New Bike coming. Lots of questions.

[VAL. H.]

My girlfreind has just put a deposit on a 650gs. It's one of the bikes used at the off road centre in Wales. so it will have been beaten about a bit. But they promis it will be all up together and fully serviced, but with a few minor scratches and the odd dent. And at the same price as a 3 year old bike she's not complaining.
She will be wanting some extra accessaries for it though, like a bigger screen, top box, panniers and engine bars.

Whats the best screen? the ErMax or the Dakar, or another? can you get Tobinators for the 650?

Top Box, BMW or Givi

Panniers, the BMW expandables look like the best option ie low down and tucked under the exhaust. Anyone know what price they are new with the mountings? and the likelyhood of finding a second hand set?

Are Hepco&Becker engine bars better than BMWs?

Can the BMW heated grips be retro fitted or are they factory fit only? or would I be better off fitting Oxford heated grips instead?

Plenty of questions I know but any information will be greatfuly recived. Thanks Val.H.

 

[brassmonkey001]

Screens seem to be a matter of opinion. There's no clear winner.
A retrofit heated grip kit is available, probably around the £150 mark but it does include new bars.
Check out f650.co.uk and f650.com for more opinions and ebay for bits.

 

[gavin]

We have a Givi screen on our 04 gs, superb wind protection, but it restricts steering lock if you have handguards fitted.

 

[Kenny]

The BMW expandable panniers are great kit. Fit really well although the outer alloy panels are a little flimsy ( but I'm sure she won't fall off!) I think they were about £275 fully inclusive and a doddle to fit.

Actual small screen on the bike is OK..try it first..she might like it as it is !

No need for tobinators !!!!!

My 650gs had crash bars already fitted...so can't help you re make etc ( the bike in the pic was mine until Paul G bought it and then it went to bonnie Scotland - I think !)

Mine also had the heated grips already installed - sorry again !

Kenny

 

[Andy Davies]

..............( the bike in the pic was mine until Paul G bought it and then it went to bonnie Scotland - I think !)



Kenny

Too right it did and that's a photo of it in front of my garage. However, it has since moved on and when last heard from, is in the capable hands of Ms. Mouse.

A great wee machine that comfortably took me from North Argyll down to the Off Road School via the English Midlands and thence back up to its new home in Birkenhead. Unfortunatley, I was lured by a 1200GS!

Andy

 

[Nye]

I started with a BMW top box. Found it leaked and bounced all over the place. Not much good for carrying the laptop. Now use Metal Mule top box and panniers. Best I've ever had. And I can move them from one bike to the other (I have frames on the 650 and 1200 GS). I suppose, like everything it comes down to personal choice. But certainly take a look at Metal Mule if it is function rather than form you value.

 

[VAL. H.]

Hi guys thanks for all your advice. Still waiting for the bike to arrive, supposed to be ready this week but no word yet

The panniers she likes are the BMW expandables, sais she doesn't like the look of the other's cos they stick out so much and are all shiny alluminium. The BM one's do look the best on the 650 too.

Kenny: £275 seems like a good price? we've been quoted £400? Fingers crossed yours is the right price, we'll just go and get a set.

I was thinking of modifying a pair of the storage cases from Machine Mart, to fit around the exausts and mount on the OE pannier carriers and pins. At a tad under £39.00 each (inc VAT for the small one, that is a little bigger than a 1200 BM case) I wouldn't mind cutting them about a bit. Thing is though are they going to leak in the rain? Might just have to put some drain holes in the bottom

 

[Gipsy]

Choice of panniers really depends on the use you intend to put the bike to. BMW expandable panniers are functional and allow a slimmer profile for filtering etc. Didn't find the expanding mechanism on mine easy to get on with. Dating from 2001, so you might like to check if the current design has changed. Not as easy to use as those on my current 1200GS.
If I was considering any off road use, or extended touring I would plump for metal cases. Either metal mule, or Jessies. They are much more robust than the plastic BMW jobbies, and the locks seem much more secure. They also provide the benefit of acting to protect the bike a tad, if you take a tumble.
Such systems are more expensive, but as already stated can be used on successive bikes.

 

[Chisurz]

SWMBO has an '02 model with the BMW expandable boxes and top box too. No problems with any of them. Agree with the comment re: the expanding mechanism, though the 12GS levers are much better the mechanism takes up more space than that of the 650 panniers' latches, which are a bit fiddly.

Note that the 650 panniers are symetrical, so a helmet will not fit in either case. However, the BMW top-box has plenty of room for one. The owner also smuggly points out that the arrangement of the 650 panniers (bigger space at the bottom of the case) is better for everyday use than the 12GS exhaust-side pannier (which has the bigger space at the top).