Suggestions or Warnings?

[dlyon1@gmail.com]

Just picked up a '97 F650 with only 15K miles. Has knobbies and Pelican cases. Seems in solid working order and is fun to ride.

Am thinking about taking it for an off-road adventure from St. Paul, MN to western SD in about 3 weeks for an 800+ mile trip on dirt and back roads the whole way and want to know your thoughts on this since you all have a lot more experience with this bike than I do.

Might be able to trailer the bike to SD - should I do that for sure?

Traveling with a buddy on a BMW 1200 GS Adventure. Will I be holding him back on the F650?

Things I should do before I leave? Things I should pack and be sure to have with me?

Thanks in advance for all your input.

DLL

 

[kgadley01]

It should be a real pleasure to do that trip on the F650. That bike will keep up with no problem. invest in a throttle lock(cruise control) for your throttle. I got mine at Twisted Throttle. Take a can of chain lube and a tire repair kit. Have fun!!! do not put your bike on a trailer unless its broke.

 

[PGlaves]

That bike will do the trip just fine. Voni and I had a pair that we rode to Alaska and back in 2008. Other than lubricating the chain and one flat tire the trip was mechanically uneventful. Due to its size, that F650 will go places the same rider couldn't take a bigger 1200! If properly tuned it will be perfectly happy at any speed -85 or below. Above 85 it gets a little busy sounding.

 

[kantuckid]

After a couple thousand (post R1150R) 2012 G650GS thumper miles I agree with the above from PG as spot on! I miss the oilhead torque at times & the ride is not as cushy but bike is far more flickable,i.e., handles great! If I could just find 6th gear...
Comfort-it is a better ergo fit for me at the bars & the oem seats are BMW rounded & similar so an aftermarket solves that issue. My BMW "tall" WS on an adj. TT bracket works for my short body and wind is only bothersome in large truck turbulence as bikes kinda light. A good helmet goes further than WS solutions for air control & I honestly see no need for the air winglets many say is a deal maker.

 

[PGlaves]

A good helmet goes further than WS solutions for air control & I honestly see no need for the air winglets many say is a deal maker.

With a larger than stock windshield (I tried three or four variations) the airflow on this motorcycle is strange. Finally, using tape and string I discovered that the buffeting was coming from air up and inward from the outside forward edges of the gas tank.

I put my set of Aerostich tank panniers on the bike and never had an airflow problem again.

 

[kantuckid]

On this very subject of W/S's and airflow-I washed my bike yesterday & discovered that one of the pair of plastic adjustment knobs on my TourTech bracket had fallen off. I used purple locktite on them(SS carriage bolts) when mounting the bracket this past winter. With one missing the W/S easily folded back when I hit it with the wash mitt, so I'm surprised it wasn't noticed in riding. Maybe a weakness in the design/component choices?