New Owners - Stupid Questions Thread

[seaswood]

Originally Posted by JRWooden

Yeah... there is a stupid tool .... but there are options:

http://f800riders.org/forum/showthre...p-Removal-Tool

Thanx I totally missed someone had just asked same question.
I got it off just did not sound nice.
The nipple near the front brake reservoir I assume is used to purge air from system once system is flushed

[HappyHighwayman]

What mileage interval do you guys typically lube your chain at?

[JRWooden]

Originally Posted by seaswood

Thanx I totally missed someone had just asked same question.
I got it off just did not sound nice.
The nipple near the front brake reservoir I assume is used to purge air from system once system is flushed

No problem!

The front master cylinder on the ABS bikes has the bleed screw.
For non-ABS it's not there ...
I've had issues getting the air out of the front system a few times...
I need to read the manual again, I think it basically says bleed the caliper, bleed the master, repeat...
Some folks have had good luck tying back the front brake lever overnight which seems to help bleed the system...

[grndzr0]

Originally Posted by HappyHighwayman

What mileage interval do you guys typically lube your chain at?

For the first 12k, I lubed it every 600 miles with some lube from orilyes. The stock chain lasted about 15k miles. I am now on a DID X Ring, and I am trying the dupont multi use dry teflon wax from lowes. I am doing thins thenever the chain gets pretty dirty. So, like every 1k of street, a little more often if offroad, and if I ride through heavy rain. The process I have been using for this is simply just wiping it off with a cloth (which is very easy and far less mess than an oil) and then spraying it down again.

They dont use salt on our roads here, so I see very little rust on the chain, though my trip to Idaho last weekend, riding in the rain on Teton Pass, chain and sprockets got pretty rusty.... I must not have had much wax on it....

For what its worth.....

Ryan

[CheckerdD]

I aim to lube (and clean) the chain every 500 miles or so. Sometimes more sometimes less. I got 17k miles on the first chain and it most likely would have gone quite a bit more, but I did not want to try it for a South American trip. I am about 15k miles on the second chain and it hardly seems used. Dave

[rediRrakaD]

Stock chain lasted 24k lubed once every 1000 miles or so.
Seemed fine, but changed it anyway.

New DID with Supersprox goes wonky within 600 miles.
Wonky = feels like the tranny is failing! Weird grinding sensation at launch.
Chain gets stiff links until lubed, then no problem

Oh well, now I lube every week (between 450-550 miles).

BTW the motor runs better then ever @ 26k!!!
Loving this rig.

Cheers,
S..

[epicxcrider]

Looking to replace the super-sweep OEM bars with some Pro-Taper Pastrana bars. Will the EVO bar accept threaded inserts, or should I go with the Contour?

I need to keep using handguards for dirt nap protection, so looking to see what others have done.

Thanks!

[peripateo]

What can I expect from the stock tires on the 2012 f800gs on gravel? I plan to ride well-maintained forest service roads.

[tofire409]

Originally Posted by peripateo

What can I expect from the stock tires on the 2012 f800gs on gravel? I plan to ride well-maintained forest service roads.

I find that they are ok...a bit squirrelly and nowhere near as nice as proper knobs.

[HappyHighwayman]

I have zero off-roading experience and I was able to ride some gravel without too much issue. Make sure to turn off ABS and use the back brake...unless you have off-roading experience in which case ignore whatever I'm saying.

[machinebuilder]

Originally Posted by peripateo

What can I expect from the stock tires on the 2012 f800gs on gravel? I plan to ride well-maintained forest service roads.

which stock tire? I believe they use the lowest bid,

My 09 came with Pirelli Scorpians, my best advise is to burn them off quick and get some good tires.
It's not that they weren't ok its that they weren't good at pavement or dirt.

I can recommend the Hiedenau K60's, for a 50/50 tire they really are good at both

[HappyHighwayman]

I got some Scorpions too and I find them just find for the road.

[machinebuilder]

Originally Posted by HappyHighwayman

I got some Scorpions too and I find them just find for the road.

Maybe I should rephrase my comment.

For the riding I do here in East TN, there are much better tires available than the scorpions. YMMV

[4TooMany]

Originally Posted by peripateo

What can I expect from the stock tires on the 2012 f800gs on gravel? I plan to ride well-maintained forest service roads.

I wouldn't expect much. I personally believe that the only reason BMW puts street-oriented tires on the bike is for the lawyers. In the brochure I have for the 2012 F800GS, there is only one picture of the stock tires. All of the other pictures of the bike show some kind of more off-road oriented tires. And that's a BMW brochure! I think the brochure is BMW's way of saying: "Sorry, the lawyers made us do it". The TKC80s or the Heidenaus are still good enough on the road, and they're WAY better off. I had the dealer swap the tires before I even picked up the bike.

Oh, here's the rather cool brochure: http://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/media/...S-Brochure.pdf

[peripateo]

Well my bike is a 2012 and I'm not sure what type of tires come on it maybe Battlewings? (I will be picking it up next weekend). So how many miles can I expect to get out of those tires before I need to replace them?