Please help !!! Few questions

[keymandave]

Hi,

So, I am a 1200 gs newbie. I just bought and picked up my first 2005 1200 gs today.

There are a few things that i'd like to know and hope those with more experience can help with.

1 ) I would like to have auxiliary power either by a fusebox or a pdm60. The puzzling thing is where can I take a live feed from ?

2 ) I have a standard optimate, I think it is a 2 or 3. Am I ok connecting this direct to the battery to trickle charge whilst the bike is not in use.

3 ) Which are the best engine guards to go for ?

4 ) Moving from a Deauville, I noticed quite a bit more wind hitting me. Which is the best ( most rated ) screen to go for ?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[AlexG]

2 - I have had a CTEK connected directly to the battery for the last few years with no adverse effects.

4 - I have a Givi Airflow that I am pleased with, but there are many different opinions, it would be worthwhile doing a quick search to find the relevant threads (probably the same with engine guards).

 

[tadhgocuilleain]

1) Apparently, most people use the tail light feed to control a relay going straight to the battery.

As a side note, I did a bit of reading about PPTC devices (resettable fuses) and they are a bit slower to react than a standard fuse. So I chose to use standard fuses instead of something like a PDM60. My theory is that your fuses shouldn't be blowing so regularly that it's an inconvenience to change them and if wiring something sensitive to the bike, I'd prefer to have the current cut off immediately if there's a fault. I don't know how that applies to a bike with a CAN-bus (not sure if the 2005 1200 has).

 

[oldnfat]

For the screen, Givi airflow plus GSA type winglets will give you a visor up serene environment well into triple digit speeds. Best set up I have ever had on a bike.

Next best is the standard screen, plus winglets plus and MRA Xcreen spoiler.

 

[MWH]

Not sure if its the same on an 05 GS. Does it have a power socket under the seat on the left hand side? If it does I piggy backed onto the live wire to a 40A relay fed direct from the battery which in turns feeds a marine 6 space blade fuse box. These all sit in the tray meaning you have to find somewhere else for the comprehensive BMW toolkit! Probably cost around 15-20 quid.

Basically it turns on when the ignition comes on and the relay shuts down a minute or two after ignition is off. I have run my extra driving lights, intercom, camera, bluetooth module through this set up with no issues. I have removed the intercom and BT module now as have a helmet based system so may use these spaces to wire in some auxiliary rear lights.

Just make sure the wire you use is the correct guage for the current being drawn.

AS to the battery charger, connect straight to the battery, not through the power outlets. Also depends if you have a lead acid battery, AGM etc. Optimates work with most batteries, there was a thread on here a while ago about it. You could email Optimate direct and tell them which battery you have and is it suitable.

Wind protection, I have a GSA so cant help. However I've fitted an MRA X-Creen spoiler to mine and that has improved it over just the standard BMW screen. Trouble is now rain doesn't get blown off my visor and cant easily clear the steaming up issue in inclement weather.

 

[comberjohn]

While the Givi is an excellent screen, I found that in heavy rain the inside of my visor was hard to keep clear.
It's a bit like picking a seat, different models will have a different effect on the rider. Height, seating position, etc.

 

[oldnfat]

While the Givi is an excellent screen, I found that in heavy rain the inside of my visor was hard to keep clear.
It's a bit like picking a seat, different models will have a different effect on the rider. Height, seating position, etc.

I have heard others with this problem but it was ok for me....I dropped the screen a little and cleared the visor....I guess this screen is a little too effective for some.

 

[Bendy toy]

My Givi causes my visor to mist in the rain if its set above minimum height. Solution keep sliding top at minimum and have the visor open 10mm. Dropping the whole screen down at the back increases airflow but can cause more turbulence.
It's not a problem


Sent via iPhone so expect strange words

 

[keymandave]

Wow, Thank you very much for all your replies.

A givi airflow screen, relay & 6 blade fuse box has been ordered.


Any heads up on which engine bars are best ?

 

[mikeyboy]

Any heads up on which engine bars are best ?

Touratech IMHO

 

[keymandave]

Touratech IMHO

Thank you

 

[lawvar]

Have a good luck at others also look for the for sale section on here many bargains to be had i had my bars and lots more from here at half price or better .
Welcome to the site

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

[keymandave]

Have a good luck at others also look for the for sale section on here many bargains to be had i had my bars and lots more from here at half price or better .
Welcome to the site

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

Thank you

 

[Bendy toy]

I used to have Touratch head protectors. They are stainless and aluminium and VERY tough - Great!

TBH not so good, the cylinder head mounting lugs have M6 screws. They take a shear load on impact and and the lugs will crack if bashed hard enough. I stalled on a hill dropped my bike and hit the LHS rocker cover on a kerb stone. The cover landed just above the TT protector so it cracked. The TT cover also got mashed but the stainless mounting lugs hardly bent at all. Virtually zero shock absorption. Two of the three M6 screws were bent and hard to remove. Thankfully no harm done but it could have been worse.

I now have Machine Art X-heads they give more protection and being polycarbonate will absorb more shock. Mine were bought used and have been brittle but I think they were aged so not a product fault. (you win you lose).

I would not fit any head covers that can bend or break the cylinder head mounting lugs. A crack in there could be a whole lot worse than a scarred rocker cover.