Dutchblog

Since installing Wunderlich bar risers when the RT was new I’ve noticed that a significant area of the original equipment rear-view mirrors on the fairing are occupied by my forearms, rear panniers and the edge of the topcase.

Hitherto a less obstructed rear mirror view has been obtained by moving my head  a little more which is not always practical or indeed safe.

I recently fitted a pair of auxiliary mirrors, originally fitted as original equipment on the 2002 BMW K1200RS.

Made of high impact plastic these mirrors fit into the vacant holes in the RT switchgear and are moulded to accommodate the shape of the switch casing perfectly. They certainly look as if they were made for the ‘bike!

Although a little expensive, they are easy to fit and provide an uninterrupted rear view slightly outboard of the OE mirrors. A downside may be that the twin mounting arm slightly obstructs the OE mirror which is thus relegated to a secondary rear view mirror.

The degree of obstruction will vary according to rider height & the fitting/omission of bar risers but for me  they are a much welcome addition to the ‘bikes safety equipment, especially as bar mounted mirrors provide useful views at oblique junctions etc, which fairing mounted ones cannot match.

The addition of these mirrors does not foul the edge of the OE screen in any postion while handlebars turned to either lock.

Images of my installation may be found here.

BMW parts required:

1 x 51.16.7.653.773 (Left Mirror)

1 x 51.16.7.653.774 (Right Mirror)

2 x 51.16.2.328.287 (Nut)

2 x 51.16.2.309.607 (Wave Washer)

Total cost from UK BMW Motorrad dealers:£107.53 inc VAT

BMW motorcycle owners are about to have a new BMW-customized navigator at their fingertips. Garmin have joined with BMW to announce the next generation BMW Motorrad Navigator, the Navigator IV. This portable GPS device is based on Garmin’s zumo 660, but it has customized features specific to the BMW such as a customized four-button mount, unique Bluetooth capabilities and preloaded BMW dealers. This is the fourth generation BMW Motorrad Navigator product, and the previous version, the Navigator III, was based on the StreetPilot 2820.

The BMW Motorrad Navigator IV is a top-of-the-line Garmin navigator designed exclusively for BMW motorcycles. Ready to go right out of the box, it has everything a rider could need. The portable, 4.3-inch navigator has a bright touchscreen display that is glove-friendly and comes preloaded with detailed street maps with millions of points of interest that include locations like restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, hotels and specific street addresses.

After the rider selects a destination, the system calculates the best route and gives turn-by-turn, voice-prompted directions to the final destination. This feature can also work with a compatible Bluetooth enabled helmet or headset. The BMW Motorrad Navigator IV’s stereo (A2DP) Bluetooth wireless technology makes it possible for riders to pair their phone to a Bluetooth enabled helmet or handset so that they can safely talk on the phone or listen to MP3’s without having to remove their gloves or helmet.

More images may be found here.

PDF manual for BMW Motorrad Navigator IV may be found here.

Having covered over 600 miles in the last week or so it’s time for the RT to have it’s 6000mile/1st annual service.

I’m also replacing both the original tyres, the Bridgestone Battlax BT-020 which have long been my touring tyres of choice. At 6128 miles the rear tyre is 100% worn, with the wear indicator bars clearly exposed and the centre slightly squared off. The front tyre is about 85% worn so they will be replaced as a pair.

The BT-020 has now been superceded by the Battlax BT-021 which promises much in terms of extra grip & durability.

It will be interesting to see if these new tyres perform to Bridgestone’s claims & my expectations so I’ll be reporting back in due course.

Our recent two-up trip to France highlighted a slight issue we don’t seem to have experienced very much before.

The incidence of the pillion sliding forwards & backwards on the rear seat under even mild deceleration & acceleration was more noticeable and resulted in her having to push herself back towards the top case more often than she used to on our previous bikes.

I researched the matter a little and discovered a very simple solution in the form of the Triboseat.

Essentially this is a form of open cell rubber matting, very similar to the type of material used to protect bike paintwork from luggage damage, except the rubber used seems to be a very grippy type of silicone.

In profile each silicone cell is flat on the underside which goes against the existing seat cover and the upper side has a much more domed & high gloss finish.

Triboseat make these covers for a wide range of bikes and they are extremely simple to fit by means of an elasticated draw cord and once installed it blends in well with the seat and looks like it belongs with the bike.

I’ve no doubt this simple accessory will do the job it’s designed for in addition to which it may offer a degree of protection to the original seat cover from boots being dragged over it as we get on & off the bike!

Images of my Triboseat installation may be found here.