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in reply to: Gravel riding…. #7622
Wellington is enjoying the trips they are having on gravel and looks like they are building a great team of gravel riders.
Yup, nice thing about down here is a number of like minded people, not all register members either. As Dean points out, you only get good at riding gravel with practice, and as Bwucie notes it doesn't really matter what bike you're on, most are capable over gravel if you know what your doing - although I've not yet found a bike quite as good as the HP2 😀 The other thing I like about down here is the amount of experience everyone brings to the rides differs and helping each other out with advice and whatnot is not seen as too precious.Boetje - as a starter for ten, next time you're thinking of a gravel run, and the sweat starts up, take a deep breathe, relax, then check your bike setup (tyres, suspension, etc) - wallowing and shaking of head are not indicative of the 1150GS and 1200GS in anything other than very deep gravel or sand.CheersGarry
in reply to: Gun Trophy – widen the scope? #7580Got a ride over the Makairo Track this weekend, should be interesting with the weather looking a little more feral down this way. Will knock something up about this adventure on return 😀
As it happens, events have conspired against me joining the others for this ride. The weather is no longer looking feral, it is - so I'm not really too disheartened. No doubt the boys will still have a grand old time on the Makairo but I suspect it will be very slippery, should prove for some interesting photos 😀
in reply to: K1200GT lights #7462Does anybody out there have any good ideas for mods to the not so good lights on a BMW K1200 GT ?CheersKevin.
Kevin,Get hold of Tony Jericevich at Challenge Motors 09 416 8008. Tony is a Register member and should be able to source PIAA products, I think these are listed in the Techmount catalogue he has, but if not he'll know where to get. If you are dissatisfied with the performance of your OEM lighting, one option is to use PIAA's Platinum H4 55/60w bulbs. They perform like 100/110w bulbs and light your way like a flipping lighthouse.You'd be after Part No. 15060APIAA PLATINUM H4 55/60=100/110Other option is to look at some additional driving lights. Tony should also be able to help but have a squize through a Wunderlich catalogue. You can get online at http://www.motohansa.com.auCheersGarry
in reply to: Gun Trophy – widen the scope? #7578Hi,I've submitted a couple of my articles to Dave, the new Editor. The recent Lottin Point one is apparently being considered for the June issue of the magazine and I think the Wellington Overnighter to Waipukura is in the May edition. I have raised this issue before with previous Editors, if they are short of material for the magazine then this the perfect place to source stories.Got a ride over the Makairo Track this weekend, should be interesting with the weather looking a little more feral down this way. Will knock something up about this adventure on return 😀Garry
in reply to: R850R Front Forks #7483Garry,Any idea where one might come across these progressive fork springs, if one was so inclined to be looking for them?Also, do you know how they affect the handling of the bike during cornering. Is there any bumpsteer? Does it become important to have a good steering damper fitted?I've had another look at the bike today, and it does indeed have a steering damper fitted.Thanks for any help offered.CheersGraham
Hi GrahamNorthern Accessories are the local importers of Progressive Suspension products and should be able to source suitable springs. I agree with Bwucie though that a good place for you to start is with Neil at Experience, he da man!! But, if you want to go it alone, Motomail will source suitable springs from Northern Accessories for you (sadly, you can't get from wholesaler yourself as an individual) at a reasonable cost. Match these with some decent fork oil and you'll be sweet.CheersGarry
in reply to: R850R Front Forks #7479Hi GrahamFork stantions are not that long on the R850 and a decent pothole at good speed will compress them enough to do the sort of damge you describe. A decent set of progressive springs and some good quality, and slightly higer rated fork oil will do wonders for it.The R850 is a good bike all round and despite excessive mass at least has a decent boxer engine and advanced Telelever suspension. The width of the engine is a bit of an issue in town traffic but out on the open road the sophisticated suspension at both ends allow most bumps to be absorbed without the usual BMW ducking and diving. The 1100R has a major benefit of more torque, but the 850R is cheaper. It's a significant advance over the previous R100’s, but I think more attention should have been given to weight saving (sort of what BMW is up to now really), though it doesn’t show up too much once under way, thanks to the modern chassis.About 2,000 R850s, including some that came to NZ, manufactured between October 1994 - August 1996 were involved in one major recall. A sheet metal plate mounted to the front of the frame below the instrument cluster caused the wiring harness to be stretched too tight as the handlebar was turned fully to one side. Also, the wiring harness was attached to another harness with a cable tie that was placed too far forward, limiting the amount of free movement of the handlebar. The harness wires could have been damaged, broken, or pulled out of the ignition switch. If the harness wires were damaged, but not broken or disconnected, the electrical system could be affected while riding. Intermittent conditions such as hesitation, misfiring, or "cutting out" could occur. Make sure the one you’re thinking of buying has the cable tie further back so that the ignition switch wiring harness has sufficient freedom of movement. If the wiring harness is found to be damaged, the ignition switch (with harness) should be replaced by a dealer.Couple of folk I know with R850s were having a lot of trouble getting it into neutral, which of course means it wouldn’t start. I've heard that this is common for this bike. Just give the shift lever a light upward tap. With just a little practice you can get it almost every time. There really isn't a detent for neutral as on other bikes. Release the clutch lever slowly because the light does not necessarily indicate neutral. As far as I know the R850R will start in gear if you pull the clutch lever (as will most motorcycles). The other two things about the R850R (and probably most R bike) transmissions are:1) When stopped, to get into 1st from neutral, start with the clutch lever out (engaged). Gently depress the shifter until you meet resistance, then smoothly pull the clutch and depress the shift lever almost at the same time. There will be a slight clunk as the trans drops into 1st. The R bikes have a dry clutch, and it stops spinning so quickly that unless you use this method it can be hard to get into 1st gear. Wet clutch bikes always have some pressure from the oil, and are easier to get into 1st, but also have a pretty potent clunk when dropping into 1st.2) Down shifting to 2nd and 1st as you come up to a stop will result in a loud clunk in both gears. This is a problem with the transmission design and other bikes do not have this problem. R bike owners seem to cope by downshifting at lower speeds. In other words, downshift below 15kmh, just before you put your foot down. Although this is a pretty irritating "feature", apparently it doesn't harm the transmission.Also, if it’s got a steering damper it’ll no doubt leak at around 25,000kms. Look for a drop of oil on the damper, or a little puddle on the floor below it. The damper is below the Telelever lower support. This damper is not rebuildable and a new one is not cheap. It’ll still handle fine if not replaced but, if you’re going to replace get an aftermarket rebuildable damper.Whatever, if you like the bike, it's in good nick and you are happy with what you pay for it you'll love it. Enjoy!!CheersGarry
in reply to: Tapora Gravel ride #7447On ya Alex 😀
in reply to: 2007 BMW Safari in NZ #6103Well it's the number of people with BMWs who are willing to attend an adventure ride with their BMW. There aren't all that many. I am not trying to be negative, I am just curious.
Then of course there's the issue of the number of GS owners who just won't get their bikes really dirty 😀
in reply to: Chain and sprockets for F650GS #7374Does Darbi sell directly or do I have to get the chain through one of their outlets? Do you have the details i.e. part numbers or specifications for those parts?Cheers,Alex
No they won't sell direct to public, Darbi is just the distributor. I had the part numbers and everything wirtten in my service book, but of course that's gone with the bike now. Just ask Henry (or Kerry) to get you sprockets with the number of teeth you want and correct number of links in a suitable chain, his parts guys will have all the details on what corresponds to original equipment.
in reply to: 2007 BMW Safari in NZ #6100The reason past safaris have been open to all comers was to keep the individual entry cost down, although right from the start in 97 BMW riders were given preference to a place on the ride and a marginal discount on the entry cost. I think though we are now at a stage where rides sponsored by BMW are going to be those where you must be on a BMW to participate and smaller, guided tours are going to be the norm in the future given some of the land access issues and health and safety nazis playing there silly games. There are enough BMW owners now who will pay for this type of adventuring and overseas interest is way high that it used to be.
in reply to: 2007 BMW Safari in NZ #6091I hear discussion is underway to “reinstate” BMW sponsorship for the safari in time for 2008. It was a bit of a shame that NZ Adventures went with Yamaha for the 2007 one although given the restructuring going on at BMW NZ earlier, especially in the motorcycle divison, it wasn't a big surprise. There's still a feeling from the NZ side of the operations I think that the ball was dropped in terms of the opportunity to build on a grand 10-year tradition. Still, from all accounts the 2007 safari was pretty good for most people I've talked to and I don't think NZ Adventures intended to change the focus regardign bigger bikes per se, it could have been down to a combination of new routes and unfamiliar terrain perhaps. If BMW Mottorad do intend to run an NZ safari along the lines of the Australian and European safaris, it will be interesting to see who they use to set it all up. Whatever happens, I'll be there with Dave T. in support.CheersGarry
in reply to: Chain and sprockets for F650GS #737020,000Km is about right then. You don't have to get a continuous chain if you don't want one. Having said that, whipping one on over the swingarm is not an onerous task at all. It's also, IMHO, best practice to replace sprockets any time you put a new chain on.CheersGarry
in reply to: Chain and sprockets for F650GS #7368Who can recommend a source for aftermarket chain and sprockets for the F650? Cheers,Alex
The BMW OME kit is okay if you stay on the seal but the sprockets are little soft for adventure riding Alex. They've sharpened the pencil a bit on cost now as well, around $220 for the kit that includes front and rear + chain and cush drive, which you'd normally change every 20K or thereabouts.I used to run a DID O-ring chain and JT sprockets (available form Darbi Accessories) on the Dakar and would change every 25,000 km, not bad considering the riding it was used for. All worked out at less than $200 each change.Cheers,Garry
in reply to: Wellington Overnighter – Waipukuarau 31 March #7323Great pics and excellent report Garry. Specially liked your piece about the history of the former sanitroium.Thanks for your company - it was good to have Ken and Peter along as well. Till the next one - check out Zukin's Makiro Track challenge in a couple of weeks would be good to see you there - i'll be using my little DR on that ride. Cheers Stephen OÂ
Sounds like a plan 😀
in reply to: Wellington Overnighter – Waipukuarau 31 March #7322Is Paul in Christchurch as there was an HP in for a sevice. Not the demo!
Think Paul still lives in Nelson.
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