My new ride is.....

[miles to go]

Originally Posted by thrasher

I like it; I've been looking at these for a while too. No doubt well engineered. However, I just noticed that these guys are running 11.5:1 compression. How well does it run on pump gasoline?

There is a sticker next to the gas fill that states use 87 octane. The guy at the dealership said to use 91. I don't have the bike tagged yet so haven't been riding it. Will have to experiment with the octane - hoping 87/89 will work.

[miles to go]

Originally Posted by steveusmc

I'd like to take a BMW for a ride..but am afraid my "log wagon" wouldn't feel so good afterwards. That bike would be a blast to ride for sure. It is amazing how fast you can get launched over the handlebars on a dirt bike when you hit the front brake too hard......ask me how I know.

This bike has ABS for the road, but you can switch it off for trail riding.

[thrasher]

Originally Posted by miles to go

There is a sticker next to the gas fill that states use 87 octane. The guy at the dealership said to use 91. I don't have the bike tagged yet so haven't been riding it. Will have to experiment with the octane - hoping 87/89 will work.

That'll be interesting. I can't see how an 11.5:1 compression engine will run on that low of an octane unless you are at reasonably high altitude. Perhaps they are doing something interesting with fuel management, though.

At any rate, congrats on your new toy,... but dont' kill yerself on it!

[FXST00]

I like BMW's that one kinda looks like a mako shark vette.

What do they retail for and will they go down at all?

Nice ride

Jeff

[miles to go]

Originally Posted by FXST00

I like BMW's that one kinda looks like a mako shark vette.

What do they retail for and will they go down at all?

Nice ride

Jeff

This is an 05 model, which had a retail base price of about $8k. The options (ABS, heated grips, centerstand, etc.) would have brought it close to $10k. I picked this one up for $7k, like new with only 500 miles - that is five hundred. The Dakar model was discontinued in 06 and used models are hard to find. I just lucked into this one. The new 07 GS-650s look a lot more like a dirt bike and i'm not crazy about the new design.

[berserker]

Some BMW I beleive have a setting, a button for running on low octane. It adjust the FI or timing. You got to remember some of those models are meant to ridden around the world in all kinds of conditions. They make some of those bikes for exterme conditions.

[miles to go]

Originally Posted by berserker

Some BMW I beleive have a setting, a button for running on low octane. It adjust the FI or timing.

Those damn Germans think of everything. Got to wonder why Harley doesn't make an enduro type bike. Probably because they would have to price it high and couldn't compete with *** models - just guessing. Although BMW doesn't seem to have a problem. I called the two closest dealers looking for 07 GS-650 and both told me they were sold out and no idea when they would get more.

And here's an interesting side note reference oil and break-in. New BMW's come with some special break-in oil that get run for 600 miles. After that it's every 6000 miles. The service manager told me not to run syn oil until after 10,000 miles cuz they don't consider the engine broke-in till then.

[Bubba Neil]

Originally Posted by thrasher

I like it; I've been looking at these for a while too. No doubt well engineered. However, I just noticed that these guys are running 11.5:1 compression. How well does it run on pump gasoline?

Water cooled and variable valve timing are some of the ways the do it, not uncommon for water cooled aluminum engines to be able to have higher compression ratios.
Depending on how good the engine management system is it will (detune)the engine while lower grade fuel is used based on readings from the knock sensors, so performance and mileage may actually suffer.


Cool bike