Thanks, that's the plan. I will take it out on a good day/overnight ride soon. Stay tuned....

Thanks mate. There were a few ups and downs along the way...but, yes I really enjoyed the challenges of the build. The result has made it very worth while.

Yes, he really showed what they are capable of. And with the 21 inch front wheel, it's even better!

@@ShonkyProductions I built mine back in 2005. I used woodies 21 , 18 wheels . And fox extended shocks .

Thanks, I think so too.

Thanks. Check out my latest video for more of this bike.

Sounds like a great project.

Thanks mate

Thanks. Stay tuned to see how it handles some real adventure touring.

Thanks

Thanks mate. I knew from my 1150 build how capable they are and have always wanted to build something from a 1200 GSA base.

The R1200 is actually the lightest of the GS platforms in the past 20 years. The new R1300 is heavier than the R1200. Also, if you strip down the R1200, it can be made quite light--witness the BMW HP2.

@@user_28943 yes, that was one of the factors I contacted when choosing the 1200 as my base. They seem to get heavier and heavier each update.

Thanks 👍

Thanks, I really appreciate all the positive feedback.

Thanks, I must have some distance Scottish ancestry because I could not bring myself to pay that sort of money... Even if I could afford it. I thing my 2010 1200 GSA is the sweet spot for performance, reliability and simplicity. I like it's analogue gauges and simple controls. It's has all the electronic safety I need but can be easily switched off when desired.

Thanks

Thanks. I wanted to keep the build as a pleasant, therapeutic exercise without worrying about filming.

Thanks. That is definitely what I'll be testing this week. Initial testing upto 80kph (50mph) shows smooth airflow and no buffeting. Fingers crossed for the highway speed test. Stay tuned and I'll have an update soon.

Can't wait! I better go in front so you can help me lift it 😂

Thanks for your comment. Glad to hear your bike has been rock solid, as I would expect. Stay tuned as I have several big adventures planned for this bike.

Haha... Thanks. BMW tried to steal my thunder by releasing theirs a few days before mine. Perhaps they could have used another few days in the design studio!

Dam, sorry to hear about your CRF. Hopefully you'll get it back soon. I hadn't ridden a BMW 1200 before buying mine, but knew how nice the 1150 motor was. These twin cam boxer motors are sweet!

Great advice. Thanks

Yes, friends have mentioned that to me but it happened over a long period with many other things going on. This build was my therapy and I didn't need and extra stress from trying to document everything for a video.

@@ShonkyProductions Interesting point of view from a "youtuber". But I hear you, everything takes (at least) twice as long when you're filming it. Still would have been interesting for the rest of us that dote over your content.

Thanks. I say... Go for it. The actual modifications to the original BMW parts on my bike consists of cutting off the beak mounting forward of the oil cooler and welding a base onto the front subframe to build my tower off. I would recommend purchasing a second hand front subframe if you don't want to cut and weld your original one.

Thanks

Thanks for the heads up. I have new wheels but kept the 17" in the rear.

Great spotting. Yes, Central Coast... Coming back from Patonga/Pearl Beach to Umina Beach.

No, I didn't consider the Himalayan or any mid sized bike. I wanted clear delineation between roles that my bikes have... CRF for off-road exploration and harder stuff and the BMW for dirt touring.

Haha... This ones a keeper 👍

@@tonyrdr7207 thanks Tony, I'll be hitting Stockton beach soon to test it's sand legs!

The 21 inch front rolls over obstacles easier due to its larger diameter. That translates to the suspension having to do a tiny bit less work and as a result the bike feels better off road. Imagine, as an exaggerated example, a BMX bike and a Mountain bike both riding along a smooth road and riding straight into, and up the curb. which bike would be more comfortable in that situation? The 21 front doesn't tuck as easily in sand or loose dirt. It gives better feedback and gives the bike that "dirt bike" feel. It does slow down on-road handling a tiny little bit, but I have't ridden anything but bikes with a 21 inch wheel for the last 20 years, so it feels perfectly normal to me. I doubt you would notice any negative effects on-road. Made by KK E , they feature: - lightweight super strong CNC anodised alloy silver hubs made from 6056 - T6 alloy - Tough 7050 alloy black anodised rims -stainless steel spokes - Wheel size 21 x 2.15 inch front & 17x4.15 inch rear

@@ShonkyProductions fantastic mate....still tubeless on the front?

Haha... no thank you!

YES, I was originally looking at a Woody's Wheel Works set in 21/18. But being in Australia the price was prohibiting, so I looked for a more economically friendly option. I found a local supplier but they only had 21/17... So that's what I got.

@@ShonkyProductions yeah fair enough. I got my 21" front from Woody's and it was expensive. The 18" rears don't fit the liquid cooled models due to not enough swing arm clearance

@@brennoj79 thanks. I am still considering how to protect the oil cooler in an aesthetically pleasing way. I currently have the electronic suspension but am looking at getting some Tractive Extreme shocks to replace them with. I will go for the manually adjustable ones for simplicity and to save weight.

Thanks. Slap me if I ever get that bad.

Yes, good spotting. I was riding back from there in the video.

Thanks, and yes it surprised me how well it goes!

Still technically not finished yet. I want to ditch the electronic suspension (Heavy with servo motors attached) and replace it with manually adjusted Tractive Extreme shocks. Once that is done, I'll weigh it and let you know.

@@ShonkyProductions I went down the same road on a Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE. Stripped down to bare minimum with a low slung light exhaust. Only fairing is a fly screen; no crash bars. Still damn heavy so I keep a Kove 450 Rally to do anything dirt. When the Triumph is moving, it feels light and like a powerful dirt bike, but moving it about the garage is harder as I get older - 61 next month.

Not sure yet. I'll weigh it soon.

@@purana80 that was the road between Pearl Beach/ Patonga and Umina Beach.

Thanks

@@brendenvosper7772 haha... Thanks. I'm at the gym now practising my dead lifts 😂

With some money and that original spec, I'd just get the Aprilia Toureg 660. Supposedly it has very nice dirt manners and is fun everywhere.

@@suzyamerica4679 nice bikes, a friend of mine has one. I have a T7 extreme now

Thanks. I did have an Africa Twin when they were first released. I loved the motor and the sound with an Akro on it, but I could never really get comfortable with its ergonomics and top heavy feel. I'm only 5'9" and 70kg/155lbs and believe it or not, I feel more comfortable on the big GSA. I feel it carries its weight lower and is more comfortable.

The 100hp is more about big lazy power for effortless long distant cruising, not outright speed. I much prefer to ride a smaller bike fast at it's potential... and much easier to turn and stop!

Haha... That's the sound I made when I finally finished building it 👍

It's a Shinko E805

Yes, sorry about that. I had many other things going on at that time.

Fear not! The CRF300 Rally is staying. I have lots of great adventure rides coming up for that bike. The BMW is for Adventure Touring... big days with lots of dirt K's. The CRF more off road adventures.

Good to hear. Was just thinking after your experience with false advertising on big adv bikes. So the disposal of the Africa twin etc. Nice work dude!@@ShonkyProductions

No, fear not. The CRF300 Rally is staying.

I did consider that bike and tested the f900. While it is engine is smaller in size, it's not that much lighter and carries less fuel. The ergonomics weren't as comfortable for me as the 1200 and I wanted that boxer motor.

I actually like the analog gauges..... I hear some guys laugh at that but I like them better. But I'm an older guy. Go Figure!

Thanks mate, I do have crazy ideas in my head... so I guess that helps.

A mechanic is a very great skillset but you've got the "artsy" side where you can see the end result allowing you to move thru muck that bogs other folks down. It's kinda like the Dr in the "Back to the Future" movies.... he did the weird stuff to the Delorian but merging the tower on that bike was a pretty neat trick. Many could wire her, I could do that part but to marry the parts to the bike in a way that looks good and works - that's a skillset above ! See, I didn't know that about you until now... cool, kool, and kewl'er yet. peace

@@user-dv7hb2sc9m thanks, I enjoy the design element and the challenges of transferring what ideas I see in my mind to reality. Sometimes they don't pan out exactly as planned, but in this case the end result is exactly what I had in mind... If not better.

@@malsadventuresoz sorry, I removed all the coffee accessories when I was stripping the bike of excess weight.

I'm 5'10" and a scrawny 70kg/155lbs

I think I'm pulling the trigger. I'm 5'11" and it fit very nicely. Your dirt comments were exactly what I needed to hear

@@LostAnFound Do it. Just bare in mind, that I have done the 21 inch front wheel conversion for better dirt manners.

@ShonkyProductions Did it! I'm super excited 😄 She definitely needs some 60/40 dirt tires cause he replaced the 60/40 roads that came with it in 2011. For now, I'm going to get comfy with her size (33 liter tank!l), and then upgrade to some Dunlop Trailmax Raids. In order to not upset the electronic suspension, don't you have to lose some front end travel with the 21s?

@@LostAnFound Congratulations! No need to touch suspension when swapping in the 21 inch front. There's enough room for it unless you have a really big aftermarket bash plate.

@@adventure_power for touring, yes. I've got a 3 day exploration ride coming up, the CRF 300 Rally will be coming with me on that rise into the unknown.

I'll take that as a compliment.. but I think a kid with a crayon could do better than what BMW did with the 1300 GSA.

Well, times are tough for motorcycle companies with declining ridership. Hiring a kid with a crayon was a lot cheaper than some Italian designer.

I'm not sure I under your comment... Wouldn't the xt660r be a poor choice for long distance outback touring with it's fuel range?

@@ShonkyProductions i am not sure what long fuel range is in your mind 😄 but maybe you're right. I get something like 350km on a tank. Maybe theres a bigger tank for it 😄

@@FaetalEU minimum fuel range for some of my planned outback trips is 500km.

@@ShonkyProductions fair enough 😄 that'd take like a 50% bigger tank (or just the older tenere 660 😄) looking forward to see your build 😁

Haha... I'll add my contact details and consultants fees in the next video!

Congratulations!

@@titaniumquarrion9838 exactly as I stated. They are marketed as Adventure Bikes while, in reality, they are Adventure Touring bikes. And that's what I've built. It's not to go off road exploring on, it's to comfortably do long days of dirt touring, to explore the outback, cross and circumnavigate Australia. My CRF 300 Rally is my light weight adventure bike and I'll be using that in a few weeks to explore the mid-north coast. To venture into the unknown, following a dotted line that I've plotted from the comfort of home, not knowing the condition of tracks or rivers. Definitely not the place for 200kg + bikes.

@@ShonkyProductions It was a tongue in cheek dig mate - I get your rationale and intent. I disagree with aspects of it though. You don't need to be Chris Birch or Adam Reimann to negotiate4 and explore most tracks commonly used by so-called Adventure riders in Australia. You don't need to be touring either. Here's why. My take is there are 200kg -ish kg bikes capable of fairly technical Adventure off-road exploration with the bonus of being good enough for the highway legs. The limiting factor is rider SKAB - Skills, Knowledge, Attitude and Behaviors more-so than weight. Guys that are poor to average off-road riders will fail on technical terrain on "LW Adv" trail/Enduro platforms that more experienced riders will cruise through on the bigger rigs. Similarly there are LW Adv rigs that are still shitty rides for hours on the blacktop that inevitably come with multi day or longer Adv rides here in Oz. Id also dispute the claim that even average off-road riders on bikes like T7s, KTM890/Norden 901 can't handle 99% of the LEGAL tracks and trails I see the die-hard LW Adv riders on. Few Adv riders are doing tracks that would constitute the moto-sports definitions of Enduro/Rally or MX tracks. The average riders assessment of technical difficulty of tracks is usually as grossly inflated as their self assessed riding ability as you expect from the Donning-Kruger effect.

Thanks mate. I've always thought they were ugly... so I fixed that.

Made by KK E , they feature: - lightweight super strong CNC anodised alloy silver hubs made from 6056 - T6 alloy - Tough 7050 alloy black anodised rims -stainless steel spokes - Wheel size 21 x 2.15 inch front & 17x4.15 inch rear Direct bolt on fit to all early model GS1200 & GS1200R bike’s from 2004 to 2012 year models only Phone Jon in QLD, Australia on 0404433619

@@ShonkyProductions thanks mate

Thanks, I appreciate your reference to a widely underestimated and useful material.

@@ShonkyProductions I have one, lol. I know what I have got. Bomb proof but way over built.

I appreciate that my design taste will not please everyone and want to thank you for taking the time to confirm that.

Still looks way better than stock.

Thanks, I appreciate your comment. At the end of the day, I do like it and I enjoy the build process. It's not going to appeal to everyone and there will be some who disagree with altering the classic R1200 GS design.

​@@jakehill9174 my thoughts exactly.

Bike looks awesome. More vids please so I can nerd out on all the specs

@@Helmettime Thanks. I will be uploading lots of regular videos on this bike, so stay tuned.

Yes, I spend a bit developing my CRF300 Rally into an awesome light weight adventure bike and will be using that as intended. This bike and build was about making a comfortable, cross country tourer. The BMW 1200 GSA does that well in stock form, I just needed to add a few of my own touches.