2005 F650GS questions for Bolivia..

**motoride** · #1 28 Jul 2006

I ride 2005 F650GS for RTW and I´ll go to Bolivia next week.
I´m at Puno,Peru now.
As I have 0 mechanic knowledage,please answer a few questions for me..

1. Center stand or Side stand?
I already have 2 broken shock,so which is better when I´m parking at hotel.
especially for shock..?

2.Anyproblem in Bolivia?
It´s very cold at night with high altitude,so what kind of problem do I have to expect and how can I solve it?
Especially get a ignition in the morning..

3.River crossing..
What should I do first,if I got fall off in the middle of river..

Any advice is welcomed..

se whan,Kang

**Smellybiker** · #2 28 Jul 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by motoride

I ride 2005 F650GS for RTW and I´ll go to Bolivia next week.
I´m at Puno,Peru now.
As I have 0 mechanic knowledage,please answer a few questions for me..

Quote:

Originally Posted by motoride

1. Center stand or Side stand?
I already have 2 broken shock,so which is better when I´m parking at hotel.
especially for shock..?

Doesnt make any difference when parked, its a heavy load & bumps that break shocks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by motoride

2.Anyproblem in Bolivia?
It´s very cold at night with high altitude,so what kind of problem do I have to expect and how can I solve it?
Especially get a ignition in the morning..

Should be fine. Good oil helps (10w50 semi-synthetic is nice). Make sure your battery fluid is topped up & you've got antifreeze in the cooling system.

Quote:

Originally Posted by motoride

3.River crossing..
What should I do first,if I got fall off in the middle of river..

Get wet ?? ;-)

Make sure you kill the engine before the air intake goes under otherwise the engine will be destroyed.

Afterwards, check the air box for water (unplug the drain hose). If there's water in the air box make sure you dry it properly.

Remove the spark plug & turn the engine over a few times to make sure there is no water in the cylinder.

Check the oil to make sure theres no water in it, look for a 'chocolate milk' color.

Probably lots of advice here on 'how to restart a drowned bike'.

**mollydog** · #3 28 Jul 2006

Two broken shocks?

Holy shite Kang, you must be riding hard!
Either that or you are OVER LOADED. Give some stuff away.
Try a Wilburs shock next time or get a Showa!

Hacker is right, the bike stand makes no difference to shock, unless you are saying your rear shock is broken NOW. If so, put the bike on the centerstand.

Starting in Cold Weather:
Cover motor at night with blanket if possible.
BEST solution...A NEW BATTERY!!! Get a sealed/maintenance free battery only. Yuasa is good. A weak battery can cause other components on your bike to fail. Like the Stator, Regulator/Rectifier or pick-up coil. NO MATTER WHAT....if your battery is showing signs of weakness....replace it.

Water and river crossings. Best advice: Get help or hire a truck to ferry you
to the other side. If the water is over 2 or 3 feet and you fall or drive into a hole, you could be there a while. Very bad for your trip.

If bike is drowned:
1.TURN OFF MOTOR FIRST!
2. Get bike upright IMMEDIATLEY, if possible.
2. Get help, push to shore, rest.
3. Drain Air box (there should be a rubber squeeze nipple to drain) Remove
air filter and let it dry. reinstall when dry.

If only under for a minute or so, now try to start bike. If under water longer.... read on.

5. Drain fuel from Carb bowl if under water for more than two minutes.

6. Remove spark plug.Turn bike upside down or on its side and drain
water out of cylinder. Wait five minutes. Leave upside down.

7. With plug out and plug wire grounded, crank starter
over for five seconds. WAIT five minutes. Crank again for five seconds.
Wait five more minutes. turn bike upright. Install plug. re-install air filter,
turn on fuel, double check your work. Try to start.

Determine if water got into oil (unlikely) After 10 minutes check oil to see if it is a milk chocolate color. If so, drain oil. Put in new oil ASAP.

Gas tank may have water in it. Drain, add fresh fuel when possible.

Good luck Kang! Eat a Saltena for me!

Patrick

**motoride** · #4 29 Jul 2006

Wow..!!
Thanks for quick reply.
Without Horizonsunlimited,it´s absolutely impossible to ride RTW.
I got huge help since I prepare a trip..
I met huge people since I begin a trip..
I always got answer whenever I need a solution..

Thanks all..!!!
Be sure to email me when you come to Korea..

Se whan,Kang

**Mr. Ron** · #5 29 Jul 2006

Hello SeWhan, nice to here from you. glad you got your rear shock replaced AGAIN! Remember that morning in Creel when your bike didn't start and i had to tow you (I have a great video of that BTW

) Maybe you should consider replacing your battery if you can before you head for the Altiplano. If this isn't an option, always park on a hill when in cold weather until your satisfied your bike won't let you down in cold weather, just in case. You can always bomb-start it in a pinch! Although no one has mentioned it here, you may meet someone who sugests using Ether, or starting fluid. This is a BAD idea, it's for deisels and may permanently damage your engine (eg. big hole in piston!) I've been paying close attention to your blog, your travells have been inspirational! Take care!
Ron...

**motoride** · #6 30 Jul 2006

Dear Ron,
Thanks always take care of me..!!
After creel,I had a same problem and finally fail to start the engine in Guatemala city. SO I have to call truck to pick me up for BMW dealer.
Next day,I find that there are no water in the battery..!!
So I change the new one about 5 months ago.
After that everything is fine until I had a sleep at the camp house of
high mountain,5300m over sea leve. On that morning,I fail to get a ignitiong,so
I just down the hill with neutral gear..That´s why I´m worrying about getting
a iginition at the cold weather with high altitude..

Thanks ROn..!!