Penguin on the mend

[Silver Penguin]

Love that photo Tyler. You find the coolest pictures.

 

[user 213]

Seriously, a BMW. I did my research last time around and the 650 GS was the winner. The market hasn't changed much except that the 798cc twin is now available. Basically, I want a naked bike that has some off road capability. It has to tolerate low speed tip overs in the dirt without breaking things. Seat height is the big decider that rules out a lot of competitors. The bike needs to be ok with 500+ mile days at highway speed and be able to carry luggage. My 650 was stretched to its limit doing that and of course, I'm spoiled with how easily the FJR does that. I like heated grips and ABS. I don't want chrome and I don't want the bike to be excessively heavy. Picky? You bet.

Glad to hear you are doing well and making progress SP. Getting the cast off is a big deal™. :yahoo:

My wife has a '11 F650GS twin, (now being called the F700GS, but identical except for the newly added traction control). You will love the fit. But heed my warning, buy the extended warranty. We have one thru Zurich, and they have been good to us. At 47k miles, we have had the tranny rebuilt,(35k), stator replaced, (45k), ($1000 item for parts alone), and a new motor built from scratch, (took 3 months to get all the parts, including new engine cases). BMW is making noises about offering their own in house extended warranty. If it's available when you buy, get it. If not, get something else, the maximum length of term and coverage possible. READ the CONTRACT for the warranty. Zurich limits lifetime claims to the purchase price of the motorcycle, and individual claims to the actual cash value of the motorcycle ant the time of the claim. They were generous on the cash value, splitting the difference between NADA and KBB. We just got the bike back last week. The motor failure was due to the water pump going and a bad radiator cap and sensor. No indications of overheating until it was too late. Too much damage to internals and cylinder walls to save much. Non-rebuildable cases/cylinder walls.

Of the above, all were covered under either the 3 year/36k BMW warranty, (tranny), or the Zurich aftermarket 5 year/unlimited warranty. We were out of pocket $1300 for the engine build. FWIW, bike was always dealer serviced at all the correct intervals, by the same dealer, BMW of Las Vegas, except when traveling.

Nearly all F650GS2s will lose the stator before 50k. There is now a new flywheel design with cooling holes in it for better oil flow. (we don't have it on the new motor, as it was one of the few parts they could salvage from the old one). I do not know if it's on the '13 models. There is a new part number, so they may be able to tell you about that at the dealer, but probably not. I'd guess that the '14s will have the new part.

There are several dealer bulletins on these bikes. One is for the coolant overflow reservoir, (expansion tank), and cap. It's been out since at least 5/11 and still has no resolution. BMW claims it is cosmetic, due to coolant spraying out the cap and on the rider and suggests running the coolant level lower than the max line. I offer to you that it's a bit more than a cosmetic issue. And the coolant sprays out of the cap and blows back on the rider and inside of the windscreen, making a mess, reducing visibility if you have a taller windshield and you lose coolant. Ask them to print out the Puma letters for the bike you buy, or the previous model year of it, and hang on to them. BMW has a tendency to make service bulletins/(Puma letters) disappear sometimes. Parts change w/o p/n changes sometimes too. The water pump has had changes, but no one is certain what they are. We did get the new version of the water pump. It appears to have a different style seal and impeller design.

There does seem to be a wide history of water pump failures too. A friend with the single had 7 water pump failures before she made them take the bike back under the lemon laws. We know of other F650GS2 riders and a few K1600GT riders, as well as some other models that have suffered water pump failures too. And there is a trend of dealers quietly installing a different radiator cap when bikes come into the dealer. (higher pressure rating), but not always mentioning it to the owners.

It will do everything you want it to, but it is a bit under powered and higher maintenance, but you likely already know that. If you plan on loading it up with large panniers and top case, plan on at least upgrading the rear spring, if not the entire shock.

Keep on healing!

 

[luvtoride]

Ooh, that so makes me want to run out & drink the kool aid! lol... not!

SP, glad that you are moving along in the healing process & putting thought into the next scoot. More power to ya' sista!

 

[Barabus]

Jill,

Thanks for the update. Inquiring minds were wondering. Glad you have the support you need and a great attitude to overcome this.

 

[FJReady]

Tyler, that is just awesome!

Yes, absolutely. Great job Tyler.

I went through alot of PT after my 'lucky to be alive afterwards' get-off ten years ago and I know it's tough. But it works! I wish I was as tough as you gals! I whined like a ten year old during my PT.

Good luck Jill- alot of folks here rooting for you.

 

[rogdeb]

Rock on, Jill.

I'll second my good friend here

 

[FJRBluesman]

Thanks for the update Jill. Glad you're getting better, albeit slowly...