I'm acquiring parts and tools to do my first tire change. The FAQ says spoke weights are hard to use but doesn't go into any more detail. I'm kind of a purist and am leaning toward using spoke weights instead of the stick-on kind. What are the issues with them? Anyone prefer them, and why?

I thought I would pass on a neat and inexpensive upgrade I just did on a tip from Kirk Johnstone of the BMW Motorrad Club of Northern Illinois in this vid. https://youtu.be/cUynLNxzpgQ He mentions the modification around the 5:21 mark. You can swap out the OED dash lights on your speedometer...

New F650 Strada owner 1998 machine . bought: March 2013 . only 15,000 miles, it seems in good condition. Had 2lb of grain seed in the airbox!. Live in Gloucestershire, , interested in talking to other F650 owners, Also have a BMW R1100Rs, fantasmo bike, getting heavy, great ride. have...

Hi All I'm considering getting a battery maintenance charger for my bike the type you can leave connected via the auxilary plug without over charging your battery. Is there anything specific I need to look out for for on my late single, e.g I see some are not for cam bus wiring, without...

As I have had bikes all my life I have (as far as time and practicality) done all my own maintenance. On my F650 97 I have stripped and serviced the cooling system, rear bearings, front bearings, exhaust front pipes (oh why do BMW still go for mild steel bolts on stainless fittings), carb strip...

Had my 2005 GS for a month or so & got down to some routine maintence last weekend to familiarise myself with it. Very different to anything else I've owned - 2 part oil change for instance. It went ok - Sump plug no prob with specially bought 6 sided socket. Old oil was 15 months old with about...

Can anyone help me with copies of the Chaingang maintenance DVD's please. Thanks

Got myself an Arai Astro about 2 months ago. This model has the quick release visor system. Last week I removed the visor to install a pinlock insert and noticed that the visor was cracking where it pivots around the mechanism. Took it back to Heine Gericke, who sent it back to Arai. The...

Right peeps... Make sure you change you chain before it snaps! I did alot of damage to the bike on Thursday (broke a bit ot the engine casing, the pinion cap scorched the swingarm and shafted the chain guard) So yesterday I removed the swing arm...had to force the pivot screw out..not good...

Gary or other 'Mods' ..... Can you please move this post to the "Useful Website References" forum (as I'm not a Mod any longer) :-D Lots of useful "Google-Videos" of Technical Demos on the F650 Thanks hugely to Flash from The Chain Gang and others.

Hi Folks Some might know, I bought a new GS over in Spain (I'm a lucky sod and spend 4 months or so out there a year) brandy new last month (06 bike). Unfortunately the hand book and maintenance manual (the two little books that come with the new bike) are - of course - in Spanish. I am not...

Does anyone know where I get copies of the F650 GS maintenance DVD's please? Also, I've posted this before and received no responses, but does anyone on the forum have a copy of the Globerider's F650 adventure motoccyle set up DVD...

Hi, Could someone send me the Chain Gang maintenance DVDs #1 and #2. Cheers Tim

I know, I know, but mechanically I have all the abilities of a small gerbil... :roll: Anyway. I need to replace the rear brake pads on my CS. Looking at the book, it seems I need to remove the rear wheel to access the caliper. Should be no massive dramas there..... (he says, optimistically...

Hi All, Does anyone know how to do the PC bit of their guidance..... :doh: After the download is complete, you can burn the .iso image to DVD or mount the image and watch it on your PC if you know how. A detailed explanation for this step is beyond the scope of this document. Many thanks...

can anyone suggest a useful book/guide for doing all the basic servicing type things myself. I have a '05 gs and so far I have spend over ?350 on a first service and another ?100 for BMW to replace the back pads. I need to start doing some of this stuff myself. I noticed a book on amazon but it...

as you can probably gather from my question, this is my first ever motorbike and I only have it about 6 weeks. I abolsolutely love it, probably would have bought a bike a few years ago if I found the 650, but alas......obviously didn't look hard enough. But never mind about that, its the chain...

I have been approached by an individual who proposes to download the F650 Service/Maintenance DVDs, convert them into AVI and sell them for a five pound donation to a lifeboat charity. THESE DISKS ARE FREE: http://flash412.home.comcast.net/service-dvd.htm Co-opting copyrighted material, even...

I have just taken the front half of the bike apart to do steering head bearings and fork bushes. Whilst the plastic bits were off I took the opportunity to look at the electrical plugs and sockets in the headlamp area. At four years old and 18,000 miles these connectors were starting to...