Hello PAULBACH: My F650GS Twin finally arrived and here are pictures of 1st days ride

[Beemerdons]

http://www.azbeemers.org/forum/index.php?topic=1257.msg7127;topicseen#msg7127 Hello Paul, We last spoke months ago, when your red F650GS Twin arrived.

Mine finally arrived at BMW Motorcycles of Scottsdale and here are 1st day photos.

AZ Beemer pal AZ-J has provided me links for accessories and now I'm shopping!!!

[Beemerdons]

Good Morning My BMW MOA Forum Friends, I've only had my new F650GS Twin for two days now and only put just 200 miles on Salma Hayek; but do I ever love this new machine! I am sixty years old and riding this new BMW is making me as happy as a teenager!

Many thanks to AZ-J here pointing me to www.f800riders.org and to www.f800depot.com Let the farkling begin!!!

Besides ABS and the BMW Vario side cases and top cases that I bought directly from Steve at BMW Motorcycles of Scottsdale (now known as GO-AZ), here's the first order sent to www.f800depot.com :

1) SW-Motech GS Crashbars $189.99
2) Barkbusters VPS Handguards $149.99
3) SW-Motech GS Mirror Wideners $52.50
4) SW-Motech GS Headlight Protector $59.99
5) Aluminum F650GS engine guard/skidplate $209.99
6) Center Stand $209.99
7) Givi GS Windshield $134.99

[PAULBACH]

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g264/PaulBach/Smilies/wow.gif
The machine is a pocket rocket and will take you anyplace you want to go.

The engine is by Rotax which makes the engine for the Predator aircraft which can stay aloft for 24 hrs or more - Rotax makes outstanding engines.

No final drive shaft. Weight saved and other issues solved before leaving the gate.

Your choice of farkles is outstanding. In fact I make use an idea or two.

Found the pictures - who is the charmer with the RED bike? ;)

What a handsome pair of bikes!

[Beemerdons]

Hi Paul, We at AZ Beemers now have seven members, including GSJane, riding to Real de Catorce, Mexico with Moto-Discovery on April 17. Skip Mascorro, Pancho Villa Owner, says he'll limit the trip to twelve riders. Still room for you to join us!

All info is at www.azbeemers.org/forum under our Upcoming Rides Section. Don S.

[bicyclist]

Um, don't mean to rain on yer parade, but the stock BMW centerstand is cheaper and is much easier to put the bike up on than the aftermarket job.

[Beemerdons]

Um, don't mean to rain on yer parade, but the stock BMW centerstand is cheaper and is much easier to put the bike up on than the aftermarket job.

Tab on GSJane's OEM centerstand has already fractured and broken off at weld.

Yes indeed, the OEM centerstand is cheaper and would be easier: If not broken!

[bicyclist]

Well, you're not supposed to stand on the tab. It's just a lever to lower the stand. If it hasn't been stood on, I'd say GSJane should be asking BMW for a new stand.

[Beemerdons]

bicyclist: She did not stand on the tab. She also could not see a valid reason to replace a part on her bike with one that had already broken. She says the aftermarket centerstand operates just as easily as the stock one. I ride with her on a regular basis and see her using it. She weighs 115 pounds and the after market centerstand swings up for her just fine. Were you there when tab broke?

[Acejones]

Looking at Beemerdons list of farkles, I count about $1000. Thats stuff that should be standard on a "GS".

[PAULBACH]

Looking at Beemerdons list of farkles, I count about $1000. Thats stuff that should be standard on a "GS".

Hard to argue with the Ace. But they wanted to bring out a "starter" bike. Standard issue I miss most is the center stand but will have that added in the spring.

[Beemerdons]

PAULBACH: I'm really enjoying my new GS. Have already rode the Apache Trail and the Kelvin byway here in AZ. Getting excited about Real de Catorce MEX 4/17!

[FredRydr]

... they wanted to bring out a "starter" bike....
Um, I can't see how the F800GS is a starter bike to much of anything. It's loaded (perhaps not with everything), heavy and expensive. I have both a boxer and this parallel twin, and I don't see the latter as a starter for the boxer, but rather as something different. In fact, that's why I kept the horizontal twin.

I wish my legs were longer than 29 inches for the GS, though....

Fred

[Beemerdons]

Hi Guys: Do you know of anyone, or are any of you, running the Conti TKC 80 knob tires on your 2009 BMW F650GS Twins? I am leading my Club, AZ Beemers, to Death Valley Daze on January 23 and I know that the stock tires are not going to cut the mustard riding through Titus Canyon. I went to www.conti-online.com and I was surprised that Continental isn't showing our bikes in their fitment guide.

Any help you two, or any other friends, can give me on the TKC-80 is appreciated!!

http://www.desertusa.com/video_pages/titus_dv_movie.html Are there other off road tires you would recommend for the 2009 F650GS Twin? Titus Canyon will be wet and snowy when I ride it on 1/24/09.

[FredRydr]

Don,

I run the TKC80s on my bike, and they are definitely nice to have on gravel (and I am not complaining about them on asphalt). I am not an expert by any means when it comes to mixing tires, but there is a wonderfully informative thread on the advrider site (http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=377088) that, among a lot of other great information, deals with putting a TKC80 on the front and a more roadable tire on the rear.

Fred

[PAULBACH]

Most olf my riding is on asphalt, cement or a few well packed Vermont roads. Cannot help very much here.

[Beemerdons]

Thanks, Fred! That was just the info I was looking for! I will probably go with the TKC 80's on both tires, since after DVD it's Baja in February and Real de Catorce, Mexico in April. Not to mention all of the sandy tracks here in our Sonoran desert!

[FredRydr]

Most olf my riding is on asphalt, cement or a few well packed Vermont roads. Cannot help very much here.
Packed with ice?

Fred

[danalbertson]

Thanks, Fred! That was just the info I was looking for! I will probably go with the TKC 80's on both tires, since after DVD it's Baja in February and Real de Catorce, Mexico in April. Not to mention all of the sandy tracks here in our Sonoran desert!

I just put TKC's on my F800GS. Death Valley at the end of January!, Several other ADV rides planned for the year and Baja in October 09.

[Beemerdons]

http://www.azbeemers.org/forum/index.php?topic=1054.0 Dan A.: See you there!

[danalbertson]

http://www.azbeemers.org/forum/index.php?topic=1054.0 Dan A.: See you there!

We are going one weekend later this year.