New 1200GS TB... let the farkling begin!

[DownunderBrian]

Picked up my new (exdemo) 1200GS on Friday... triple black. Only been able to do 40 miles on it so far (dealer to home) but love it so far!

Had a fun weekend installing some farkles.

I had the dealer fit the Altrider lower crashbar and skid plate.... (after hearing what a pain the crashbar is to fit)... they also offered to fit the Adv winglets while they were at it, so who was I to say no.. So my "before" photos include those items fitted.

(some might note that the seat does not have the GS insignia... they had the original seat stashed and no one could fit it Friday.. they found it Saturday so I've got to go swap for the new seat)








Note the width of the Altrider bars in the photo above. Despite this seemingly generous width, I don't feel that they are going to cut it as a substitute for highway pegs... so highway pegs go on the farkle list for later.

First job Saturday was to install the BMW headlight protector, Adv beak extender and the Altrider oil cooler guard.

Some people call these bikes ugly... they should see them without the beak and headlight/dash in place!



Headlight protector on... oil cooler guard on. You can see here that there are no screws/bolts/etc. The altrider oil cooler guard is supplied with a few stips of double sided take. Seems a bit... lightweight for the GS, but what the heck, I'll go with it. Also in this photo the BMW headlight guard has not been put on yet, but you can see the new surround in place with the four holes for the fittings that hold the guard in place. It just snaps in, snaps out. Easy (once on...).


Back together... beautiful again. Well....


Sunday I had other commitments (aka, family) but today was time back in the garage to assemble and fit the Micatech V-Pilot 10" cases. I decided (after reading about 100 threads on luggage... ) on the 10" with the muffler in the lowered position.

The micatech cases came really well packed and the entire process has been photographed and documented here by other inmates, so I won't go through all that except to say... it did take me a while. I'd say 4 hours total. Mind you, I did do it the slow way - installing everything 'loose' and then removing each bolt, adding loc-tite and then tightening all, with about 2-3 fittings of the bags/muffler along the way to check that all way still aligned.

I'm very happy with the result, but will reserve final judgement until after my first couple of weekend trips with them.

So here's the bike now with the micas..





Do these make my ass look fat? (not as fat as the full size micas )


I was concerned about the fitment, muffler clearance etc... in the end no problems. I have at least an inch in all directions at the back, and more than 1/2 inch to the muffler bracket.


Close up of that 'off road only' BMW headlight guard (best rest glare guard on farkle list... to be trimmed as per another inmate's photos)


Next on the farkle list..

I already have, sitting in my garage,
- Pivot Pegs 3
- FuseBlock

On order
- Altrider upper bars (for lights... and looks)
- Rox Risers
- grip buddies

Yet to be ordered...

- battery tender.. (going for a batter tender plus I think, wired to the fuzeblock once its in)
- touratech hard part steering stopper
- tank bag (can't decide on a solution for that yet)
- windscreen (givi AF330 I think... may order tonight )
- thottle lock (down to 2 options but can't decide.. more reading required...)
- lights (have not even starting thinking about which)
- a couple of small things from touratech (drive shaft slider.. sidestand foot.. )

Plenty more farkles that I've not even imaged yet I'm sure.

On my last bike (2003 Kawa Nomad... for sale if anyone is interested ) I took my time adding farkles... but then I always regretted not adding the farkles sooner and getting the good use out of them on long trips.. so this time I'm going farkly the crap out of this bike as fast as I can (1) pay and (2) find time to fit them to the bike.

Now...back to reading other farkle threads..

[GypsyWriter]

Everything I want and more great suggestions!! Post pics when you get the Altrider upper bars, I've been wanting to see what they look like on these bikes. I was going with SW Motech to get taller bars for my GS and only just this weekend found out about the AR bars.

Those Micatech bags look super spiffy, I'm pretty sure I'm going that route myself! I was thinking the 8" we're enough as I didn't want them to stick out far but like the lowered exhaust, do you have to do that to keep the boxes symmetrical?

[DownunderBrian]

Re the lowered exhaust, yes, to keep the boxes symmetrical you need to either lower the exhaust or buy a bag that has a cut-out for the pipe (like the full size micatechs, etc). Otherwise you go with a 8" on the exhause side and a 10" on the other side, which will be close but not quite symmetrical. I've seen a few pics of bikes like that (now just GSs but Vstroms etc also).

Lowering the exhaust was very easy, and I'd rate myself about a 5 out of 10 mechanically speaking (I know what most tools like, I just don't know what to do with most of them )

I don't plan to do any deep water crossings, so I don't see a lot of risk in the lowering. And I don't believe the cornering clearance has been impacted by the lowering... not at the level that I ride anyway. Look at the pic from the back of the bike and judge for yourself.

I considered the 8" but (1) wanted the space of the 10" for long trips and camera gear, (2) wanted the protection of the 10" - looking at the side profile now, the bags, handlebars and altrider lowers are all about the same width, so if my GS takes a nap one day (inevitable) then the bags, handle bars and altrider lowers should all keep the rest of the bike off the ground.. and keep my leg from getting jamed and squashed - bonus!

I fell on ice a couple of times with my Kawa Nomad, which has bars that come out in front of the bags for protection and engine bars, and I came appreciate having the front/rear bars for side landings.

[Ridestrong]

I sure like the look of those Micatechs. Actually, I think they'll make your ass look slimmer, not fatter.
Nice looking bike!

[Django]

Wow, looks like you know what you're doing!

Originally Posted by DownunderBrian

windscreen (givi AF330 I think... may order tonight)

This proves it! I have the AF330 and routinely tell other GS riders that it's the best piece of kit I've added to the bike!

Also, you might want to replace the stock turn signal stalks on the front with the replacement rear OEM stalks. It's a direct fit, no problems. It really helps to get rid of that "Shrek" look the front of the bike has.

[DownunderBrian]

Originally Posted by Django

"Shrek" look

That cracks me up.. I'll never be able to look my GS in the face again without laughing.

[ATCguy]

Bike looks good!

I've also got the AltRider bars & skid plate... but in keeping with the Triple Black theme, I had them powder coated black. I have the upper bars on order, but they haven't arrived yet.

I also have the LED turn signals (as someone else mentioned), the AF330 windscreen (which I think you'll really like), and a few other things you may notice on it here & there. I went with the 'low-pipe' option Jesse bags... but by everything I've heard, you'll like the Micatech bags you chose.

Have fun!

[DownunderBrian]

Originally Posted by ATCguy

I also have the LED turn signals (as someone else mentioned), the AF330 windscreen (which I think you'll really like)

Sweet! I'm glad to see you have the AF330... I was going to order today at lunch and noticed on twisted throttle website that there's a disclaimer that says it doesn't fit past 2009 models... obviously that is incorrect - or did you have to do any mods to make it fit?

I struggled for a week over silver v black for the altrider bars and skid plate... looked at MANY MANY pics on this website... eventually I decided that I was not going for the darth vader look (though it was tempting... but then I'd have to paint that silver side cover and other things.. ) so I decided to get some silver to accent the black. Still not sure which is the best option, but what's done is done.

Can you tell me about your tank bag? What brand.. looks like fuel filler cap fitted bag.

Also have to check out those turn signals... get rid of the Shrek look... that cracks me up

[ATCguy]

The AF330 fits easily, no problems at all. The instructions still show the old (pre-2010) windscreen hardware, but there's no problem at all with the fit using the new adjusters. In fact, it's easier.

Tank bag is a fuel cap type... A Bags Connection "City" model, using the SW-MOTECH fuel cap mount. It's available from Twisted Throttle.

[DownunderBrian]

I got my 330 in the mail today and am having trouble fitting it.

The support bracket that I was supplied for each side has a small home on the bottom. When I tried to mount the BMW hardware it doesn't seem to fit. The BMW hardware consists of one piece of black plastic that sits against the "teeth" in the frame, then the windshield would normally me next, followed by the outer piece of black plastic, then the hand-adjustable bold to tighten in your position. The problem is that the givi support only has a small hole and the black BMW pieces don't fit.

Does this make sense to you?

Here's a pic showing the hole in the bracket... was your like this? I don't see how it will go together...

[Hendo66]

Looks like the lawns not getting cut any time soon!

[DownunderBrian]

LOL... crap.. the lawns need cutting tomorrow! ...how'd you know? has my wife been posting honey-do lists on here???

Anyway... before you all run out to your GS with AF330 givi windscreen to take a photo of how it's done... hold it... I got it.

The plastic BMW parts close over the windscreen as normal but the support beam has to go THROUGH that little slot so that it fastens on the outside of the screen.. D'oh!

Thanks for the greak instructions Givi!