ADV mods help please

[BigCol]

Hi all,

I've just bought an 1150 ADV and need to dance naked around the room. Now, mod wise, there seems to be masses to do. I'd like a good set of panniers but can't seem to email Vern as my PM to him doesn't seem to work. Would someone please pm me with his details.

Onto other things: I've read the mods people suggest, but need clarification please:

1. Ohlins shock absorbers: do i wait till i've used the originals for a while or just go and buy these. If so, which ones?

2. Lighting: there's masses out there. Help please? My plan is to travel extensively round differing parts of the world, startingf with the Middle East / Iran / Oman

3. Touratech stuff: loads of it, but what's REALLY worth buying?

4. Exhaust: Exhausting reading. Remus seems the way ahead. Do I need to modify the bike if I buy this exhaust? Which system do i buy?

5. Engine chip: Is this really necessary and if so, which one do I buy?

Catalytic conv: Do i get rid of it, and if so, how please?

Sorry for all of these questions, but I'm like a new puppy having its first pooh. I've done the research, but I'm getting carried away by the moment

Thanks for your help in advance

Big Col

 

[Spanish Bob]

I´d give up now. If you are a big lad or demanding change the shocks. If you want the bike to go a bit faster change the cat, chip and can, but it´ll use more fuel and might make a racket.

If you are tall get tobinated. If you are careless get a bagster tank bag. If you bought a black and yellow adv get a silver respray. If you want touratech ride down to Orange.

Ride the bike thats my tip. I drew up a list of parts I wanted to get the other day reached 1200E cursed myself for being an Rsole and Im feeling much better today. No need to turn the dogs danglies into the tarts handbag - my opinion only.

For interest, on my list were:
cases
tailpack
rack extender
bashplate
light protector
hard part
gps coccon
GPS power cable
lights (migsel style)
a front WP shock
wide pegs

I´ll stick with:
tailpack
bashplate
hardpart

enjoy the rides and if you fancy a ride out with the mediterranean mob, send a pm!

bob

 

[AndyT]

Why o Why...

Why are you thinking of changing the shock absorbers on the bike that even the press say handles superbly. I am sure it is only in the mind of most people that it handles any diffeent unless you are thinking of entering the Paris -Dakar but even then the standar items are just fine. Spend your cash on a few beers instead.

Have fun

AndyT

 

[Vern]

Hi Col, I've tried to e-mail you, no joy. I've tried to pm you, no joy. Keep an eye open for the pigeon, he should be there in a week or two
Failing that, try [email protected] or go to www.projectvnd.com and use the "contact us" bit.
If none of that works, it's back to the pigeon

 

[Fanum]

There's a midwife in Rutland hoping you'll post pics of you dancing nekked BC.....

As Bob says, ride it first then get the priorities sorted.......

On my new adv i went for lights , tobinators and panniers first cos

a) there are some little lanes i enjoy exploring and the lights are pretty bad on the ADV......

b) Tobinators, they made me realise the problem was worse than I realised after i fitted them and felt the difference if you see what I mean....

c) Vern's jobbies 'cos I'm off following Greg and the others to eastern europe and I have some stuff i need to carry in mine for work....I was able to speak to Vern and specify what I needed..and from what i've seen and heard they'll be top quality and well up to the job.

As for the rest, don't fix what ain't broken and get some miles in to find out what you really need.

BTW.....See that red logo thing top right hand corner of your screen???

Click it and you'll get Vern........

 

[Madmountainman]

Ok, my GSA... in glorious, stupendous, wonderful, dark, mesmerising, silky, glossy, shiney..... black!
With... Touratech handlebar risers and HID lamp, Wunderlich brake pedal plate, Verholen peg lowers, Vernatech splash plate, Ohlins (do them when you've buggered the originals), Andy Cam Y piece and Two Brothers can, City Slicker horn upgrade, Tobinators, Bar muffs, Carbon hugger, M1Gsel oil cooler grill and i'm waiting to put some stop lights on when the Cheesemeister gets em for me and a set of Verns on order as we speak.

All upgrades are damn usefull and i'd certainly recommend them all!

Oh, and another thing to recommend.... Site sponsor! That way you can PM.

 

[richie]

My 1994 GS handles great on standard shocks but I am steady (or so people who have never ridden with me say) A good mod on the can of an 1150 is to drill a couple of holes in the end if you want some more noise.

Had my bike for 4 years and have modded with more light. Taller screen and a steering stop. I might also be getting a s/h Lazer exhaust.

I think the BMW cases are complete rubbish and would love a set of Verns, but I am a married man with a mortgage and two kids so it can't be on the top of my list at the moment.

 

[BigCol]

My hearty thanks to eveyone who took the time to reply. The concensus seems to be to ride (my SILVER / GREY) bike for a while then modify like a bastard

Spanish Bob: Buenos noches! I'm 6'4" but not a bloater (in fact, somewhat 'studly'), so the tobinator sounds great. Where in the Med are you? This is exactly what i've bought the bike for....

Does the chip / can make that much difference. There's NO noise issue in Dubai and fuel is 17 per litre Can you give me some leads on your final 3 :

tailpack
bashplate
hardpart?

AndyT: I'm only being a sheep and following everyone else. If you think the std one's are OK, I'll plod along.

Fanum: cheers, but your sister will have to wait

Paragon: I think you're right, but where I live there's a great opportunity to do some light trail riding (the serious desert stuff is for my BRP). I've already got a Garmin III, so that's going on soon. Cheers again

MMM: Please tell me what the following are:

a. Carbon hugger
b. Andy Cam Y piece
c. City slicker horn? Sounds porno to me. Gotta website please?
d. Bar muffs?
e. M1Gsel oil cooler grill
f. Stop lights - what type?

Phew, cheers again everyone. MMM, I'll scour the site to see where I upgrade to PM's.

Bye 4 now

BC

 

[Steptoe]

Buy everything thats been suggested, then what you don't need sell to me. you know it makes sense. go on go on go on go on go on --- Welcome to the madhouse Bigcol

 

[Madmountainman]

Big Col, Use the buttons at the top of the page! Use search and type in any of the bits you want to know about and a wealth of information is yours!

 

[BigCol]

Thanks MMM

Steptoe: Is this your job?

 

[Spanish Bob]

My hearty thanks to eveyone who took the time to reply. The concensus seems to be to ride (my SILVER / GREY) bike for a while then modify like a bastard

Spanish Bob: Buenos noches! I'm 6'4" but not a bloater (in fact, somewhat 'studly'), so the tobinator sounds great. Where in the Med are you? This is exactly what i've bought the bike for....

Does the chip / can make that much difference. There's NO noise issue in Dubai and fuel is 17 per litre Can you give me some leads on your final 3 :

tailpack
bashplate
hardpart?

AndyT: I'm only being a sheep and following everyone else. If you think the std one's are OK, I'll plod along.

Fanum: cheers, but your sister will have to wait

Paragon: I think you're right, but where I live there's a great opportunity to do some light trail riding (the serious desert stuff is for my BRP). I've already got a Garmin III, so that's going on soon. Cheers again

MMM: Please tell me what the following are:

a. Carbon hugger
b. Andy Cam Y piece
c. City slicker horn? Sounds porno to me. Gotta website please?
d. Bar muffs?
e. M1Gsel oil cooler grill
f. Stop lights - what type?

Phew, cheers again everyone. MMM, I'll scour the site to see where I upgrade to PM's.

Bye 4 now

BC

Big Col

I am in Barcelona. Dont buy from touratech UK- either order direct from germany or via the French office in Orange - perfect for your med trip!

The hard part is the steering stop - its itn the touratech catalogue (01-040-1317-0) its to prevent damage if you come a cropper riding of road.

Baskplate - alu/carbon fibre protector that bolts onto the centre stand. it basically extends the protection to cover the cat (worth it as the cost a fortune) (01-040-1255-0). Tailpack, just a bag that fits onto the rear part of the seat to avoid the need to have top box or panniers, or indeed for when you are doing a short trip and dont need panniers.

I´m 6-4 as well. I am very studly also but you´d have to be a surgeon to fin out. The shocks are bad but if you can the Ohlins or WP (my case) are much better.

the carbon hugger is the race version of the tree hugger - but if you ride off road dont buy one. ACtually your right it all sounds filthy:

tailpack, huggers, horns, muff...

Re radiator protection - be careful not to impede airflow. In hot countries it might be better to use very open protectors - Bryn has one I think. But DO NOT use ones that block airflow. SO thats its a few wasted months obsessively scouring arcane literature and an enormous amount of money and you´ll be sorted!

RIde the bike though - the best judge of what you need will be yourself. Have fun and if you get to the med PM me

 

[BigCol]

Thanks again Bob for your help. I'll pm you when I get the bank details through from the site owner to pay him.

ITMT, I was thinking of removing the CAT as I want the ability to use different fuels when travelling. what do you recommend re the cat, chip and can please?

Finally, why do you recommend not buying from Ttech UK? I go to Germany a lot, so getting stuff sent to me there is no problem.

cheers again Bob

colin

 

[iaintook]

touratech yuk

Dont Buy from touratech UK because they are unhelpfull at best. Touratech is a german company so buying from germany makes more sense.

 

[Mike Werner]

Best thing I've ever done was put on the Ricky Kuhn bars. Didn't know how much custommade bars are worth until you've got them on your bike. From now on, never, ever again will I get a bike where I can not have the handlebars customized.

If you think about it, every biker has different dimensions, but we all ride with the same setup. Once I had the new bars, and put my hands on them, they felt like "home"....

Contact Ricardo Kuhn (he's a member here)

2nd I'd put radiator & light protectors, specially in the UAE (are you in DXB ?). With all the dirt and stuff lying on roads, you'll have a worth while investment.

Then more lights.... you can never get enough...

And finally, make sure you have a pretty rear passenger

 

[CoolCarbon]

Re: touratech yuk

Dont Buy from touratech UK because they are unhelpfull at best. Touratech is a german company so buying from germany makes more sense.

Are you sure you can buy from Germany..........last year they tried to Block UK customers from buying direct.............just like Wonderprick did..................Tossers............!

CC

 

[ChrisK]

Adv mods

Bigcol,
Remus with a Y peice to most useful mod your make. Put the cat in the shed with the std pipe. Bike will sort everything out for itself and free up the mid range and lose loads of weight. More beer room!!

 

[Spanish Bob]

Re: Re: touratech yuk

Are you sure you can buy from Germany..........last year they tried to Block UK customers from buying direct.............just like Wonderprick did..................Tossers............!

CC

CC he lives in the middle east

 

[BigCol]

Thanks CK: this is getting expensive (but who cares).

 

[BigCol]

Thanks Mike. At this rate I'll be redesigning the whole bike. Yes, I live in Dubai. The roads are good but I'll certainly add the protectors for the lights etc. Did you have a specific radiator protector in mind? I'd appreciate any leads for this as I couldn't find one in the TT manual.

I'll chase the bars as well. My BRP (XR650) has aftermarket bars and I love them. Are they easy to fit?

Pretty girl on the back is mandatory. I have a large choice

Chris: Sorry, but i meant to ask you does the Remus come with the Y piece, and do I need to re-chip as well? If so, what do people use please?

Thanks again for your patience. I really appreciate it

Regards

Colin