Original BMW Vario Side Cases - self installation advice

BMW vario side cases. I bought it online and had to install the lockset and bracket by myself. Just to share info, for the bracket do not screw tight the bracket onto the case before attaching to bike. And it is a good idea to use something to clog up the bracket inside wall (you will know what i mean when you see one) when screwing.

Another Multiple Days Trip With Lara - Could Use Some Advice

Second Multiple Days Trip With Lara

In less than 6 days I will be embarking on a 2000km road trip with Lara.
This time we are traveling from West Japan all the way to East Japan,
hoping to catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji on the last leg of the trip and savouring other spots on the way.

As usual I am going all panniers. Top case keeps my off-the-bike sling bag with all personal effects.
The right pannier stores a few changes of clothe and tire repair kit.
The left pannier stores the bike cover, wheel lock, bare basic tool kit and a portable size chain spray.

Navigation is battery-powered so it is concern-free. I am still waiting for my dealer to come back to me on my order of USB power supply. Without that i am afraid smart phone and action camera could be a constant nag in the head.

May I get some advice from the dear readers, what might you prepare yourself and your bike with if you were going on a long trip? The setup above mentioned is the best I could think so, and I am sure that I am no expert.

Please kindly help a novice like me. Thank you! :-)

Cheers.

Using Garmin BaseCamp and Garmin Dakota 20 On a Macbook

Using Garmin BaseCamp & Garmin Dakota 20 on a Macbook

I guess this article serves little meaning but I will write it anyway. For those of you who are already using those on a Mac, chances are you probably don’t need to read this, and for those Windows users you probably don’t have to read this. So I will just write this for my own future reference.

Let’s start off with the most important thing: The combination of BaseCamp and Dakota 20 on a Mac works. There is no hiccup or whatsoever. 

It is required to install the map, the BaseCamp app and the MapInstaller separately into the Mac before I could get the whole package to work.

Firstly, get the MapInstaller for Mac. I just realized that I need to download the app, then click on the app to reveal the installer, then continue with the installation to really install the app on the Mac.

It feels different coming from a Windows Computer.

Then I need to install the BaseCamp, using the similar method. But at this point I don’t open up BaseCamp.

Then I open MapInstaller and install the map on my Mac, then I close the app. Next, I open the BaseCamp and read the map that I installed just a moment ago.

It will prompt me to unlock the map with a code that I have to get it from the map seller, other than that once I key in the code I could then read the map with BaseCamp, on my Mac!

I inserted a SD card in my Dakota 20, so when I connect the device to my Mac it will recognize two devices: one being the Dakota and another being the SD card (with no name, by the way).

I can create routes on my Mac now, and send it to my device and/or SD card. Here’s the catch: it seems like I need to send from Dakota to my Mac the route data first (even though those are not what  I want),

then only the BaseCamp will allow me to send from Mac to device for the routes I created on my Mac.

I found this a bit confusing and not really intuitive, but since it does work so I guess it is OK. (or maybe I was doing it wrong?)

I will leave it to you to find out how to use the BaseCamp though, since the message of this post is to tell you that Mac + BaseCamp + Dakota 20 is a go.

Cheers!

An Honest Review of My 2015 model factory low down F700GS

An honest review of my factory low down version 2015 F700GS. This could be long but I think you could justify the length of this.

I am 160cm tall with a rather short inseam. My previous bike with a similar capacity was a harley sportster 883. My view on the GS is largely derived from the comparison between 883 and GS. By the wall all riding was done solo with full pannier set up.

I have ridden a 1000km so far, just breaking in. As you can see from the photo, sitting with one leg down i could reach the ground completely. This is a good news to vertically challenged novice rider like me.

I have installed the rotaxx handle bar extender so the ergonomics is much better compared with stock. The stock windshield is better than having none, but at my height it sends all the wind towards my face, from chin and above. It doesnt create a turbulence but the wind is certainly hitting my head and shoulders. I would say wind protection is meager with the stock screen.

Another let down is the stock extra low seat. Of course it wont be fair to say this seat offers limited cushioning performance since it is indeed an extra low seat. To give it her due credit, with a leather jacket on i could endure about an hour of pain free riding, then the seat reminds you that shes there, all the time. Changing to a better seat could be a real investment.

As for the engine, it is a piece of orchestral instrument. It rattles, whines and puffs. Even a honda cb400 super four with twice as many cylinders do not make as much mechanical noise. However coming from a HD it is bearable to me. Not so sure for those who come from a japanese bike.

Performance wise, it is a mile behind the 883 in terms of low down torque. I have stalled the GS countless times whereby i could hardly remember if i did stall my 883. People say the F series GS is very learner friendly but i really doubt it, with such output characteristic. Below 2000rpm, it will lug along, below 3000, it is practical. However to keep myself happy i will gun it above 3000rpm. The sweet spot to my taste, seems to be around 3000 to 4500 rpm. At 6th gear 4500rpm returns about 120kmh. Plenty enough for my riding style.

The engine does feel very smooth, lacking the pulsey exhaust note of some other inline twin engines out there. The GS also churns out very hollow exhaust note. Pairing that sound to a fast building and dropping rpm, i find it quite entertaining. Most of the time i can just keep the gear at 5th (6th being top) and when she judders i just twist the throttle and shes good again.

The head lamp is plenty bright and wide, although at times i do hope if it were brighter. The high beam does not enhance the lume range of the low beam but just simply shines the area above. Conclusion, for better lighting, using high beam is not good enough, a pair of fog lamps would be needed.

Fuel mileage is good. A full tank returns about 330km with two bars remaining on the meter. Personally i am very happy with a range of more than 300km per tank, coming from a sportster. 300km is very important for my style of riding and touring.

Overall, i dont think the GS could do something that another bike couldnt. Yet i like the GS very much, because of the confidence inspiring handling and the emotional value I attach to it. Does it come with a premium price? At the place where i bought it, the answer is no. It is simply a choice of personal preferrence, and I chose this over the suzuki v strom or yamaha mt tracer or triumph tiger.

I hope this review will be helpful for anyone who is interested in getting a GS. I for one, think I have found a keeper.

Trying To Adjust Windscreen The Cheap Way

I posted a review of my Lara which basically says there is nothing not right about the F700GS.

However, there are indeed things that could be better. For example the windscreen could be made better. As of stock condition, the screen does not create turbulence, but it sends the wind straight into my face.

There are some potential solutions in my head:

1.     Change to a bigger and taller windscreen.

2.     Add a diffuser to the existing windscreen.

3.     Tilt the existing windscreen.

The pro and con of each solution:

1.     Pro: sure fire way to solve the problem. Con: Money.

2.     Pro: could solve the problem. Con: Money, again.

3.     Pro: the cheapest way for I only need some spacers and screws: Con: might not work.

I went for option 3. I removed the top two screws and inserted a rubber spacer between the inner screen and meter set.I thought by adding a spacer this will tilt the windscreen outward from the rider, making the wind going over my head.

But I was wrong in the way that I could successfully tilt the screen but I couldn’t screw it back in,

because with the new angle the screw passage is no longer aligned between the windscreen the meter set.

In conclusion, it was a failed experiment.

Now my options are only the ones that involve spending money….

Cheers.

Navigation Setup

I believe a navigation setup is necessary for a long way round trip. My choice of sat nat is this: Garmin Dakota 20. I have used it on a 6 days trip that covered a total of 1600km.

Here is what I think of it.

This is the navigation system I have on my Lara. After a 5 days trip I thought I could give it a review for everyone's reference.

What I like:
1. It runs on batteries as well as USB power.
2. The map is routable and routing calculation time is acceptable.
3. The directional sensitivity is very high. I turn it around on my palm and the arrow on screen turns like wise.
4. It provides turn-by-turn instruction very accurately. (where map is available)
5. It is portable.
6. It displays vehicle speed and a host of other info as well.
7. I dont have to use my phone as a navigator. (if something happens to my phone then my life line is gone.)


However, all that this Dakota 2 could do, any smart phone could it either the same way or even better, there is no doubt to it. I insist on using a dedicated navigator because I dont have to worry about cell signal. This is very important for my riding style.

Anyone could share their view on bike navigation?

Cheers.

I have bought my bike, finally!

The first order of business upon returning to Japan is, to buy myself a bike!

And so here she is, yes it is a she and the name is Lara!

She is a BMW F700GS that comes with a factory lowered suspension.

I have spent a week with her out on a solo trip to Shikoku, Japan.

I have edited a short video clip that you could access from here.

I shall keep you updated on the latest news I have with Lara!

Cheers.