High adventure on the Funduro

[Testarossa]

The BMW (Aprilia/Rotax) F650 I bought to hang on the back of the camper van has an odd set of carriers for dedicated BMW panniers, no longer produced. I found a guy in Durango who would sell me his, and we arranged to meet halfway, at Villa Grove south of Poncha Pass. Weather forecast was for 95+ F in the Boulder area so I hoped to get in some nice cool high-country riding.

Weather going south along US 285 was pleasant, with a 30-knot crosswind across the high country north and south of Fairplay. Collected the nifty boxes and headed home early enough to try Guanella Pass, now paved for the whole 23 miles. Great smooth twisty road climbing 3000 feet over 13 miles from Grant, to the summit at 11,670 feet. The engine coughed a few times climbing the last 500 feet.




Preparing for the descent to Georgetown, the bike wouldn't start. Only a solenoid click. I pushed it uphill a bit to the entrance to the overlook, and rolled down the pass a few yards for a bump start. The engine fired but wouldn't take throttle -- it idled but made no power and wouldn't spin past 2000 rpm. Felt like an ignition problem. I decided to coast the 10 miles and 3100 feet down to Georgetown.

Halfway down the road flattens out and even rises a bit to pass a couple of dammed lakes. I had to push uphill again. A couple of cars stopped to ask about my health and a father-and-son team from Houston jumped out and helped push me over the steepest of the rises.

While resting at the top of that one, I had my first clear thought: maybe the ignition just wasn't getting any voltage. Could be a charging issue? So I popped off the seat and looked at the battery. It had boiled dry.

My bad for assuming that when I bought new tires and a valve-set/oil change service, the shop would have checked the battery level.

So I coasted to Georgetown, bought a gallon of distilled water and a soda straw, and topped up the battery. Got a jump start and motored home for supper. New battery tomorrow.

I like the boxes. They're really solid and will hold a full-face helmet. I like everything about this bike except the stock saddle and the exhaust sound. At 65 mph it turns 5000 rpm with a rasping tone. A good set of earplugs fixes that.

[leafman60]

The 650 BMW single has been in production for about 23 years and became one of the most dependable bikes in their lineup.

They will not appear in the 2017 models.

I have an '09 X model that is a fantastic machine.



.

[alanp]

Good story.  Glad you made it home OK.  And that is a fine little bike, you are going to enjoy it. 

And thanks for posting that Guanella Pass is paved now.  I had heard that vaguely but didn't have proof.  I'll have to head down there.   

[Testarossa]

Put a voltmeter on the battery this morning and it held 12.9 volts overnight. Then fired it up.

The rectifier/regulator puts out 17 volts at idle. No wonder the battery fried.

$26 on eBay and we're back in business.

[Lannis]

Put a voltmeter on the battery this morning and it held 12.9 volts overnight. Then fired it up.

The rectifier/regulator puts out 17 volts at idle. No wonder the battery fried.

$26 on eBay and we're back in business.

Coasting down the mountain gave you time to think about it and say "Hey, wait just a minute, I know what's wrong ...."

Usually it IS something simple, but we're not thinking that way, we're peeved that our machine has betrayed us, and we can't see what others can see.

Glad it was a relatively easy thing!    I remember my year in Denver in 2013 and how much I enjoyed riding around in those mountains.   Still can't believe that the CV carbs on my PC800 Honda allowed it to pull strong and smooth all the way to the top of Mt Evans at 14,000+ feet.

Speaking of Denver, I don't see "LongRanger" Eric here any more, who lent me his F800S BMW to ride while I was there ... he not in Evergreen or not in Guzzis ... ?

Lannis

[Triple Jim]

I've been wondering how to get aerobic exercise while on long motorcycle trips.

[kirby1923]

Coasting down the mountain gave you time to think about it and say "Hey, wait just a minute, I know what's wrong ...."

    I remember my year in Denver in 2013 and how much I enjoyed riding around in those mountains.   Still can't believe that the CV carbs on my PC800 Honda allowed it to pull strong and smooth all the way to the top of Mt Evans at 14,000+ feet.



Lannis

I remember last year when I went to the top of Pikes Peak 14,111 on my CX with Mikuni flat slides. Worked perfect, even would idle normally.
Seth was there on his T 3 !

:-)

[Testarossa]

Seth was there on his T 3 !

I'm glad you remember it that way, but in fact Gail and I rode home on the T the day you went to Pikes Peak. It was running weak, and I found later it had a broken piston ring.

[kirby1923]

I'm glad you remember it that way, but in fact Gail and I rode home on the T the day you went to Pikes Peak. It was running weak, and I found later it had a broken piston ring.

Seth, I remember we separated into two groups and I thought you and Gail were with the other one.
Anyway it was a fun thing to do and a beautiful day!
So you got the T fixed up?

[Tom]

Rented one to ride in Europe. Fun bike and well capable of highway speeds and pass blitzing.

[Testarossa]

So you got the T fixed up?

That's a sad story. I found reduced compression on one side and a hiss from the crankcase on a leakdown test. The gearbox began to leak through to the clutch housing. Broken piston ring, and too much free play in the big-end bearings. I lost heart for a third major rebuild in four years. The Mille turned up locally and I jumped on it. The T is coming apart slowly, and I'll part her out.

[kirby1923]

That's a sad story. I found reduced compression on one side and a hiss from the crankcase on a leakdown test. The gearbox began to leak through to the clutch housing. Broken piston ring, and too much free play in the big-end bearings. I lost heart for a third major rebuild in four years. The Mille turned up locally and I jumped on it. The T is coming apart slowly, and I'll part her out.

Sorry to hear about that Seth but sometimes you got to what you have to do. Probably a good decision considering your new accusation.
Somebody will get some good T3 parts!

mike

[EldoMike]

I enjoy mine...good bike for a old short guy 



More pics here...

http://s106.photobucket.com/user/eldomike/library/1998%20BMW%20F650?sort=3&page=1