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This is another of those "why didn't I notice this earlier?" type of questions, but ...
my bike as the valve stem on the right side of the front wheel, but on the left side of the rear wheel. Why did BMW do that?
To properly balance the bike at high speed.
Sometimes it is accessibility.
Sometimes it is accessibility. On some bikes the rear valve stem is deliberately located on the opposite side of the final drive (chain or belt).
If you don't have dual front rotors, the stem is on the non-rotor side. If same the wheel is used on different bikes, the critical application determines the location and on all other bikes it may not make sense.
I understand this logic. But on the F800ST, the rear valve stem is located under the hot muffler and seems it would be "better" on the other side.
This is another of those "why didn't I notice this earlier?" type of questions, but ...
my bike as the valve stem on the right side of the front wheel, but on the left side of the rear wheel. Why did BMW do that?
and if the rear wheel is balanced it would be moot.To properly balance the bike at high speed..
You need to see the valve stems the OP is talking about to appreciate what they are. They are all steel stems that screw into threads in the wheel, sealed with an O ring. They stick out horizontally from one of the spokes cast in the wheel. The disks are not in the way and you are not reaching in to try to check the air or add air to a stem located in the middle of the rim. The stems are horizontal on the sides of the wheel, near but not on the rim.
I personally consider this stem placement the design innovation of the decade. Yes they are on opposite sides of the motorcycle but very simple to use nonetheless.