“Waterless coolant? I knew it! Lamishaw has gone completely mental, totally around the bend, bonkers, off his bean. What are you supposed to put in the radiator, sand?” Calm down, relax, take a breath… it’s not as crazy as it sounds. Evans waterless coolant is a liquid, but without any water. Why would you want [...]

In this article, we’ll focus on replacing the front disc rotor or rotors and installing new brake pads. The project bike is a 2011 BMW F650GS with a single solid (non-floating) rotor and a two-piston caliper. However, the procedure will be about the same for most modern motorbikes equipped with disc brakes. The replacement disc [...]

Replacing brake pads is something that most home mechanics can do with only a few common hand tools. A repair manual for the specific model should be available, and if you don’t have the proper equipment or skills, have a professional do the job. Manufacturers give specifications for minimum pad thickness; typically this is somewhere [...]

Finishing Touches Before we started to put these accessories on the FJR, it already had a long list of items bolted, screwed, taped, and even velcroed to it: a Cee Baileys windshield, Moko frame sliders, RAM mounts, a Vista Cruise throttle lock, an ancient (but still effective) Autocom system, Wild Bill highway pegs, nighttime LEDs [...]

The Bavarian luxury tourer is, without a doubt, a solid motorcycle. It even garnered our “Motorcycle of the Year” award in 2011. Millions of dollars were spent on research and development, and countless engineers were put to work to create the best luxury sport touring motorcycle on the planet. Arguably, BMW has achieved this. The [...]

Leaving a motorcycle idle for several months can wreak havoc if precautions are not taken. Here are a few minor things you can do to protect your bike and prevent problems when you’re ready to ride again. Gas Before storing your motorcycle for any extended period of time, top off the fuel tank with fresh [...]

Ever wonder what all those numbers and letters on the side of your otherwise pristine motorcycle tires are really there for? There is a wealth of information molded onto your moto’s meats. Look closely and you can discover where and when your tire was manufactured. Keep looking and the tire will tell you if it [...]

As those of us who ride know, motorcycles and cars are completely different animals. Each can be tamed, but the bikes tend to bite harder. We, the operators, have the final say on the safety of our machines prior to a ride. Without all the steel, belts, and bags of a car, motorcyclists are more [...]

Shopping for a new bike can be a whole lot of fun, but actually buying one can turn into a nightmare. For many of us, going to a dealership to look at brand new (or almost new) bikes just isn’t financially an option, so to get what we’re looking for we’re forced to turn to [...]

Eventually, almost every motorcyclist finds themself in that unpleasant situation with a flat tire. Therefore, it’s important to know what to do and what to carry for such an event. As long as you understand that there is some risk involved, you can perform emergency repairs that should get you to a place where permanent [...]

Most motorcycles use cables to connect the twist grip to the carb(s) or throttle bodies; many also use cables for the clutch, cold-start control, and even brakes. Servicing these critical components is fairly simple and prevents problems later. Maintenance intervals vary, and bikes ridden in dust, sand, or mud need extra maintenance. It’s good to [...]

In the final installment of this series, we further improve the long distance touring capabilities and comfort of the F 650 GS with installation of an aftermarket suspension and a custom seat. Touring Enhancements Install Time           Retail Cost*    1. Progressive Rear Suspension (part #465-5017): The handling and carrying capacity of a [...]

Part III of this series raises the basic touring capabilities of the BMW F 650 GS to a higher level of performance. Although different riders will have their own priorities and opinions, we generally consider the following enhancements to be cost-beneficial for long-distance touring on this motorcycle.   Touring Enhancements Install Time Retail Cost* 1. [...]

Hot weather really taxes a motorcycle’s cooling system. Problems that weren’t apparent in cooler weather will quickly show up. Running hot can manifest itself in different ways. Overheating may cause engine “pinging” and detonation (also known as spark knock) when it’s under load, even if you’re using premium fuel. This is often the only warning [...]

Many motorcycles, particularly dual sport and other off-road-oriented bikes, still use manual clutch cables. For fear of being stranded in the middle of nowhere by a broken clutch cable, I always carried an extra cable, along with an additional front inner tube and several other tools and repair items for my 2006 Kawasaki 650 KLR. [...]