BMW G650X Challenge Thread Index

[Cruz]

That all makes sense now Walter, seeing that you have a lockable centre differential on your XCH allowing you to ride just about anywhere.

[Don't shoot me!!!]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

There is no impact on the bikes brain from changing dash units. I now use one of these since my bike was stolen ... , since it was about half the price of the BMW original and includes a tacho and two temp inputs.

Apart from the previously mentioned turn indicators - there is no problem changing dashboard units. I have had the indicators completely rewired.

How is your tacho working with the pulse from double sparks?
I have the Trailtech Voyager, but i asumed the tacho wouldn't work well, so i didn't bother to connect it..?
Allso, did you wire up the indicators outside of the OEM harness?
I gave up wiring a relay to the OEM harness, so i was thinking of wiring a relay connected directly to the battery.
Please share a short version on how you did it before i go ape/¤#¤%#/ as i really really really hate all electronics

[MizzouRider]

Originally Posted by bigdon

I put axle nuts from a KTM on my x front and rear. It is a good cheap mod. The KTM nuts are much taller and take a 27 mm wrench. Motion pro makes a 27mm combo axle wrench/tire spoon that is very handy. Nobody makes one in 26mm. At least they did not when I was looking.

Don,
I'm too lazy to go look.. Is it the same nut for front and rear?
I'm cheap, but I can spring for $9.00 for these..

Thanks,
Jeff

[bigdon]

Originally Posted by MizzouRider

Don,
I'm too lazy to go look.. Is it the same nut for front and rear?
I'm cheap, but I can spring for $9.00 for these..

Thanks,
Jeff

Yes , I used the same part # on both front and rear.

[Butters]

Originally Posted by August West

Looking for tire recommendations . . .

I run a T63 in the rear and a TKC on the front. At a recent cornering class, I was able to scrape my pegs a few times and never felt any give from either tire (dry conditions). Given that I'm not the most aggressive rider to begin with, I feel the TKC/T63 will handle the pavement better than I will.

That being said, I'm not sure I will stick with the same setup next time. The tires are quite a bit louder than other DS tires I've used. While I'm sure they perform much better in mud and sand, I just never seem to find myself in anything more than gravel. On gravel/fireroads, the TKC/T63 only seem marginally better than other (quieter) DS tires I have tried. So even if you're 50-50 on/offroad, if the offroad portion is only gravel/fireroads you may be better off with a more street oriented tire.

I'm not saying you can go wrong with the T63s or TKCs. I think they do really well on the asphalt - you just may be giving up some quiet for offroad performance you may not need. Just something to consider.

[BMWPE]

Fitted Lynx fairing screen very happy with fitment
now just waiting for fender to arrive

[Colebatch]

Originally Posted by Don't shoot me!!!

How is your tacho working with the pulse from double sparks?
I have the Trailtech Voyager, but i asumed the tacho wouldn't work well, so i didn't bother to connect it..?
Allso, did you wire up the indicators outside of the OEM harness?
I gave up wiring a relay to the OEM harness, so i was thinking of wiring a relay connected directly to the battery.
Please share a short version on how you did it before i go ape/¤#¤%#/ as i really really really hate all electronics

Tacho usually works well... I guess I need to shield it better to get it working 100% ... it occasionally flashes up double the real RPM

Electrician friend did the work but I assisted so I have some idea what happened. We tapped one of the 12v wires into one of the coils. I need to check which one for you tomorrow. There are three wires into each coil ... a power, an earth and the signal. Obviously the one you want is the signal wire on just one of he coils. We chose the one closest to the RHS, as it is closest to the loom. You will know it works when you fire the bike up as it should settle down to an idle of 1500 rpm. The unit above has multiple tacho modes in any case where it counts one spark for every rpm, two sparks for every rpm, 1 sprk for every 2 rpms, and countless other modes. Default is one spark per 2 rpms which works with the bike.

Indicators were wired up thus ... tapped into the harness ... a wiring diagram will tell you which wires coming out of the Dash plug (which you d ont need to cut off ... never know when you want to use a stock dash again) go to the four indicators, Once you have them, you can tap into those with a new relay and the feed from the LHS handlebar control unit. I switched to LED indicators and have fitted an LED indicator relay.

PS I also hate electrics

[August West]

Originally Posted by Butters

I run a T63 in the rear and a TKC on the front. At a recent cornering class, I was able to scrape my pegs a few times and never felt any give from either tire (dry conditions). Given that I'm not the most aggressive rider to begin with, I feel the TKC/T63 will handle the pavement better than I will.

That being said, I'm not sure I will stick with the same setup next time. The tires are quite a bit louder than other DS tires I've used. While I'm sure they perform much better in mud and sand, I just never seem to find myself in anything more than gravel. On gravel/fireroads, the TKC/T63 only seem marginally better than other (quieter) DS tires I have tried. So even if you're 50-50 on/offroad, if the offroad portion is only gravel/fireroads you may be better off with a more street oriented tire.

I'm not saying you can go wrong with the T63s or TKCs. I think they do really well on the asphalt - you just may be giving up some quiet for offroad performance you may not need. Just something to consider.

Thanks Marc and everyone else for your thoughtful replies. Given that T63 rears are currently as rare as hen's teeth and I need tires now for an upcoming ride, I opted for TKCs from the local dealer, ugh, cha ching. Being in a hurry never helped me save money. Live and learn I guess. Now to look for some sheet nitrile and O-rings and try to resolve my newly weeping gas cap situation. Thanks again all, what a great forum!!!

[jjmead1]

Originally Posted by August West

Thanks Marc and everyone else for your thoughtful replies. Given that T63 rears are currently as rare as hen's teeth and I need tires now for an upcoming ride, I opted for TKCs from the local dealer, ugh, cha ching. Being in a hurry never helped me save money. Live and learn I guess. Now to look for some sheet nitrile and O-rings and try to resolve my newly weeping gas cap situation. Thanks again all, what a great forum!!!

FWIW I usually order two at a time from motorcyclesuperstore.com for your reason exactly.

[jnevbro01]

its a 2007, 6k miles, has ABS, lots of extras with it. I'd like to get an objective review on this machine. I rode dirt bikes for years, stopped due to wifely influence & raising kids... now kids are out & she's not stopping me ;^). Intent is to ride off road in the back country yet on road to get to trails for weekend camp trips.

I've looked at the F650GS my buddy recently bought, smooth for a thumper and seems meant for only occasional off road (too pretty). Also considered the Suzuki 650DR, heard its underpowered, but is light and utilitarian. Another one, the KTM EXC450, looks to be 80% dirt bike,hear its not road comfy or easily outfittable, the 900 Adventure looks to be strong but too heavy. I'm 6', 175 & in decent shape would like the lightest bike possible to suit my wants. Also sat on a 500 or so Husky & felt very dirt bike-like, exciting but not road worthy I thought, it did have a light though.

Seems nothing (except maybe the X-Ch) fits the bill. Any other ideas or is this the one?

Any wise advice for an unwise mid-lifer ?
J Nevbro

[Butters]

Well you'll obviously get biased answers from the folks in this thread, myself included.

I have been absolutely thrilled with my XChallenge. I was going to get a DR650, but new XChallenges were being sold for not much more money (I paid under $6K). Think of an XChallenge as a faster, lighter, better DR650. Not much can compete with the DR in terms of reliability and I won't say the X can. But the X is a reliable bike in its own right, IMHO. Not perfect, but I wouldn't hesitate to take mine anywhere. The only issue I have had was the bad battery which was replaced under warranty. And that was more of an Exide battery issue than a BMW issue. You don't really see any more failures since the switch to Yuasa.

In the large thumper class, you have your heavy out of the box adventure bikes (KLR, F650 single), you have your dirt oriented 650s (DR, XR-L) and your more exotics (KTM). But somewhere between the DRs and KTMs are the higher performance DS bikes like the XChallenge and TE610/630. Better performance than a DR, but still with reasonable maintenance intervals and reliability records. And I personally like that balance.

The airshock is a little goofy, but isn't terrible. Several people have had a cold stalling issue. But not too many reports of dramatic failures.

If I had to replace my XChallenge, I would simply get another (or maybe the Husky TE if I couldn't find a decent used X).

[MizzouRider]

Originally Posted by August West

Thanks Marc and everyone else for your thoughtful replies. Given that T63 rears are currently as rare as hen's teeth and I need tires now for an upcoming ride, I opted for TKCs from the local dealer, ugh, cha ching. Being in a hurry never helped me save money. Live and learn I guess. Now to look for some sheet nitrile and O-rings and try to resolve my newly weeping gas cap situation. Thanks again all, what a great forum!!!

I have the X-Tank and noticed the weep after my second or third fill-up. It didn't do it earlier. I think I had over filled the lower tank on the one instance it seeped. Since then I get close to filling it, but not quite. I also don't immediately park it after a fill-up. Run it a few miles first.
No weeping at all. I also tried adding gas to just the X-Tank and only about half of the main tank. There wasn't enough "pull" from the main tank to pull any from the X..
I know this sounds simple, but it's eliminated the weeping on my X..

[MizzouRider]

Originally Posted by bigdon

Yes , I used the same part # on both front and rear.

Thanks Don, I suspected they were the same, but I've been wrong before and now I have a lot of little stuff sitting around that I was going to return etc.. Wanted to make sure I wasn't adding to the collection..

[August West]

Originally Posted by MizzouRider

I have the X-Tank and noticed the weep after my second or third fill-up. It didn't do it earlier. I think I had over filled the lower tank on the on instance it seeped. Since then I get close to filling it, but not quite. I also don't immediately park it after a fill-up. Run it a few miles first.
No weeping at all. I also tried adding gas to just the X-Tank and only about half of the main tank. There wasn't enough "pull" from the main tank to pull any from the X..
I know this sounds simple, but it's eliminated the weeping on my X..

Interesting, this mirrors my experience almost exactly. Newly installed xtank, I fill it quite full...?

Thanks I'll experiment with less filling.

[August West]

Originally Posted by jjmead1

FWIW I usually order two at a time from motorcyclesuperstore.com for your reason exactly.

Good thinking.
2 for the price of 1 TKC, doh!
Live and learn to be sure.