What to buy?

[Burdocks]

I'm almost convinced that I will buy a R1200GS in the next couple of weeks. The intention is to go on a 10 day 4000 to 5000 mile tour in mid August.

What I'm not sure of is what to buy in the way of accesories from the dealer. I want SatNav, Communications, Panniers and the lowest seat I can get (I'm 5' 4"). Should I buy my accessories seperately and fit them myself or get the dealer to do it - any views, experiences anyone?

 

[Bryn]

Save yourself a fortune by spending a couple of hours browsing this site..

All you need to know about which satnav...panniers etc. If you get the lot with your bike you may be out of pocket big time and regret it!

Savings could almost pay for the big trip!

Bryn

Or you could pop down and buy a pastie from Bakerman.. sure he will give you the same advice!

 

[Fanum]

Or you could pop down and buy a pastie from Bakerman.. sure he will give you the same advice!

OOoo no..don't go to Burbidges....he'll advise you to get the train

As Bryn said Burdocks (and Bryn should know..he's an MP ya know)......don't get accessories or tyres from a dealer.

MAke a list of what you want, then stick it all in the search button at the top of this page one by one and sit back to read.


You'll find as many opinions as there are accessories........some (like me) will swear by a Garmin Quest, others by a 2610......and you'll certainly get to know the name 'civil one'

Welcome aboard

 

[DaveGSCymro]

There are accessories available for the GS? Nobody told me.....

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Accessories for 1200GS

Don't expect to be taken too seriously on this site! However the BMW panniers (which I suppose must come from a dealer) are excellent and although I haven't tried them in a downpour they are said to be waterproof even when extended. I also had the standard BMW 'crashbars' fitted by the dealer on mine. I assume you will have heated grips ? I regret that I didn't specify them because I used the bike almost every day through the winter. Satnav etc.atc.are very pricey chez BMW and you will find masses of advice on this forum and the BMW club Forum. You don't NEED much in the way of extras - certainly NOT special silencers etc. but if you can make up your mind before you buy, a good dealer will probably supply and fit them at a discount - a real advantage - and when you sell or part exchange they will be easier to include with the bike as genuine BMW buts.; Best of luck - it is a fabulous bike (my eigth BM in 28 years and by far the best.) Good luck, Brian

 

[Burdocks]

Good input thanks. I've just made my list it was scary. I'm now trying to work out what are the absolute essentials.

 

[Fanum]

Don't.

seriously, really, just don't.


Get the bike, then ride it....then with 2k miles under your belt, you'll KNOW what you need..it may well be tobinators or a remus, but if you start off by looking here. you'll end up as mutch of a sad git as the rest of us with all the kit and still no idea.


save yourself...run away......!!!!!!

 

[earthmover]

After reading the majority of the posts on this list (yes, I'm a sad git with no life) I ordered my GS12 a couple of weeks ago with heated grips and without ABS. The only other thing I decided was a "must have" was crash bars, as I will drop it.
Roll on June!
Mark

 

[Possu]

I'm almost convinced that I will buy a R1200GS in the next couple of weeks. The intention is to go on a 10 day 4000 to 5000 mile tour in mid August.

What I'm not sure of is what to buy in the way of accesories from the dealer. I want SatNav, Communications, Panniers and the lowest seat I can get (I'm 5' 4"). Should I buy my accessories seperately and fit them myself or get the dealer to do it - any views, experiences anyone?

That's a lot of miles in 10 days, very little or no time for breaks, sightseeing You'd probably have to go on motorways a lot of the time, thus missing the best roads.

I'd suggest less miles, better roads, more stops = more enjoyment & a more relaxed time. Too punishing a schedule will lead to you being too knackered to enjoy yourselves in the evenings after a few days.

I'm not saying your schedule is not possible, it is. I just don't see the point of riding round Europe & taking in the culture, sights & scenery.

We did 3,500 miles in 2 weeks last year:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52824

At times, it was pretty knackering. You're also going at the hottest time of year, this alone can be tiring. Frequent stops lessens the daily mileage but prevents you from getting too tired & dehydrated which can lead to accidents.

Just my 2p worth, not teaching you to suck eggs etc

At 5'4", I'd buy the lowest seat you can or replace all the foam in a standard seat with a Gel pad & get it recovered - far cheaper than buying any aftermarket seat.

Fit the accessories yourself if you know what you're doing, if not, get a dealer to do it.

 

[Kropotkin]

Should I buy my accessories seperately and fit them myself or get the dealer to do it - any views, experiences anyone?

It may be worth getting the dealer to do it. First of all, decide which accessories you want by spending every waking moment reading this site. Make a list. Then price these items. Then talk to your dealer, and ask him what kind of a deal he can do for you on the accessories. If you are buying it together with a bike, you should get a decent deal out of it. Try the same list at a couple of dealers, and compare the results.

Oh, and here's my choices:

Satnav:
Going abroad a lot? Garmin 2610 for the memory.
Going offroad a lot? Garmin 276C for the excellent tracklog facilities.
Going on the cheap? Garmin Quest, outstanding value for money.

Panniers:
Going round the world with the Mrs on the back? Jesses or Vern's worldbeaters?
Going round the world on your tod? Touratech panniers.
Going for a long weekend to the Cotswolds? The BMW panniers are fine.

Communications: Get an Autocom, will do all you need. There are other good alternatives, though.

Crashbars: You need 'em. You will topple over at close to standstill (I do, and I'm 5'11"). That's not a problem, but crashbars make it even less annoying. Get Hepco & Beckers. Others will disagree with me, I'm sure.

Lowest saddle: BMW do one, and I think Wunderlich will also do one. You can also get shorter shocks, and (at least on the 1150s and 1100s) adjustable paralever rods.

Good luck, and enjoy.

 

[Wreford Miles]

Don't listen to Steve he's a poof!

Fanum's right don't...

Just buy the bike with heated grips... and I'd go for wires over alloys not because I'm an offroad king, I just think they suit a GS better.

I'd also recomened not buying the BMW rally suit...Not unless you want to look like a man with a credit card in crises!

And good for you... more short people need to buy a GS it's all the same once you've got it moving

 

[Possu]

Don't listen to Steve he's a poof!

Fanum's right don't...

Just buy the bike with heated grips... and I'd go for wires over alloys not because I'm an offroad king, I just think they suit a GS better.

I'd also recomened not buying the BMW rally suit...Not unless you want to look like a man with a credit card in crises!

And good for you... more short people need to buy a GS it's all the same once you've got it moving

Don't blame me when you sail over the edge of an Alpine pass after blacking out due to exhaustion & dehydration

Cheaper option than the BMW riding gear is Hein Gericke, as worn by many of the manly types (inc. myself) on this site

My girlfriends about your height & rides an 1150GS, a Wunderlich Low Seat (bought on this site for £70) made it much more manageable.

BTW the BMW Sustem panniers are fine for a tour of Europe on sealed roads. Aluminium panniers are favoured by McGregor & Boorman wannabes with an identity crisis.................

 

[Sean]

BMW GS
Hein Gericke Rallye Suit
Aria Tour X/Shoei Syncrotec helmet
Sidi Couriers
SatNav
Personal satalite dish on topbox.

You'll end up looking like Buzz Lightyear.

Just drop the Napolionic hangup, accept that your short and buy the following

Yamaha Virago,
Buffalo leather Jacket with tassles and patches
Open face matt black lid.
Jeans with a wallet chain attachment.
Worn out map of England.

 

[dockie]

Like the "Virago" bit Sean especially the wallet on a chain!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Sean]

Can't help but be cynical sometimes. There's a lot of 'hand holding' needed by some people.

 

[Burdocks]

Thanks for the input everyone, it was mostly constructive. I declined the Japanese option 10 years a go.

Simple solution in the end, went to SPC Saturday morning and put a deposit on a Desert Yellow, 1200GS that's almost ready to go. It had ABS and heated grips. Pick it up Saturday, hopefully.

Then in August the 4000+ miles is a tour around Great Britain as close to the coast as possible. As commented it is a bit of a charge to do that mileage in 10 days and yes I would like to spend more time seeing the sites. However, the goal is to achieve the challenge of getting around in less than 10 days - have wanted to do it on a bike for years, this is the year and what better way to do it than on a BMW.

 

[Alphason]

Can't help but be cynical sometimes. There's a lot of 'hand holding' needed by some people.

Very helpful

 

[Sean]

Enjoy the bike and good luck with the trip. Sounds like you've got your summer sorted out very nicely.