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Photo by Lois Pryce, schoolkids in Algeria

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Photo of Lois Pryce, UK
and schoolkids in Algeria



 
 
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Old 4 Aug 2011
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: London
Posts: 286
Trip around Europe.

Day 1. I chose the BMW G650x Country because it's an awesome and reliable little bike and after Europe I need to have something capable of anything for a more heavy duty bout of abuse. I had to make numerous upgrades to make it work because no bike is perfect so, off the top of my head here is a rough list of extras...

Hagon progressive front springs
Wilbers rear shock
HID spotlights (cheap Halfords shell with cheap Ebay HID units forced in with a hammer)
Off-road only high-powered headlight bulb
LED sidelight
Radiator guard (home made)
Accessory socket (Marine standard and proper sized)
Puig Screen (Aprillia Pegaso screen modified to fit)
Dirtbagz rear bags (lightweight, waterproof, come with nice frames which protect the rear end)
GPR Exhaust (no Cat, helps her breath a little better)
Airbox modifications. (plastic shield carefully removed and carelessly thrown into next doors garden)
K&N air filter
Auxiliary fuel tank. Gel-seat (fitted to stop the torture of the standard unit but only really dials it down a bit)
Tool-tube fitted. (it holds tools in a tube.)
Stebel Magnum air-horn (loud and annoying so I use it a lot)
LED indicators (never burn out and look better)
Garmin sat-nav. (better than Tom-Tom)
Auxiliary fuel bottles (two extra litres of spare fuel... just in case)
Gold DID X-ring chain and Steel sprockets (virtually indestructible and pretty too if you like chains)
Stainless steel bolts (everywhere. Tougher than standard and only three sizes used means I have to carry less tools)
Headlight hanger (Custom made and demonstrates a triumph of ignorance over being smart enough to know better. The new unit is 3mm alloy, far tougher than standard and is big enough to hold the twin HID ballasts. Also strong enough to support the screen.)
Sump guard (quality German item and a big improvement to the plastic baking tray that comes as standard)
Alloy side panel (I had some leftover alloy)
Oxford temperature guage. (Slightly less accurate than smelling your own armpits to determine the temperature)
Touratech rear luggage rack (had to be slightly modified to fit the seat)
Headlight guard (acrylic disc. Home-made. Rubbish)
High-level mudguard (does nothing but look good.)
Aprillia Pegaso Mirrors. (They fit the standard thread and are much tougher than the BMW ones)
Iridium spark plugs (slight improvement over standard)
New number plate hanger (the standard one just sucks)

Last edited by Jtw000; 10 Aug 2011 at 15:59.
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