I'd be dependent on a shop for any tinkering. That being said, any guidance or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Michael

I have an x challenge, olins, low seat and a 30" inseam. The only time I ever had an issue was doing some singe track and tried to step down on the low side to ketch myself, didn't work out so well but I was fine. It did take a few to get use to only putting down one foot at stops or bing up on my toes but over all I love the bike. Good luck making your choice.

[Powershouse]

I guess it's more of a frame question than a seat question, but there are two prongs on the frame which the middle part of the seat hooks onto when the seat is installed - can someone tell me what the correct gap is between the frame and prong? I think mine have been smooshed.

[aprilian]

I don't have the bike handy, but the grooves in seat should catch on the two hooks. Mine were bent over because the PO didn't know how to slide the seat forward to hook the seat. You can experiment with yours, I think mine are about 1/2" clearance between the frame and underside of the hook. Let me know if you need more since I'm somewhat local to you.

[DESERT SCORPION]

I don't know the exact height of the prongs, but I distinctly recall that the upper part of the prong (not including the lead in tab at the tip) should be roughly parrallel with the top tubes of the subframe. Mine got squashed by my friendly dealer during service. You would think that the knuckleheads would have realized something wasn't right when it was so hard to latch the seat. I discovered the problem when I tried to remove the seat. I almost broke the key off trying to release the latch. It finally popped, after I put considerable downward pressure on the seat while turning the key. I bent the prongs up to not quite parrallel, as I was afraid of cracking them. The seat still goes on, and now it feels like it has less slop than when new.

THE SCORPION

[mcgarrett]

Originally Posted by The Jester

A suspension specialist will be able to deal with adjusting the shock but my advice would be to try the bike first for a few weeks and see how you cope with it. What may seem high initially will soon feel normal and the low seat does make a lot of difference.

Should you consider the airshock, I wouldn't recommend lowering the pressure to lower the ride height though as the shock will still go to full extension whenever you unweight the suspension, including on braking resulting in the bike pitching forward. It does work well but only with the pressure set correctly for the weight of the rider giving the correct amount of sag.

After talking to Touratech, it sounds like they set up that particular shock for a hypothetical 250lb rider when they sold it to the dealer. They recommend getting the shock re-sprung because I weigh around 135.

[noisytoys]

Originally Posted by Powershouse

I guess it's more of a frame question than a seat question, but there are two prongs on the frame which the middle part of the seat hooks onto when the seat is installed - can someone tell me what the correct gap is between the frame and prong? I think mine have been smooshed.

Also, by sitting on the misplaced saddle on the prongs, the slots in the saddle will be pushed inward so its even harder to engage properly.
I slid a small wooden strip into the slot and applied gentle heat with an airgun, so gently opening up to original dimensions.

[mcgarrett]

Originally Posted by mcgarrett

After talking to Touratech, it sounds like they set up that particular shock for a hypothetical 250lb rider when they sold it to the dealer. They recommend getting the shock re-sprung because I weigh around 135.

I put down a deposit on the bike. They're going to re-spring it for me, and I should have it in a few weeks. Now for the adventurizing wish list...

[jonnyc21]

I love mine, and wish you the best with the new bike! congrats!

[dantroop]

Originally Posted by dantroop

I finally filled the new tank with gas and took it out for a test run. 2.3 gallons. It seems the cap is not vented so I'll get one in the next few days. After opening the aux cap after 16 miles there was gurgling then the level of gas went down. Only ran about 38 miles today.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just filled up both tanks yesterday. 223 miles before the light came on. took 4.2 gal. This was with quite a bit of freeway miles. Vented cap arrived today and is working great. Averaging 60 mph, range should be around 260 miles.

[gumbellion]

Im thinking about giving the KTM aux tank a try on my Xch, but am hoping to get a little more info on the mounts, what they look like, what you guys did to fit them, etc.
Im planning to get some H&B luggage racks this summer too, so will have to mount it so it wont interefere.
If you guys who have done it have pics of the mounts off the bike, measurements, etc It would be greatly appreciated.
Any fab work I think I will have to pay to get done, so have to figure out what it will take
Thanks

[Royal Tiger]

Originally Posted by dantroop

Just filled up both tanks yesterday. 223 miles before the light came on. took 4.2 gal. This was with quite a bit of freeway miles. Vented cap arrived today and is working great. Averaging 60 mph, range should be around 260 miles.

Sweet!! I have the same black KTM tank Butters has on his XC. Riding it like I stole it, I got 200 miles on only 3.08 gallons. Plenty of fuel left.

[MizzouRider]

Followed a guy on a wr250 yesterday. Where the ice was melted, the mud was pretty deep. I found when you are really in deep, slick mud, the X feels a bit heavier, or maybe I'm just getting old..

[Butters]

Originally Posted by gumbellion

Im thinking about giving the KTM aux tank a try on my Xch, but am hoping to get a little more info on the mounts, what they look like, what you guys did to fit them, etc.
Im planning to get some H&B luggage racks this summer too, so will have to mount it so it wont interefere.
If you guys who have done it have pics of the mounts off the bike, measurements, etc It would be greatly appreciated.
Any fab work I think I will have to pay to get done, so have to figure out what it will take
Thanks

Really the only pics I have are what is posted in Post #4280. http://advrider.com/forums/showpost....postcount=4280

It works great, but if I was starting over I would do things differently. I started trying to make a universal mounting system that would work separate from the HB racks. That way, anybody who wanted to add the tank could just copy my mounts. While I think that could still be done, the project got longer and I just wanted to get the tank on. I think you will save a lot of time and aggravation by just mounting it to the racks, assuming you get them first. That can likely be done by using simple flat aluminum or steel stock and round clamps. Tim's (TBarstow) mounting system is an excellent example, although he has the TT racks rather than the HB, but the principle is the same.

With the HB racks, assuming you don't want to modify the body or fender, it is a very tight fit. You need to mount it as far back and as high as possible to avoid contact with the chainguard. (Unless you can cant the bottom of the tank outward to clear.). The tank only weighs a couple pounds and even the expanded version probably only holds 10 pounds of gas. You could probably get away with just the top mounts,

I know I had some measurements I can try to find, but they were rough and there was a lot of on the fly modifications. Let me know if you want different pics or specific measurements.

That said, I think it's one of the best mods. 200 miles for 200 bucks is pretty good in my book.

[Niedz]

Originally Posted by MizzouRider

Followed a guy on a wr250 yesterday. Where the ice was melted, the mud was pretty deep. I found when you are really in deep, slick mud, the X feels a bit heavier, or maybe I'm just getting old..

maybe chalk it up to my inexperience but that ice looks scary as hell.

[tbarstow]

Originally Posted by gumbellion

Im thinking about giving the KTM aux tank a try on my Xch, but am hoping to get a little more info on the mounts, what they look like, what you guys did to fit them, etc.
Im planning to get some H&B luggage racks this summer too, so will have to mount it so it wont interefere.
If you guys who have done it have pics of the mounts off the bike, measurements, etc It would be greatly appreciated.
Any fab work I think I will have to pay to get done, so have to figure out what it will take
Thanks

Originally Posted by Butters

Really the only pics I have are what is posted in Post #4280. http://advrider.com/forums/showpost....postcount=4280

It works great, but if I was starting over I would do things differently. I started trying to make a universal mounting system that would work separate from the HB racks. That way, anybody who wanted to add the tank could just copy my mounts. While I think that could still be done, the project got longer and I just wanted to get the tank on. I think you will save a lot of time and aggravation by just mounting it to the racks, assuming you get them first. That can likely be done by using simple flat aluminum or steel stock and round clamps. Tim's (TBarstow) mounting system is an excellent example, although he has the TT racks rather than the HB, but the principle is the same.

With the HB racks, assuming you don't want to modify the body or fender, it is a very tight fit. You need to mount it as far back and as high as possible to avoid contact with the chainguard. (Unless you can cant the bottom of the tank outward to clear.). The tank only weighs a couple pounds and even the expanded version probably only holds 10 pounds of gas. You could probably get away with just the top mounts,

I know I had some measurements I can try to find, but they were rough and there was a lot of on the fly modifications. Let me know if you want different pics or specific measurements.

That said, I think it's one of the best mods. 200 miles for 200 bucks is pretty good in my book.

If you look at my pics, the TT pannier loop sticks out a lot further than the HB loop does. This allowed me to mount the tank further back and higher up. I had no clearance issues with the chain and sprocket.

By the time you messed around enough making a kit to install a tank that the purchaser has to modify for an out of production bike, to fit a number of different combinations, it will end up like the first proposed rotomolded plastic tank.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showp...postcount=4273