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Assembling the F650 'Six Days'

I want to do more off road riding without selling my beloved Funduro. A couple of adjustments will complete the 'Six Days'. More about it on the special F650 'Six Days' section.

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Continental TKC80

At last I managed to get knobbly tyres for my F650! Because the Funduro isn't an enduro-bike at all the front rim is only 19" big to improve handling on the road. Buying an off road tyre is therefore somewhat difficult. Continental seems to be the only that sells a 19" knobbly front tyre, the TKC80. This tyre was developed in cooperation with Richard Schalber and is aimed to use with the F650 and R1100GS. It is not surprising that these tyres are used in the BMW enduropark Hechtlingen and on the trips through Spain organised by Schalber.

The sizes of the TKC80 on the Funduro are different from standard tyre sizes. The BMW garage and BMW Netherlands couldn't help me on this. The national BMW organisation seems to discourage the use of these tyres... Afraid to damage their image?
Fortunately there happen to be some folks that want to go through the dirt with a BMW, Schalber sent me the correct sizes by fax immediately (Herzlichen Dank!). The sizes for the F650 are as follows (the GS uses the regular sizes):

• front TKC80 110/80 - 19
• rear TKC80 130/80 - 17

As can be read on the site of Carlo Albrecht the Contis need to be pushed into a curve and there after they are almost too willingly to fall down. After about two bends you're used to this. In the sand these tyres handle very well and there is always plenty of traction. Reports on playing in the sandbox will follow ;-)))

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New Dirt Helmet: Arai MX-3

The first trips on our new F650 in 1994 we wore secondhand helmets. Not really our choice - mine was slight too large, Karins helmet was entirely black including the visor - but we had something. Soon we plundered our bank account and bought two white BMW System 3 helmets. These helmets are very comfortable and are easy to put on and off your head.
In summer I mostly ride with opened visor. Every year I had the same trouble with insects in my eyes and bend sunglasses. After two years I replaced the visor by a BMW enduro-peak and Scott goggles. That was much better.

Riding with motor cross goggles is like riding with your eyes wide opened. The view is crystal clear! On sunny days I use a dark lens. The System 3 helmet is not very comfortable with goggles. The upper side of the goggles pushes against the helmet. The goggles fit too low on my face and closes my nose... A different problem is putting on and off of the System3-with-peak. The chin part can only be fold back half way. This is not very practical and in case of an accident (where someone wants to take off your helmet) this may cause injury to your neck!

The ultimate solution is a real enduro or motor cross helmet with plenty space for goggles. Eventually I choose a silver AraiMX-3. Additional advantages are the extreme light weight of this helmet (the MX-3 weights only 1020 grams, the System 3 is 1580 gr.) and its excellent ventilation openings. In this helmet you really breathe easier than in a regular full face helmet. It therefore is no surprise that this helmet can be seen at many motor cross and enduro events! The rockguard - the chin brace - can be put further away from your face for extra comfort.
The aerodynamic peak is not only there to keep the sun out of your eyes. It also gently pushes the helmed downward onto your head. Altogether it is hardly noticed that you wear a helmet! At 140 kmh you still can move your head any direction without effort - with the System3-with-peak this was only possible by risking neck injury. When the MX-3 becomes dirty it can be washed under the showers. Outside as well as the inside...

The MX-3 has a chinstrap with double D-ring for fastening instead of the easy clicking things BMW uses. Arai puts the D-ring fastening on all helmets. Actually this is the only permitted type of fastening on official motorbike events. Other fastenings seem somehow insecure.
The 'Rockguard' of the MX-3 is mend only to keep stones and debris away from your face. It is secured to the helmet with safety breaking bolts. When hitting something with the rockguard it simply goes aside without twisting your head. The guard does not give the extra protection a full face helmet gives you. Frightening? The vendor of my new helmet told me the chin part of a BMW System 3 helmet has the same function and limitation! Breaking off one of the bolts that holds the chin part of my BMW helmet without using any force at all somehow proved this statement... Only a real full face helmet where the chin brace is part of the rest gives something extra.

It needs no further explanation that I am very satisfied with my new dirt helmet. The only disadvantage I can think of is that my F650 looks somewhat silly underneath it :-)

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