BMW G650gs 10000km review and bling.

Well the GS has just had it's sixth month birthday, and is also coming up to its 10000km service.  I know by North American standards this mileage is not high, but for me and the  fact a good portion of it has been off road it is good going.  I thought  a updated review would now be in order.  My first review is contained here.

It is also a good opportunity to show how the bike is looking now from when I first brought it home.  The "farkles" I have added.

But first a quick 10000km review.

When  I brought this bike it was always my intention to get a bit further a field and to explore those roads that I have always have had to ignore when on a street bike.  Of course this meant that for me some training was in order as my off road or even gravel road experience was very very limited indeed.   Contained in the previous sentence are all the reasons why this bike was such a good decision for me.  It is so user friendly and forgiving that even a newbie on gravel like me doesn't get into to much trouble.  In fact it's limitation on where it can go are down to it's rider not the bike.

In the short time that I have had it it has been over some very rough and rugged terrain.  In fact to say it gets hammered at time's is probably more the correct term.  Of course it has handled all of this like it's reputation insists it should.  I have had no issues with the bike what so ever.  It has been a great bike to begin new adventures one.  

On very tight twistie's it will keep up with even big sports bike, it is nimble and seriously at times I think it is the most fun you can have with your clothes on.  It really is a bloody hoot.  I have of course added a knobbly to the front, and I will be adding one to the back also over winter.  Obviously you lose some of that road feel when you do that.  The tourences that were on the bike when I brought it are fine for the road and most gravel, but will leave you wanting on anything more serious like sand and rocky stuff.....trust me I have pics to prove this!   

As I said in my first review, I can not compare this bike to other models, but as far as my needs and requirements are concerned it has more than fulfilled them.  I also really like the look of the bike, it is a bike which I feel very attached to and I love how the bike now looks.

STUFF!

So what have I added? Holy crap where do I start?......I so love Touratech, except it is a pain being in NZ because the USA  wont ship here, only the German branch.  Not that I suppose that is a big deal but there are the odd items which come up on the USA sight which don't come up on the German sight.

1) Headlight Grill protector.

1)  Front Headlight Grill:  Of course you can get the clear one, but I loved the black grill option, thought it gave the bike a nice aggressive look.  Protects the front headlight and is removable.

2)  Sump Guard:  Standard requirement on all these types of bikes.

3)  Crash Bars:  Same reason as sump guard, but they are worth there weight in gold   Not that the bike has many fairings but what it does have at least gets protected.

Hand Guards

4)  Handle Bar risers and Hand Guards:  You can't have one of these bikes and not get up on the foot pegs, rising the bars is required for me anyway (178cm's) When I ordered them from Touratech it was recommended to get the longer break cable as well, so both were fitted at the same time. 

5)  Renthal Bars:  Not by choice, but after my wee off down the bank I bent the original set,  these are a lot stronger of course there is the risk that some thing else will break next time.....but hey,lets worry about that next time.  Some one did say the firs time you drop a BMW you will bend the bars, they do seem very soft.

6) Chain Guard:  The original big plastic thing didn't impress me at all....it looked cumbersome and stuff got caught  in the back where it wraped around the rear wheel.  I much prefer the cleaner and minimalistic look of this guard.

7) Duck Bill:  Cosmetic only, but at only $76 I just like the way it looks on the bike.  

8)  Side Stand Plate:  Very helpful in soft stuff, doesn't sink in. 

9)  Pivot pegs:   These are not on the bike yet, although should be here soon, got to be better than the originals that dig in to your foot after prolonged use.

10)  Caribou cases,  I never liked the BMW top box, although it is practical I was never impressed with the look.  I wanted to add additional luggage capabilities anyway.  After a bit of searching I settled on the Caribou cases, they are extremely tough....seriously very very tough, and I prefer the squarer top box rather than the other.  I have yet to put hem to a real test, but I do like the look, and the service from Roger in Colorado was excellent.  They were easy to fit, water proof, and just look great.