how is the f700 gs on dirt - Page 2

vtbob · 02-03-2013, 12:36 PM

the cast wheels are not glass!

Often the problem with off road is that the riders let air out of the tires for better traction....so when you hit somthing hard the tire collapses and the rock/whatever hits the rim. If you keep the tire pressure up you have to hit something hard enough to collapses the tire...ie much less likely.

You will note in the picture above...the tire is also badly damaged...from that collapsing

If you ride in 1st gear it is unlikely you will damage your cast wheels...or your tires.

get out there and do it ....have fun

If you find you ride hard enough to damage your tires and wheel, you can always upgrade to after market wire wheel ...which are evan tougher than the BMW factory wire wheels.

MikeMike · 02-03-2013, 01:19 PM

Go back and take a look at the roads in the pics above.
My three dinged rims have happened at speed on rough surfaces, they will do fine at slow speeds.

MikeMike · 02-03-2013, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vtbob

.the tire is also badly damaged...from that collapsing

Well, it was still on the rim and got me home over 100 miles in temps above 90f so hey, it wasnt all that bad. LOL!
The wobble over 60 mph was a pain in the arse.

mostro900 · 02-04-2013, 04:20 AM

I've got a 2008 650GS, which spends quite a bit of time on dirt - in company with a F800GS, Yamaha Tenere & a KTM 640. I would consider it the least 'dirt' capable of the lot, but it easily holds its own. I've put Ricor Intimators(sp?) in the front forks and I have also put a F800 rear shock on, just for some extra ground clearance. I run TKC80's on the front and a Pirelli Scorpion something on the rear.

RobbieO · 02-04-2013, 08:50 AM

The problem with the cast wheels is that if you do screw them up, you have to buy a whole new wheel.
If you screw up a wire wheel, it can be fixed using the original hub. Much cheaper.
It was one of the reasons I bought a lowered 800 instead of the 700...

itsatdm · 02-04-2013, 09:01 AM

Depends on how bad they are bent. There are several shops that repair cast motorcycle wheels within 80 miles of my residence.

Metalsapo · 02-08-2013, 05:32 PM

Hi, i live in Guatemala City, and i work in the sides of the city, and it is a daily adventure, there are 30 KM to work, and 6 Km in a offroad terrain with rocks, mud, people, dogs, cows, 125 cc motorcycles, drunks, kids running around and no problem at all, the only limitation i see is if i would be very agressive with my motorcycle and not stoping properly in bumps and stones, the suspension is not designed to be agressive, but can do the job, the only limitation is in my skill.
Also i think that F800GS is the best machine known to mankind, F650Gs for me is the perfect size of a F800GS for a beginner like me.
I learned offroad in the BMW course by a good techer (Jose Andres Pinto) and still allot to learn. In the course i was in the middle, the G650GS is very short but agile, twins are a Bull, and dinosaurs 1200, and felt in the best spot for a beginner, hope i help, and keep the tire selection is key, TK80 for me please.

Beezzz · 02-18-2013, 02:19 PM

my friend has cracked two sets of cast wheels. he rides them on a typical guy ride of fireroad/jeep roads in So. Calif. with dual sport riders. my impression is that an aggressive dirt bike rider will crack them and a casual cruiser rider will not.

MikeMike · 02-18-2013, 02:46 PM

I've never seen one "cracked" but I have seen them bent and dented.
A crack would be catastrophic if it happened on the rim.

And not the spoke.

02-03-2013, 01:19 PM	#17
MikeMike Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2009 Location: South east Mexico Oddometer: 2,420	Go back and take a look at the roads in the pics above. My three dinged rims have happened at speed on rough surfaces, they will do fine at slow speeds. MikeMike screwed with this post 02-03-2013 at 08:03 PM

02-04-2013, 08:50 AM	#20
RobbieO Muskokatard Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Dumpmere - Muskoka Oddometer: 3,893	The problem with the cast wheels is that if you do screw them up, you have to buy a whole new wheel. If you screw up a wire wheel, it can be fixed using the original hub. Much cheaper. It was one of the reasons I bought a lowered 800 instead of the 700... __________________ "Now this is the shit!" Drcool I can no longer wheelie..

02-04-2013, 09:01 AM	#21
itsatdm NoMoTDM still Gary Joined: Jun 2004 Location: Columbia, Ca. Oddometer: 3,714	Depends on how bad they are bent. There are several shops that repair cast motorcycle wheels within 80 miles of my residence. __________________ BMW Motorrad USA customer service: "We make superior motorcycles and continue to improve them."

02-08-2013, 05:32 PM	#22
Metalsapo R.E. Ordoñez Joined: Feb 2013 Location: Guatemala C.A. Oddometer: 24	F650GS OffRoad Hi, i live in Guatemala City, and i work in the sides of the city, and it is a daily adventure, there are 30 KM to work, and 6 Km in a offroad terrain with rocks, mud, people, dogs, cows, 125 cc motorcycles, drunks, kids running around and no problem at all, the only limitation i see is if i would be very agressive with my motorcycle and not stoping properly in bumps and stones, the suspension is not designed to be agressive, but can do the job, the only limitation is in my skill. Also i think that F800GS is the best machine known to mankind, F650Gs for me is the perfect size of a F800GS for a beginner like me. I learned offroad in the BMW course by a good techer (Jose Andres Pinto) and still allot to learn. In the course i was in the middle, the G650GS is very short but agile, twins are a Bull, and dinosaurs 1200, and felt in the best spot for a beginner, hope i help, and keep the tire selection is key, TK80 for me please.

02-18-2013, 02:19 PM	#23
Beezzz Get out and ride Joined: May 2010 Location: San Diego, CA Oddometer: 1	average experienced dirt rider will crack them with speed my friend has cracked two sets of cast wheels. he rides them on a typical guy ride of fireroad/jeep roads in So. Calif. with dual sport riders. my impression is that an aggressive dirt bike rider will crack them and a casual cruiser rider will not.

02-03-2013, 12:36 PM	#16
vtbob wanderer Joined: Jun 2009 Location: Western Vermont Oddometer: 417	the cast wheels are not glass! Often the problem with off road is that the riders let air out of the tires for better traction....so when you hit somthing hard the tire collapses and the rock/whatever hits the rim. If you keep the tire pressure up you have to hit something hard enough to collapses the tire...ie much less likely. You will note in the picture above...the tire is also badly damaged...from that collapsing If you ride in 1st gear it is unlikely you will damage your cast wheels...or your tires. get out there and do it ....have fun If you find you ride hard enough to damage your tires and wheel, you can always upgrade to after market wire wheel ...which are evan tougher than the BMW factory wire wheels.

02-04-2013, 04:20 AM	#19
mostro900 Adventurer Joined: May 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Oddometer: 77	I've got a 2008 650GS, which spends quite a bit of time on dirt - in company with a F800GS, Yamaha Tenere & a KTM 640. I would consider it the least 'dirt' capable of the lot, but it easily holds its own. I've put Ricor Intimators(sp?) in the front forks and I have also put a F800 rear shock on, just for some extra ground clearance. I run TKC80's on the front and a Pirelli Scorpion something on the rear.

02-18-2013, 02:46 PM	#24
MikeMike Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2009 Location: South east Mexico Oddometer: 2,420	I've never seen one "cracked" but I have seen them bent and dented. A crack would be catastrophic if it happened on the rim. And not the spoke.

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