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My 2014 BMW R1200GSA LC (liquid cooled) |
Let me just say - this thing is AWESOME!
It came equipped with everything the '14 model could offer, except "Quick Shift Pro" and anti-theft alarm. That means it has cruise control, electronic suspension, sat-nav, original aluminum boxes and a whole lot of other cool stuff. On paper, this bike is a modern luxury tourer/adventurer and so far it has NOT disappointed.
So why this bike?
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My '05 BMW R1150GSA |
Though it was an awesome piece of machinery, after about one season of driving it (and me getting more experience), the bike started to show its limitations - especially as I started reading a lot about the new BMW R1200GSA LC model.
The many reviews and tests I read and saw claimed that the new R1200GSA LC was much better than the previous 2012/13 version - so by that comparison, it had to be lightyears better than the R1150GSA. And boy it is!
I know many people have done what I am gonna do with the line of BMW's and KTM's - so it is maybe getting to be almost a cliché for many "adventurers", but this is my choice. I didn't choose this bike because everybody else does it - that is like saying somebody driving a Harley-Davidson, Ducati or Yamaha can't be unique. They can!
For a trip this long (in terms of distance), I want a comfortable bike with minimum maintenance needed. So the it had to be a +1000cc bike with final shaft drive. This already narrows down the field considerably. This BMW bike has that grand tourer feeling but I can still take it off road - and I have.
How about off-road?
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Proud after 7 hours of off-road |
As part of the preparation for the trip, I have taken this bike off-road a couple if times to try and learn how to ride it outside the normal road. Not that I expect a lot of soft sand, 1 meter deep water puddles or some crazy 50% incline hill on the trip, but it's good to know just in case. Besides, I'll probably be carrying 40 kg of luggage - that will make any bike less off-road worthy.
Also, I'm taking 2 courses in how to ride this bike off-road; one course is a 1-day course here in Denmark, the other is a 2-day course by a BMW partner in Hechlingen in Germany.
What is modified?
So the bike already comes loaded with a lot of stuff (as mentioned above). It is already well equipped for any adventure - however, I still upgraded and added some stuff. Here is the list:Original BMW accessories
- Clear headlight protection
- BMW aluminium panniers and topbox
- BMW Navigation V
From Touratech
- Extra big engine protection plate
- Extended side crashbars
- Protection for the water coolers
- Large footprint sidestand extension
- Sidestand contact protection plate
- Cardan vent extension
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