The devil made me do it …

[Zebedee]

It all started when I sat on a GS at the BMF earlier this year.

Next, I picked up a brochure from my local dealer. When I saw that all of the publicity shots were taken in Namibia (a country that I love) I knew that I was fighting a loosing battle. A battle that would have me knocking on my bank manager’s door.

The final straw came when I had a test ride. I had to have one.

The upshot of all that is that I’m just about to take delivery of a brand spanking new 1150 GS

Unfortunately, this is where my problems start, so I’d be grateful for your advice, the benefit of your experience and any opinionated BS you may care to hurl in my direction.

Engine bars, luggage, exhausts and alarms!

What I’m currently considering is:

Touratech engine bars and a Remus exhaust system (loosing the cat in the process). Those bits I’m relatively clear on, but I would be interested to know how much louder the bike is when you ditch the front silencer.

When it comes to luggage, the only thing I’ve got experience of is using a Baglux tank bag (which I’m quite happy with), but I’m intending to get out and about more on the GS, so I’m considering hard luggage.

I want some luggage that’s easy for me to attach and detach, as my daily commute involves negotiating the two lane car park that is the A1. I’ve been told that the BMW hard plastic (ABS) stuff is very good and is actually made for them by Krauser. Is there any truth in this, also, has anybody got any experience of any Remus / Krauser combinations?

Finally, alarms. What are the pros and cons?

Cheers for now guys

 

[Greg Masters]

Z

Firstly, congratulations on your new bike - a wise purchase!

I have BMW engine bars on mine - don't bother with these! They add 30 minutes or so to service times (you have to remove the tank to remove the bars to remove the sump guard to remove the oil filter) and, although I've never tried them, they probably wouldn't do much if pressed into serious action. Do a search on 'engine bars' and see what the views are.

I also use BMW luggage. It all attaches/detaches in seconds, is pretty waterproof and is offered with soft inner bags. These last items I find are invaluable if I am staying in hotels. However, other systems are bigger and stronger, and many are more suited to the capabilities of the bike. Vern's panniers are probably the best of these, but, unless Vern has modded the mountings, don't detach quickly (- but I wish that I had them!).

I use an absolutely stock exhaust system - it works! Many have gone for a Y-piece and/or aftermarket exhaust. However, I can't help but notice the number of postings on this board associated with problems resulting from modifying the exhaust system. One or two are now reverting to standard silencers because the aftermarket jobbies are too noisy for long distances. Again, check the wisdom and experiences from posters on this board.

How you modify you bike will depend on how you intend to use it. If it's just a Sunday morning hoon around local lanes, then you will set off in one direction. However, if you are planning a world tour, different modifications may be called for. Why not run the bike for a while and see what you need?

This BB is a font of all GS knowledge (and a considerable quantity of pure bollox!). If you can sort the wheat, you're riding a winner!

Best

Greg

 

[donone]

extras

defo for engine bars i dropped bike and these saved alot of damage and they never moved go for remus revolution and y piece sounds the dogs and legal

 

[Big Al Litch]

Panniers

The standard BMW panniers are ok but I didn't go for them myself (I have had Krauser panniers for some 20-years or so and decided I wanted something different this time). I went for the Adventure alloy panniers on my GS and I am very happy with them. I looked into the various panniers available before getting them and these were the ones which most met my needs.

I also needed a pannier I could fit/remove on a daily basis (for commuting) and these can be fitted/removed with the turn of a key in about 5-seconds. Most other alloy panniers seem to either take at least a couple of minutes to fit/remove, require tools and/or require the pannier to be emptied first. They are top loading (a must for me this time), swallow all my rally gear with ease, are totally waterproof and look good into the bargain.
They appear to be very wide but in actual fact are only a couple of inches wider than my old Krauser set-up and are comparable with others I know of. For daily commuting I don't find it necessary to fit the pair so I quite often only use one.
The old problem about hinges breaking has now been cured by BMW adding a retaining strap between the lid and the body (some old stock still seems to be coming out without this wire but mine had them fitted).

At the Old Timer's rally last weekend I had a few GS owners checking my panniers out and they all seemed to be quite impressed. There were the usual items there (BMW, Touratech etc) but the Adventure items were generally well recieved.
While they are certainly not the cheapest and they may not be the strongest, they do the job I bought them for and I am more than happy with them.

 

[Silver Shadow]

Datatool

Very happy with my Datatool system 3 alarm. Insurance approved, has user selectable siren sound (so you're not confused by the alarm on the Sierra parked nex to it!) and a sort of warning thingy that beeps if the bike is disturbed a little to warn off the bad guys (so doesn't get set off by passing trucks and falling leaves). Only downside is that the auto-set comes on a bit quick (not adjustable).

:dj

 

[Little legs]

Z

I personally use my old OE panniers from my previous bike the R1150R I have bounced of a few vans and dropped the bike at low speed twice and suffered only a couple of scrapes so i guess they are pretty well solid.

I did like the Adv alloy panniers but thought the rails looked a bit pants when the panniers were not being used.

I have just picked up my GS with a Remus Revo & Y piece fitted and it sounds lovely, the only draw back is it sets off car alarms on my way into work in the morning, shame.

I was a bit worried about melting my panniers due to the exhaust but reckon this would only happen after an extended running period then standing still or in slow moving traffic, but it would have to be very very hot weather, Luckily its always freezing in Manchester and more often than not wet.

I dont know how much louder it is without the cat but it looks a lot better without that large ready meal tray under the bike.

 

[grandtrousers]

Was that you on the black GS this morning who pulled alongside me in Ashton-u-lyne? Sounds real nice. I was on a silver Adventure.

 

[PeterNicholson]

Greg -

The BMW crashbars do work after a fashion, as long as the impact isn't too severe
Haven't done a full comparative study, tho' - it hurts too much!

Touratech panniers are tough enough to rip sections off inappropriately positioned cars, and prevent damage to the rear end in the case of low-speed offs DAMHIK.
Removeable in about 30 seconds without tools.

Unless you have a helmet with in-built LLTV/Thermal imager. you will probably want more lights!
Go to any GS meet and the place looks like a Christmas tree convention. Again, do a search on lighting for previous threads on this subject.

And...


Welcome to the Loony Bin

 

[Zebedee]

Thanks for the words of ‘wisdom’ guys.

Though I am starting to wonder about the wisdom of the whole GS venture (unfortunately not an Adventure venture ‘cos I’m a short arse).

OK, so I’m still relatively new to this lark (today being the first anniversary of me passing my test), but I though that going for the GS would be a sensible option.

What do I find? Spending 8 grand on the bike is just the start.

… so the current shopping list is:

Touratech bars
Remus exhaust
Ally luggage (yes Big Al, I agree the BM stuff looks the muts nuts).

And Touratech do those drop dead gorgeous Xenon Auxiliary Headlights (after the Fazer ANY lights have got to be an improvement).

Hey ho. It’s just as well the Fazer’s bought and paid for. When I sell it I can invest ALL of the cash on toys for the GS.

All I need is the cover note to turn up, and I’m off

 

[Pat Creagh]

All the talk about luggage and not a mention of the humble topbox.
For commuting they are the biz. I've used Krausers on an Airhead,
BMW panniers, H&B expeditions, Al Jesse and Touratech Zega cases and unless you are packing like a woman or going on a world tour just buy a topbox, any topbox. For the A1 it will be the bollox.
Engine bars, Touratechs don't stop a Nissan Primera ripping off a cylinder head but do protect the balck plastic head covers from an off-raod spill. BMW bars work well inthe latter instance but have been designed to generate cash for the dealers come service time. Wunderlichs hade a handy bracket fot lights but then you won't have to buy light-bars...
H&B, the scaffold tubes, are probably the best and worst looking all rolled into one package.
Exhausts in a word, Staintune. Stand head and shoulders above the rest, but cost more too. But let's face it you will have something different. And it's a quicker way of getting rid of cash and that is whata GS is best at. After putting a grin on your face of course;-))))))

 

[BawdyMonk]

Go Slowly..

I've just picked up my new Adventure and I'm taking it easy on the "Extra's" until I know what I really need.

Regarding luggage, I had a topbox on my RT and the result was I never used the standard panniers from the day I fitted it, my choice was the Hepco and Becker 50l Journey with a rack and backrest (The wife loves that as well, so it's going onto the Adv), It's amazing how much you can carry in a big topbox, compared to a pair of BMW standard panniers and it certainly makes filtering easier. As has been said the BMW alloy boxes leave a lot of ugly scaffolding on the bike when not being used. If i need a bit more carrying capacity I'll go the Baglux route before I buy panniers.

I had a BMW alarm on my RT and it was flawless, I'm getting one fitted to the new bike on the 1000km/600mile service (after I've fitted my own lights), BMW's fog lamps are mega bucks, by the way I've checked the standard lights and they really are crap.

The Y piece, chip, and exhaust I'm leaving until I've run the bike in and done a few thousand miles, I don't like noisy bikes and want to see if I really need the extra power, rather than just buying them to be "one of the boys".

Engine bars... I've got a set of Hepco & Beckers on order from Wunderlich, never had a bike with them on before but I've never taken a big bike off road so I'm going with the flow on this, H&B seem the prefered choice of the old hands on this forum.

You've not mentioned screens, if the standard one does the job then fine, I've found already from the one trip down a highway that I've made that I need more than the Adventure screen can give, I've gotTobinators on order but might need a bigger screen...

Take it easy mate, it's too easy to buy what you think you need, before you find out what you really need!

 

[Tobers]

I have found that a very good mod is to put R1150R bars on instead of the cowhorns that the GS comes with.

That change has made my bike feel much more compact and easy to handle when filtering. It generally feels much "better" in that undefinable way that some mods do.

Fitting is moderately simple - its a bit of a palaver to get the switch units off (numerous bolts, all different sizes, plus two hidden screws under the inner lips of each rubber grip). If you have heated grips you need to thread the cables through the bars which isn't too difficult, and then connect them up under the front of the tank.

Alternatively - get a dealer to do it

 

[The Mechanic]

Welcome to the ......

Welcome to the land of ....whats that tapping sound...whats that rattle.... is it jerking or is it me.... its bloody surging..... whats that clanking sound.....are me tappets still under the lids or are they leaving the bike....whats that about oil consumption.....flaking paint .....petrol eating your tank finish....etc....etc.

Buy plenty of tight fitting ear plugs, fire her up and try to ignore the rumblings and pings that accompany these 'characterful' bikes, now ride wherever and do it in the knowledge that the other guy coming the other way towards you on his (same type) is just as concerned and may not wave because he's distracted by all the noise his engine is making.

Of coures a 'Y' peice (replaces the cat) and a noisy can will no doubt delude you into thinking that you have more go and can go faster, the noise also drowns out the engine running noises to!

The above are what you might come to think about your new stead if you read all the tech threads on this site, however I'm telling you that these bikes are SO different that you will not want to stop riding the thing, short journeys leave you disatisfied wanting more and more miles to cover before stopping.

 

[Zebedee]

I’m getting a bit fed up of saying it but thanks again guys.

I’ve just picked up the Ally luggage and the top box (sorry I forgot to mention it, I thought you guys were telepathic) is going on ASAP. The panniers will be going on … later.

Bars of an R1150R? I think I’ll stick with the standard bars ‘cos I like being reminded of just how wide the beast is (mind the mirrors on that Transit).

As for the strange and wonderful taping, ticking, whining, clinking, rumbling noises. Until a week ago (see rant elsewhere), I was the driver of a fine example of Italian Automotive Engineering. My Sister used to love the Alfa ‘cos she said it was like the car was talking to you … Yes, I like machines with character.

Finally, when it comes to riding the GS or not. On Saturday, I remembered that I needed some stuff from Safeways. The obvious answer seemed to be to go to Hexham (on the B roads), a round trip of about 75 miles

 

[Jon451]

Commuting

Fit a Y - piece.

BMW plastic panniers are great (when you need them ).

Fit a GIVI Maxia for everyday use and maybe a Baglux.

I have not updated the lighting yet.

Just ride it and feel the pleasure.


Before buying new stuff check out this site. You will probably get a nice set of panniers for £200. You may even find more.

Jon