Want to help me farkle my 800GS?

[Shadwell]

Spoke to Chris at Adv Spec (i suppose that may be Wonky?), ordered the bash plate, crash bars and luggage plate, delivered for £405.

As he said in an earlier post no Barkbusters though

Might try and get them from elsewhere but as the snow is still coming down at mine i can probobly wait a week or so.

Len is Aux lighting uprated bulbs or an extra light somewhere?

Some great photos, Expatinstanbul, ducksbane i did not know it was cold anywhere in Oz.

luggage next month (possibly a set of wolfman summit panniers?), and some small protection parts - brake reservoir etc.

How do you all carry your tools?

Thinking of ordering a pair of alpinestar Tech 3's too

Thanks again all - sorry to be such a complete novice - keep the suggestions/photos coming, they help a lot

 

[everywherevirtually]

Spoke to Chris at Adv Spec (i suppose that may be Wonky?)

that is true

Some great photos, Expatinstanbul, ducksbane i did not know it was cold anywhere in Oz.

That is my bike with the snow capped mountains behind. That is the Korce highway in Southern Albania in April of 2009. Twas the early days of the Sibirsky Extreme adventure

 

[smaytum]

I am thinking of going for some soft luggage but not really sure of the pros and cons of them.

Soft is lighter and less bulky, so easier to take off the bike and carry to your hotel room.

But consider that hard is...
- more secure when leaving the bike unattended
- will protect your stuff when you drop the bike when off road
- can be used as table and chair when camping
- can be used as a work bench and tool tray when fixing the bike

I went for the http://www.holan.pl crash bars. They look better than the Adv Spec and mine have held strong with over 100 drops (i do a lot of off road riding ).

 

[Ducksbane]

mdw403 ... Yes, not that cold, especially at the moment as it summer. Where I live it does occasionally snow and we often have frosts in the morning in winter ... around -4 to -8 Celsius, the coldest I can remember is -14C. Currently just after 10am 17 C and raining, has been for days, and will until probably next Tuesday. Rain is good though, has been very dry. That's the problem with Australian weather ... very extreme! Floods follow droughts (and duststorms in November!), Extreme heat, then cold. Melbourne is very good at this stuff, but I don't live anywhere near there. (Shame in some ways as the Victorian high country is beautiful and has great riding)

I have another suggestion re the Barkbusters ... If it is cold where you live they have the "Storm" handguards which give more coverage for your hands. I have the standard VPS guards which I found a little cold in the middle of winter, but they are good now because you can adjust the top of the guards down for more airflow. I might get some Storm guards next winter.

 

[Ducksbane]

I just noticed this thread on Advrider.com, a good one re Wolfman and Giant Loop Bags, check out page 3.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=516522

 

[Dave Ett]

Here's mine:



Fitted with:

Metal Mule:
Panniers and exhaust system (made by Skorpion - no cat and a skinny silencer, so the panneirs sit closer)
Pannier liners (made by krauser)
Crash bars (I think)
Radiator guard (I think)

Touratech:
Front and rear brake reservoir protectors
Reg/rect protector
Neoprene fork gaitors
Seat
Sump guard
headlamp covers
adjustable / folding gear lever and brake pedal
Handlebar risers

Barkbusters hand guards
Heidenau K60 tyres
Givi top box
BMW short screen
Garmin 60CSx on touratech mount
Baglux tank bag, velcro'd to the tank, as the straps are pants!
Moroccan mud

All bar the tyres and top box were fitted to the bike when I bought it, hence not being sure of the origins of some bits...

 

[Lost John]

Only had my 800 for a month or two so am also deciding what sparkly bits to stick on!

Big decision is panniers, very few people mention the BMW metal ones and yet having looked at various i have come to the conclusion they are the best made. Was set on Trax but when i got to see them in the flesh was really disapointed, the corners are made of plastic and mastic!

I got one price for BMW panniers and frame of £805.00 but at the NEC the BMW stand said the RRP was £725.00? Any one have any experience of different prices. Dealer was Bahnstormer in Hampshire.

On my old Pagaso always had soft luggage but with the 800 i cant see how you can have soft luggage without damaging the bodywork

All advice greatfully received.

 

[sijohnston]

i have alpos cases on my 800, and bought them when they were £100 per box and stuck them on the Motech frames. I think £800 is crazy for any panniers and if i had to do it again would probably buy soft luggage as when off-roading it's less likely to do you damage if padding along with your feet in the trickier stuff, it's lighter, and it's a damn sight cheaper. ortliebs, giant loop, or wolfman all offer variations on this. I know Jon (everywherevirtually) used SW Motech frames for his ortlieb cases, but these aren't needed for the other softs. Hard luggage has pose value, but, generally, hardcore adventure travelers seem to prefer soft luggage (read Polish riders here!). Your call.

Only had my 800 for a month or two so am also deciding what sparkly bits to stick on!

Big decision is panniers, very few people mention the BMW metal ones and yet having looked at various i have come to the conclusion they are the best made. Was set on Trax but when i got to see them in the flesh was really disapointed, the corners are made of plastic and mastic!

I got one price for BMW panniers and frame of £805.00 but at the NEC the BMW stand said the RRP was £725.00? Any one have any experience of different prices. Dealer was Bahnstormer in Hampshire.

On my old Pagaso always had soft luggage but with the 800 i cant see how you can have soft luggage without damaging the bodywork

All advice greatfully received.

 

[fireman]

Luggage!!

While we are on the topic of luggage, can i throw a few opinions in.
Firstly £800- What the F@#k is that all about.
It all depends on where your travelling to and how much gear you think you need.
in the past i have tried ventura which is great on the road but the frame welds crack on any type of off road. hepco becker gobie paniers again great on the road but forget filtering in busy citys. Giant loop, had one but soon got rid, good quality but a pain to get your gear in and out of. I have also tried the dirtbagz from the states. good idea but very poor quality.
So after a lot of wasted money i have come up with my number one choice.
It cost me £60 and holds 60 liters. 100% waterproof and fastens to the bike in under a minute.
At the end of the day its like i said, what do you want from your luggage.
I am happy as a pig in s@~t with the Ortlieb

 

[everywherevirtually]

i have alpos cases on my 800, and bought them when they were £100 per box and stuck them on the Motech frames. I think £800 is crazy for any panniers and if i had to do it again would probably buy soft luggage as when off-roading it's less likely to do you damage if padding along with your feet in the trickier stuff, it's lighter, and it's a damn sight cheaper. ortliebs, giant loop, or wolfman all offer variations on this. I know Jon (everywherevirtually) used SW Motech frames for his ortlieb cases, but these aren't needed for the other softs. Hard luggage has pose value, but, generally, hardcore adventure travelers seem to prefer soft luggage (read Polish riders here!). Your call.

Exactly right Si. I use my hard boxes for doing the shopping run and sticking my stickers on of all the places I have been . When it gets down to it for the long distance or rough stuff I will be using the soft luggage again. I'll stick with the SW Motech racks but I may change the type of luggage. The Ortlieb stuff is fantastic. More more waterproof and rougher than my SW Motech metal boxes.

Because the 800's rear end is wide I had to make a velcro extension and this often meant that the bags were drooping down on one side more than the other. So I would be tempted to look at the Giant Loop original bag but it looks fussy and has too many straps or perhaps just a single Ortlieb rack pack behind me. I used one on my first trip and it worked a treat.

For me keeping it minimal is the key to fun. The less you have, the less weight there is and the more you can achieve. You can tackle interesting terrain as you would back home without all that bulk on board.

 

[Malcolm Leick]

Lights

The easiest way to massively improve lighting and visibility is to replace your existing bulbs with HID50 units from...HID50. They were pretty easy to fit and have made a massive difference. I went for the anti-dazzle versions which came in at about £160 for the pair. I got through £60 worth of conventional bulbs before I made the change. HIDs should last longer than the bike.

I see Adventure Spec also now have some new LED auxiliary lights which look impressive and are a hell of lot cheaper than anything from TT.

And yes the AV crash bars do the job. I've dropped my bike onto rocks, earth and tarmac and they have always done the job. Some scratches on the bars, but you can always touch them up if your bothered.

I'm not sure what handguards I have but I think they will have to be replaced with something bigger. My thumbs are getting frozen despite the heated grips!
Keiss heated jacket and insoles have been a godsend.

If you're getting into ruts some brake snakes on your gear and brake levers may save them from getting twisted and they are only £12 a pair. Folding levers even better but I have yet to make that investment. How come the Wundelrich folding gear lever is almost £90 when you can get them for normal dirt bikes for £15???

One of my biggest bug bears has been the screen. I have had BMW standard, BMW touring, Wunderlich Ergo (which I broke trying to fit an MRA spoiler), a full MRA screen (returned) and now an Ergo Vario. See my separate posting on the 650/800 GS screen thread started by Tim Cullis. Screens seem to be a very personal thing depending on height, helmet etc. My latest investment seems to do the trick.

Good luck with all your purchases!

 

[GunZenBomZ]

My HID50 kit on my F8GS (twin hid kit 35watt), youtube HD video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTgoYAfPFOI

 

[Dave Ett]

It all depends on where your travelling to and how much gear you think you need.

Has your bike ever been off road? I've never seen one so clean! Wanna come do mine?

 

[fireman]

Has your bike ever been off road? I've never seen one so clean! Wanna come do mine?

Ohh yes dave, i like to use a bike for what it s designed for.
I just like to give it a good once over now and then.
By the way happy new year to all fellow tossers

 

[Shadwell]

I know you all know what a grey 8 looks like, this is mine the day i picked it up.

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I am expecting the first parts from Adv Spec on Monday so ill bung them on then show you how it looks.

I went for the Tech 3's as well, they should get here next week

Shad

 

[Lost John]

While we are on the topic of luggage, can i throw a few opinions in.
Firstly £800- What the F@#k is that all about.
It all depends on where your travelling to and how much gear you think you need.
in the past i have tried ventura which is great on the road but the frame welds crack on any type of off road. hepco becker gobie paniers again great on the road but forget filtering in busy citys. Giant loop, had one but soon got rid, good quality but a pain to get your gear in and out of. I have also tried the dirtbagz from the states. good idea but very poor quality.
So after a lot of wasted money i have come up with my number one choice.
It cost me £60 and holds 60 liters. 100% waterproof and fastens to the bike in under a minute.
At the end of the day its like i said, what do you want from your luggage.
I am happy as a pig in s@~t with the Ortlieb
View attachment 141157
View attachment 141161

Fireman
Like I said always managed before with soft luggage but when we head off to the pub in some far flung places my mates lock up safely their stuff and I chuck it in the tent and hope no one decides to nick it.

Hence biting the bullet and going for the hard stuff. Your Ortlieb looks tiny, where is your tent, bag, cooker, clothes, hairdryer, etc etc

Do take someones point about maybe the hard stuff wacking things when going off road but having seen the width I am more concerned of wacking the oncoming traffic!

What frame do people use with soft panniers or do you all go for this sit on the top method?

 

[fireman]

Fireman
Like I said always managed before with soft luggage but when we head off to the pub in some far flung places my mates lock up safely their stuff and I chuck it in the tent and hope no one decides to nick it.

Hence biting the bullet and going for the hard stuff. Your Ortlieb looks tiny, where is your tent, bag, cooker, clothes, hairdryer, etc etc

Do take someones point about maybe the hard stuff wacking things when going off road but having seen the width I am more concerned of wacking the oncoming traffic!

What frame do people use with soft panniers or do you all go for this sit on the top method?

John inside that bag i fit
2 sets of lightweight pants
2 warm fleeces
socks and grots for a week
a down sleeping bag
an airbed
wash/shave kit/travel towl
goretex bivi bag to keep the down bag 100%dry
A lightweight waterproof jacket

The tent goes inside drybag and also fits on the rack ( vanga banshee.300)

I have a kriega us10 on each crash bar with a jetboil stove and enough army boil in the bag rations for 5 days

If i realy need much more than that then i just buy as i need.

If your at the HU meeting later in the year come and say Hi, ill show you my set up.
In relation to hard panniers for security. well in my opinion you have all your gear boxed up in a nice parcel for mr light fingers to whip away in seconds. with my set up he will need to pack it all up first
One a final note all my documentation and money etc never leaves my body.

 

[fireman]

luggage

I dont know if its wrong to do but here is a pic of me on my 525 ktm fully loaded for a 9 day trip through the pyrenees. just to show you dont need to be loaded up like a camel, on the bike is tent kipbag and several sets of clean clothes,plus all the cooking equip and tools

 

[Lost John]

Because its a KTM do you mean LOL. Ummm i am too new to possibly comment no doubt some die hards will scorn you!

Your KTM setup looks very much like i had my Peg except i made up a cross brace at the front and bolted on my rear foot pegs so i could lean back on my kit and put my feet up, got one or two looks from Police but never stopped.

BMW do a very nice cross saddle bag which has a dip in the centre to rest on the seat and looks very water proof.

Sorry for being daft but what is HU meeting??

 

[ide508]

Sorry for being daft but what is HU meeting??

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/
Perhaps