[Dave Ross]

in reply to: R80GS high fuel consumption #9711

Thanks for that. Ross has suggested I also get a new needle and needle jets. Well, what he really said was to spring for a pair of Mikunis, and to stop complaining about the price of things.The bike has 110000km on the clock. I don't know what the expected life span of Bings are and when it becomes uneconomical to service them. I am not a stickler for originality, so the Mikunis could be an option, they are supposed to be a bit of a performance upgrade as well.Unfortunately the throttle bodies on my 1150 could also do with a bit of attention. The shaft has developed a little bit of play, which makes a ringing sound. As I understand this is not urgent at this stage, but a shaft replacement should be done before the bushes wear out.Still, it's heaps cheaper than having to watch a new bike depreciate. Instead, I get to appreciate my old bikes  😀

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: Rider training for BMW. #6632

Are Scooters counted as motorcycles. I commute everyday, and either these guys know something I don't or they have a lot of faith in car drivers. I tend to use them as decoys. I am especially impressed by their variety of safety gear, ranging from shorts and jandals to short skirts and stockings with high heels, all very stylish. Anyway, I wish them luck and hope they don't contribute to the motorcycle statistics.Before Bwucie gets upset, not all of them dress like that. Some even wear a suit and I've seen the odd one with gloves. 😀

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: Capital Coast and ABS #9786

As far as I know there is a minimum speed before the ABS will come on. So on slow descents you would most likely not have had the benefit of it. In some situations ABS will be quite useful on gravel. However, if the surface is ball-bearing like it's probably not a good idea to have it on.I guess if you find yourself relying on the ABS to do some sort of job for you off-road you could be disappointed. It doesn't take all that much to upset a sensor with mud. I think ABS (the latest version) is quite good. I wish my bike had it.

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: Unmarked Roadworks #9782

I've got a bit of titanium in my tibia, thanks to an unswept intersection and a lapse of inattention.On our last ride there was some work done behind a blind bend. They had as sign up 20m from where they were working. Of course you couldn't see it until you came around the bend.Must have been lazy or stupid or both.

no grave on intersection. drop off in road and very inexperienced rider who just wanted a ride in a choppa

What ever you're smoking, I sure hope it's legal  🙄

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: Unmarked Roadworks #9780

I've got a bit of titanium in my tibia, thanks to an unswept intersection and a lapse of inattention.On our last ride there was some work done behind a blind bend. They had as sign up 20m from where they were working. Of course you couldn't see it until you came around the bend.Must have been lazy or stupid or both.

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: G650 Xch broken gear lever and shaft #9677

I've only just realized what the problem was. I thought you had cracked the lever. On closer inspection I can now see the snapped off shaft in the lever clamp.This should be a warranty claim. A shaft should not be the weakest part in the assembly, surely the lever should be the sacrificial item. It will be interesting what BMW does.Alex

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: G650 Xch broken gear lever and shaft #9674

I agree with Jim. It's quite possible that a rock only made contact with your lever, enough to break it. I hope it's not too expensive.How are you finding the bike?

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: HUB – The ride #9739

It's an excellent idea. However, it's not my favourite time of the year for camping 🙂 and I can't get time off in June. Maybe I can join you guys for one night north of Auckland or around the Coromandel, if its during a weekend.

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: R80GS high fuel consumption #9707

Ha, I've figured it out :-). Because the bike wouldn't run I thought I'd grease the the throttle cam and gear. I nearly damaged the part until I figure out that I had to remove the brake reservoir as well. Now it's got all the grease in the world. I was still disappointed with the action so I had a closer look at the cable. Sure enough one side had frayed. Looks like I need a new one at some stage.Next I looked at the starting issue again. The charger kept telling me that the battery was fine. Well, maybe it was, so I checked all the cables again. Nothing wrong with those. Then I remembered the issue I had with the 1150. Lets just clean those terminals and see what happens, I thought.Pressed the starter and the thing cranked- like a really cranky thing. But why doesn't it start? Crank some more then, with choke on and every thing. Hmm, perhaps I'd flooded it?. Took the bowl off to check, but it was dry as a bone. Ah, I did arrive home on the smell of an oily rag, perhaps I should put it on reserve? God, I am an idiot. But hey, you live an learn. The R80 is alive again! 😀 😀Alex

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: R80GS high fuel consumption #9706

Well, I now have another problem. The battery seems to be dead, even though the charger is telling me otherwise. After a night on the charger not even the neutral light wanted to come on. I could find no obvious faults with the wiring. Unfortunately, I no even less about the electronics than I do about carbs.I wish one of you airhead gurus lived closer to my area, so you could come and have a look. I may have to trailer it to Experience to get them to check it out.

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: Some impressions from the CCA 2008 #9732

nice pics Alex - you clearly had a ball - you made it look easy on the mighty 80GS Basic - eat your heart out Gaston Rahier 

You're too kind Stephen, I could not keep up with you,except when you were cutting corners and were trying to ride on thin air.

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: F650GS or F800ST – I DON"T KNOW !! #9724

The dark side is calling  :-D.  Are you wanting to do Adventure rides, or just gravel tours? Do you have previous off-road experience? The Dakar is an ideal bike for adventure rides, it's comfortable enough to make the journey, do the ride and travel back home again. There were a number of Dakars at the CCA. Garry used to ride one before the HP2 and he took his all sorts of places. I am sure he'll be the best one to give you feedback on the suitability of this bike. Other than that it's usually a light bike with aggressive knobblies  that will do the best.

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: The sand pit @ Woodhill Forest #9720

That's the spirit  :-D. I pleased you've managed to entertain yourself otherwise, Hentie. I've been up the beach at Muriway Beach and out again at Rimmers Road. It takes a bit of a run to get up the dune on the way out, plus you may have to dodge traffic coming the other way. However, I don't like to ride the bike in salty sand much. Even washing it afterwards always leaves me in doubt about what happened to the salt. Must be the memory of road salt in winter and what it did to cars.There are superp gravel roads in the Waikato, doable in a long day's ride or even better, with an overnight stay somewhere. We should look into it.Alex

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: R80GS high fuel consumption #9703

hi Alex sounds normal to me they are a hungry bike especially if u ride it hard over a 100kmh and if your trying to compare it to the newer bikes  don"t

I've been told they use around 5-6 litres per 100km. On the way down I was using about 7l/100km. I suppose the knobblies and the luggage couldn't have been too good for it either.If that consumption can't be reduced I'll have to trailer the bike down in 2010. Three bikes on a trailer and three guys sharing the gas must be more economical. However, we'd miss out on a lot of fun on the way down.

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: R80GS high fuel consumption #9702

Alex, the airheads are notoriously thirsty! Be worth checking that the float needles are seating ok, quite common for them to leak, maybe they're ok at rest, but are leaking on the move? Check for smell of petrol when you come to a halt.

I'll check that Tony, now that you've mentioned it, there may have been a wiff of petrol. I've had the right bowl leaking once, well pissing out petrol. Perhaps that is related. The air filter appears to be pretty filthy, that can't be good either.

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