Hi, Ok, so it's about 40* out so I don't have to take the gas station burrito out of my saddlebag. Nice. I have the BMW offered "Vario" side cases. They were the only ones available at the time I purchased my bike. So, they're the ones I have. I like having them better than not. Though I would now choose top loading aluminum hard cases for touring. And a set of semi-soft bags for daily use. Mine are a durable but HEAVY plastic. I wonder why no one is using composite materials, like the stuff Burt Rhutan used to build SpaceShip One, for ADVmoto accessories? I mean, a set of saddlebags that are super-lightweight and strong? Or a bashplate? that would be cool! Carbon-fibre is cool, but really expensive and they seem to try so hard to make it cost effective that they make it too thin. I've seen it snap right off a bike during a minor drop. So, not very effective, I imagine. If they didn't go that route then it might be doable. Probably cost prohibitive as well. So..."Scaled Composites" in Mojave, Ca. let's get to work! The same thickness and strength of aluminum, half the weight, less cost. And how about simple tubular chrome-moly for the racks? Less is more, simple is best. Ok sllight subject change. Why does it seem to me that the only bikes we here in the U.S.A. want are the BIGGEST FASTEST MOST GAS SUCKING DICK MEASURING DEVICES AVAILABLE!! There really is something to be said for a lighter easier riding smaller bike. After three years with my BMW F800GS I really believe that a smaller, well designed, purpose built, bike would work better. 80 bhp is just too much for off-road. The Ducati kit a few posts back is really cool but good luck finding the custom made components should one ever fail! I'm thinking something like a Suzuki DRZ400S with 19" front and 17" rear wheels. For any tire The BMW guys run on a bike that weighs 200lbs less! They might actually last a whole trip to Alaska and back! , a 7 gallon tank (on a bike that gets 55 mpg average!), custom seat, windscreen and hard bags. That would work! Well Ok, that's enough for today.
