It was 2013 when I decided to take a test ride on a BMW R1200GS LC. At the time I was still riding a Fazer FZ6 and thought to myself, let's give it a go - I won't switch anyway, and then everything turned out differently. . .
The test ride, or rather the handling, was worlds better than my motorcycle; apart from the height (I am only 175), the bike was perfect.
So, barely home, I opened the configurator and had a look at what was on offer. I noticed the not so large price difference to the Adventure and the comparably much better equipment. So I visited all the dealers from Vienna to Wiener Neustadt and had them make me corresponding offers. This was the first model year of the Adventure that had the factory lowering option.
A few months later it was there, collected in Wiener Neustadt with Robert, thanks for the lift. Everything that was available at the time was on board - including the large Civi top case.
So we got straight on to the first adaptations.
The keys of the ADV should be on the Civi Trekker 58l Topcase fit, so I took the lock apart, adjusted the size with a file, re-inserted the pins or partly rebuilt them, and then there was only one key for everything.
The beautiful indicators in the BMW emblem, back then still a group order from forums - today some shops offer them. Google helps you, whether for the 1200 or the 1250, everything is possible.
Then the years went by with a number of nice rides, many customer visits, and at the end of 2023 I found an opportunity to tackle the next conversions. The BMW navigation unit, which BMW credited back to me because Bluetooth worked very badly, was really a problem when making phone calls. Hardly a conversation could be finished. In 2023 there was a solution for that.
Retrofitting the TFT display (Installing the lean angle sensor, TFT conversion, engine control unit, fuel pump, sensors, lots of coding, software updates, etc.)
Retrofitting the cornering light and I have to say, simply brilliant at night.
Retrofitting SOS emergency call
Retrofitting seat heating (with BMW control unit)
New projects are not currently planned, only the documentation of the individual steps here in the blog.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Documented are, among others, the retrofit of the TFT display including lean angle sensor, the retrofit of the adaptive cornering light, the retrofit of the SOS emergency call and the retrofit of the seat heating with the original BMW control unit.
The BMW R 1200 GS Compared with the base model, the Adventure has a considerably more extensive standard equipment as well as a larger fuel tank and range, with only a small price difference to the base model.
No, no new projects are currently planned. The blog serves primarily to document the retrofit steps already carried out.