Farkle (also spelled “farkel”) is a term common among adventure motorcyclists. Enthusiasts will “farkle up” their motorcycles with aftermarket accessories such as radar detectors, GPS units, tall windscreens, steering stabilizers, carbon fiber bits, cushy aftermarket seats, and so on…
The BMW R1200GSA comes standard with an impressive list of equipment, but it is clear to anyone who engages in adventure motorcycling, that several items for protection or ergonomics must be added to the bike.
Just like for selection of the vehicle, the choice of additional equipment is very personal and the list of what is available for the GS is almost endless. Unfortunately, the bank account is not and some choices have to be made.
Here is the list of what I have chosen to add the beast in order to be more efficient, comfortable and safe.
| Motorcycle accessories | Comments | Price (CAN$) | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW aluminium case set | Panniers | 2,000.00 | |
| Sargent seat | Front and back | 800.00 | Sargent Cycle |
| BMW Large Bash plate | Part # 77 14 7 724 326 | 400.00 | AS Cycles |
| BMW Power sockets | 2X | 100.00 | |
| Kaoko Throttle Lock | Kaoto | 125.00 | Kaoko |
| BMW Aluminum Luggage Handles | BMW 3X | 150.00 | Sierra BMW |
| Throttle potentiometer cover | Touratech | 50.00 | Touratech |
| Lockable Cradle GPS Zumo 550 | Touratech | 150.00 | Touratech |
| Rear brakefluid reservoir guard | Touratech | 45.00 | Touratech |
| GPS Zumo 550 | Garmin 2X | 1,200.00 | Garmin |
| SPOT GPS gen3 | 200.00 | FindMeSpot | |
| Micro-Start PPS XP-5 | Antigravity | 120.00 | Amazon |
| USB Weatherproof Socket | Burns Moto | 30.00 | Burns Moto |
| Pacsafe 85L Security Net | Pacsafe | 95.00 | Pacsafe |
| Total: | 6,695.00 |
Let’s start with major expenses.
The BMW Aluminum boxes are a logical choice and easy to do from my side. They are very aesthetic, solid, safe and locked with the same key as the bike. They also provide an ideal surface for all the little stickers that I can collect during my trip!
The second essential accessory despite its high price, is a saddle adapted to long trips. As experienced during my trip to Inuvik in 2008, suffering from this body part can make the experience of long driving days miserable. My choice was a model offered by Sargent Cycle. Again aesthetically pleasing, but above all, ultra comfortable and solid.
I also added some protective equipment, mainly from Touratech. I tried to limit myself to the essential, but not always easy to resist!
Now about the instruments for navigation. There are now several GPS models specifically designed for motorcycling. My only problem with them is the “static” mode of navigation their provide. Traffic data is not dynamic, as with Google Maps for example. Even if there are paid options with Garmin or TomTom to add this feature, nothing can, as of today, be compared to the detail accuracy for or the number of points of interest provided by Google Maps, even if it is available for free.
I purchased a Garmin Zumo 550 in 2007 and despite its questionnable reliability, I still appreciate the model and for the reasons listed above, I am not willing to invest more than $ 1000 to make update this piece of equipment.
I own an iPhone 6 plus. I installed a USB connector and 2 brackets on the handlebar, close to the instruments. The primary support is a RAM type cradled and second, a support from Quadlock normally used for cycling. Although as rugged, it is solid enough and its advantage is that the iPhone is in a case that easily attaches to the support but also offers a waterproof cover in case of rain. I use the same system for running, cycling and hiking. I highly recommend this solution for its ergonomics, solidity and reliability.
I must also consider the fact that the maps available for South and Central America are more limited in terms of accuracy. My navigation will therefore be primarily via Google Maps with my iPhone 6 Plus, in the cockpit, and my old Zumo in areas where the cellular signal is not available. I will write about the maps in a future post.
Next post: The tools and parts needed for maintenance of the bike on the road.