How to make my 2008 FE 650 Indesctructible?

Hello,

I picked up this lovely, long legged Swede for my Winter Assault Vehicle for the city. Previously I had inquired if those more informed then I recommended Supermoto or Enduro as the tool for this purpose. Since the answers was limited I went with my gut feeling.

Ok, the obvious things for her body are aluminum handguards, top notch bash plate, radiator guards, Scott's shark fin.

My worry is the engine. I've logged 60 hours in three weeks of ownership, Boise to Chicago via the rural routes besides the last 1k miles (was having too much fun on the incredible roads that ran mostly north and south so time had to be made up.).

I've kept her under 80 most of the time. It is my nature to take my toys to their limit and beyond but the length of my trip made me hold back, ~2600 miles.

This girl will be doing city work with the occasional 10 to 15 mile highway run to visit friends or curvaceous creatures. These runs have been regularly taken in the triple digits on a purpose built bike. I would like to take my Swede to that region but would hate to cut her life expectancy drastically. A rebuild in 6 months of ownership for a none racer is not ideal.

Besides changing oil at 500 to 1000 mile increments and checking valves what upgrades are recommended? I plan on using full synthetic 10/50 and 5/40 for use below freezing.

I heard some talk about spring upgrade.

I will do the OrangeBerg weep hole fix since my girl is marking her territory.

I would like to think the CC's and last generation of this engine will make for an incredibly solid motor as SafariBerg has experienced.

Thank in advance.

Kosta

Thank you gentlemen.

I bought her to use her as she was meant to be, hard. I crash well and I hope she does. She did let me down when she fell over (I dropped her) and the rear master broke.

When I washed out the front end on an icy, Idaho mountain road with in 100 miles of ownership she took my indiscretion well and took me another 2500 miles and counting with out a hiccup. When I dropped her from a standstill she broke. Hmm? Crash me and it's ok but but be inept and she'll make me pay. Interesting.

Komatias,

Ah, I had that covered before I took possession of her. It is always in my headlight pack with a little bottle of WD-40. I almost always park her in my site no matter which cafe or restaurant I stop. Yes, I live in the city so they are plentiful.

I love how my Sicilian friend thinks she is so ugly. If he rode her I think his song would change.

Another friend said I should have bought a KTM after my rear master broke. I informed him it sadly says that it is a KTM on the MSO making me think it has been jinxed by the Austrians.

Sixteen days and I still can't get enough of her, even when she is telling me she is cold and making me kick her to get her going. It ends up being a good way to get an unexpected work out.

I plan on ordering a couple cases of synthetic (one for the coming cold and the other until then) so I have no reason to delay her much needed transfusions. She turns the golden fluid black like no other bike I've owned.

Hey! She is purpose built. That is what makes her so easy to love.

If someone wants comfort, go buy a Beemer, KLR, etc, etc. I want performance so I will suffer with the shortcomings that it brings.

My main worry is life expectancy of her beating heart. I caught my Ducati as soon as her heart skipped a beat thanks to a little Italian not turning the torque wrench enough on her alternator nut.

Since there is no tach I am still learning when I am wringing her neck.

Thanks for info. My off road riding buddy thinks my suspension may be too stiff with how it reacts to the railroad tracks.

My attitude in general is to just ride it. When you want to start pushing her then you need to start fine tuning her.

I really want to get a 450 or 5xx for purely off road. I know when my skills improve my friend will be surprised at what I get us into. When he wanted me to practice jumping logs I almost laughed at the first log he lined up. I had expected him to line me up a fallen tree.

Thanks for the tips.

Kosta