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18K views 137 replies 19 participants last post by  AliceNicho 
#1 ·
Hey everyone,

Just popping in to say hi after buying my first BMW an F800ST 1.5wks ago. Some of you may recognise her as her previous owner Don is on the forums and did a long post back in 2014 when he joined his first TS Safari.

I call motorcycling my midlife crisis as I've only been riding for about 2yrs. Though I do ride on the road and also in the dirt (have a KTM for that).

A little about me, I'm a 37yr old RN from Central QLD and got into riding thanks to my mechanic partner who is a mad pommy.

The day I picked up my gorgeous new bike I rode her the 680km home, long day/night but achieved my longest ride to date. Have been getting out on her every chance I get. The day did start with a screw up on my behalf, I messed up on a roundabout, mounted a curb and ended up in a garden bed, however no damage to me or the bike and despite the rough start I got back on and rode the trip home.

Anyway, nice to meet you all,

Alice


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#87 ·
Betsy scored a full service, new plugs (good thing too as a piece had broken off and wedged in), oil and filter, air filter and a full clean and replace of the cooling system. Not a moment too soon either! There was absolutely no fluid in the reservoir and had I ridden withiut knowing I could of easily blown the engine [emoji33] she also had new fork seals and fork oil.

We made it down safely other than my riding whilst blind for a bit (went dark whilst on the Bruce and had my prescription sunnies on so couldn't see a thing). According to the old man he though I was going to die at one point as I was on such a lean through a long sweeping bend and incredibly close to the white line and B-Double beside it - he says I could of reached out and touched it. Didn't feel that close though!

Betsy did appear to blow a o-ring and leak coolant overnight but once topped up (brilliant having a mechanic partner) she didn't lose any more throughout the day.

We stopped at Kirra Beach for a leisurely brunch. As you can see the midget in on a 690 SMC. Before making our way back up the coast. However not without incident including Jim seriously overestimating his fuel capacity and running out 30km north of Gin Gin. He put the 4L he had in a Jerry can in and made it to Bororen but after 1am the only place for fuel was Benaraby. As I don't know how accurate Betsy's fuel guage is he siphoned out the last 1L from the 690 and put it into Betsy and I was off on a rescue mission. Betsy made it with 2L to spare as it took 14L to fill her. Went back and delivered his fuel and we continued on. Mind you it was 3am when we finally got home!

Both of us feel as though a rhino has gone in dry once our butts - even the extra padding on my butt and Betsy's seat didn't save me.


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#88 ·
sometimes I forget that you live upside-down so this is your riding season. here the winter is coming and it's getting cold, too cold for a trip on the motorcycle, probably before the end of the this month will snow. at the moment we have about ten degree, but every day gets colder.
 
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#89 ·
Our riding season is all year round. Never too cold to ride especially when you live in the northern parts of Aus. If anything it gets insanely hot. Was over 40C on our way down the coast on Monday. Even with a mesh (with armour in it) jacket it's still sweltering.

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#90 ·
the hot is a problem also here in Sicily, when the sirocco blows we can have much more than 40° C and if you ride you can't breath. and riding in the sirocco wind can be very dangerous, because the gusts of wind take violence suddenly. the gyroscopic effect of the wheels can mitigate the danger of the wind but to do it you must run faster than 160/180 kmh and it's not easy to keep that speed in the blowing wind.
I remember that once, going back to italy from spain, from the spain-french border to nice the side wind was so strong that I had to run very fast and taking a riding position like a sail, completely out the shape of the fairing, practically beside the bike, not on the bike. it was a real nightmare, I was so tired that when I arrived at the hotel in italy in the afternoon I dropped on the bed with my riding suite on and I woke up late in the night still wearing the suite and the boots.
 
#91 ·
So I've decided that I will be buying Betsy's sister next year in an F800GS so that I have a super comfortable and super capable bike for on and off-road and then Betsy will be my purely daily ride and long distance tarmac travel and my KTM will be my aggressive off road/enduro bike.

Starting to look around now at what's out there and when I find the one I want I'll get her. The old man tried to talk me into a 690 like his but FFS I'm a short ass and hate struggling to get onto a bike plus I think it's ugly as so I will definitely be sticking to my guns on this one.

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#92 ·
alice, I had three bikes and then I decided to keep only one, the MV Agusta F4 , a sport bike that I used also to travel and as for daily use. we have not the ubiquity gift, it's very difficult to use three bikes as we would do it.
p.s. since I broken my leg I ride only... the couch in front of the tv [uhoh], but I still hope to be back on the saddle one day. in italy we use to say "the hope is the last one to die".
 
#96 ·
She's at 68,000km and my partner is a mechanic, he's checked out the belt and it's in good condition for now, know it needs doing at 80,000km. The brake fluid will be flushed and changed in the next week or so. But I won't be riding her again before then as im on night shifts.

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#99 ·
Well the new steering damper and replacement gear shift (original part never used as excess stock in the UK) have arrived so they will get done in the next week or so.

Betsy also has a custom lambswool seat cover on the way (does the whole seat rider and pillion) and I will be ordering my MadStad windshield next. Hoping it will arrive before our trip away end of Janurary and that my hip settles down. Seeing the orthopaedic specialist in Brisbane on Jan 6th and will need an MRI done then booked for surgery [emoji22]

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#102 ·
When it arrives I'll post a photo of it on Betsy but I ordered it from goodwool in Australia (NSW)
https://www.goodwool.com.au/
I emailed them for ordering as I did find their site confusing but it's the DS for this bike and I've also ordered the waterproof cover for it as well. All up with postage was $300 and I'm getting it in Charcoal colour.

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#103 ·
Here you don’t see bikes with seat covers like that, maybe for the hot weather that we have in Sicily for most of the year. Please, post a photo of your bike when it will arrive, I’ curious to see a F800 with that kind of seat cover.
 
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#104 ·
Here you don't see bikes with seat covers like that, maybe for the hot weather that we have in Sicily for most of the year. Please, post a photo of your bike when it will arrive, I' curious to see a F800 with that kind of seat cover.
Fantastic for long trips irrespective of the weather. I use mine summer and winter on long runs, especially when touring. We also travel a lot farther on our bikes here in Australia. Our Sunday morning cappuccino run we'd ride over 60klms just for a cup of coffee and pastry, then ride home again.

You can just see my sheep skin in this photo. I was packed up for a trip down to Phillip Island for the bike races. 2,500klm round trip. It was in mid summer and stinking hot.

Tire Wheel Fuel tank Vehicle Automotive tire
 
#110 ·
Well Betsy now has her sheepskin seat cover on. It arrived last week which ordering just before Christmas and living in the middle of nowhere I was very happy with. Only just got the time to put it on today because of work and boy is it lovely, comfortable and I don't end up burning my butt!


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#111 ·
Luxury,, a custom made sheep skin. How posh!! Mine is a generic one and has been on a number of bikes since the mid 1980s. I've got two actually, a full seat sheep skin (when I have a pillion, which is very rare these days) and one just for the pilot. A sheep skin is also handy at bike rallies for a pillow.

The main problem I've got is a boney bum with little padding, so it doesn't matter what I put on my bike seat I still get a sore bum after a couple of hours. Wearing leather pants helps a bit.
 
#125 ·
Don't put anything on it! That's the beauty of having a belt. You should be able to get 30-40 thousand miles on one without touching it. I replaced my first one after 35,000 and it still looked great. I held onto it in case my replacement fails. I've since put 25,000 on my Continental replacement and it still looks new. Just make sure it isn't adjusted too tight.

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#126 ·
So just clean it with soap and water?

The reason I ask is I live on a dirt road so she does a few km's of dirt everytime I leave and come back home. There is also a clicking noise when I move her round under the house coming from the belt.

I am ordering a new belt soon (just because service intervals dictate it's time for a new one).

Cher's for the help [emoji4]

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#127 ·
Just wash it like when you wash the rest of the bike. Dust shouldn't hurt it. Rocks on the other hand can do damage.

It will squeek and groan when you move it around with the engine off, especially when backing up. Totally normal.

Keep an eye on it to be sure it's tracking straight and right up against the inside edge of the pulley.

When you take it off, check for free play in the pulley which can indicate worn cush rubbers. I've had to replace mine twice now.

You can swap the belt in 10 min. Very easy to do.

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#130 ·
Just wash it like when you wash the rest of the bike. Dust shouldn't hurt it. Rocks on the other hand can do damage.

It will squeek and groan when you move it around with the engine off, especially when backing up. Totally normal.

Keep an eye on it to be sure it's tracking straight and right up against the inside edge of the pulley.

When you take it off, check for free play in the pulley which can indicate worn cush rubbers. I've had to replace mine twice now.

You can swap the belt in 10 min. Very easy to do.

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The old man has checked the cush rubbers today and they are fine. Will be ordering a new belt this week (though technically not due for another 10k km but I like Betsy in tip top condition). There is some tightening needed.

We have had a crap load of rain so that is Betsy's "wash" at present because to try wash her as well would be a nightmare and would be undone the next time I leave home.

As I now work at the prisoners nothing for Betsy and I to do a 140km round trip several times a week and whilst the Dainese summer mesh pants aren't too good at keeping off the rain my new Klim boots are spectacular and the lambswool seat cover is amazing. Just need my MadStad screen and she will be perfect.

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#136 ·
Ok @Daboo and @Flook you have twisted my arm. When I have a spare 10mins I will create a thread, where would you advise I do so?

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If you have a specific question or comment, it's always best to post it in the relative section. Most sections are bike specific. The 'General Discussion' section also gets good traffic. You have to remember there are many people in these forums who are always willing to help and it seems they are more willing to help a damsel in distress [:D]
 
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