• Hi everyone,

    As you all know, Coffee (Dean) passed away a couple of years ago. I am Dean's ex-wife's husband and happen to have spent my career in tech. Over the years, I occasionally helped Dean with various tech issues.

    When he passed, I worked with his kids to gather the necessary credentials to keep this site running. Since then (and for however long they worked with Coffee), Woodschick and Dirtdame have been maintaining the site and covering the costs. Without their hard work and financial support, CafeHusky would have been lost.

    Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been working to migrate the site to a free cloud compute instance so that Woodschick and Dirtdame no longer have to fund it. At the same time, I’ve updated the site to a current version of XenForo (the discussion software it runs on). The previous version was outdated and no longer supported.

    Unfortunately, the new software version doesn’t support importing the old site’s styles, so for now, you’ll see the XenForo default style. This may change over time.

    Coffee didn’t document the work he did on the site, so I’ve been digging through the old setup to understand how everything was running. There may still be things I’ve missed. One known issue is that email functionality is not yet working on the new site, but I hope to resolve this over time.

    Thanks for your patience and support!

650 Terra Farkles

Kenneth Webb

Kenneth Webb

Livin' It Up!
It was suggested to start a new thread on farkles for the Terra, so I'll kick it off. I'm posting a copy of a previous post.

While on the road and taking a break from towing the new bike home I had a chance to look over a few things that will need attention. Skid plate, for sure! The rubber peg inserts have to go, right away, and the shift lever needs to be adjusted up, of course, to clear my boots. I wonder if there are any aftermarket shift levers for the BMW 650 and if they would fit this bike.

The brake lever needs attention. If the lever can be flipped over and a new section cut and welded to the front to go over the peg it would be good. I'll have to remove the lever to see what's on the back side at the pivot point. The master cylinder connection to the rod will have to be changed to come in from the top, with an offset tab. This probably won't make sense to anyone yet. I just don't want the lever hanging down so low. With some good welding, grinding, filing and some powder coat, it will look factory.

The kick stand on mine is nearly a suicide item: kicks up by itself usually when lifting the bike off the stand. It's about 3/4" short at first glance, unless a lot of sag is added, and the pad is too small for dirt. That is easy to fix. I'm going to reinforce the back side of the stand with a half round tube welded all around, like I do on my 630 stands. That should make it strong enough to let me stand on the peg when mounting over gear, etc. The suicide bit means looking at the spring location and changing the geometry just a tad. Not too difficult either.

No chain guide in front of the rear sprocket? Not needed, or just a cost cutting measure from the factory? I wonder if brackets could be fabricated to clamp around the swing arm so that a good BRP roller guide can be installed. I think so.

The rims are suspect, but if the bike doesn't get hammered on the rocks and ledges, maybe they will be OK. I'm sure they are fine for the street. Looks like the hubs are straight off of the BMW 650.

Motosportz, want to tackle any of this stuff?

All in all, not too many projects, and not too difficult. But first, to go for a ride. I didn't even take it around the parking lot this morning; just loaded it up and headed for home. Tomorrow I'll put on about 300 easy miles if all goes according to plan.

Cross bar on the bars, for sure, just welded on as per Mark Sampson.
 
Just replied on the original post. The brake pedal is pretty easy actually. Grabbed one off ebay from F650/800GS which goes over the top. Mounts the same. Will need a little tweaking but looks simple enough. Took some pictures and will post tomorrow. The biggest headache is the offset for the pin that actuates the rear master cylinder is deeper on the original. I will be cutting both and welding. Could fabricate the offset but just as easy to cut both.Other issue is to make a tang that will hold the brake light switch. Again, seems simple enough. Will post a few pics in the AM.
The rims/wheels are right off the G650GS, from 99 to present. Bought a 17 rear and looking to source a cheap front one for the hub. Working on figuring out which EXCEL rim will cross over without having to spend big bucks getting them made. Most asian ones are 36 spoke so can't be too hard.
Did notice kickstand will go up on it with very little effort. Almost dropped mine thinking the stand was down. Will look at making it go a tad more forward and this should alleviate that problem.
BMW is pretty good about manufacturing parts that will retro fit other model bikes etc. I plan on going over a figuring out a few things. Makes it easier for moding etc.
 
LandofMotards said:
You mean lacing to your hub or a complete set?
Click to expand...
I was thinking just new rims. I'm going to try and hold down on the "extra" farkles for this bike. The Excel Takasago rims on my 630 have been great, and although I don't plan on hitting things as hard on the 650, it could always happen. I do like the wider rim on the rear of the 650. It lets the tire spread out the way it should, to give more road contact. The narrow rims on my trail bikes really pull the sidewalls in and this means most of the pavement wear happens just in the center of the tire.
 
This morning I tossed my Wolfman E-12 Enduro Saddlebags across the seat, and they fit perfectly except that the rear straps are a bit short. The bags rest just right along the muffler heat shields and will connect nicely to the passenger foot peg brackets. The rear straps can easily be lengthened by replacing the webbing with longer pieces and I will have my local seamstress sew on the buckles. These carry an amazing amount of stuff, even a sleeping bag if need be, with room left over. With a small duffel on top I will be able to carry enough for short term camping trips. Now, if Berg can make up some Wolfman racks for the 650 we'll be in business. BigDog did his own rack mods, but you need a welder and some way to bend tubes, etc. Maybe I will send Berg a note and see if he can get on this some time soon.

The stock tail rack is plastic, and feels suspect IMHO. That's something else that someone needs to work on.

There are going to be a lot of these bikes on the road in short order and hopefully the aftermarket will deem them suitable for attention. I have not yet investigated the rear sub-frame, but it looks like it's steel and strong enough to carry a load.

The shift lever: the first time you fall on the left side that is going to get bent. I'm not sure if there is a way to get it tucked in the way it is on the 610 and 630. A folding tip will help, but not a lot. The lever will still be subject to damage in most any fall to the left.

A rear chain guide and roller is needed on this bike. It is going to have to be a bolt on unit, conforming to the odd shaped swing arm. Hopefully BRP or someone else will come up with the appropriate bracket. I noticed in a photo that something similar is on a BMW, but not sure if it was a F650GS or another model since the pic was from the back and luggage obscured identification.

I looked at the accessories shown on the European web site and I'm not sure if anything there is going to find it's way onto my bike. Maybe the heated grips. The windscreen looks a bit small for the price as it is only a few inches higher than the headlight plastic. 'Have to scratch my head a bit on that. Maybe it's OK, but will it really do much to redirect the wind pressure? I definitely do not want a tall screen, just enough to help on the highway and not get in the way on the trail. Too much up front, connected to the bars, and it affects handling on pavement at speed.

That's all for now.
 
Kenneth Webb said:
I looked at the accessories shown on the European web site and I'm not sure if anything there is going to find it's way onto my bike.
Click to expand...
I just thought the same... Maybe the grips and steel tail rack if they sell it separately

As for shift lever, I bet its the same mounting as in G650GS. If so - here might be a good source - Touratech - both folding-tip and folding/adjustable levers are available:

http://www.touratech-usa.com/Store/...g-Shift-Lever-F650GS-G650GS-Sertao-OEM-Length

http://www.touratech-usa.com/Store/...ar-Lever-BMW-G650X-F650GS-Dakar-G650GS-Sertao

I have tested this on my F800GS and it worked flawlessly.

you may even consider folding brake lever (some changes ?) : http://www.touratech-usa.com/Store/2072/PN-300-0126/Folding-brake-pedal-F650GS-G650GS-Sertao

Touratech stuff is usually v. good quality, although quite pricey...
 
Good finds Mario! It looks like quite a few things for the 650GS and Sertao will adapt to the Terra. Maybe the skid plate too, although I sure want to see Motosportz unit first. The shift lever will be an immediate add I suspect, assuming it is long enough. There is some benefit to being "average" in stature and not having to deal with size 12 boots.

The engine protector bars look pretty good too, and not overly dramatic in appearance. Lots of stuff hanging off the side of the Terra engine and if I want to tackle some of the brush covered trails I found on the TAT last year, the bars might help. Before that happens though, something would have to be done about the suspension. I guess that's what the 630 is for. I'm anxious to fool around with the rear preload to see if a little softening will help. I also wonder if folks like LTR will do something with the forks.

As for the brake lever, lots of messing around to make one work, but possible. The long master cylinder rod is the worst obstacle.
 
The steel shifter and brake might look cheap but steel bends and bends back many times over when aluminum snaps off. Just food for thought.
 
I spent some time pondering the brake lever yesterday, and it appear that it will be a real pain to fix it. The mounting plate hangs down pretty low, and the return spring stop tab even lower! There isn't much room on the back side of the plate to do much with the stop light switch. The master cylinder isn't the same as on my 630, and at first glance it appears that the brake switch on that bike must be operated by a pressure switch on the cylinder, but I'm not sure. It was dark and I couldn't feel or see an electrical switch.

It looks like a new lever could be fabricated from steel so that it goes over the peg, and the spring turned 180. For it to engage the lever, it would have to curve around under the pivot point a bit and a tab made to actuate the stop light switch. Still, all that stuff hangs down too low.

The other way would be to do something about the switch and clean up the area below the peg. Not sure how to do that. I sure like the way they did it on the Strada Concept, but that would mean changing the master cylinder and who know what else. It's the one poorly done thing on this bike, and something has to happen there. I hope Kelly at Motorsportz will take a look at this when he's mounting up the skid plate. Also, I hope his plate provides some protection for the electrical bits and wires down there. It's just not sanitary now!
 
Wolfman tank bag and enduro bags mounted. 'Had to get some longer straps, and I mounted stainless d-rings to the passenger footpeg brackets. This should be OK until the Wolfman saddlebag racks are available.

Wolfman bags 001.JPGWolfman bags 002.JPG
 
Motosportz said:
I just mounted up the Motosportz prototype plate to the Tr650 and it pretty much eliminates issues or need for a fix. Unless you plan real extreme stuff it should be pretty well protected.
Click to expand...

I was thinking that today when I saw my bike in the shop today (get to pick mine up Monday!). The U spacers you designed for the back to go on the frame look like they would drop the skid plate enough to make the whole brake lever thing a non issue. Well done! It looks like this will most likely be the approach most manufacturers will use as this seems the most "reasonable" option for mounting the rear of the skid plate. The front looks to have several mounting options.

I know we all like to tinker with our bikes, but we should all get our skid plates bolted up before we do anything to that pedal.
 
FabOneUp said:
I was thinking that today when I saw my bike in the shop today (get to pick mine up Monday!). The U spacers you designed for the back to go on the frame look like they would drop the skid plate enough to make the whole brake lever thing a non issue. Well done! It looks like this will most likely be the approach most manufacturers will use as this seems the most "reasonable" option for mounting the rear of the skid plate. The front looks to have several mounting options.

I know we all like to tinker with our bikes, but we should all get our skid plates bolted up before we do anything to that pedal.
Click to expand...

You better pick it up Monday, I'm sick of looking at it lol. Sorry I wasn't very personable yesterday when we met. I was still off in wonderland after riding the txc310 :)
 
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