SWM 650 SuperDual X experience:
Modifications
- Front Sproket 15->14
- Changed bolts that hold subframe (8.8 steel -> 10.8)
- Aluminium hand guards
- Enduro mirrors foldable (very useful)
- 3cm Bar raisers (necessity for standing comfortably, 190cm Rider)
- Grip heating
- Larger plate on side stand (not needed, wood tile is more useful)
- Removed Center stand (wouldn’t do that again)
- Higher comfortable seat, Custom made (very good)
- 4usb (2 on ignition, 2permanent)
- Soft panniers (enduristan monsoon)
- 2 small bags on crash guard
Trip:
Kenya, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Sambia, Simbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Chile, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Chile.
Experiences
-
2.000km tank leaking
Solution: tighten fuel indicator seal -
3.000km luggage rack broken at design flaw.
Solution: Aluminium welded in Ethiopia. Now better than original -
4.000km lost locking nut at front axel.
Solution: had one milled in Ethiopia -
9.000km Starter Motor broken.
Solution: rotor winding welded in Tanzania -
9.000-13.000 electric issues. Biked died at full throttle. Display dead. Than back again. Sometimes bike won’t start, displayed going blank when pressing the starter. Twice electrician checked entire bike, without solution.
Solution: one time it was a fuse; one time it was a broken earth cable behind the air filter (a real bitch because hidden under shrink tube. Who needs that on an EARTH cable?!!!) One time it was fixen after removing roll-over sensor, interchanging the 3 relais and sandpapering every fuse and plus and minus at battery. -
14.000 Frame broken at top mound for rear suspension. Part is badly designed. Make sure the nut is not tightened Zoo much and hence creates 3dimensional tension.
Solution: professionally argon welded in Windhoek with 2 enforcement plates. -
18.000km bike boiling in 35degree city traffic. Needs to be turned off at every traffic stop.
Solution: 2nd fan with manual switch (not yet implemented) -
20.000km Chain snapped
Solution: first fixed than replaced -
22.000km fork leaking
Solution: none -
22.000 ABS switches off after some time, shortly after it stays off all the time
Solution: I don’t care too much; none -
23.000km Metal oil filter disintegrated while riding. Metal parts in oil.
Solution: none. Changed oil and paper filter. -
23.000km Clutch is playing up when bike not yet hot (first 5-10 minutes). It engages very abruptly with funny noise.
Solution: flatten grooves in outer clutch basket that hold the friction plates with Leatherman Tool. Let bike warm up in idle. -
24.000km front wheel bearing on right side damaged. Squeaking and some play in steering
Solution: none -
24.000km front brace goes soft after 1 hour of wash board track. Takes 1 day to become good again. Probably a bit of air in top reservoir.
solution: change brake fluid -
30.000km Starter motor does not work every 5th or so time. Bike needs to be rocked in 2nd gear and than start again.
Solution: none. Starter needs to be replaced. -
32.000km Difficult to start due to lack of battery power. Loading voltage not over 14volt, Drops when doing 3000 rpm
Solution: clean every electric connection. Replace battery. Do Service on Generator.
On the 2 other SuperDual that accompanied me in South America we had the following issues:
- Leaking tank
- Leaking fork
- Braking of bolds that hold subframes. This is THE BIGGEST DESIGN FAULT of the entire bike. We even changed from 6mm to 8mm and the still broke. The guys were riding with the SWM luggage system. Not overloaded.
- Soft front brake
- Same electric issues like me. 2nd time you find the fix much easier