Originally Posted by xlineshooterno fuck off mate i put it on me ride onOriginally Posted by xlineshooter
American?Originally Posted by xlineshooter
Had this one for a couple of weeks now. Good bike for Thai roads and commuting around BKK.
I like it but I am considering buying an ER-6f when they come out, if they are not too expensive.
Why are you going that slow?
Open road I run 120 to 130. its the winding roads where those "crotch rockets" excel. And on those roads I do go a lot slower. But, I'm old and no longer feel the need for those kind of thrills. But, I will say this, you guys sure can handle those bikes. I happy for your good times.
^^^^ Good looking practical bike for Thai roads. Congratulation madjbs I envy you.
So now at my age the thrill of just riding to see the countryside has replaced the thrill of speed and a blurred center road line. But sill, I can remember the thrills of my youth, but they had 4 wheels, a 396 cubic inch engine and would do the quarter mile in under 9 seconds from a standing start.
So time changes everything, especially the speed you put into your life in all aspects. But to be honest, I still wind that 1500 out sometimes. 2 weeks ago, a new Honda Civic cut me off coming out of Udon Thani. I caught him and returned the favor, then paced vehicles beside of me to hold the Honda back for about 15 km. then the road cleared and he started to pass. As his front fender reached my front wheel, I just pulled away from him. This went on for about another 15 km, and he finally gave up at about 160kmh. That made my day. so, I felt some of the thrill you guys feel on those speedy little bikes. And, I got even with the "prick" that was driving that Honda....Oh happy day... LMAO..!!
I had an F650. Check out the throttle linkage at the carb, mine had two different "cams" for the cables to turn on and so open the butterfly. One only opened up the carb to about 75% and the other wide open. I think it was done so they could sell them in Japan and come in under the max power rating. That is if yours came from Japan. Mine was a Dakar, maybe different but I couldn'r believe it when I saw it and rode it after changing. Needless to say it went better. Worth checking out. Pop a K&N filter on it while you are there.
Fahn Cahn's
Just bought a set of Alpinestar mx pants and top, 120 euro, not bad. they have nice HJC helmets for 99 Euro (this is in Spain), 6-7000 baht on special in Thailand so may try stuffing one of those in me bag when I come home. Cheap Thailand? Not for that kind of stuff. They had kids alpinestar mx gloves for 20, I paid 1800 Baht for a pair for my boy a couple of months ago, still can't believe I did that. Oh, he was just riding his minibike around the house showing off to his mates and came off. Was he wearing any of the gear I bought him? Of course not and he had a good bawl as the mrs chased him around trying to get some betadine on his grazes. Som nom na!
I would never have done something like that when I was his age.
I thought all the new style F650 bikes were fuel injection? Mine is a 2001 model and it has fuel Injection. That would only leave the 2000 Dakar to be running carbs?
Another good mod for the F650 is enlarging the air intake, only takes 5 mins and you get better throttle response and sound.
I don't know where else to post this question, so if this is the wrong place, please advise.
I am looking for a web site that can identify the model year of my bikes using the frame and engine numbers. Can anyone help..?
^^ I should have said throttle body. Your right they are fuel injection but still have cables to open the butterfly.
The trouble with those BMW's is that they are all heavy. The GS models carry 21" front wheel. While handy for off road jaunts. On the road it leaves a vague feel to the front end. Not to mention the shaft drive. Though proven by Ewan and Charlie. They are not bullet proof for the older bikes.
Furthermore the latest GS models need the warranties provided by BMW to keep the riders on their bikes. Otherwise most will be bankrupt due to continually replacing expensive parts all the time.
Frankly it is false illusion to say that this bike is suitable for Thai roads. How can it be? You have to be near a BMW parts supply centre.
The GS are not what they use to be.
Be wise and stay away from. Go Japanese if you wish tour Thailand.
^ Rubbish
The F650 is chain drive and the GS model has a 19" front wheel, which doesn't feel vague at all.
They are also pretty reliable. People have toured around the world and Thailand on them, racking up over a 100,000km without any major problems.
^ Ah yes apologies. It is 19". Still a size suited to offroad adventures than tarmac munching. And yes the front still lacks confidence. 17" is the size to have for feel and confidence from the front end.
Never mentioned the F model. All GS are shaft drive. The older 1150 versions are actually better than the 1200 in terms of reliability. BMW have gone down hill will the newer models.
F650GS is not a GS model??
The handling is fine for this kind of bike, obviously not sports bike handling but they are not pigs either.
Never been a big BMW fan but became more so when we followed a GS around the MHS loop, on a 996, blackbird & haybusa.
We had real trouble keeping up with him, the bikes skittered around on the rough stuff where the GS just soaked it all up.
Great bikes for real world biking, they will get blown away on smooth blacktop but not all that much of that in Thailand.
Yep thats my view as well.
While on the topic of adventure bikes, I tried out a Buell Ulysses the other week. It gets positive reviews in the bike press but personally I found it awful. It had the weirdest, most piggish handling that I have ever encountered. I also tried out a V-Strom 1000, which was a fantastic bike, good handling and plenty of grunt.
^ I used to have a Varadero
I could go in a straight line for a full tank of gas on that, give it some corners though and it really didn't like them. Especially with the standard fit tractor tyres.
If you don't mind, how much did it set you back?Originally Posted by madjbs
I was thinking about bringing my F650GS from Aust. but with the way things are I wouldn't mind picking up one in LoS if the price is right.
Nice bike BTW
That bike was 160,000
But, that was a crazily cheap price. It only has 4000km on it, expect to pay about 300,000 for the same bike normally.
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