Are they any good?

[LankyRider]

Hi folks,

I am currently perusing (as you do) the Accessories list for the 2008 R1200GS Adventure and I came across the following items, which I would like to find out more about.

Tool kit £101
I assume this is different to the one that fits under the seat, or do they make you pay for that now? Is it worth it (assuming I am a complete mechanical numpty, with no tools of my own).

Additional socket £39
Am I right in thinking that the Adventure already has one?
I plan to fit a Zumo using the CANBus socket somewhere near the headstock (I've seen pics on here somewhere), so what use would an additional socket be to me? What can you do with it?

230-volt battery charger £65, plus adapter lead £16.60
I'm assuming this is some kind of Optimate equivalent. Is it worth it?
Or should I just get an Optimate? And if I do get an Optimate does it need any special/extra leads?

Finally, the BMW tankbag. As I might be getting the bike initially without any luggage this could at least give me some carrying capacity until I can afford the real luggage Is it any good?

Thanks for clearing the mists folks.

 

[EggChaser]

Additional socket £39
Am I right in thinking that the Adventure already has one?
I plan to fit a Zumo using the CANBus socket somewhere near the headstock (I've seen pics on here somewhere), so what use would an additional socket be to me? What can you do with it?

There should be a socket under the left edge of the seat on both the Adv and Std models that is useful for anything that would be attached to you or your pillion. You can get a CANBus lead for the Zumo from Touratech or get the bare wired lead from a BMW dealer and wire it to the lead that came with the Zumo - there is a CANBus socket near the front (either by the headstock or under the edge of the oil cooler) Having another socket up front is potentially useful if you plan on powering a camera from somewhere.

230-volt battery charger £65, plus adapter lead £16.60
I'm assuming this is some kind of Optimate equivalent. Is it worth it?
Or should I just get an Optimate? And if I do get an Optimate does it need any special/extra leads?

There have been some issues with chargers causing issues with the CANBus including the possiblility that trickle charging through the power socket with a 3rd party charger can blow the ZFE output stage on the circuit causing a dead socket and a slow loss of battery charge when you think nothing is switched on. I think others on here will be able to confirm whether or not an Optimate will cause any issues however.

 

[LankyRider]

Thanks EggChaser.

Forgot to mention that I had already ordered the Zumo/CANBus cable from TT, sounds like the only tricky part is finding the actual socket on the bike.

So for the battery charger, it sounds like the BMW unit is the safest option then.

Any Optimate users out there with success/horror stories on 1200GSs?

 

[AxeGrinder]

There have been some issues with chargers causing issues with the CANBus including the possiblility that trickle charging through the power socket with a 3rd party charger can blow the ZFE output stage on the circuit causing a dead socket and a slow loss of battery charge when you think nothing is switched on. I think others on here will be able to confirm whether or not an Optimate will cause any issues however.

An optimate will come with a connector lead, which you can attach directly to your battery...so when you want to leave the bike on charge, just plug it into there...Not used optimate on a beemer, but works great my CBR and I'm positive it will be fine on your bike...look on Ebay...should get one for under £40

 

[AndyT]

£101 for a Tool kit I would want a full socket set and multimeter for that. Absolute rip off imho.

The extra socket seems okay value and very handy.

I use an optimate on my 1200 connected directly to the battery however if you don't have one already you may as well go for the BMW charger.

The canbus socket should be just under your instrument console, it's quite small so easy to miss.

regards

AndyT

 

[davegs]

Tools

Have a look at what you get in the tool kit and when you stop laughing go to halfrords and buy the same fo at least half price.

 

[BeemerBaz]

So for the battery charger, it sounds like the BMW unit is the safest option then.

Had my bike a couple of weeks, was 6 month old when bought from Pidcocks with less than 600 miles on it. The original battery had failed so a new one was fitted when I collected it. After 7 days of riding everyday the bike was parked up for 8 days, did about 700 miles in those few days so would have expected the battery to be fine ?

WRONG.....

Went to start...... Click Click Click...... not enough power to turn starter !!
Fine I thought, weather was crap, so placed on charge for 24 hrs using BMW charger through the socket. Went back 24 hrs later all was fine and the bike started.

Now having lost confidence with the battery I placed the battery on charge again the next day so I could guarantee it being ok for the next time I rode it, which was the following day. After 'charging' overnight the BMW issue battery charger indicated a battery fault with its array of lights, however the bike did start but am guessing that the battery is faulty.

First service in 3 days, looks like a few more questions to be answered.

 

[deaninkl]

1. Tools: standard tools from BMW are crap, cost/wieght saving etc. etc.
101 pounds sound a lot, what you will need extra is a puncture kit, set of Torx sockets, couple of normal sockets or spaners, couple of allen keys. I'd guess 40 quid in Halfords.

2. yes the GSA comes with a socket, I've never used mine so don't need an extra one... depends on what you are planning to use it for?

3. Charger, there has been much said on this forum about BMW's charger little of it good?? I have a Harley one made by the same manufacturer as the BMW ones (battery tender), it was crap didn't manage to work even once. Go for the Optimate, they are proven to be OK with CANbus and are cheaper.
The stock battery is to small so if you are not riding every day you will need yo keep it charged in the lovely English weather.

4. Tank Bag: sorry don't use then so have no idea.

enjoy the bike, for all the frailties (and that's only some of them) they are great on the road.

Dean in kl

 

[cocokid]

hi Lanky, here's my bit, skip the tool kit and makeup your own,I have an 07 gsa,I use an optimate wired direct to the battery with no probs,various plugs for the optimate lead available I bought a socket from Nippy Norman,also have a zumo and will wire to front canbus socket when Touratech get around to sending it,the bmw tank bag is good and fits perfectly as it should for £150,others are available, check bag does not foul handlebars Dave. '

 

[LankyRider]

Thanks folks.

I decided on the Optimate in the end, seems to be held in high regard by plenty. Now does anyone have any tips about where to route the cable, and do I have to watch out for anything with the BMW alarm system?

As for tools, I'll leave the BMW kit alone. I did ask a sales guy what was in it compared with the on-bike kit and it seems like it is just some extra sizes of the "star-shaped" fasteners and something to drain the oil? Anyway I see Halfords are selling a 150-piece set of their Halfords Professional gear for half price at the moment, so I might look at that. £99.

cocokid: Seems like we've both ordered the same canbus cable from TT. I chased my order this week and got an email reply saying they were just waiting for that cable to come in stock, should be with them early next week.
Thanks for the info on tankbag, like the sound of it.

Thanks again folks, lots of useful tips (for me anyway).

Lanky

 

[Voyager61]

Might be a bit late ... but ...

Socket
I have the Touratech cockpit cover with additional power socket. This wires back to the battery, so the socket at the headstock is untouched. (BTW: I had this part fitted becasue i mount my GPS on the upper windshield stay.)

Fitting tip: put four transparent cable ties (you'll need one to secure the wiring anyway) around the lower windshield stay to keep the cockpit cover off the stay itself. Mine was installed by my dealer and has scuffed the paint ... which I am respraying at the moment.

Tank bag
I have the larger BMW bag ... this is large enough to have a map folded out in two sections. The map pocket is waterproof.

I wouldn't want to put anything very heavy in it though ... because of the way it fits to the angles of the petrol tank (even though it is secured under the top yoke and zips to a clip under the rider seat) it does move about a bit.

When I'm not using my panniers I just cargo-net a ruck sack over the pillion seat ... does the trick

Charger
I have an optimate, though I haven't used it yet because I ride the bike very regularly.

I hope some of that is of some use