Adding a GSA fender extension

I really like the looks of these on the GSA and figured aside from form it did function to protect the fender as well.


Pretter simple to install. Just removed the front fender and dry fit it.

Once I had the fit right I taped it in place

Drilled the bolt holes

Bolted it down put the fender back on and done

Before and after

Adding a power outlet to my R1150GS like the R1150GSA

I'm taking a trip to the Oregon coast in a couple of weeks and decided that I need a more accessible 12v source to keep my phone/GPS charged. Unlike the GSA the GS does not have an outlet up by the dash. the only outlet is down on the engine cover. I didn't want any cables strung up from the engine that might get in the way and cause a hazard.

I went online and ordered an oem outlet from the GSA schematics which places it on the fender close to where it meets the gas tank.

When the oultet came it had a funky plug on the back. I went to the BMW dealer and was told that the plug was part of the wiring harness of the GSA and that the GS probably didn't have it. I ordered a plug that would fit.

When I started digging in to the bike this weekend I noticed that the GS actually had the plug. It just wasn't connected and it was zip tied under the dash.

Nice. did a test fit just to be sure. Snap!

Tested it just to be sure it was live. It is but it isn't switched with the ignition so I'll need to be sure not to leave something on and drain the battery

Next I clipped the tie

And checked to see how much wire I had to work with

Plenty but it was pretty corroded. Needs to be cleaned. I used a dremel bit I had which was a small tapered file that allowed me to get inside the terminals

After realizing I didn't need the plug I had order from the dealer I went back to cancel my order. Since the plug I paid for was about the same price as the aftermarket outlets they were selling I decided to pick one up. Figured if I was in to the bike doing this I might as well add an additional outlet. The plug from the dealer didn't require the oem fitting and just used two spade terminals, positive and negative, to wire it up. So what the hell I'll put two plugs on the bike.

After removing the fender I masked off the mounting areas and marked the holes. I first used a 1/4'' bit to drill the pilot holes then finished it off with a 3/4'' spade bit

Remove the tape, clean up the shavings and fit the outlets. You can see from the picture a difference between the two outlets. OEM on the left and aftermarket on the right. The OEM is better quality for sure but was more expensive.

Next I side chained off the OEM plug on the harness and ran the wires across under the dash.

Put the fender on hooked everything up

Thorn Creek Ride

April 19th 2012Rode up to Thorn Creek with my wife for her birthday. It was a bit wet and muddy but no problems. Felt a little squirly in the muddy sections but manageable.

The weather is getting nice now so I guess that is inspiring me to revisit this blog. I've been riding the bike pretty regularly through the winter and spring now and I have to say I have not been disappointed at all.

The bike comfortable and shields my from the weather much better than my KLR ever did. I've done a bit of off roading and it feels fine though I wish I had the lower gearing sometimes like the GSA has but at 75mph in E (6th) it runs at 3500 rpm. Very smooth.

The gas mileage isn't as hot as the KLR. I'm getting about 35 around town where the KLR was closer to 45 but I think on the road I should be getting closer to 40 so I hear. The range on it could be an issue but I have plans for that.

So far I've dumped it once, in a parking lot, and didn't have much trouble getting it back up which I was afraid of.

My Concerns

This is a big bike. Would the 800 be a better fit for me? I'm not a large individual at 5'9" 175lbs and the KLR was a chore when it got hairy.

I took it out for a 100 mile trip which included Interstate, city roads, highway, gravel roads and single track and I was pretty surprised at how well it felt. All around better than the KLR but I was left wishing for a lower gear. A GSA would be nice.

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The Why

Well I probably needed this bike like I need a hole in the head but here it is. Sometimes I have weak moments. But I figured that I could avoid a $20k + weak moment with a nice used GS to see if I would actually like it.

I have had a KLR 650 for several years now and really liked the crap out of it. It was the first bike I owned as an adult and suited me well as such: A good entry level bike that could go on and off road. As I progressed as a rider the first obstacle I hit with the KLR was that it isn't all that great for serious off road use which I started getting into. So I bought a KLX 300 R and problem solved (for the most part though a KTM would be sweet).

But I still really had a passion for adventure riding and always thought that the 1200 GSA was the ultimate bike. Then came the F 800 GS and depending on the day it was either that or the 1200. I have been wanting to upgrade from the KLR and my itchy trigger finger was pushing me dangerously close to just getting one.

After riding with a buddy that had a 2003 GSA with lots of miles on it I found my 2002 GS for sale at the local BMW dealer. I was really impressed with my buddies older GSA and after some deliberation went ahead and bought this one. I think it will scratch my GS itch but we'll see and I'll blog my experiences here.

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The Rundown

2002 R 1150 GS
44,000 miles
Crash bars
Driving lights
Purchased November 2011 $5000

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