So then we got the idea of driving the Kalahari in high speed over the bridge and take pictures when the bridge got completely destroyed. It sounded reasonable at that time but it didn’t work:


Another pic of the K75GS-III:

I do not own a 1200, but check this one: http://www.hex.co.za/gs911/images/GS911m.jpg

Or you could read my review as HexCode are sponsoring me with their kit.

F650 Ride the World - A journey of Global Proportions

Before this year (May) I had never worked on a motorcycle, now I have done 2 complete service's, built my own HID headlights, changed my own tires, fixed broken bits, replaced others, tightened the steering head bearings and installed lots of extra's on my bike and it is still going strong. So I have to say my little 2002 F650GS Dakar is very easy to maintain.

You show me one of those BIG BMW riders and let him tell me to my face my bike isn't a real BMW bike and he wount be riding for a long while, as I shall kick him full on in the bits that hurt the most, and don't forget I have that Bionic leg now.

Ali...
More pics PLEASE!!!
I'm just got back from an RTW trip with the K and it proved its mettle in handling a variety of terrain! I'd like to mod it a bit more for heavier off road stuff...

edde

__________________
edde
93 BMW K75s
www.motoedde.com

I'll second that - pics are great, yours especially.

I hope you put the bridge back together - those original cross members look a bit flimsy, but there are lots of trees to go at!

__________________
Dave

Thanks!

Sorry but I don’t have a lot of K-pictures.
I think one of the problems (?) by building an adventure K is that there are not much specialized parts available, you have to do all the work yourself. On the other hand you will get a very special bike.


Modifications (from memory):
-Modified fairing from R80/R100
-180mm front light (from a VW golf?)
-Marzocchi magnum fork
-Extended (original?) shock
-Enlarged tank
-Changed exhaust
-Modification of injection
-Modified bean-can
-Modified subframe
-New handlebars
-Extended central stand
-Removed loads of plastic
-Modified seat

Things he never did:
-Sumpguard
-Better shock
-Changed rims
-Fabricating catch tank with petrol-pump







Details:

Yeah...how funny is this...the K75gs finally gets some luv!

Mongolia

Mongolia 2

Sahara

Sahara 2

Some pics with my K75s...one of the best GSs never built

edde

__________________
edde
93 BMW K75s
www.motoedde.com

Nice pics!

Mongolia looks nice, but it's far away... Guess I will return to Africa in a few months with the guy on the K. Not sure what he will drive then..

I´m searching for a GS1100/850 currently. This gearbox issue you mention, is there a fix for it or a set mileage in which the box brakes down, or is it literally a lottery through the entire lifespan of the bike?

I´m taking a look at an 850 one of these days, but the owner has advised me over the phone that the wheels (or just spokes, I´m not sure) are a little corroded, as is one of the shock´s mounting point. Is corrosion common on these bikes? This specific bike is 26000km old, from 1999, so I´m quite interested unless it´s a rust bucket.

There is another bike, a 1100, from 1995, with 47000km, but it looks sort of neglected by the pictures, and I´m not sure what to expect out of the "before 1997" thing.

Main point for buying a GS for me is to reliably and comfortably touring two up.

By the way, I spent an hour or two the other day, looking through your youtube videos. Do you have any advice regarding looking for issues when buying one of these bikes?

Pedro,

R850GSes are very good, little known and thus underrated bikes IMHO. If you can get one for good price and low mileage and suits you and your wife or G/F - I'd say go for it. 26 000 km, if not cheated, isn't even run-in yet! My both R1100GSes normalized their oil consumption just after 30 000 km - meaning they're run in from the top-end side. It's hard to beat telelever-GS for comfortable two-up touring in extreme range of conditions - from long 500+km transit days to technical offroad trails. A very sure-footed bike under heavy loads, something most bikes can't handle as well IMO. Theorethically 850cc's less torque means better gearbox bearings longetivity as well since it has the same parts as 1100. The smaller 850 boxer revs noticably smoother than the more grunty 1100cc big brother.

The spokes little corroding is normal, yet elsewhere I think R1100GS ranks among the least corroding bikes on planet Earth IMHO - the only things corrode on mine after 260 000km and 6 continents ridden (wet-season Salar de Uyuni salt-lake included) just tiny spots of corrosion on some spokes and more on the center stand (mostly from rock-hit spots) - everything I put on myself have corroded badly (TouraTech engine guards etc), but all the original bits are still mint after 16 years! Original paint, finish & bolt heads coating etc are top notch, puts many modern day bikes built cheap in todays economic climate into shame. Can't also say the same for the newer R1150s which tend to corrode alot more from what I've seen. So unless the owner lives some less than a mile from a salty ocean beach and keeps the bike outside 24/7 there shouldn't much rust.

Not much speciefic issues to look for on buying other than the usual second-hand machine buying. If you're a very suspicious person - Google on buying second hand bike buying "checklist" and go through it to minimize the risks and maximize your happyness!

Good luck,
Margus

What about the gearbox issue prior to 1997? What´s that about?

See here for the list of revisions.

Main things I consider making them better are: improved M97 gearbox design, double crankshaft seals (less prone to leak and destroy clutch), redesigned piston design ('98+ models, less oil-consumption) and anodized rims (much easier to clean! ).

..probably the best all-round bikes in the world...stronger than the jap bikes, better build quality..no chain-sprocket oil, grease, wear rubbish, no water leaks, radiator or hose problems, a dry clutch so ANY oil in the engine....full service in a couple of hours....none of the pathetic expensive electronic mumbojumbo canbus fangodango of the newer bikes..(you can get a working 850 or 1100 used for the price of a new shaftdrive for a 1200 from bmw?)..I am on my fourth 850, the last one had over 200,000 miles, still going strong..the second one, I had for 4 years, used and abused in all weathers, then sold for 400 euros MORE than I paid for it!!??.......ok the gearbox question...if it makes a noise, you will still get another 30 or 40 thousand miles out of it....IN THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, get a used gearbox off ebay for 100 or 200 pounds and change it in 90 minutes!!! ( use the procedure where you pivot up the rear subframe) grease the drive and pivot bearings as you put everything back together, and off you go round the world again.....the bearings are all standard cheap items (not the rear concave pivots, but these are 20 dollars or less from bmw)..! (You can put a gearbox in a bag and carry it on a plane as luggage, if you need it sent anywhere in the world..) BUT you can always strip them and most third world mechanics will have them serviceable in a couple of hours...The only drawback is they are heavier than lots of other bikes.

I ended up buying a 1150. Saw a few 1100 and one 850, and they were all very much corroded, so I bought the first 1150 that looked alright. It´s got 32000km on the clock and 1 year warranty, so I hope it´s good.

Getting used to the size of it, but haven´t had much time to ride it because of work and sickness. It´s going to take a while to cope with that long first gear comfortably.