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I'm sorry, but have to be That Guy...

myspark

New member
As the thread title indicates, I'm sorry in advance. I hate to appear to b e That Guy. You know, the new member who comes in and sprays posts around without searching?

Truth is, I *have* used the search function. If not well, you have my sincere apologies.

My problem is N OT my new bike. The R1250RS is a fantastic bike! I've got maybe 700 miles on her in the last week, hitting all my usual roads and places. Far more capable in turns than maybe the weight would indicate, almost to the point of cognitive dissonance. And the ride quality is insanely good! Back to back with my Africa Twin Adventure Sport ES DCT and its electronic suspension highlight just how very good the BMW is. It's love, and I intend to keep her for a very, very long time.

However, the RS1250RS seems like a bit of an outlier. I have looked and cannot find good recommendations fitting my needs. So: help!

I have already decided to get the Wunderlich Handlebars Conversion. Back to back I still prefer the wide handlebars and seating position of the Honda. So, gonna change something I can change. I also already have the Wunderlich seat peg lowering "system", and purchased both extra rubber covers & both the 1 inch and 2 inch lengths to play with before possibly changing the clutch and brake levers to fit.

I've had zero luck on this: are those cylinder covers, like the ones sold by SW-Motech, enough? Absolutely first time with a Boxer, and like I said I'd like to keep her. I naturally thought of crash bars because of the ones on the Honda. However, specifically purchased the AS3 bars because of their light weight. I cannot seem to divine (1) whether cylinder guards/covers like the SW-Motech are enough; and (2) if covers are indeed not enough, where to find a lightweight set like the aluminum AS3 bars on the Honda. Most sites don't even list a weight!

So I'm asking for advice as a humble noob. The advice is even more valuable if you point me in the direction of whatever covers, guards or bars you're recommending, and keeping in mind my desire to add as little weight as I can safely put on her. Thanks in advance for any help.

-- Mark
 

And calling @lee to the white courtesy phone, please. @lee to the white courtesy phone.
 
I had the MAM covers on my GS, liked them quite a bit, well made, easy to install. Protective "enough" for street riding IMO, and the occasional tip over. Very light.

And, if you haven't found them yet, Iron Horse is the local BMW dealer, been working with them for 18 years, highly recommended.
 
Handlebars: Check an R12x0R seating position - the only difference between that and the RS is the handlebars for seating position, and it's possible to convert with factory BMW parts.
Protection: Cylinder covers are enough until the fall (on a street bike) creates enough other damage to render the bike unrideable with or without crash bars. Crash bars are great for GS'ing, as you expect to be tipping over and low speed drops around rocks. On the street, cyl head covers protect for low speed drops and some slides. If your street bike hits something requiring crash bars for protection, it's suffering more damage than just scraping the cylinders...
 
Avoid the R&G adventure engine protection bars. You must remove the left side bar to change the oil filter. I sourced my engine protection bars from Wunderlich. (Their sport bars). The Wunderlich bars are light weight, appear well designed and look good. You'll want to relocate the GPS mount from it's over the triple clamp spot to near the windscreen so you can see it without looking down away from the road. Check out MotoMate.com. I upgraded my turn signals to LED from Weiser Technic. They added additional functionality to the lights and are much brighter. I'll get more info on the other farkles and changes/upgrades I've done and post it here. In the meantime PM me if you want.
 
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And calling @lee to the white courtesy phone, please. @lee to the white courtesy phone.
A lot of us go with the head covers for parking lot drops or slow speed drops.
My wife and I both have the Machineartmoto covers on our RSs.
Easy to remove for a valve check and if you happen to drop your bike you can buy just one side instead of buying another pair.
1746059370132.jpeg

We also bought the Mud Sling from the same company to protect the rear shock.
1746059650547.jpeg
 
I have already decided to get the Wunderlich Handlebars Conversion. Back to back I still prefer the wide handlebars and seating position of the Honda. So, gonna change something I can change. I also already have the Wunderlich seat peg lowering "system", and purchased both extra rubber covers & both the 1 inch and 2 inch lengths to play with before possibly changing the clutch and brake levers to fit.
Don't get too carried away with modification until you have more miles.
Your body may learn to adjust to the new riding position.
Congratulation on your new bike and welcome to the forum.
 
I have the Wunderlich cylinder cover guards on my 2023 R1250 R. They are quite robust and quite expensive too, unfortunately.
 
Just an update:

Thanks to everyone for the advice! I have purchased the covers from Machineartmoto and the Nav relocation bit from Phil at Moto-Mate (to mount the Chigee AIO-6, shipping date TBD). After more miles and more smiles, I have decided to go ahead with getting the Wunderlich Tubular Handlebar kit. More a matter of how straight(ish) handlebars work for my ruined left hand and wrist than anything inherently wrong the OEM sorta-clip ons. The bike I bought already had the Givi windscreen and the OEM side cases in white; trying to figure out the best tail rack to then mount some kind of rear box. I can buy new or use the SW-Motech DUSC cases that I have in that manner, I believe. Unsure on exhaust b/c I think that will require a re-flash of the ECU (I *think*), and the slip-ons that I've seen from Akrapovic etc. don't save enough real weight for me versus cost. Need to pick up some doo-dads from Wunderlich (instrument shades, etc) and then going to lure a friend over to help me with the pegs and whole nine yards. Sadly, I was only ever a shade tree mechanic in the Army and the blast took most of my bias hand, so in the shop I'm not only one-handed but dumb-handed...which can lead to plenty of dropped tools, fiddly bits, and plenty of expletives.:)

Thanks again for all the advice and I'll try to let everyone know how it's coming, with supporting photos.

-- Mark
 
Least expensive slip-on that is half the weight of the stock can:
Thanks, man!
Pretty much what I was on about. Looks like it saves about the same as the SC-Project can but at a portion of the price. I've fired off a question to GRmoto, but maybe you can help: will I have to refresh my ECU? I'm a bit concerned about voiding my warranty.
 
The ECU will adapt to some degree. A slip on exhaust (any slip on) doesn't make a big enough difference to require a flash unless you are trying to get every last fraction of an HP out of your engine. And a slip on isn't the way to do that anyway, as the most HP I've ever read about gained from a slip on was 3-4. Removing the catalytic converter on the other hand... (i.e. a full exhaust).
 
Now about the sound of the GR, I will say that it makes the boxer sound just a tad like a big single dirt bike, especially with the db killer out. Not unpleasent, but makes me feel a bit like I'm riding a giant super-motard...
 
Just so you know. Those Machineartmoto valve cover protectors will prevent scrapes and damage on tip overs. But, they will pretty quickly wear through the paint and do not preserve them in pristine condition.
 
Just so you know. Those Machineartmoto valve cover protectors will prevent scrapes and damage on tip overs. But, they will pretty quickly wear through the paint and do not preserve them in pristine condition.
They didn't wear paint on mine but they did stain them permanently.
 
Just so you know. Those Machineartmoto valve cover protectors will prevent scrapes and damage on tip overs. But, they will pretty quickly wear through the paint and do not preserve them in pristine condition.
What paint? I have them installed and they're not painted. I've dropped my GSA a few times, (it's an adventure bike afterall) the crash bars show some wear but the covers are still fine.
 
What paint? I have them installed and they're not painted.
He's talking about the paint/powder-coat on the BMW head covers.
We had them on our R1200RSs for 58,000 and 54,000 miles and the coating on the head covers stayed in good condition.
When I took the MachineartMoto covers off for valve checks I would clean the BMW head covers good.
 
He's talking about the paint/powder-coat on the BMW head covers.
We had them on our R1200RSs for 58,000 and 54,000 miles and the coating on the head covers stayed in good condition.
When I took the MachineartMoto covers off for valve checks I would clean the BMW head covers good.
Ah, ok makes sense.
No paint wear on mine either
 
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