G650GS (F650GS single) valve check

This is one of those maintenance items that has to be done, yet, for some strange reason, I've been really dreading to do it. Normally, I do all my engine work on my bikes, but I've been reluctant to dive into the BMW. Why? I'm not sure. After all, it is a machine and like all machines it can be serviced. So, here I was at 12k miles, thinking about paying the dealer $300 for valve check and whatnot, and then I decided to do it myself.
At first look, the layout of the BMW is a little intimidating, I'll admit that. Unlike all my previous bikes, this one has way too many electronic gizmos, hoses, tubes, and things are rather inaccessible. So, I took my time and started slowly, taking pics along the way. This will be a two-post series dealing with valve check on a BMW 650GS single cylinder, two spark motor. IIRC, this is the same for 04-07 F650GS and 09 G650GS, along with a few other models using the same motor.

First step in doing almost anything maintenance related on this bike is to remove the plastic covers. A few torx bolts and it's done, so there is no need for pics.

 Next, remove the oil tank by unscrewing one Torx bolt and removing two clips. At the same time, remove air intake snorkel. The snorkel has a clipped in temp sensor (leave it in place or remove, the choice is yours), and the oil tank has a couple of hoses going in. I prefer not to disconnect any hoses I don't have to, so I left everything hanging off the side.

 

Remove the battery and then remove the two large bolts that hold the air intake in place. Once removed, gently pull the entire unit upwards so it pops off the throttle body. There are hoses attached, so just move it to the side and let it hang on the hoses. 

 

 Next, disconnect the throttle cable from the throttle body. You will remove it completely later on. There are two possible locations for the cable, so I marked the right one with a marker.

 Next, remove the battery tray (two torx bolts) and slide it away.

 Then you'll have to remove the throttle cable completely in order to remove the plastic shield that is in front of the frame.

 Once gone, you can see most of the vale cover.

 Disconnect the coolant overflow reservoir (one torx) and slide it outwards. I hung mine off the handlebars with a ziptie.

 Cover your throttle body (a nitrile glove works rather well). Then disconnect two hoses (lower one is just pushed on, upper has a hose clamp) and three electric connectors. Unscrew two torx bolts on the manifold, and lift the throttle body off the bike.

 Done.

 Now you have complete access to the valve cover. All that is left is to remove the two spark plugs. Each one has a specific coil, so mark which one goes where, if you are not sure that you'll remember.

 Next, grab your 10mm socket and some extensions, and undo the valve cover bolts. I like to put the same bolts to the holes they came from, so I marked the heads with a sharpie, and marked the corresponding numbers on a piece of masking tape. This way, if a thread was slightly damaged or a bolt was bent by someone in the past, the same bolt will go in the same place, minimizing future damage. (dealt with that a lot on old bikes)

 Voila, ready for checkup.

I'll handle valve checking and reassembly next time.