Hi all, I've come across this product online and am wondering if anyone has had any experience with it?

BMW R1200 Tool Kit: BMW R1200GS, GSA, RT, S, HP2 Tool Kit

My dad and I are taking 2 GSAs around the world next year, and we're wondering if this sort of kit is worth taking on the trip.
Obviously we would be purchasing it prior to departure and giving it going over prior to departure, and not just heading out in the blind hope that we've got the do-it-all kit with us. I just don't want to waste $250 on something if anyone knows that it's not worth it.
It sounds like a promising offering, but perhaps the over-the-top writeup leads me to have a few suspicions...
Thanks a lot,
Angus

I seem to recall reading favorable things about the quality of that kit on ADVRider, although I could be confusing it with a different kit, so suggest that you look there.

Looks compact but I cannot see nor read about any feeler gauges so I am wondering how one is supposed to adjust the valves without?

Looks like a good kit, but IMHO you better putting your own tool kit together. It's much cheaper and then split it between the two bikes, (not the actual kit, but one person, for example, could carry the tool kit, whilst the other person carries the puncture kit).

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www.AdventureVagabond.com Mongolia & Siberia 2012: Adventure Moto Madness

G'day Angus,

For a lot less than $250 you can buy all the tools that you will need and not the ones that you don't, and believe me by the time your bikes are loaded up you will be regretting every gram of weight that is superfluous.

As long as you have the hex heads and sockets to fit the ones on the bike, an oil filter tool and the ratchet to drive them (basically the tools for a service) along with the standard tool kit, the only other thing that is nice for piece of mind is a GS911 diagnostic tool.

I'm in Heathcote so if you want to come and have a and a chat then you are more than welcome just PM me.

Chris

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http://wombatstravels.blogspot.com.au/

Don't split the essentials!

Each and every bike should carry the essential tools for their bike. Consider a flat tyre with the other bike carrying the flat repair stuff. The other bike could be at the next fuel stop having lunch and wondering why the first bike has not arrived. Could be an hour before the other bike returns with the tools....

I thought the Ultimate R1200GS accessory was an AA card ???

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

It all depends whether you plan to ride independent of your ride buddy. if you're riding together it seems ludicrous to me to carry more than you need to - share the load and reduce the weight. You'll never wish your bike was heavier. If you're riding together you shouldn't get so far ahead that you can't just stop and wait or turn around and back track. Conversely, if you plan to travel independently or intended to have long periods of extended separation, by all means carry your own kit. To double up unnecessarily is a waste and sharing kit is one of the perks of travelling with a buddy.

The oil filter tool is quite cumbersome, consider using a K&N filter, which is available in most places, and has the nut attached, now you can dump the tool. There's also the strap wrench, which I've never used, and I've heard of riders just pushing a screw driver through it for leveridge (don't know how practical that would be on the gsa). You'd be surprised how much you can do with minimal tools. Try to work on your own bike as much as you can and try to make your travel kit your only kit, you'll soon figure out what you can do without.

Focus on your bikes weaknesses and what is likely to go wrong. Consider your skill level, and the bikes technology you're unlikely to be able to fix most things. There's no need carrying kit for jobs you can't do by the roadside or by yourself, or tools that you don't know how to use. You're also going to need to think abut replacement parts or workarounds, for example, consider a fuel pump bypass cable and a ring antenna... but don't carry one each. You can always canibalise parts off your buddy's bike, which is a good way of finding faults. If your staying in a first world industrial country and your going to be their for a while don't forget about membership to breakdown services: they'll get you to a garage, they might be able to fix and or replace parts (although unlikely) but they might have contacts that could help you out.

You can't, and shouldn't try to plan for every eventuality, just think about getting things that can get you out of a tight spot and keep you on the move. But don't worry too much, there's always people that will help you out, And remember when things go tits up it's when the adventure really starts. I was in Siberia when I got one of my many punctures, and completely shredded my last tube and ruined the threads on the end of my axle trying to bash the damn thing out. I didn't have a file to grind down the last few crossed threads when out of nowhere a fella stopped to help. Before I knew it he drove off with my axle in hand, to I don't know where, to file it down for me, He returned some time later with it completely sorted.

Not five minutes later a lovely young couple also stopped, gave me some nosebag and refreshments and took off with my completely knackered tube, taking it into the nearest town to get me a replacement. They returned with a fairly close match which we managed to bodge and which got me into town. We became good friends and I stayed with them for 4 days. It was the best part of my trip. Another time I put my bike on the back of a car transporter lorry, which took me into the nearest town, that was a great experience. Think about the Hubb's communities section to find locals that might be able to get you out of a pinch if needed.

Have fun

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www.AdventureVagabond.com Mongolia & Siberia 2012: Adventure Moto Madness