Links to the stuff featured in this video: 1) SeatConcepts Comfort Seat for the BMW G650GS: seatconcepts.com/pages/product-result?rq=yr_2011~mk_bmw~ng_g650gs (I'm 5'11" and use the Tall version) 2) Link to my original BMW G650GS Touring Setup video: ua-cam.com/video/EnWKHOYTyW0/v-deo.html
There is such a plethora of auxiliary lights out there. From Amazon $40 specials to $1K Denali's. Ultimately, after hours of research and consideration I went with Morimoto 2-Banger spots for my Versys. I have them tied to the hi-beams. Great for spotting the deer along the roads.
Another great video Adrian! Great tips on touring and I’m definitely going to check out the CarPlay unit you have So jealous you have ridden Italy twice! My family is from the Milan area which I am hoping to get to one day Cheers
Hello, again, Adrian. Glad you're still out there enjoying. Last go around (your first Euro-set-up vid), you were going to describe getting the bike "across the pond"? I remember you said you were flying it there. Do you have a secure parking location during your lengthy absence? Look forward to any travel vids from the next adventure. Best, John in Colorado
Hey John, I used a company called Motorcycle Express. They weren't the cheapest but were the most convenient. About $1,200 USD one way, plus a few hundred euros when we arrived in Rome. For parking I kept it with a Honda dealer the first year. For the second year I'm keeping it in the garage of an old couple who had a spare garage in their building.
@@YouMotorcycle Thanks, Adrian! I think that you and I also ended up looking at the "ViajarMOTO" vids, about the husband and wife team who rode a standard GS, and a Sertao version, around Europe? To the extent that it might be of interest -- and it might not -- they are finished with their Beemers, and off on new adventures on KLRs. Their old bikes are, I think, still for sale in Bulgaria. Very nice -- both the bikes and the owners! I considered buying from them, and so creating, without shipping, your set-up of having moto transport in Europe. Though I'm likely, now, to only adventure in North America, I will still look up Motorcycle Express. Thank you for taking the time. John in Colorado
@@johngraber5826 I reached out to them maybe like a year ago to ask about their bikes for sale. I remember thinking the price was quite high given the miles on the odometer. But that was a long time ago so maybe if they're still for sale the price has come down since then. Might be worth asking just in case
Thanks Dave! Really is a whole other world over there. I forgot to mention it in the video but I actually blew 2 switch back corners on that trip. Both times were in the mountains in scarcely populated areas so I was lucky no one else was on the road anywhere near me, but still, not a good feeling to feel like a new rider again in those moments and know that things could have been much worse.
@@YouMotorcycle I think we all have crossed that yellow line on a corner or two and yes you pray there's no one hugging it in the oncoming lanes. Cheers
It's great! Really happy with it. I wish I had maybe sent an F650GS twin over instead, as for two people with all of our gear, it's a lot for the 650 single.
I wish you rode an Africa Twin! I would love to here opinions as thought out as yours were in this video directed towards my bike😔. Yet I watched the whole thing. Nicely done👌
@@MrRodwatson thanks so much for that! I'd love a chance to try an Africa Twin. I considered one before but I really don't need the 21" spoked front wheel. Most of the riding I do is on pavement where the 19" tubeless setup is way more practical/easy for me to swap and patch things myself if necessary. The flip side is, if or when something else does break, I'll be wishing I had a Honda instead of a BMW 😂💸🚽
Great to see the updates! I have the same bike (2012 version) and was wondering if the Kappa windshield made a big difference. I don't seem to have much buffeting with the factory shield...clean air....but does this one make the air go over your helmet or will it go into your face. I am about 6' 1" tall. Also you seem to love the new seat...must be worth the cost! Will budget for that next year.... I'm at 35000 km....can't believe you are only at 10K...what year is your bike?
Love the Kappa wind screen, it takes the wind off the chest. I still get it on the head, but not having it on my chest causes way less fatigue. The seat makes all the difference too. Yep, around 12k-13k km now. It had
I just bought a 2015 G650GS last weekend and found your channel! So glad I did. Do you do your own maintenance: valve check/adjust etc? I'm a mechanic so plan on doing all of it myself, but the valve maintenance is quite involved and just wondering if you have attempted it. My bike only has 2450 miles on it, so almost new, but that first check comes up in another 3500 miles!
Hey, congrats! I haven't done valves on either of my G650GS (got one in Italy and one here now). I've done the oil changes which are also a pain in the butt on this bike compared to what they should be.
@@YouMotorcycle Agree on the oil change, and most people do it incorrectly, which is why the bike seems to leak oil, when in fact it is coming from the airbox that is gathering all the extra oil they put in! My CanAm Spyder is basically the same for oil changes so I'm used to it.
Hey! The picture from Genova? I might be there next year! Quest'anno ho lasciato la moto a Salerno, e in 2025 vado a Courmayeur (Aosta) per fare il giro del Monte Bianco e spero anche di andare a Passo Stelvio. To get to Courmayeur, I'll either travel through the center of the country or along the coast, which would take me right through Genova again, so, maybe see you next year! :)
@@YouMotorcycle Sounds interesting, we could share some km if you like, in any case, should you need some infos about scenic roads, food kr anything else let me know 👍
Links to the stuff featured in this video:
1) SeatConcepts Comfort Seat for the BMW G650GS: seatconcepts.com/pages/product-result?rq=yr_2011~mk_bmw~ng_g650gs (I'm 5'11" and use the Tall version)
2) Link to my original BMW G650GS Touring Setup video: ua-cam.com/video/EnWKHOYTyW0/v-deo.html
There is such a plethora of auxiliary lights out there. From Amazon $40 specials to $1K Denali's. Ultimately, after hours of research and consideration I went with Morimoto 2-Banger spots for my Versys. I have them tied to the hi-beams. Great for spotting the deer along the roads.
Just checked out some video on those. Good suggestion. Seems like great quality without paying tooooo much. Thanks man!
Another great video Adrian!
Great tips on touring and I’m definitely going to check out the CarPlay unit you have
So jealous you have ridden Italy twice!
My family is from the Milan area which I am hoping to get to one day
Cheers
I've got a bike with your name on it when you're ready!
Hello, again, Adrian. Glad you're still out there enjoying. Last go around (your first Euro-set-up vid), you were going to describe getting the bike "across the pond"? I remember you said you were flying it there. Do you have a secure parking location during your lengthy absence? Look forward to any travel vids from the next adventure. Best, John in Colorado
Hey John, I used a company called Motorcycle Express. They weren't the cheapest but were the most convenient. About $1,200 USD one way, plus a few hundred euros when we arrived in Rome.
For parking I kept it with a Honda dealer the first year. For the second year I'm keeping it in the garage of an old couple who had a spare garage in their building.
@@YouMotorcycle Thanks, Adrian! I think that you and I also ended up looking at the "ViajarMOTO" vids, about the husband and wife team who rode a standard GS, and a Sertao version, around Europe? To the extent that it might be of interest -- and it might not -- they are finished with their Beemers, and off on new adventures on KLRs. Their old bikes are, I think, still for sale in Bulgaria. Very nice -- both the bikes and the owners! I considered buying from them, and so creating, without shipping, your set-up of having moto transport in Europe. Though I'm likely, now, to only adventure in North America, I will still look up Motorcycle Express. Thank you for taking the time. John in Colorado
@@johngraber5826 I reached out to them maybe like a year ago to ask about their bikes for sale. I remember thinking the price was quite high given the miles on the odometer. But that was a long time ago so maybe if they're still for sale the price has come down since then. Might be worth asking just in case
Good video Adrian, I can see how you would have to change your riding style and bike settings for the more technical riding in Italy. Cheers
Thanks Dave! Really is a whole other world over there. I forgot to mention it in the video but I actually blew 2 switch back corners on that trip. Both times were in the mountains in scarcely populated areas so I was lucky no one else was on the road anywhere near me, but still, not a good feeling to feel like a new rider again in those moments and know that things could have been much worse.
@@YouMotorcycle I think we all have crossed that yellow line on a corner or two and yes you pray there's no one hugging it in the oncoming lanes. Cheers
Thank you for this information and your knowledge. How’s the bike been holding up?
It's great! Really happy with it. I wish I had maybe sent an F650GS twin over instead, as for two people with all of our gear, it's a lot for the 650 single.
I wish you rode an Africa Twin! I would love to here opinions as thought out as yours were in this video directed towards my bike😔. Yet I watched the whole thing. Nicely done👌
@@MrRodwatson thanks so much for that! I'd love a chance to try an Africa Twin. I considered one before but I really don't need the 21" spoked front wheel. Most of the riding I do is on pavement where the 19" tubeless setup is way more practical/easy for me to swap and patch things myself if necessary. The flip side is, if or when something else does break, I'll be wishing I had a Honda instead of a BMW 😂💸🚽
Great to see the updates! I have the same bike (2012 version) and was wondering if the Kappa windshield made a big difference. I don't seem to have much buffeting with the factory shield...clean air....but does this one make the air go over your helmet or will it go into your face. I am about 6' 1" tall. Also you seem to love the new seat...must be worth the cost! Will budget for that next year.... I'm at 35000 km....can't believe you are only at 10K...what year is your bike?
Love the Kappa wind screen, it takes the wind off the chest. I still get it on the head, but not having it on my chest causes way less fatigue. The seat makes all the difference too. Yep, around 12k-13k km now. It had
I just bought a 2015 G650GS last weekend and found your channel! So glad I did. Do you do your own maintenance: valve check/adjust etc? I'm a mechanic so plan on doing all of it myself, but the valve maintenance is quite involved and just wondering if you have attempted it. My bike only has 2450 miles on it, so almost new, but that first check comes up in another 3500 miles!
Hey, congrats! I haven't done valves on either of my G650GS (got one in Italy and one here now). I've done the oil changes which are also a pain in the butt on this bike compared to what they should be.
@@YouMotorcycle Agree on the oil change, and most people do it incorrectly, which is why the bike seems to leak oil, when in fact it is coming from the airbox that is gathering all the extra oil they put in! My CanAm Spyder is basically the same for oil changes so I'm used to it.
min. 1:28... you were just in front of my house, next time let me know if you'd like a local guide to some serious twisty road 👍
Hey! The picture from Genova? I might be there next year! Quest'anno ho lasciato la moto a Salerno, e in 2025 vado a Courmayeur (Aosta) per fare il giro del Monte Bianco e spero anche di andare a Passo Stelvio. To get to Courmayeur, I'll either travel through the center of the country or along the coast, which would take me right through Genova again, so, maybe see you next year! :)
@@YouMotorcycle Sounds interesting, we could share some km if you like, in any case, should you need some infos about scenic roads, food kr anything else let me know 👍