Category Archives: Maintenance

Service done.

Since I am trading in, I did a full service:

Engine oil
Gear box Oil
Rear differential oil
Generator belt
Spark plugs (new)
Changed valve shim
Brakes are good front and back
New brake fluid
Throttle cable adjusted
Air filter

Someone will get a well-serviced bike.

This bike already has:

Extra loud horn
HID head lamps
LED crash bar lights
Hepco-Becker Crash bars
Extra brake lights
Side cases and top case

41,200 miles

Some say I have carried over 2,000 pounds luggage on this bike 😉

Jim

 

24 K (and that’s not gold)

Over the last week, I worked on my BMW R1200GS motorcycle in preparation for a trip to Colorado and Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.

1.5 tires changed (that’s another story)
Rear drive fluid changed
Rear spline greased
Rear brake pads changed
Rear brake pins cleaned and greased
Front and rear brake fluid bled
Gearbox fluid changed
Oil changed
Oil filter changed
Alternator belt changed
Throttle cables synchronized

Two patches of skin lost (one knuckle and a piece of my right little finger).
Lots of torque values were looked up.
No bolts were lost.
No tools were lost (that I know of).
The bike still starts and the brakes still work. The new tires provide a smooth ride.
Most days the temperature was 90 + in the shade. All my clothes have salt lines.

I have a tremendous feeling of satisfaction.

I’m ready to roll.

Battery Update

I had a situation yesterday and thought I’d add to my battery story. I parked about 5:45 last evening, and four hours of fun and excitement later, I returned. Imagine my dismay while approaching from the rear to observe the tail lights illuminated.  I checked the front end to find sure enough I had somehow left all the lights on ! Greatly concerned and not in a good time or place to obtain knowledgable assistance, I decided the best course would be to try a start up anyway. Four hours with the lights on definitely creates a major test for any battery, especially in cold temps. I’ve been there before, trying desperately to coax a depleted battery into providing just enough umph to turn over that engine and get a spark going to light up the fuel. Many of us have heard that slow disappointing grinding sound, that click -click – click, that wruau, wrau, wrau, aaahhhh that turns into nothing. We’ve pled with, prayed with, maybe even used language that our mom would be very unhappy with, to persuade that persnickety Pb-in-the ass power producer to provide a push to the piston. Continue reading →

Building a better Battery

I love my 2012 G650 GS Sertao. Many of you know I traded my GS Adventure to downsize a bit, and was unexpectedly suprised how close the ergonomics are to my old 1200 GSA.

One issue reared it’s ugly head however. Several times in the last 20,000 miles I had battery trouble. Usually the Sertao started without problems, but it’s those not so usual times, which seemed to be getting less rare, that had me worried. I took the battery in twice to be tested, and both times the result returned saying “Battery Good”. No complaint here about the service department, their hands are tied by BMW Corporate when it comes to how to test things and what the results indicate, but I still didn’t trust the battery. In my thinking, how can it be good if it won’t start the bike? Not wanting to continue to take chances, as a non-start deep in the boonies would be trouble, I figured it was time to replace the lead lined little sucker. Continue reading →