Trex63 > Trex63's Blog Posts > '06 F650GS DAKAR modification / maintenance history

February 03, 2007 05:55

(See also Photo Gallery ” ‘06 F650 DAKAR Mods / Maint)

June 14, 2006 – 16 miles.Bought my Dakar in April ‘06 and took delivery end of June ‘06. With 16 miles on the odometer, I went to work:

- Took the front end apart to install gaiters to protect fork tubes and seals.

- Mounted BMW engine guards and BMW expandable side cases

- Installed TT radiator guards, TT front sprocket cover, TT chain guard, TT center stand, TT rear suspension cover, TT low front fender, TT seat +3 cm, TT adjustable / wider foot pegs, TT folding shift lever, TT rear brake cyclinder cover, TT spoilers for hand guards, TT Garmin GPS mounting braket, TT fairing crash bars, TT brake pedal stop

- Replaced stock exhaust for AdventurePipe and storage container (faux pipe). The AdventurePipe has a SuperTrapp silencer with removable discs to adjust backpressure and sound. Slight performance increased noticeably (maybe it’s just my imagination)

- Added CLS200 automatic chain oiler (adjusts electronically to ambient temperature = viscosity changes)

- PIA 510 driving lights

- Tried to install a BM-6501 K&N air filter. This thing would not fit, if my life depended on it. Checking with the Chain Gang (www.f650.com), other owners of 2005 and newer F650’s encountered the same problem. Some people started shaving down the rubber flange of the K&N filter to make it fit, others just squeezed it half way in the airbox. Not a good fit. I tossed mine in the garbage.

- Exchanged stock battery for maintenace free Westco battery. This battery is known to require some modification to the battery trays. Some people remove the metal tray completely. I was able to keep the metal and plastic tray, by simply taking the screws out, connecting the two. I moved the metal tray closer to the the steering head, by elongating the fastening holes, gaining a 1/4 inch. The battery fits nice and snug. Also, the Westco battery has 14 Amps vs. stock 12 Amps – a little extra power cranking is not a bad thing.

July 15, 2006 – 446 miles. Side-stand broke off clean at the frame…BMW replaced everything under warrantee, including the aluminum side case cover which was damaged in the process (well done BMW, no complications processing this claim)

- Installed Ermax wind screen

- Punched 3” hole in engine bash plate to avoid its removal for accessing oil drain plug.

- Removed TT chain guard due to lack of chain protection. Re-installed BMW chainguard minus “possum scraper”

December 20, 2006 – 5,840 miles. Performed the 6K service myself, inlcuding valve adjustment.

- Installed new/same decompression lever and spring in cam shaft according to BMW Service InformationI Bulletin # 00 020 06 (058) to improve cold start and throttle response. Still need to have new firm ware installed ver. 200E (currently 180E)

- Took off front fork gaiters and replaced with TT fork protection due to potential overheating issues.

- Removed TT radiator guards because engine vibrations cracked guard.

- Relocated PIA 510 driving lights to fairing crash guards with PIA brackets.

- Replaced front and rear Metzler Sirac tires for Metzler Enduro 3 Sahara

- Installed TT progressive springs in front fork to reduce dive when braking. Used 10wt. oil vs. 7.5wt. oil to improve ride ( the combination was a BIG improvment in handling)

- Bought the coolest tool yet, the GS-911 emergency diagnostic tool to read fault codes produced by the BMS-CII and ABS N, if any occur

- Testing the GS-911discovered that the cooling fan motor has gone south, error code 1152: BMW dealer confirmed finding and cooling fan motor will be replaced under warrantee.

February 08, 2007 – 5944 miles. Getting new software ver. 200E loaded into BMS-CII. In conjunction with the earlier installed decompression lever/spring this should eliminate cold start problems and improve throttle response.

The first test ride with the new software did not reveal any significant improvement of throttle reponse. However, the bike has more “bite” in the 5,500 -6,000 rpm range (80-90mph) The fact that I installed an AdventurePipe from the very beginning may mask throttle responsiveness.

I can’t say much about cold start problems, since I never had any (even at 20 degrees F)

March 2007 – 6,460 miles. Finally, received my Happy Trail Panniers, Targhee 7.5”. Very nice fit. I opted to install the Panniers myself. The Panniers have top loading- , hinged lids. The cam closure assures a tight seal when closed.

Brackets and Panniers are powder coated. I discovered that I could mount the Panniers two ways with the same set of fastening holes.

One position for two up riding – Panniers are further back to allow for comfortable seating position of passenger.

The second position, i.e. swaping the Panniers, brings them closer to the front of the bike, thus, weight is over / in front of rear axle (better handling). Needless to say, I was tickled about that.

March 19, 2007 – 6,523 miles. The big “Alaska shake down” ride to Leakey, TX. Round trip Atlanta – Leakey – Atlanta = 2,700. The trip was great, no problems. Actually, did the SS-1000 Iron Butt Ride. 1,100 miles in 19 hours.

March 30, 2007 – 9,320 miles.* Repacked AdventurePipe with RaceTool custom packing, i.e. stainless steel mesh, steel wool and fiber glass batting. The pipe is not much quieter after installation…This particular RaceTool packing is supposed to last much longer…

- Picked up my second wheel set. I’m planning to keep “knobies”, TKC-80 on one set and Metzler Tourance’s on the other set.

May 06, 2007 – 9,520 miles. The Alaska trip is getting closer. The bikes will be picked up for shipment to Anchorage on May 15th. A couple of things I’ve done could have waited longer. Since I was in there anyway, ...what the heck.

- I changed the chains and sprockets. Considering that I will be driving long stretches of Interstate, I put on a 17 teeth front sprocket in place of the stock 16 teeth sprocket. This should reduce the rpm some at higher speed.

- I re-greased the rear swing arm bearings and spring linkage. Glad I got in there when I did, bearing grease must be a rare comodity in Germany these days.

- Also, I put in new spark plugs and rear brake pads.

- OIl, oil filter and airfilter was a given. I changed first time to Mobile One Synthetic oil 15W50. This type does not show the “energy efficient ” indication on the donut, thus no friction modifiers. This oil should be fine for the wet clutch.

- Since I saw how badly the swing arm bearings were greased, I’ll also tackled the steering head bearings. I’d rather do it know than having to replace bearings and races prematurely due to lack of lubrication.

- The valve clearance checked out fine, no adjustments needed since the 6K adjustment.

- I put the stock exhaust back on (...I must be getting old). Now that I have a 1200GSA in the stable to compare, the quiet exhaust of the 1200GSA is really nice on long distance trips. My neighbors love me for it…

Sep. 3, 2007 – 15,233miles. I made it back from Alaska without any incident. I had one headlight bulb burn out on me. Not bad for a 5,000 mile trip.

- The Metzler Tourances were still good, but flat in the middle due to the coarse Alaska and Canadian roads and long stretches of interstates. So, I went ahead and changed them. Besides, I have a new NO-MAR tire changer and I’m burning to use it….

- Made an odd discovery when I took the rear wheel out. Once I loosend the chain tensioners, water came pouring out the swing arm. When looking from behind at the rear swingarm, you’ll notice that the adjustment screws are at the bottem, thus emerged in the water. So, on re-installation, I turned them up side down, i.e. putting the adjusting screws at the top, keeping them out of any water. The only disadvantage, you have to read the numbers on the tensioner up side down…. In addition, I drilled a 1/8 ” hole at the very end of the swingarm bottom part to allow for water to drain out.

- This is the first time I put Continental TKC80 on. The first road test revealed a little squirlyness, but nothing I couldn’t get used to. I’m planning a November trip on some dirt roads from Atlanta to Savannah…

Dec. 4, 2007 – 16,700 miles I have been enjoying some moderate off road riding, mostly fire- and forest service road, nothing radical. During the last ride to the North Georgia mountains, I cooked the rear brake. I believe, the reason were my new Motocross boots. I still had to get used to them. I think, I was riding the rear brake without realizing it. So, new brake pads later all is back to normal business.

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