X Challenge improvements

[Xchallenge]

So iv just bought this new bike

Iv done a fair bit of forum digging on various sites about this bike and come up with the following basic weak points i want to address before I start to thrash it off road and ultimately build it into a travel bike

-Reg/Rec
-Poorly sealed clocks
-Wire on fuel sender/pump can work loose in time
-Exposed oil line under engine
-Rear sub frame mounts
-tail tidy shaking itself to pieces

Anything else I have missed?

 

[Xchallenge]

Yikes iv just seen the X Challenge sub forum and all the stickys etc

Ok then a fair bit of reading to be done on here!

 

[Losttheplot]

So iv just bought this new bike

Iv done a fair bit of forum digging on various sites about this bike and come up with the following basic weak points i want to address before I start to thrash it off road and ultimately build it into a travel bike

-Reg/Rec
-Poorly sealed clocks
-Wire on fuel sender/pump can work loose in time
-Exposed oil line under engine
-Rear sub frame mounts
-tail tidy shaking itself to pieces

Anything else I have missed?

Make sure the gear lever is changed for an f650 item. the standard is to stiff. If it catches on anything it will snap the end off the selector shaft.

Blank off the vent holes in the back of the front fender. This will stop mud getting flicked up from the front wheel and into the radiator. Mud clogged radiators don't cool very well

Also:

Its worth upgrading the lower chain guide on the swing arm to the TT item.

Look up a guy called tony archer and get him to recover your seat, or if your feeling flush send the seat to ray in holland and never have arse pain again.

Theres a guy call stephan that makes excellent bash plates for the XC series. I've had one on my bike from day one, and never worried about the oil line, despite the bike taking a few big hits in it's life.

Bin the standard rear shock if the budget will stretch that far- it's crap!


I've never really had regulator/ rectiffier problems unless the bike has been really hot, and this isn't just my bike that behaves like this.

HTH


Nathan

 

[g00ner]

Check you have a Touratech hard part - stops a rock taking out the side stand and switch. If not, I have one in the garage if you're interested

 

[crackandthump]

You ve opened a Pandora s box
You can send as little or as much as you like on all the recommendations coming your way
Mines pretty stock and fortunately not suffered too many horror s except from my own stupidity
Enjoy it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Zorro]

I added the x-tank from hotrodwelding, TT large bashplate, the 'parabrisa' screen and TKC 80's. Great bike

 

[dean0n0]

http://scheffelmeier-metall.de/BMW-G-650-Xchallenge-Xcountry:::1.html (quality parts)

http://www.hotrodwelding.nl/product_cat.php?id=3 (quality parts, including frame protectors)

[email protected] (for suspension)

Nothing is cheap, keep a look out on here for second hand stuff. There are other suppliers.

It costs £12 to subscribe, gives access to the for sale section, PMs and the pub, well worth it.

 

[Micky]

It costs £12 to subscribe, gives access to the for sale section, PMs and the pub, well worth it.

I told him that t'other day on his intro thread ... he'd had his twelve quids by then already

 

[Deleted account 190117001]

Do the gear lever mod and bash plate, absolute must do jobs !
Fuck everything else, just ride the fucking wheels off it.

 

[Deleted account 190117001]

Do the gear lever mod and bash plate, absolute must do jobs !
Fuck everything else, just ride the fucking wheels off it.

 

[Micky]

Do the gear lever mod and bash plate, absolute must do jobs !
Fuck everything else, just ride the fucking wheels off it.

Do the gear lever mod and bash plate, absolute must do jobs !
Fuck everything else, just ride the fucking wheels off it.

What he says twice over

 

[Xchallenge]

Some great advice there thanks!

The first things I am going to do are the basics (cheap )

-gear lever
-bypass side stand switch
-full service, oil, sparks, clearances and air/oil/fuel filter

Next up will be the bash guard and maybe ABS removal (anyone have a link to a guide on this?)

I will get some mileage done before I decide on the seat

The bike already has a Sachs rear shock on, although it seems rock hard and the rebound is rubbish so I will be looking to service that. Also the front is way to soft for my liking, I'll play with the adjusters or probably chuck some progressive springs in initially for the cheaper option

It also has a Remus end can (with CC) but its a bit fruity for my liking so I'm going to chuck the standard back on for a while

I wont be looking for any fairing or wind screen at this stage as i like a nice clean view up front

Luggage racks and X-tank can also wait for now but it will be something i should want in the future!

 

[dean0n0]

Do the gear lever mod and bash plate, absolute must do jobs !
Fuck everything else, just ride the fucking wheels off it.

The rims are soft....

 

[Packer]

Bas at Hyperpro in Holland has done a lot of suspension work on these bikes for some pretty serious travellers, I seem to remember that he didn't recommend progressive springs.

 

[dean0n0]

Bas at Hyperpro in Holland has done a lot of suspension work on these bikes for some pretty serious travellers, I seem to remember that he didn't recommend progressive springs.

I've seen, not sure where, that they watched videos of a bike with progressive springs and one with linear springs. It was clear the progressive springs kept the wheel tracking the ground noticeably better.
Progressive springs conform to small bumps then stiffen up on the bigger hits.
Linear are better for fast road/track where you need consistent feedback on the brakes and in the corner.

 

[rocky burns]

Watch the swing arm doesn't snap

 

[dean0n0]

Watch the swing arm doesn't snap

Caused by being under sprung/under damped and bottoming out.

 

[Timpo]

Yeah, Stefan's sumpguards are a good piece of kit.
The list of mods can go on and on, so go ride the bike and find out the little areas of it that 'you' are not happy with and spend time and money on them.
The engines love low and midrange throttle use, stock gearing is good enough for tarred road or gravel roads, single track can be a drag though, but front sprockets are cheap. The clutch hates abuse so in or out is best.
Fuelling is a little on the lean side.
The air shock is..... to taste, but not mine.
In general, a superb bike.
Enjoy.

 

[Micky]

Fuelling is a little on the lean side.

In general, a superb bike.
Enjoy.

Got the Xcountry and yes indeed, the standard fuelling leaves a lot to be desired. Had mine down to Geoff at Hilltop and what a difference. Pulls like a steam train, much much smoother, will trickle along in a thirty limit in fourth gear and will pull cleanly away

 

[Xchallenge]

So I started work on the bike today,

I removed the rear shock for service as the rebound was terrible

I noticed the fuel tank had a slight rattle and on closer inspection one of the rear mounting bolts is missing. On even closer inspection I have found half a tap snapped off inside the thread! should be fun getting that one out!

I also accessed the air filter and found the inside of the air box very dirty, need to come up with some better sealing then
that!

I want to remove the ABS system next to free up the space behind the engine, can anyone recommend where to get a set of braided lines?