BMW Motorcycles

[coolcat]

Rallye Pro 2:

 

Greta pockets but I get too carried away and jacket gets weighed down. General quality is good, and the rain liner is practically waterproof, and can use it with any other jacket. I took out my armour mesh, makes it really comfy. I love the see-through sleeve pocket. Only complaint is a lack of a waterproof compartment / pocket inside the jacket, so keep the old ziplock ready. Very vented when on the move, hot when not. One more thing, when it rains, the jacket weighs a ton. But more sturdy than Clover.

 

BTW, you can buy the rain-liner separately. It packs into a small bundle when not in use.

 

Generally BMW jackets are well made, but there are also good value brands out there like Clover and Re'vit. My Clover is now in its 4th tour of duty, waterproof zippers all gone but shell is still good. Dainese in my book, while worn by racing Gods, is overpriced for me.

 

Cheers

 

Cat

Edited February 12, 2009 by coolcat

[coolcat]

wanna meetup up,guys?

 

Hiya, mamat,

 

Let's do so. Next Monday nite? Any kopi place where the bikes park near? Or a fuel run on Sat nite?

 

Incidentally, this month's BIKE mag features Gaston Rahier's Dakar bike ... incredibly beautiful after 24 years.

 

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery/BMW%20R80GS%20Dakar%20%203.jpg

 

Cheers

 

Cat

Edited February 12, 2009 by coolcat

[Phang]

Coolcat, next monday night is easier for me comparing with Saturday night fuel run.

 

I'll pass the screen back to you on the Monday meet up

[coolcat]

Okie. Whereabouts? I'm generally ok 7 pm or so onwards.

 

Cheers

 

Cat

[Phang]

Okie. Whereabouts? I'm generally ok 7 pm or so onwards.

 

Cheers

 

Cat

 

You decide lah, I am fine as long as it is within Singapore Island.

[coolcat]

Alright then ...

 

I suggest (1) Raffles Link, there is a nice Hong Kong Cafe there N1 17.522 E103 51.360 or (2) Mccafe at Springleaf Tower, Anson Road N1 16.503 E103 50.750

 

Unless anybody suggest elsewhere, default will be Hong Kong Cafe Monday nite, at 7 p.m., but I'm easy See ya guys.

 

Cheers

 

Cat

[mamat]

great.need to refer to directory for i seldom venture into cbd area.c u there

[Guest NPNT]

Thanks Mr. Black, Contrarian and Coolcat for the comprehensive reviews on the jackets that you guys own.

 

Seems like its 2 Rallye 2 Pro vs 1 Airflow 3. Personally i do like the Rallye 2 Pro. Went down PML 3 days back and liked what i saw and touched. But don't quite like the price tags. Online store seems to have almost the same price too.

 

Understand why such the price for jackets. Same goes for their bikes. But $1K+ for the whole suit (jacket and trousers) calls for a 3rd or even 4th round of thinking.

 

So.. the Rallye 2 Pro is waterproof sans the pockets... how about Airflow 3? Waterproof too?

 

Anyway Contrarian, saw the Airflow 2 you put up for sale. Good price. But why not put the Airflow 3 up for sale too? You might have a buyer. Haha.

[cak]

if you are talking of the single 650gs... they are quite tough. I dont have much problem electrically, initially i use the stock battery and i totally forgot to add water to it but once i change to maint free battery no problem whatsoever. if your bike cannot start, its most probably the cheap plastic switches and buttons

 

 

maintainance free battery? can you please describe more.. im very interested.. is it the dry cell type?

[cak]

any f650gs riders here changed their mufflers to an aftermarket type? wanna know more..

[Phang]

Alright then ...

 

I suggest (1) Raffles Link, there is a nice Hong Kong Cafe there N1 17.522 E103 51.360 or (2) Mccafe at Springleaf Tower, Anson Road N1 16.503 E103 50.750

 

Unless anybody suggest elsewhere, default will be Hong Kong Cafe Monday nite, at 7 p.m., but I'm easy See ya guys.

 

Cheers

 

Cat

 

Sorry guys, I am taking a half day MC now. Got to take a good rest at home today.

 

running nose, cough, fever, headache.....

Edited February 16, 2009 by Phang

[currypuff]

Bro Phang.....

 

you are right that the culprit is the wires, not the senor itself.

Just for your info, yr bike was thorughly inspected and re-wrapped for maost electrical wiring at the 60000km major service. The sensor was found to have no corrosion. I have rode thru 2 major thunderstorms prior to the service with absolutely no problem.

 

The hall sensor was never replaced. The very detailed parts changed are all recorded in the annex of the service booklet. For even more detail records, PML got it since i did all servicing at PML excpet extra engine oil changes, which is at M-Tech as well as 1 tyre change

 

 

My bike broke down at 3am on the NSH in heavy rain due to the Hall sensor. It was towed to a shop in KL the next day. Luckily, the shop found that the sensor was not spoilt and just replaced the wiring.

The charge was only a fraction of the cost of a new sensor. This is a common problem with earlier BMWs. I am advised to replace it every 2-3 years or 30-35,000 km.

 

Before I took over, the previous owner did not change it for the 6 years he has been riding the bike. I don’t blame him as he only rode in Singapore. If bike break down, just tow to shop for $30. No point replacing beforehand.

 

But it is a different story when you go overseas. The speed and distances travelled, and thus the stresses, are so much greater that problems not apparent in normal everyday riding shows up, maybe with disastrous consequences. For example, my bike broke down twice on this one trip, both times on the return journey. I can tell you that you don't want to experience this yourself.

So yes, my case is another example of the wiring deteriorating through the years but the sensor itself is sound. Rain water seeped into the electrics and short circuited the bike. Having said that, although I have since travelled about 25k km without any further problems, I am considering replacing it at my next major service, which is due. Like I said, I don’t want to risk getting stuck in the middle of nowhere with a dead bike.

Also, seeing how the mechanic opened the casings to remove the hall sensor, I don’t see how I could have managed with the simple tool kit we normally carry even if I have a spare sensor. So better be safe and bite the $400 bullet.

 

Which leads to my question. Can you guys share where you send your bike for major servicing?

I am sorry if this has been discussed before. I am considering whether to send to PML (the safe but expensive choice) or to one of the other reputable shops (M-Technic, Combine, etc). I know if I ask for recommendation I will get all kinds of answers. So can you just share with me where you service your bikes and if possible your opinion of the workmanship and cost? This is my 80k service so I think there will be serious $$$ involved.

Thanks.

[f650gs]

My bike broke down at 3am on the NSH in heavy rain due to the Hall sensor. It was towed to a shop in KL the next day. Luckily, the shop found that the sensor was not spoilt and just replaced the wiring.

The charge was only a fraction of the cost of a new sensor. This is a common problem with earlier BMWs. I am advised to replace it every 2-3 years or 30-35,000 km.

 

Before I took over, the previous owner did not change it for the 6 years he has been riding the bike. I don’t blame him as he only rode in Singapore. If bike break down, just tow to shop for $30. No point replacing beforehand.

 

But it is a different story when you go overseas. The speed and distances travelled, and thus the stresses, are so much greater that problems not apparent in normal everyday riding shows up, maybe with disastrous consequences. For example, my bike broke down twice on this one trip, both times on the return journey. I can tell you that you don't want to experience this yourself.

So yes, my case is another example of the wiring deteriorating through the years but the sensor itself is sound. Rain water seeped into the electrics and short circuited the bike. Having said that, although I have since travelled about 25k km without any further problems, I am considering replacing it at my next major service, which is due. Like I said, I don’t want to risk getting stuck in the middle of nowhere with a dead bike.

Also, seeing how the mechanic opened the casings to remove the hall sensor, I don’t see how I could have managed with the simple tool kit we normally carry even if I have a spare sensor. So better be safe and bite the $400 bullet.

 

Which leads to my question. Can you guys share where you send your bike for major servicing?

I am sorry if this has been discussed before. I am considering whether to send to PML (the safe but expensive choice) or to one of the other reputable shops (M-Technic, Combine, etc). I know if I ask for recommendation I will get all kinds of answers. So can you just share with me where you service your bikes and if possible your opinion of the workmanship and cost? This is my 80k service so I think there will be serious $$$ involved.

Thanks.

 

 

Hi, I did my clutch overhual at mtechnic plus service front shocks, change gearbox seals, change all liquids, service starter motor,change drive shaft seals, throttle cables, battery, hall sensor... e.t.c... costs me 3.2k.. ppl say it would be cheaper at combine, you might want to give it a try.

 

but so far no complains, now changing all the front fork seals, 3 tensioners and timimg chain... dunno how much gonna cost....

Edited February 16, 2009 by f650gs

[contrarian]

So.. the Rallye 2 Pro is waterproof sans the pockets... how about Airflow 3? Waterproof too?

 

Anyway Contrarian, saw the Airflow 2 you put up for sale. Good price. But why not put the Airflow 3 up for sale too? You might have a buyer. Haha.

 

Airflow 3 isn't waterproof. Just throw on a raincoat, it works much better that way than with a liner.

 

Why not come and have a look at my Airflow 2 & Airflow 3 to compare? :)I've to wait for my Airflow 3 (one size smaller) to arrive first before I can sell the one I've just started using.

[currypuff]

Hi, I did my clutch overhual at mtechnic plus service front shocks, change gearbox seals, change all liquids, service starter motor,change drive shaft seals, throttle cables, battery, hall sensor... e.t.c... costs me 3.2k.. ppl say it would be cheaper at combine, you might want to give it a try.

 

but so far no complains, now changing all the front fork seals, 3 tensioners and timimg chain... dunno how much gonna cost....

 

Thank you for the feedback. 3.2K! Nearly 1/3 the price I paid for my bike. Now that is a bit of a shocker. Moreover, I see from your description that most of the jobs are about changing of parts and some rubber (seals). Is this what a “major service” is about? Seems that the engine internal is not even touched.

Expensive parts are: Hall sensor $400, battery $200, throttle cables $300(?). The rest are for minor parts and labour. Hmmm…

How much will PML charge if you were to do it there? $4K?

What was your mileage when you did your servicing, and why are you changing the fork seals, tensioners, etc, now? Care to share a bit more?

[f650gs]

Thank you for the feedback. 3.2K! Nearly 1/3 the price I paid for my bike. Now that is a bit of a shocker. Moreover, I see from your description that most of the jobs are about changing of parts and some rubber (seals). Is this what a “major service” is about? Seems that the engine internal is not even touched.

Expensive parts are: Hall sensor $400, battery $200, throttle cables $300(?). The rest are for minor parts and labour. Hmmm…

How much will PML charge if you were to do it there? $4K?

What was your mileage when you did your servicing, and why are you changing the fork seals, tensioners, etc, now? Care to share a bit more?

 

 

i did the servicing at 50k km, i would believe pml will charge at least 4k for all that labour.

 

last week theres some funny noises coming from the engine so i push it in again at ard 55k km and the mech recommend these replacments

[xiaowang]

Does anybody have any views on a K100? Thinking about it and viewing one soon. WHat are the usual things to watch out? Kindly advise. Thanks.

[coolcat]

Does anybody have any views on a K100? Thinking about it and viewing one soon. WHat are the usual things to watch out? Kindly advise. Thanks.

 

There are many K-bikes forums, check them out.

 

The Flying Brick has a following, the K75 (with a counter-balancer) is supposed to be smoother than the K100, though not as powerful obviously. These bikes are robust, and once sorted, requires little TLC, even less than the boxers. Notably valve-clearance is not necessary for long mileages. Occasional lube of the drive splines is required, instrument cluster tends to break down. Brakes tend to be weak, need upgrade or good pads or braided lines or all Shocks on an old machine tend to be poor, upgrade to Ohlins or Wilbers better value than stock. Good news is that parts are still available, used or new. Old skool construction, so the bike is heavy and likely to have a "Made in West Germany" stamp somewhere

 

http://www.boxer-motor.com/dane/Lata%2080-te/K-100(1983-1990)/hist_mod_k100_b.jpg

 

Good workhorses, and low consumption. However, much heavier than a modern day Jap or Conti equal.

 

Work in how much $$ to do up the bike if at all, then make a comparison with what else is out there that tickles your fancy.

 

Cheers

 

Cat

Edited February 17, 2009 by coolcat

[coolcat]

Which leads to my question. Can you guys share where you send your bike for major servicing? Thanks.

 

If you do not mind paying for good work, Alan of Perfection Motors gets my vote.

 

Cheers

 

Cat

[josean]

actually hor,

 

most of the cost of the parts are almost the same price.

difference is what u would pay for the labour and the experience of the mech that is doing up your bike

[xiaowang]

There are many K-bikes forums, check them out.

 

The Flying Brick has a following, the K75 (with a counter-balancer) is supposed to be smoother than the K100, though not as powerful obviously. These bikes are robust, and once sorted, requires little TLC, even less than the boxers. Notably valve-clearance is not necessary for long mileages. Occasional lube of the drive splines is required, instrument cluster tends to break down. Brakes tend to be weak, need upgrade or good pads or braided lines or all Shocks on an old machine tend to be poor, upgrade to Ohlins or Wilbers better value than stock. Good news is that parts are still available, used or new. Old skool construction, so the bike is heavy and likely to have a "Made in West Germany" stamp somewhere

 

http://www.boxer-motor.com/dane/Lata%2080-te/K-100(1983-1990)/hist_mod_k100_b.jpg

 

Good workhorses, and low consumption. However, much heavier than a modern day Jap or Conti equal.

 

Work in how much $$ to do up the bike if at all, then make a comparison with what else is out there that tickles your fancy.

 

Cheers

 

Cat

 

Thank you for your in-depth advice. I never owned a bmw before. Like classic bikes though. Considering one being offered now for a five figure sum. Condition is so so. Not sure if it is worthwhile. Any advice? Cheers

[josean]

my advice -

 

dont delay joy

[coolcat]

Thank you for your in-depth advice. I never owned a bmw before. Like classic bikes though. Considering one being offered now for a five figure sum. Condition is so so. Not sure if it is worthwhile. Any advice? Cheers

 

5-figure sum? wow, do not know anything about such a bike for sale so can't comment. Well, 5-figure can get you a nice and younger oilhead for starters. It seems silly, but one of my considerations for buying and owning a bike is that the mojo factor is important .... I must be able to see the bike

 

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/UVSL/M910~Austin-Powers-Yeah-Baby-Posters.jpg

 

and still go "Hi, beautiful ..."

 

I thought that there was a chap selling a K100 with a RT fairing, although need some work. If so, factor in the cost of doing up and see how much it will come to.

 

Cheers

 

Cat

[xiaowang]

5-figure sum? wow, do not know anything about such a bike for sale so can't comment. Well, 5-figure can get you a nice and younger oilhead for starters. It seems silly, but one of my considerations for buying and owning a bike is that the mojo factor is important .... I must be able to see the bike

 

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/UVSL/M910~Austin-Powers-Yeah-Baby-Posters.jpg

 

and still go "Hi, beautiful ..."

 

I thought that there was a chap selling a K100 with a RT fairing, although need some work. If so, factor in the cost of doing up and see how much it will come to.

 

Cheers

 

Cat

 

Do you have the contact number of the owner? KIndly advise, if possible. Thank you.

[luN]

Hi all,

 

Just like to ask if any GS12 riders here owned any aftermarket seats such like corbin, Sargent, Russell day long etc.

 

I am hoping that you can let me try sitting on one before I decide on one.