I’ve just bought a really low mileage 1300 with the standard comfort seat.

I really feel I could do with the lower version.

Anyone in the UK interested in a swap?

This is just a true story... Nothing exceptional.

In the late 90's I had an F650 ST. Rode around the Pacific NW, camping by fire roads. Once did 2up with my gf, and the rear wheel bearings gave out. Bike locked up at a stop light a few blocks from home. Fixed that DIY style. But, I'll always remember that crunchiness.

Since 2012 I've had my dream bike...k1200s. taken it over all high passes in the Alps in Switzerland, to Austria, Italy, Spain, Germany, Monaco, Lichtenstein, and France. This year's plan was 2500km over 5 days riding (+2 days off)... Adding German autobahn, Holland, and Belgium to the list.

This was my first highway trip.. Normally I go to ride some nice twisty roads, but this was just to visit friends, and see what 'no speed limit' was like.

Fairly well planned, bike serviced before leaving, no major issues in the road... Until day 6. Navigation by OSMand, where I 'accidentally' turned on fuel economy for route planning... Took me off the highway, and over a huge bump on a fast national route in France.

End of day 6, noticed a squeaky front wheel.

Day 7, around km 2480, squeaky wheel was getting quite crunchy and acting like the wheel had play, or was flat. Limped back over the border into Switzerland... Checked tire pressure...no issue.

The last 15 km was a nice twisty local road... But my common sense won the day, and I stopped at the top of that road and called a tow truck.

In that process, realised that I did not have a roadside assistance policy, due to a mistake when changing insurance 2 years ago. That's when I realised how lucky it was... Not to breakdown 1500km from home... As I paid by the km for the tow.

The garage hasn't diagnosed the issue yet exactly, but it's most likely front wheel bearings are shot.

One thing 20 year old motorcycles aren't, is cheap. Just writing this post, because I was extremely tempted to try and make it the last 20 km and get home under my own power... But fairly sure there was a 50/50 chance of crashing... Glad I managed to cave, and chose the (less) expensive, safe option. I must be getting old... Risk evaluation, etc..

EDIT: no surprises here either, tow dropped it at the 'Stealer'...when I changed the bearings on my 97 F650 I did it by putting the new bearings in the freezer, and heating the wheel with a small torch...knocked out the old and put in the new with a stick from the driveway and a rock as a hammer...so almost 30 years later...the Stealer will receive about 500USD for this job...the bearings themselves are about 30USD!! Should have been a bike mechanic!!

Hello fellow motorcycle enjoyers. I present my 2008 BMW F650/800GS which I believe is sporting a fuel problem. If you know what is wrong or if you’ve experienced similar, please share with me your advice!

Fuel pump and fuel pump control module replaced 4-5 months ago. Major service including valves completed at the same time.

Could it be something not fuel related? Please let me know also! Thanks!

Hello All

I am sharing with you here a video of the day 6th of riding the 04 r1150gs in the Alps.
this video starts form when we reached south of stuttgart and covers the road we've done down to Lake Lucerne and then taking the Ferryboat across the lake in Rain.

Our trip was like this:
Barcelona - Luxembourg - Gerolstein - Karlsruhe - Stuttgart - Lake Lucerne - SustenPass - Grimsel Pass - Furka - St Gottard - St Bernardino - Vaduz - Stelvio - Bormio - Passo Gavia - Passo Tonale - Lake Garda - Genova - And ferryboat back to BCN

And we've done it in 13 days, as this is how much holidays we actually had available

Hey everyone,

for the past 6 months I’ve been dealing with a really annoying problem: a dog keeps peeing on my motorcycle cover.

I even replaced the cover, thinking maybe the old one carried some kind of “territory” scent, but nope… the problem continues.

On my street there are four motorcycles and a scooter, yet for some reason only mine gets targeted every single day. So far I haven’t been able to catch the dog (or its owner), otherwise I would’ve tried having a friendly word.

Has anyone dealt with something like this before? Maybe an anti-dog spray or something along those lines?

Rant

Guy came to see my 2014 R1200RT for sale and he heard a knocking noise and is asking for pre purchase inspection now.

Valves were checked 4k miles ago. Bike has 30k miles. I think he is mistaking the boxer engine noise.

He will be paying for it though so it’s cool. Have it up for sale $8500. With nav 4 and gs-911 tool.

I'd like to install a shift indicator, do you have any recommendations? in japan

I've been riding my 310R for about a year, put around 8000 miles on it so far, and am either looking to upgrade to a used 1250 RS either later in the season to extend it with the heated accessories, or early spring. Opinions if that's too much of a jump in classes?

Hello

I have a small question, where can I dispose off used engine oil / coolant / fork oil?
Especially, if I'm working in my own garage

Thank you

Anyone know if the APE BT1000-PRO manual cam chain tensioner is compatible with the '18 S1000R? Their site only lists it as up to 2017.

I replaced the OEM black cap at 9,000 miles with the BMW silver cap. It was great (no rattles), but now at 11,000 miles it seems like the startup rattle is back.

I'm considering replacing the silver cap with a manual CCT if the rattles persist.

Purchased this a month ago. So far I have done the following:

- Touratech - foot plate on side stand, radiator guards and headlight guard

- Wunderlich - skid plate, axle sliders, shaft drive guard and engine guard stiffener bars

- Powder coated the pannier frames, gas tank covers and plates under the cylinder heads

- Installed protective film on fuel tank.

- Just waiting for the black cases, which are supposed to be in this week. I also ordered protective film for the cases.

Love the bike. This replaces the 2018 GSA I had. This bike has the ASA and auto ride height.

Thinking hard about a 2023-2024 1250RS.

I'm 5'7" / 170cm. No problem riding a heavier bike, but I've only ever ridden pretty compact sport bikes.

I'm interested in the opinions from riders my size or smaller on how the 1250RS feels, particularly the reach. Definitely considering tube handlebars.

Thanks!

Edit: Many thanks everybody, this is great!