Seeing a few posts on brakes and brake problems got me to look at my brake fluid today... Its just over minimum at the rear, I can't see what it is at the front, and it looks very cloudy... Woopes... Anyway, I have looked up how to do it and it seems easy enough: Clean everything Open the...

First post - I've recently become the owner of a 1997 F650 strada, with 50 odd thousand miles on it, it needs a bit of work, but my query is head bearing replacement, is it possible to renew the bearings without replacing the bearing tracks if they appear ok, visibly. From what I've read using...

may i ask is this a easy job to do? do i need any special tools. what grade oil should i use to stiffen up the front. it does seem to sag a bit when i sit down on the bike. funduro 95.

Hi, I'm thinking about taking a shot at changing my own tyres but I have a question regarding balance. When my Dakar is on the centre stand it rests on the front wheel so, and here comes the dumb question, how do you remove the front wheel? BMW are happy to sell a special stand for the job...

More wisdom needed please :-D I need to replace the fork seals on the F650GS. Are the dust seals reusable, or do I need to budget for them too? :think: They seem to be around £12 each from Motobins, which seems a bit steep... TIA Adrian

The other night I managed to get home with what I eventually realised was a rapidly unravelling clutch cable. No problem, order one from Motorworks and Bob's your uncle. The cable arrived, I went to fit. No problem so far, until I could not remove the release arm which connects the engine end...

Anyone interested in changing their studs and lock nuts for stainless? I can get studs made and get nuts this weekend from the show. It's the only place I've seen all SS locknuts for sale. Most available are the nylock type. These have a cut slit to form the locking bit. I've had them on my BB1...

Hi All: I've just registered and have been browising the forum and have found it useful so far. Me (I passed my DAS 2 months ago) and my '03 F650GS (I bought her secondhand with 600 miles on the clock) and to date I've ridden her some 3500 miles. Duriung the time I've been riding her I have...

I've been trying to change my headlight bulb but haven't been able to remove the connector/three pin plug (first thing to remove). I don't want to break it but I've pulled and pulled and it's not moving. :think: Is there anything I should know? Any handy hints most welcome. :howdy:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7546109776315225781 Nice tire changing video on the 'cheap', but he installs his old tire back on so 'that' part not as easy as it looks (he may have edited it out because of the cursing). Well done video though and very instructive.

Well, after my post about loosing water, I am leaning more towards it being the head gasket...I spotted some mayonaise on the radiator cap yesterday :-( So, if I do have to do it, is it a horrible job? Could someone please let me know approx. how long it will take me and possibly things to...

Has anyone any tips for changing the pads. I've looked at the workshop manual and I think I should be ok with the front, but it says to take off the rear wheel to do the back. Can they be done without taking it off? :think:

Hi all, Recently won a set of panniers for my dakar on ebay (if you bid against me sorry I would have paid alot more than I did) anyhoo obviously my keys didn't fit the said panniers and I thought I would have yet another bill from bmw, but no! the very nice people I got the...

Does anyone know just how easy it is to change the bulbs behind the clocks ? My rev counter side lights have died. I know the plastic cover comes off easy, and the shrouding if required behind the screen, but is the next stage easy enough ?

Well it's been lovely weather for riding - maybe a tad too hot. :doh: I was wondering if any one has changed the front light on their GS - it's the one part that seems to let the look of the bike down, I think the 1150(?) or 1200 has a much nicer light setup... 8-) Has anyone added a helmet...

My ST has a centre stand so I have no problem getting the front wheel off, but some models dont have a centre stand, therefore it would be difficult to remove the front wheel for bearings / tyres / disc work. To get the front wheel in the air: You need a big lump of timber, about 1 mtr long...

Just bought a xenon "50% brighter" headlight bulb for the GS (I know I shoulda checked here for opinions first - but I've got it now so if it's crap I'll learn from experience..) and in my usual mechanically incompetent way can't work out how to fit it! The FAQs over at the chain gang are no...

Well, I suppose that everything comes with experience... I changed the coolant and oils on the bike over the last few days. I had oil flying in all directions when removing the frame drain bolt! Maybe I'll leave it to Sherlocks next time! Adrian

Hi Guys, I?ve tried using one of the speedo converters KPH to MPH, but it didn?t fit on my bike. So I?m going to replace my speedo with a MPH one. My question is, is it that simple or am I missing something? Regards Dave :thumb:

I read in another forum on this site: "Breaking the bead on the rear tyre could test the patience of a saint (I'm dreading my first puncture)." A Heavy Goods Transport Fleet Operations Executive (he owned a large van) told me how to change car and bike tyres yourself: Take the wheel off...