New Owners - Stupid Questions Thread

Available on the 2011's also. The fastest color BMW offers . . .

The F800GS is too tall for me to take OFF the center stand the way I would on my Yamaha FZ6 (i.e. sit on it and scootch forward). I need to grab the rear luggage hand and the handlebar, put down the side stand and push it off the center stand. ALways freaks me out a little, though if it "falls" it's going to land on the side-stand and not dall.

Took me a bit to get it down to an art, but it's a pretty fluid motion now.

I can tell the difference between a full and empty tank- that's for sure.

Anyone masted the center stand take off yet... I saw a buddy do it once- was kind of awesome.

Yeah, that's much easier when you have both sides of the center stand touching! Got it and thanks for the advice.

I'm having trouble keeping pressure in my front brake. Changed the fluid 250 miles ago, which got the pressure back, but it's gone again. I'm guessing it's because the cap won't completely close; won't 'click' into place. Does this sound right? It's not leaking, but rather, not 'locked in'. My reservoir, and guard, took a big hit 2 months ago. No damage was done; at least nothing visible. Thanks.

I agree with that very nice color indeed

I'm not sure what you mean by "pressure" in the front brake, but the cap on the reservoir doesn't affect it. Assuming you're talking about the cap on the reservoir on the handlebars. That cap just keeps the fluid from spilling out, the reservoir itself isn't pressurized.

Perhaps you mean the brakes are feeling "spongy"? That's usually a sign of air in the brake lines, but as long as you bled them properly when you changed the fluid, that shouldn't be happening.

Brakes (especially the front) aren't something to leave to chance. It sounds to me like the best bet is to have your dealer take a look. Or at least someone who's more versed in braking systems.

If this is an ABS-equipted bike there are two bleed screws - on on the caliper and one on the master cylinder.
It is sometimes difficult to get all the air out of the system.

Some folks have reported that tying the front brake lever in overnight helps
(tying it in the position it is in when you apply the brakes)

Thanks for the advice. After bleeding the brake fluid, through the two on the calipers, the brakes were strong and the lever firm. Now, spongy again. So that implies air is getting in somewhere, right?

Shouldn't be happening, but is. Perhaps my bleed screws aren't tight enough? I didn't want to pound on 'em too hard. I'll flush it again and see what happens. The bleed screw, the baby one, by the reservoir won't open on my bike - damaged.

It's possible that's the problem. There may be air trapped there that won't bleed out through the nipple on the caliper. Though it seems curious then that it gets better when you bleed the brakes then worse again.

+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.

Hmmm....

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.

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...

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. <a href="https://oldfatguy.smugmug.com/Other/ADV-photos/15456648_d2W2VM#!i=2048172805&k=P2qtmcN&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="https://oldfatguy.smugmug.com/Other/ADV-photos/i-P2qtmcN/0/L/Brake-thingy-L.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>
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

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?

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.