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The G450X has now had the price set for Australia, at $12,450, and first stocks will arrive on September 20. I wonder what the price will translate to in NZ?See: http://www.mcnews.com.au/2009_Bikes/BMW/450/BMW_450_Enduro.htm
So the 1200gs was a better bike 😀
The early 1200GS had its share of problems, too. Final drive failures. Engine oil leaks. Brake squeal. Fuel pump controller. Blown headlight bulbs. Flying topcases. Etc. More money spent on developing that bike wouldn't have gone amiss, either.Whether the 1200GS is a better bike depends on the application. Is the G450X a better bike than the GSA? For some purposes it is. For others the GSA is a better bike. Similarly for the F650GS and the R1200GS.
I think it is great BMW moving away from run of the mill bikes they have built.
All companies have finite R&D budgets, including BMW Motorrad. It is my impression that BMW are spreading their budget a bit thin, and not spending enough on the D part of R&D on their existing and new bike ranges. Also, they seem to be penny-pinching on some items in order to maximize the profit from bike sales. If reports are to be believed their warranty costs are not insubstantial. On the new F650GS/F80GS for example there are several reports that they have used poor quality chains on the earliest samples that have had to be replaced after a few thousand kms, the seams on the seats are coming apart (seats replaced under warranty), they have made the upper radiator hose slightly too short and used a cheap clip to hold it in place, and so on. Not exactly signs of sufficient funds spent on R&D, or on quality assurance.Personally I would rather see a more limited range of well-developed bikes with high quality than a wider range of not-qute-there bikes with so-so quality.Besides, how many BMW dealers around the world are fully equipped to market, sell support and service a single dedicated dirt bike added to a range of road bikes?
Dave can probably answer this one but aren't US Gallons smaller. So could it be a case of either lost in translation or they have smaller litres as well. I'm just curious and I have no idea.
The R1100RT and probably other BMW bikes had various modifications for the USA version to reduce the effects of fuel evaporation. Including a charcoal canister in the overflow hose. The fuel capacity was reduced, partly to avoid any overflow of liquid fuel to avoid contaminating the canister.The lower capacity of the G450X in the USA market could well be due to similar concerns.Yes, US gallons are smaller than imperial, about 3.79 litres vs 4.55 litres.
If BMW are serious about this machine as a serious extreme enduro machine then they should get behind a serious extreme enduro rider on it flying the flag around the globe.
They are, and they already have some top riders. Simo Kirssi is riding it in various competitions. Joel Smets and Sascha Eckert have also been involved. Do a Google search for G450X and Kirssi and you'll find a number of articles and videos.However, I can't really see why BMW have developed this bike. It must be competing with some Husqvarna product, and would have fitted better with the Husqvarna range. I'd rather have seen the money spent on improving and developing the F, R and K bike ranges.
in reply to: OTRC F800 GS ? #10353The F800GS is not really as tall as the numbers would indicate. It is taller with the low seat than the F650GS with the standard seat, but not by much. I'm short-legged and could just reach the ground with both feet on the F800GS with the low seat, but for a number of reasons decided on the F650GS instead. On the F650GS with the standard seat I can comfortably reach the ground with both feet, but not flat-footed. With the low seat I can just flat-foot on the 650. So far I haven't regretted choosing the 650.
in reply to: F800 ABS – still a problem #10378I realise the stall (cut out, engine stop, swtich off/on) can be dangerous, and I would be very annoyed if it happened on my bike. There was one guy in the UKGser.com forums who had it happen on a roundabout, dropped the bike, and got rid of it because of that. Fortunately he wasn't badly hurt. Perhaps it's because I usually keep the throttle partly open when changing down through the gears that it hasn't happened.My stalls haven't been when moving off, but when riding very slowly over rough or soft ground without slipping the clutch. In those cases it's difficult to tell whether it's my fault, or whether the bike is deliberately trying to throw me off. I now have a 16-tooth front sprocket (factory is 17 on F650GS, 16 on F800GS) to lower the gearing, and provide better low-speed maneuverability.
in reply to: Made in China #10338OK Des, not having any personal experience of the problem, and not having read the threads relating to this on the F800riders forum, I have only a memory of what was written at length about the R1150RT brakes. And the ones I recall were downhill occurrences with hard braking.I used to think that the problem was lock-up of the rear wheel when it lost contact with the road momentarily. But thinking about it more, and with reports that it releases the front brake, perhaps the problem is to be found elsewhere. Detecting a skid on the rear wheel should release the rear brake only, not the front one or both brakes.If the rear wheel hits a bump or dip in the road that the front wheel does not, then the rear wheel would have to travel further than the front one. With the bike at a more or less constant speed, that would speed up the rear wheel rotation for a very short period. Perhaps the ABS software sees this as a relative slowing of the front wheel, and thus releases the brake to let it catch up with the rear wheel?If I were doing software development for BMW, I would put some code into the controller program that logs the wheel signals and the ABS responses within the last 10 seconds or so, and provide the test rider with a button press that would store the logs when the error occurs. With some intractable problems it's the best way to provide a full analysis of what exactly is happening. And hopefully pave the way to a solution.Arne
in reply to: F800 ABS – still a problem #10375Des, I've been on the F800riders.org forum for a while, and have contributed a few postings. But only in the F650GS/800GS forum. Also I've posted links on here and elsewhere to some ride reports that show pictures of the F650GS.The UK recall for stalling was apparently only on some very early model F800GSs. I had it happen when I test rode the F800GS, but that was on an early model that had not had a software update. And in pouring rain. I've stalled the 650 a few times, but that has been my fault each time as far as I can tell.
in reply to: Made in China #10333If I could have it switched that would be ideal while a solution is found to the failure.
It should be possible to disable ABS on the F800 (or any other model) by ensuring the signals from the ABS sensors on each wheel are disabled. Move the ABS sensors away from the toothed discs. Remove the toothed discs. Or disconnect the wires from the ABS sensors. This should give a permanent ABS warning in the display, and disable ABS. I don't know if this will disable the servos on bikes with servo brakes, but it shouldn't. However, it is definitely not a procedure that I would recommend. I will continue to ride mine with ABS enabled, but disable it when riding on dirt roads (if I remember to do it).Since the fault (function, feature?) seems to arise most often on uneven downhill stretches I try not to use the rear brake at all when braking hard going downhill.
in reply to: Letterboxes, post them here #6872On Te Puea Road.
in reply to: Abandoned weatherboard buildings -Post them here- #5274SH30 at Rotoiti.
in reply to: F800 ABS – still a problem #10372I guess what is of concern at the moment is that riders aren't being told about the problem.
In the F650GS Rider's Manual there are two pages of explanation of ABS and what can happen with ABS, including the release of brakes when there are surface irregularities. Or if you do stoppies or wheelies. They don't exactly say that there is mortal danger (surprise!), so you have to read between the lines to reach that conclusion.The problem has been discussed at length on bmwsporttouring.com regarding the R1150RT, but that was some years ago and the posts have probably expired.I haven't heard of an electrical cutout problem, but there has been a stalling problem on the F800GS and the F650GS. Most cases seem to have been solved with software updates.So far I've had over 3000 problem-free kms. Long may it continue.
in reply to: Letterboxes, post them here #6871A solid steel letterbox and base on Manawahe Rd.
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