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  #1  
Old 6 Sep 2009
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kazakhstan on F800GS
Hi

Does anyone have any experience of long distance travel on the F800GS? what to look out for? what mods are best ect? where to get the best mods?
and whats the best panniers? i dont want huge boxes and will probably be 2 up in kz, what tyres to run? due to lack of time the bike is totally standard and hasnt even seen a wet day yet best get my ass into gear and go find some mud
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  #2  
Old 6 Sep 2009
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A good tyre for allroad is Conti TKC80

I have got two 45l Panniers from Givi, I am not so satisfied about the metal cases.

Mods? I think about crashbars
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  #3  
Old 6 Sep 2009
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yeah not to keen on the idea of metal panniers,even been looking at original bmw ones i just begrudge having to pay for nuts and bolts as extras!
crashbars will be a MUST going by recent performances
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  #4  
Old 8 Sep 2009
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i ride it quite standard, except from a lowered suspension for my short legs, have wunderlich adventure crashbars, and please do get a carter protector (dunno the name in proper english) but it is such an bmw-ashtray beneath your engine..
there are holes in mine, imagine what happened if it hadnt been there

i ride heidenau k60 tires, tkc's did well too

panniers: jesseluggage odessey
whichever you choose, make sure they are rattletight (saw handles of plastic ones braking off just by riding roads here) and being lockable is very handy!

(am in kyrgystan right now)

hope this helps, feel free to email! and oh yes, take tie-wraps and ducktape, lots of nuts and bolts rattle loose here (gear lever, headlight, windscreen etc)

greetings, Marjos
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  #5  
Old 17 Sep 2009
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thanks for that info, what height are you running your bike? mine has the low seat option but i feel i could still do for it to be a couple inches lower, what kit did you use?
do you know if i need a carnier for kazakhstan i seem to be getting conflicting info and have nt had time to research properly yet
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  #6  
Old 18 Sep 2009
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Lowered it with a Hyperpro kit, is a shorter spring, is excellent, my feet can reach the ground, had my low saddle worked on to make it more comfortable (didnt turn out as good as i hoped) but that is why it became a normal height saddle again, and still easily reach ground. Am 1m 70, normal length legs. And currently have a sheepskin on the GS. All locals have a fit laughing.

And no, no carnet for kazakstan, in fact easypeasy bordercrossings in there. Friendly. If you can.. include kyrgystan, is wonderful..


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Old 21 Sep 2009
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im a bit of a short ass myself and although i can touch the floor is an only just and i just cant seem to get comfortable on the bike for some reason

im in kazakhstan with work at the moment (will be back in atyrau on thurs night) my original plan was to ride the bike down to Taraz and then leave it with family but now im thinking i will ride it straight back(4 weeks aint a long time)
what route did you take from europe?
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  #8  
Old 28 Sep 2009
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uz at the moment,

came via scandinavia, russia (st pete -baikal), mongolia, russ, kazak, kyrg, now uz.. will continue via turkmenistan, azerbijan, georgia, turkey..

i'm very happy with the hyperprokit, for me its the difference to put a foot solid on the ground with full luggage if neccessary, and tumbling over (again ).
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Old 1 Oct 2009
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Have to recommend the Adventure-Spec crash bars and bash plate. I had a 30mph slide down the road in July and they protected the bike very well. I've been recommended running a Metzeler Tourance rear and a Continental TKC80 front for this type of trip and will be changing to that shortly so will let you know.

As for the seat, I went for the Corbin from the US. Very comfortable for long distance and though not cheap, probably the best money I've spent on the bike so far. Sergeant do a good one too, so I'm told. I went with the Touratech "Zega" panniers. For me, the main criteria is the frames and I've seen some monstrosities that didn't fill me with confidence. The Zegas are pretty good although slightly overpriced (isn't everything from Touratech?). The black Gobi cases from Hepco & Becker look great but again, the attachments don't look strong enough. I hear good reports about Micatech. Check out this thread for all sorts of information on the F800GS: BMW F650GS & F800GS “Twins” Thread Index & Links - ADVrider

I'm at the early stages of planning a trip that will include Kazakhstan in the late summer of 2011. Maybe we should compare notes!
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  #10  
Old 1 Oct 2009
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Hi

thanks for advice but went to my local dealers yesterday to get my service book stamped and came away with a fully speced 1200 adventure (08 plate)

loved the 800 but i made the mistake of buying one of the very first ones without the computer and its had its fare share of problems,

where are you fancying going on your trip? i really need to get my ass into gear and do some planningim only going to do Kazakhstan this time the big question is how to get there and where to go when i get there

i have family and friends there so if i can be any help with that part let me know
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Old 1 Oct 2009
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1200 GSA!

I'm planning to be in Penza in August 2010 and Ekateringburg in August 2011. I'm thinking that having gone as far as there, I might as well take a month or two and go on to Ulan Ude and Ulaanbaatar before turning round and heading home. Although it's tempting to go on to Kazahkstan after Penza, I'm going to wait, I think, and spend some time on the way back from Mongolia in 2011. To be honest, there's nothing specifically that I'm really thinking about seeing in Kazahkstan. I may try to dip down Issyk Kul and Kashgar and maybe even the Pamirs, time permitting.
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  #12  
Old 1 Oct 2009
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now thats planning

in truth what with been so busy with work i wont have the luxury to spend much longer than 3 weeks away, ive worked in kz for such a long time and hardly seen any of it,so the plan is to ride out and meet up with my wife in Taraz (her parents live there) then strike out from there into the Alatau mountains and surrounding area,

cant wait to get the new steed on sat
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  #13  
Old 6 Oct 2009
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Pity you didnt perservere with the 800. You dont need the computer to tell you what the temperature is! far better bike than the "tractor" on the claggy bits and there are loads of those in Kaz. Agree about Kyrgyztan its beautiful but not about border crossings. No you dont need a carnet but bank on sitting around for a looong time esp in and out of Russia. Depends where u are going in Kaz but we went Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbek, Kyrgyz and into Kaz near Almaty. Enjoy
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  #14  
Old 6 Oct 2009
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2 reason i sold it were A. i will be using the 1200gsa more to do a bit of 2s up with the wife who couldnt get away with the back of the 800 and use it a little for work.
B. i was offered so much money for it by my dealer and tortured them into a good deal on the GSA that it was just the right time to change,

plus the tractor wont see any off road at the moment and i fully intend on having another F800GS in my garage by the time i go to Kazakhstan
the one i had must have been a monday morning special.
I fully agree its a great bike and i think it will be brillant to do kz on with only a few minor mods.

(bet my 1200 turns out to be a crock of crap now ive said that)
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