New 1250 owner

[Sly]

Hello all

Picked up my beautiful 2022 1250 GS Ralleye today. Has 11 000 miles on it, I thought it was in really good nic. Found the previous owner via some paperwork and she had it since new!

I'm looking for some advice on a couple topics I'm not quite sure of

1) Storage - what do people recommend for top and side boxes? Are the Vario good enough? Are the Lone Riders the one to go for? I'd like to put my helmet in when I stop (and my Mrs when she does come with me) - ideally would like them to be lockable.

2) Battery charging - what do you recommend for charging? BMW showed me their charger but thought I would shop around. Not sure which battery mine has tbh.

3) I'm looking at changing the indicators for some that have a bit more "punch" - standard ones I find are a bit lacking.

Open to any other suggestions for a newbie - I do love the bike though! At 31 years old, I'm not interested in the fast stuff

 

[no01bignige]

Charger - https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/2326127

I also think the standard indicators are pretty good, not sure why you think a bit lacking.

 

[LockieP]

Welcome!
I’ve got a 22 plate 1250 40th Anniversary. I’ve had it 2 years & have covered 34000. 1st MoT next week & its having the Cardan shaft replaced that BMW will do free every 37000km (Cardan shaft mileage & not bike mileage).

1) I have the Vario box & panniers. I use the top box all the time & the pannier occasionally. They’re very easy to take off ‘ on. I wear a Shoei Neotec 3 & it fits in the top box. You’ll need to put the second lid in the left hand pannier. The panniers do lock.

2) I use an Optimate 4 charger. You can leave it attached & it will maintain the charge for extended periods.

3) I changed my indicators for Weiser Wizards. They are brighter than the OEM ones & have white DRL’s instead of amber (obviously when indicating they change to amber). I also fitted the Weiser brake light module that means the tail light is on as a normal tail light & operates as a brake light. So the rear has the indicators & central tail light on red, they all light up when braking & the indicators go amber when in use.

I really like my GS. It does everything I need it to, is very comfortable & economical-I get 50+mpg & around 230m to a tank.

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

Storage - what do people recommend for top and side boxes? Are the Vario good enough? Are the Lone Riders the one to go for? I'd like to put my helmet in when I stop (and my Mrs when she does come with me) - ideally would like them to be lockable.

Is Mrs Sly aware of your plan to lock her in the pannier

I use a Noco Genius 1 charger, does the job perfectly.

Oh and welcome

 

[littleade]

I use the optimate 4 battery monitor together with the supplied SAE flying fused lead connected to the battery via the red positive post and negative terminal located behind the RHS black triangular side pannel. I also use the lead to power my Airman pump and keis heated vest.

 

[Sly]

Welcome!
I’ve got a 22 plate 1250 40th Anniversary. I’ve had it 2 years & have covered 34000. 1st MoT next week & its having the Cardan shaft replaced that BMW will do free every 37000km (Cardan shaft mileage & not bike mileage).

1) I have the Vario box & panniers. I use the top box all the time & the pannier occasionally. They’re very easy to take off ‘ on. I wear a Shoei Neotec 3 & it fits in the top box. You’ll need to put the second lid in the left hand pannier. The panniers do lock.

2) I use an Optimate 4 charger. You can leave it attached & it will maintain the charge for extended periods.

3) I changed my indicators for Weiser Wizards. They are brighter than the OEM ones & have white DRL’s instead of amber (obviously when indicating they change to amber). I also fitted the Weiser brake light module that means the tail light is on as a normal tail light & operates as a brake light. So the rear has the indicators & central tail light on red, they all light up when braking & the indicators go amber when in use.

I really like my GS. It does everything I need it to, is very comfortable & economical-I get 50+mpg & around 230m to a tank.

Ah fantastic - pretty much same setup I'm going for. Hoping to collect my neotec 3 this weekend.

I didn't know BMW replaced the shaft? Interesting.

Any photos of your bike with the replacement lights please? I was also recommended the Weiser ones.

Do the Vario lock with the alarm key or manually?

 

[littleade]

Habe a look at this, it explains how the vario cases work etc.Most of the locks are codeable so you can get them coded to match the key that comes with your bike

 

[Sly]

Habe a look at this, it explains how the vario cases work etc.Most of the locks are codeable so you can get them coded to match the key that comes with your bike

Thanks for that mate, quite informative (funny seeing his content 10 years ago!)
Think I'll grab a top box pannier off one of the members from here and the other side ones a bit down the road. I budgeted for accessories but it's very quickly going down

 

[LockieP]

Ah fantastic - pretty much same setup I'm going for. Hoping to collect my neotec 3 this weekend.

I didn't know BMW replaced the shaft? Interesting.

Any photos of your bike with the replacement lights please? I was also recommended the Weiser ones.

Do the Vario lock with the alarm key or manually?

Ah fantastic - pretty much same setup I'm going for. Hoping to collect my neotec 3 this weekend.

I didn't know BMW replaced the shaft? Interesting.

Any photos of your bike with the replacement lights please? I was also recommended the Weiser ones.

Do the Vario lock with the alarm key or manually?

It’s hard to catch the rear lights as the camera on my phone picks up the LED flickering but when the indicators are off they are red as is the centre light (without the Weiser module this would only operate as the brake light). When braking all 3 light up as stop light. Their website shows it all.

Weiser Extreme EVO LED Lights for Motorcycles - Weiser Technik

Arrowhead shape Extreme EVO LED lights for Aprilia, KTM, Triumph, Yamaha and Zero and more, plus newer BMWs. Worldwide shipping.

www.weisertechnik.co.uk

As stated by littleade the Vario boxes are keyed alike to your bike key & manually lock.

Looks like you’ll need to expand the quoted posts at the top of this reply to see my pics.
Probably my bad!

 

[Gavla04GS]

Hello all

Picked up my beautiful 2022 1250 GS Ralleye today. Has 11 000 miles on it, I thought it was in really good nic. Found the previous owner via some paperwork and she had it since new!

I'm looking for some advice on a couple topics I'm not quite sure of

1) Storage - what do people recommend for top and side boxes? Are the Vario good enough? Are the Lone Riders the one to go for? I'd like to put my helmet in when I stop (and my Mrs when she does come with me) - ideally would like them to be lockable.

2) Battery charging - what do you recommend for charging? BMW showed me their charger but thought I would shop around. Not sure which battery mine has tbh.

Open to any other suggestions for a newbie - I do love the bike though! At 31 years old, I'm not interested in the fast stuff

Good morning Sly,

Hello and welcome and I post my musings on two of your subjects,

1) Givi Trekker top box, big enough for two lids and its on my bike most of the time, easy storgae and out of the way when riding. I had vario panniers before (on my 2004 bike) and indeed you could fit a lid in one, but I didn't take to them. I have lone rider panniers but again only use when I have a need to carry/hold more stuff.

2) Battery charging via an optimate and fly lead.

Show off being only 31, but good to have another member of the Under 50 team.......

 

[littleade]

Thanks for that mate, quite informative (funny seeing his content 10 years ago!)
Think I'll grab a top box pannier off one of the members from here and the other side ones a bit down the road. I budgeted for accessories but it's very quickly going down

Ahaa, you've already learnt that BMW and budget are incompatible stay away from Nippy Norman's website for now, otherwise you could end up in trouble with Mrs Sly

 

[Sly]

It’s hard to catch the rear lights as the camera on my phone picks up the LED flickering but when the indicators are off they are red as is the centre light (without the Weiser module this would only operate as the brake light). When braking all 3 light up as stop light. Their website shows it all.

Weiser Extreme EVO LED Lights for Motorcycles - Weiser Technik

Arrowhead shape Extreme EVO LED lights for Aprilia, KTM, Triumph, Yamaha and Zero and more, plus newer BMWs. Worldwide shipping.

www.weisertechnik.co.uk

As stated by littleade the Vario boxes are keyed alike to your bike key & manually lock.

Looks like you’ll need to expand the quoted posts at the top of this reply to see my pics.
Probably my bad!

Okay - I'm getting a set of these

Good morning Sly,

Hello and welcome and I post my musings on two of your subjects,

1) Givi Trekker top box, big enough for two lids and its on my bike most of the time, easy storgae and out of the way when riding. I had vario panniers before (on my 2004 bike) and indeed you could fit a lid in one, but I didn't take to them. I have lone rider panniers but again only use when I have a need to carry/hold more stuff.

2) Battery charging via an optimate and fly lead.

Show off being only 31, but good to have another member of the Under 50 team.......

So, my ONLY issue with the Givi is (and please don't take this the wrong way!), it looks a bit "Honda" to me, not sure I like it on the lines of a GS (not being a snob) - the Vario ones too me just look a bit better suited. But I do like the Givi price point and it's versatility. Regarding the 31 - for some reason, it doesn't seem to go down well with some people that I have a GS at 31, I'm apparently supposed to have a S1000R or RR or Fireblade or some BS

Ahaa, you've already learnt that BMW and budget are incompatible stay away from Nippy Norman's website for now, otherwise you could end up in trouble with Mrs Sly

To be fair, she was more excited for the bike then I was. I'm also looking to buy the "important" bits now and then add as the months (and payslips go in!). I also need to drop another £700 on a new lid!

 

[LockieP]

Okay - I'm getting a set of these



So, my ONLY issue with the Givi is (and please don't take this the wrong way!), it looks a bit "Honda" to me, not sure I like it on the lines of a GS (not being a snob) - the Vario ones too me just look a bit better suited. But I do like the Givi price point and it's versatility. Regarding the 31 - for some reason, it doesn't seem to go down well with some people that I have a GS at 31, I'm apparently supposed to have a S1000R or RR or Fireblade or some BS



To be fair, she was more excited for the bike then I was. I'm also looking to buy the "important" bits now and then add as the months (and payslips go in!). I also need to drop another £700 on a new lid!

Check out Shad. Reasonable price & well made.

SHAD Top Cases

SHAD offers a wide range of top cases all of which feature great attention to detail that combines with a modern stylish design to offer some of the best top cases on the market. All SHAD top boxes have the capacity to hold a single helmet, and range all the way to the award winning expandable...

shad.co.uk

 

[Gavla04GS]

So, my ONLY issue with the Givi is (and please don't take this the wrong way!), it looks a bit "Honda" to me, not sure I like it on the lines of a GS (not being a snob) - the Vario ones too me just look a bit better suited. But I do like the Givi price point and it's versatility. Regarding the 31 - for some reason, it doesn't seem to go down well with some people that I have a GS at 31, I'm apparently supposed to have a S1000R or RR or Fireblade or some BS

To be fair, she was more excited for the bike then I was. I'm also looking to buy the "important" bits now and then add as the months (and payslips go in!). I also need to drop another £700 on a new lid!

No wrong to take your Givi view, I bought it to fit two lids in. Its a box (pizza delivery as my Long Haired Admiral calls it) but I don't look at it, its behind me.

On a GS but I kid myself with a race-replica crash helmet, still a couple of years away from a flip-front...... but there are some great real-world user reviews on here

 

[Sly]

No wrong to take your Givi view, I bought it to fit two lids in. Its a box (pizza delivery as my Long Haired Admiral calls it) but I don't look at it, its behind me.

On a GS but I kid myself with a race-replica crash helmet, still a couple of years away from a flip-front...... but there are some great real-world user reviews on here

I'm over the 50 year bracket then - going to get a Shoei Neotec 3 this weekend Flip up makes so much sense

 

[Engineer]

Hello all

Picked up my beautiful 2022 1250 GS Ralleye today. Has 11 000 miles on it, I thought it was in really good nic. Found the previous owner via some paperwork and she had it since new!

I'm looking for some advice on a couple topics I'm not quite sure of

1) Storage - what do people recommend for top and side boxes? Are the Vario good enough? Are the Lone Riders the one to go for? I'd like to put my helmet in when I stop (and my Mrs when she does come with me) - ideally would like them to be lockable.

2) Battery charging - what do you recommend for charging? BMW showed me their charger but thought I would shop around. Not sure which battery mine has tbh.

3) I'm looking at changing the indicators for some that have a bit more "punch" - standard ones I find are a bit lacking.

Open to any other suggestions for a newbie - I do love the bike though! At 31 years old, I'm not interested in the fast stuff

1. I have used Varios on my 6 GSes since 2002 - travelled 2-up around Europe several times with no issues.

2. BMW charger does the job very well, no need to use alternatives.

3. Never felt the need to change the indicators - they work, however I asked the dealer to 'code out' the self-cancelling function because it is a distraction, they often cancel too early, especially on large roundabouts, which is potentially dangerous.

P.S. always use the poshest oil and petrol - the bike deserves it

 

[Engineer]

I'm over the 50 year bracket then - going to get a Shoei Neotec 3 this weekend Flip up makes so much sense

A good chioce

 

[Andy63]

Bumot soft panniers fit straight onto BMW pannier frames as an alternative to hard cases, I use these and prefer them to the Aluminium cases.

Bumot Xtremada Soft Panniers For BMW F850/R1200/R1250 GSAdventure OEM BMW frames | eBay UK

The capacity of XTREMADA soft luggage is 74 liter – 35L and 31L notched one plus every pannier has two pockets each is 2 liter! XTREMADA panniers are made of two layers - 1100 Denier Cordura by Dupon swen over vinyl 650 grams.

www.ebay.co.uk

Edit the link does take you to ebay

 

[Gavla04GS]

Like jersey_gs says @Sly
these are ideal Soft panniers just advertised here

 

[Sly]

Wow those look good @Jersey_GS
@Gavla04GS thanks for that link - hopefully they still there post pay day! I think soft luggage is the way for the panniers for me. We do prefer that look. I do like the hard case for the top box though.

Are those panniers waterproof or do you need their inner bags?