Long-Term Update

LONG-TERM UPDATE

BMW F800GS

Off-road ready?

OUR LONG-TERM F800GS IS FINALLY back on road—and trail. Plans to install an off-road-oriented Öhlins cartridge fork kit never came to fruition, so, after waiting several months for parts that failed to materialize, we begrudgingly reinstalled the stock damper assembly.

Making up for lost miles was fun and included participation in the annual Cycle World Trek. This invitation-only, industry dual-sport ride has for the past decade taken place in the Sierra Mountains of central California. This year’s course had a large chunk of offroad single-track, so prior to departure, we made a few prudent modifications.

First, we fitted Fasst Company’s 15degree-bend “Woods High” Flexx Handlebar System ($350; www.fasstco.com). This innovative design uses different-density compression elastomers to absorb road shock and minor engine vibration. Barkbusters VPS handguards ($160; www.twistedthrottle.com) protect the bars, brake and clutch levers, and, most importantly, hands. They feature heavy-duty aluminum supports and bolted quickly and easily to the Fasst bars.

Placement of the oil cooler and filter low and toward the front of the engine leaves these components vulnerable to damage from road debris and rocks. BMW’s aluminum Enduro Engine Guard ($273; www.bmw-riders-gear.com) protects the aforementioned parts as well as a significant portion of the underside of the engine. Think of it as cheap insurance.

The standard GS headlights don’t exactly blast holes into the night, so we fitted PIAA’s 1100X VSX Dichroic Halogen Light Kit (#77110, $320; www.piaa.com). Hardware and wiring are included, and the lights mount easily and offer excellent illumination—they even helped one tester avoid hitting a deer on a dark night.

We’ve used two sets of tires since our last update. Continental’s semi-knobbed TKC 80s ($325; www.conti-online.com) provided excellent off-road grip but didn’t last as long as Pirelli’s Scorpion Trails ($360; www.us.pirelli.com).

Our only issue with the F800GS during the last 3100 miles was a faulty fuellevel sending unit, which on three occasions left us stranded without fuel. This, and two other recall-related issues, will be remedied at the next service.

Carefully selected modifications and semi-knobbed tires were all that was needed to make our long-term BMW F800GS a true off-road-worthy machine.

BMW F800GS

$10,520

Honda CBR1000RR

Maintaining fitness

FOR THE PAST 3K-PLUS MILES, OUR long-term CBR1000RR has been rolling on Pirelli Diablo Rossos ($440; www.us.pirelli.com). We continue to be impressed by how well this radial rubber grips regardless of ambient temperature or road conditions. And despite our best canyon-riding efforts, some tread remains visible.

More recent additions: Supermoto Engineering anodized aluminum chainblock sliders ($109; www.supermoto engineering.com), front axle-slider kit ($80) and Delran sliders ($13); and Constructor Racing Group SSR rearsets ($630; www.crgmoto.com), along with Roll-A-Click folding brake and clutch levers ($129/260). While the rearsets were more difficult to install than the levers, the wide, knurled, forged aluminum footpegs provide firmer footing and enhance cornering clearance.

Just for fun, we drained the engine oil on our RR at 3600 miles—long before the recommended 8K. We filled the crankcase with four quarts of 20w50 HP4 semi-synthetic oil ($10 per quart; www.powersports.honda.com) and installed a new stock oil filter ($13). While the bike was on the lift in the CW garage, we also replaced the front brake pads ($70). To keep the kinks out of the links of our CBR’s drive chain, we regularly apply Honda Pro Oils Chain Lube with Moly ($6.49). So far, so good. n

HONDA CBR1000RR

$11,595