New Owner

[Drscottyj]

Greetings..I just bought a 2004 R 1150 R..i was looking online for Side cases and Windshields..I am overwhelemd by all the products available..I am sure this has been asked here already so forgive me, but does anyone have suggestions on hard sidecases, top cases and windshields....Givi etc....

[PMonk]

I think the Givi trunks are really well made and hold a lot more than
the 33 litre BMW trunks. I haven't seen saddlebags but expect they are same quality as trunk.

[r11rs94]

Greetings..I just bought a 2004 R 1150 R..i was looking online for Side cases and Windshields..I am overwhelemd by all the products available..I am sure this has been asked here already so forgive me, but does anyone have suggestions on hard sidecases, top cases and windshields....Givi etc....

Welcome aboard. You don't say where your from, but if your not in a hurry check out a local club or go to the national rally. Most major vendors are at the rally, plus hundreds of bikes like yours set up everyway imaginable. good luck in your desession. :thumb

[bikerfish1100]

major rallies are great for seeing what things look like in application, and you can often talk to the owner about +/- conerns. but rally season is still aways off, and you might like those major things (sidecases, windshield, etc) for GETTING to the rally.
Take some loooong looks in the "post a picture of your oilhead" thread- that might help a lot. Find something you like, then send a pm to the poster for specifics.

[110164]

Greetings..I just bought a 2004 R 1150 R..i was looking online for Side cases and Windshields..I am overwhelemd by all the products available..I am sure this has been asked here already so forgive me, but does anyone have suggestions on hard sidecases, top cases and windshields....Givi etc....

I have an '03 R1150R, with BMW hard cases. I'm sure there are many opinions out there about luggage, and the BMW bags have their critics, but my BMW hard cases fit the bike, they come on and off the rack with ease and I've got several thousand touring miles on 'em (I have liners, too). Maybe there are better bags, but my BMW bags work just fine. As for a top box, I prefer to strap things behind me. A top box limits carrying capacities, not to mention is aesthetically Vespa-like. I remove my bikes pillion seat and replace it with that flat plastic thingy that makes the rear seat more luggage-friendly. The hard cases and that flat plastic luggage carrier (and a couple of bungee buddies drilled into my hard bags) make plenty room for gear. For touring, I have the garden variety BMW touring windshield and it is acceptable. I understand Parabellum makes better windshields, though. Here's a photo of the aforementioned garden variety windshield. http://fridgefoto.biz/c_0807_2003_BMW_R1150R/content/_NRM5584_1_large.html
Welcome to the oilheads forum and all the best to you and your new Roadster.

[Belquar]

I would recommend buying used. Loads of stuff out there. I really liked my System cases on my R.

The bags on my CLC were integrated so there was no decision.

And now on my GS I have micatech luggage that is nice.

I have been happy with all three applications for different reasons.

Just depends on what you are going to be doing. Do you need them to go on and off quickly. Do you need maximum space or are you looking to have some luggage that looks ok too.

Lots of choices. Your right. Good luck.

[Belquar]

And welcome aboard.

[boxerr]

Welcome as well.:thumb
I had an R1150R (2001) with BMW panniers, and Givi top box. All OK.
R1100/1150GS panniers are the same, so dont walk past them either.
Check out www.r1150r.net A wealth of info over there as well as here.

[ultracyclist]

I suggest you look into Givi top boxes. I have the BMW system cases and they both leak
Also the locking mechanisms are poorly designed and flimsy IMHO.

Depending upon what you are looking for check out Jesse, vario, Micatech, and so forth. Generally speaking one trades "looks" for "function" in the side case arena.

BMW makes a great touring windshield for the R1150R. I investigated other screens from Aeroflow, Parabelllum, and so forth, and the BMW screen is perfect ( for me anyway, I am 5'-11", 30 inch inseam. The price was right, too. I really wanted the Euro-Cut screen from Parabellum, but it was not available on R1150R.

Which leads me to my next point: I have another BMW touring Screen for an R1150R. It does have a scratch in the lower right corner, but the screen is solid.
If you are interested in my BMW touring screen, PM me with your email address and phone number and maybe we could work something out.

May I also suggest that you contact a local club and see it you could visit with some R1150R owners. Ask a person nicely about their bike, and he/she will talk for hours!

[ltownsend]

I had Jesse bags and Aeroflow windscreen on my R bike for a number of years. I was never sorry about either. I missed the Jesse bags mightily when I bought an RT.

LT

[Bfish]

i have a givi topbox that i switch between my RT and Weestrom. well built, holds plenty and looks good on both motorcycles.

welcome to the fold:thumb

[Drdv654]

I too have just got into a bmw R1150RT and if anyone can give me any information on what to take care of a bit more than the service manual or heads up for certain glitches, Please feel free to let me know. I am 58 and have been riding for 37 years and just recently fell in love with this 2003 BMW R1150RT
Stereo is a bit pricey but works well and the BMW Nav III system is very nice as well . Any comments are welcome Dr Dave

[jeremell]

...to R ownership. The answer to bags and windshield also depends on what you use the bike for, sporty vs. touring, or both. I do both. I can recommend the Cortech sport saddle bags and large tailbag. They are easy on/off and very tough. I tour one up and I can imagine that a passenger would be uncomfortable with the "throw over" soft bags. I had a small Givi windscreen which worked pretty good and looked good. However, I am upgrading to the BMW Speedster windshield. It looks good but because I'm in WI I won't able to report on it "in use" until April. Check out this forum/club - http://www.r1150r.net/

[bikerfish1100]

I too have just got into a bmw R1150RT and if anyone can give me any information on what to take care of a bit more than the service manual or heads up for certain glitches, Please feel free to let me know. I am 58 and have been riding for 37 years and just recently fell in love with this 2003 BMW R1150RT
Stereo is a bit pricey but works well and the BMW Nav III system is very nice as well . Any comments are welcome Dr Dave

you might want to post your questions as a new thread, it would be more likely to generate the answers you want- as your question really has little to do with this existing one. (or, just DIY, and use the search function)

[jsoque]

Hey Dr Scotty

How'd you make out?

I bought the same in June 2008, and my 2004 R1150R only had 3400 miles on her.

Well, 2 K miles later and I feel more experienced.

BMW Hard cases in the garage now, about to be fitted.
If you want to see the R1150R
touring windsheild in action, go to the link for Colors in the Catskills; page 26.
It is 21 inches in height, from bottom lip to top lip and is quite formidable at
speeds in excess of 70 mph.... where permissable, of course.

http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=28369&page=25&highlight=catskills

I've strapped on every imaginable device on the back seat, and flat luggage
rack this past summer. Next, a Givi 52 Liter topcase, for my Coach briefcase, and Laptop computer case for those office commutes is in the making.

Let us know how you made out!

Javits Center Jan 18th-20th ought to give you plenty of ideas!

I wanna be like Tessler!

Ride Safe Dr Scotty,
See you in New York.