Keeping it Safe

Keeping it Safe. The reassurance, from Bavarian Motorcycle Workshop, that the BMW is a safe bike is a relief. I was concerned about the brakes but now I understand much more about the system and why it was removed. I really like the idea of ABS brakes and I am all for a good system that would improve biking safety but the servo assisted system has its issues and since it has been professionally removed I am comfortable with my bike as it is. Not knowing that the system was removed was dangerous but now that I know my driving and braking will change to allow for normal braking.

Safety does not stop with brakes but continues throughout every system, one of the biggest issues and the most dangerous things that I found on the bike were the driving lights. Sure the Light Force lights are extremely bright and improve your view of the road but they were mounted incorrectly. The lights would hit the front fender blocking the front wheel when steering. When off the center stand there was little to know clearance, when braking and steering the lights would hit the fender and block your steering. These lights mounted like this would give you a very clear view of what you were going to hit because you could not steer.

The stock lights are bright and work well for normal driving in my opinion. I do not plan on riding much at night, I would rather be kicking back by a campfire than driving down an unfamiliar road, when I do ride at night I slow down. Bright driving lights do help you see better but they also allow other drivers to see you. Daytime driving lights are just as important from a visibility factor as seeing better at night. I am not planning on riding Dakar but I do like to be seen when approaching an intersection. I removed the Light Force lights and replaced them with a set of LEDs.

In reading about me it is obvious that I have a limited budget, I am not cheap but extremely frugal. I can afford a brand new BMW GS, several in fact, but I cannot justify buying one. The 2004 is the bike I wanted so that is the bike I bought laying out $4800 cash. I saved around twenty grand but even if the money were not an issue I would not have purchased a new bike. I do like the 2012 to 2014 GSs but there is something classic about the 2004. The lights I put on the bike cost $12.95, I could have purchased a pair for $420.00 but the pair I bought serve my needs brilliantly. They are very small, mount in the existing holes and offer fantastic visibility and safety.

So out with the large driving halogens and in with the little LEDs, they are not as bright but offer great visibility and are not a huge strain on the alternator. I have saved money and achieved my goals. I did the same with the bike, the luggage, my boots, gloves, camping gear and even the laptop I chose. If I had to say that there was one supplier for my trip it would have to be EBay. Not cheap but frugal, good quality smart choices that will allow me to fulfill my dream upon retirement.