GS1100 tackling up.

[k80matey]

Looking for hints and tips on getting a '98 1100 ready for touring and camping around Europe next year, probably Spain initially.

All I have at the moment is a GS with 40K on the clock, a couple of auxiliary lights and a standard set of Touring panniers.

Looking for mods and improvements to the bike, camping and cookery gear, luggage (standard panniers OK?) satnav; you name it - I don't know it!

All and any help gratefully received.

Thanks.
Rob.

 

[Dazzle]

Well your in the right place
My favorite addition to my GS, petrol

 

[pedro]

Hello there,
A standard 1100 will certainly get you around Spain. The mods are endless but maybe a sat nav, Zumo 550 being my own choice. As for the luggage, standard boxes are alright but you may wish to consider a set of zegas or Hepco and Becker boxes. All personal choice but the top opening metal boxes are a lot more convenient when touring.
You'll get loads of choices on tents but try to get one that's geostatic ?? Or whatever it is. One that can stand on its own, without needing to be pegged out to add structure. I've camped on extremely hard and extremely soft surfaces in Spain, both pretty hard to get pegs into.
As far as cooking, the Coleman 442 is one of the best and cheapest stoves I've used. The Exped Megamat is the best mattress I've had and I can strongly recommend the Khyam Highlander if you're after a tent.
MSR cooking gear, maybe the quick 1 or quick 2 systems are pretty good. I used the quick 2 on my last trip and wouldn't be without it now.
Cheers,
Peter.

 

[Blackal]

Geodesic

(it was on Ceebebees)

Al

 

[pedro]

Thanks. I could have looked it up but I'm far too busy.

 

[Canuck]

Hard parts are a must. Send mort a PM

 

[uncle dick]

+1 for top opening boxes. Despite all the naysayers on here TT ones are fine - and very re-sellable, if that's a word. Can be used with standard top box if needed.

 

[Schtum]

Geodesic

(it was on Ceebebees)

Al

Good old Buckminster Fuller....

 

[Blackal]

Good old Buckminster Fuller....

I'd to look that up - I thought it might be a Real Ale

Yup - a self-supporting tent is best, preferably one that you can sit up in comfortably. also handy is a decent storage area under the flysheet.

Al

 

[ahutcheon]

Standard panniers are fine in my experience (unless you want to spend money.) Maps also work OK.

I'd say you're pretty much good to go as you are, if you want to. But I've got an 1150, so I'll leave the hard parts advice to people who know 1100s better.

 

[papa_jop]

A tank bag sized according to your need is helpful.
Cap, cellphone, sunglasses, camera, toll road tickets etc.
Check tires & brakes so you have enought friction material to get you around & home.

A GPS is great to have on trips. Dedicated motorcycle navs are expensive, but there are several mounting and waterproofing options that will let you use a navigating cell phone or a car navigator on the bike. Even with a GPS you will have to get a good, large scale map of the area you're travelling in.

A LED-flashlight you can strap to your forehead is a must-have. Don't buy the cheapest! My recommendation would be a "Petzl"

 

[Felters]

Hard parts are a must. Send mort a PM

Only if you are going off road... IMHO.

I did a list of things that can fail on a 1100 here:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=314364

But don't get too alarmed - IF any of these things do go the parts are readily available and easily fitted by a local bike shop or yourself. And that is a big IF. I've just been a bit unlucky - leaving for Somerset and Devon in a few minutes having come back from the south of France this time last week so it isn't holding me back...

Don't spend any more than you have to and then see what you could have done with after you come back. There's no shortage of supermarkets selling camping gear if you need something.

By the way on the subject of cooking. Trangia. That is all you need and I'll go bare knuckle with anybody that says otherwise...

 

[Fanum]

By the way on the subject of cooking. Trangia. That is all you need and I'll go bare knuckle with anybody that says otherwise...

Is that because you've burnt all the skin from your knuckles by picking up invisibly burning trangia bits?

Coleman multi fuels whip trangias in every department...cheaper, safer, a LOT faster, run on more types of fuel (including petrol straight out of your tank if you forget to top up your fuel bottle) and ease of use.

On a camp cook-off a few years back, we brewed a kettle, had coffee and had made and eaten bacon butties on our Coleman before the others had even got their kettle to boil

(No exaggeration by the way, 100% true!)

 

[David Nimrod]

On a camp cook-off a few years back, we brewed a kettle, had coffee and had made and eaten bacon butties on our Coleman before the others had even got their kettle to boil

(No exaggeration by the way, 100% true!)

I love Trangia's, but they are s l o w ...

 

[Bugbear]

I to like my Trangia and I've never had the campsite manager rush down to our pitch thinking there was a fire going like what happens when someone lit a petrol stove

 

[davegs]

Hello there,
A standard 1100 will certainly get you around Spain. The mods are endless but maybe a sat nav, Zumo 550 being my own choice. As for the luggage, standard boxes are alright but you may wish to consider a set of zegas or Hepco and Becker boxes. All personal choice but the top opening metal boxes are a lot more convenient when touring.
You'll get loads of choices on tents but try to get one that's geostatic ?? Or whatever it is. One that can stand on its own, without needing to be pegged out to add structure. I've camped on extremely hard and extremely soft surfaces in Spain, both pretty hard to get pegs into.
As far as cooking, the Coleman 442 is one of the best and cheapest stoves I've used. The Exped Megamat is the best mattress I've had and I can strongly recommend the Khyam Highlander if you're after a tent.
MSR cooking gear, maybe the quick 1 or quick 2 systems are pretty good. I used the quick 2 on my last trip and wouldn't be without it now.
Cheers,
Peter.

Get a Kyam biker tent, these are the same as the highlander but have more joints in the poles and pack into a shorter length. When we all saw the highlander we thought great but why does it pack up so long if only they'd made...... and lo and behold great minds think alike and the biker came forth.

 

[ppgser]

Is that because you've burnt all the skin from your knuckles by picking up invisibly burning trangia bits?

Coleman multi fuels whip trangias in every department...cheaper, safer, a LOT faster, run on more types of fuel (including petrol straight out of your tank if you forget to top up your fuel bottle) and ease of use.

On a camp cook-off a few years back, we brewed a kettle, had coffee and had made and eaten bacon butties on our Coleman before the others had even got their kettle to boil

(No exaggeration by the way, 100% true!)

Having nothing better to do I did a test some years ago.

Coleman multi fuel
Trangia Meths
MSR Dragonfly
Optimus Petrol stove

and a few others.

Used same pan with a litre of water and timed them to boil.

1st; MSR
2nd; Trangia

Cant remember the rest as the test degenerated as the afternoon turned into evening.

I was surprised about the Trangia as it never looked like it was doing anything.

The above means nothing but I had a nice afternoon and drunk lots of tea.

 

[ChrisH Kerry]

Just back from trip to Alps on my 1150GS (somewhat similar to your 1100... )with: system panniers and Givi topbox, strapped tent (Vango Omega 250 - big porch area for wet bike gear if necessary ) to rear seat. Trangia type stove (actually Gelert I think which cost about £20 8 years ago inc pans, kettle etc still going strong... my mate had a Coleman - broke down and he ended up buying a new one in Germany ), small three legged seat which fits in topbox, one of them thin mattresses that self-inflate worked well, a head-light as mentioned.... oh, yeah took Garmin 2610 GPS.
Also took new HES and rear bearing assuming the bike was going to give up at some point like they do it performed faultlessly, was a pleasure to ride and didn't even use any oil Hope you enjoy your trip as much as we did!

Our camp, my mates more modern Gamma 250 in background:

 

[Deleted account 190117001]

Beautiful, that's what it's all about .

 

[k80matey]

Thanks everybody for the advice and info. Much appreciated. I have a set of Jesse panniers which I bought on ebay earlier this year for my '98 Funduro. Not fitted yet. Wondering if they might fit the 1100 with the correct frames, if I can find any!
Will have a look tomorrow.
Rob.