New 2012 F658GS just about finished

[SDDinNH]

My new lowered F650GS is just about done. This will be an 80/20 bike (mostly paved - some dirt and fire road) so I decided to do it with mostly BMW parts. The dealer made me a deal on the bike and the parts if I did that. It was the next to the last F650 he had, but I liked the color and didn't want an F700 because I was afraid of not being able to readily find add-ons for it. I know how much you guys like pictures so.....









Sergant seat (under the Alaska sheepskin)
BMW handguards, belly pan, crash bars, nose extension, vario-luggage (top case was already mine off a R1200GS that I had), R1200GS mirrors (also mine from a previous bike), F800 touring windshield, and custom cut / re-welded center stand.

Still to go next week, 16 tooth front sprocket and a mount to put the Nav IV off my R1200RT on it and that will finish it up until it's time to do the rear shock.

In the meantime, I've had it 4 weeks and put 3000 miles on it.

[Loutre]

first of all: congratz!

second: how do you like that windscreen

[SDDinNH]

I like it a lot.

It keeps the wind off my chest and still allows nice clean air flow over my helmet. It's not too obtrusive, allows a good clear view of the road ahead, and doesn't interfere with lock to lock steering. Basically everything you could ask of a windshield.

[Loutre]

Originally Posted by SDDinNH

I like it a lot.

It keeps the wind off my chest and still allows nice clean air flow over my helmet. It's not too obtrusive, allows a good clear view of the road ahead, and doesn't interfere with lock to lock steering. Basically everything you could ask of a windshield.

oh yeah? May I ask how tall you are? I test rode this screen for 700kms and it was the worst screen i've ever seen. It was noisy, didn't help at all coping with the wind. At the end I put the original back on before going with the TT windshield.

[SDDinNH]

5'-9

I guess it's all a matter of how the parts work for each individual as they build their bikes. What suites me may not suite you at all and visa-versa. Probably more true for windshields and seats than for any other part

[Dieselpwr]

For what you paid for those BMW parts you could have gotten better quality aftermarket stuff. Specially the crash bars, skid plate, and windshield. Aftermarket crash bars come up higher and protect the plastics.

[Loutre]

Originally Posted by Dieselpwr

For what you paid for those BMW parts you could have gotten better quality aftermarket stuff. Specially the crash bars, skid plate, and windshield. Aftermarket crash bars come up higher and protect the plastics.

Hey comon his choice. He's got a new bike and new farkles don't begin to put him down :o). Once again congratz.

I'm 1m83 FYI. Maybe that's why that windshield was too noisy for me. have great fun with the twin, it's a great bike!

[Dieselpwr]

Originally Posted by Loutre

Hey comon his choice. He's got a new bike and new farkles don't begin to put him down :o). Once again congratz.

I'm 1m83 FYI. Maybe that's why that windshield was too noisy for me. have great fun with the twin, it's a great bike!

That wasn't my intention. Obviously the dealer is going to try to sell you on OEM accessories. Just letting the OP know there's better options out there.

[SDDinNH]

Originally Posted by Dieselpwr

That wasn't my intention. Obviously the dealer is going to try to sell you on OEM accessories. Just letting the OP know there's better options out there.

No offense taken. You were just pointing out something I already knew.

Actually, the crash bars and hand guards were already on the bike and were negotiated down substantially. The bash plate, windshield, and varios were my choice based on how the bike gets used and were also gotten at a really good discount so the cost was nowhere near what it usually would be.

Plus - what I call "off road" would hardly qualify for what you guys call off road. I live in an area that looks like this:



Some of the roads are paved (rough, but paved), but probably 50% of them are dirt. Some are very good like this



and some are worse, but non of them are like the tracks I see you guys on in the pictures on this site.

For instance, all my bash plate really needs to do is keep the rocks that the tire throws off the oil filter and front of the engine. There are few places where I'm in much danger of actually bottoming out and I just go slow thru those. Much of Upper New England (Vt, NH, & Me) as well as a lot of the Maritimes (NB, NS, PEI) are similar. They're just bad enough not to want to take the R1200RT (or any other street bike) on, but not bad enough to warrant a full out dirt bike.

I did get to see 2 flocks of turkeys and 2 moose today while poking around some of these places.