This is coming up to my first year with the bike and I've gone on tons of weekend trips with it. The upright positioning is very comfortable, and the fairing gives you a lot of wind protection, but here are a couple of mods I've done to make it into a true tourer:

Sidebags and tankbag are essential for storing stuff. Here, I have matching Cargo Endurance luggage, they have rainbags that fit over them as well. They strap on and off really easily so you can carry them to the campsite/motel:



Another add-on that's essential for exploring is a GPS:



Other things we pack are a couple of Motorola FRS radios with a throat-microphone underneath our helmets for communication. Also we've hooked up electric vests and gloves to the battery for those cold runs in the spring and fall.

One essential thing I need for the next season is some kind of gel seat. The padding is so thin on the F! I've seen a company advertise something call Butt Buffers, which is a gel pad with a non-slip backing you can place right on the seat. I've done 300-400 mile days on the F and it starts to get uncomfortable at the 200 mile mark...

Also want to pick up a good helmet speaker so I can hook up my iPod to it. When you're on the road all day, it's nice to listen to some tunes! BMW and another company just came out with a Bluetooth helmet, which is a neat idea - audio without wires!

Anyone have any other touring ideas for the GS500?

Kerry the moderator has some experience with touring. Check out his latest trip here

When I get my GS up and running, it is on my list of things to work toward.

Hi Lee - are you on gtamotorcycle.com, too?

Quote from: Lee from TorontoAnyone have any other touring ideas for the GS500?

You already mentioned hooking up electric vests, etc. to the battery.  

For my week-long trips I rigged up an Accessory Power Outlet so that I could plug in chargers for my cell phone and AA / AAA batteries.  (Until recently I have been careful to only buy flashlights / camp lights / headlamps / cameras that run on rechargeable NiMH AA or AAA batteries.)

Excellent rig, Lee.  I haven't been as zealous with my bike, but I think you've got most of the basics covered.  Wind, carrying ability and electronic do-dads to navigate with.  As Kerry suggests, your less than $30 away from having a power connection.  Go for it...

You guys just reminded me, I had been meaning to get this for a while now, and I just got off the phone with the ordering department to purchase a Marsee eTankBag kit:



More info here: Marsee eTankBag

Basically, their tankbag has a quick disconnect cable that wires directly to your battery. Inside the tankbag, you can connect all manner of devices to the supplied cigarette lighter socket, SAE connector or BMW-style Powerlet outlets.

Since I already have a tankbag, I opted to get the Powermate kit, which converts your existing tankbag into an eTankBag just by punching a hole in the top of your bag and attaching the wiring separately. Can't wait to hook this thing up!

Cool!

QUESTION: Does the PowerMate kit have a quick-disconnect feature?

I was just thinking about the refueling scenario.  I used to remove my magnetic tankbag entirely and stick it to the side of the gas pump (if it was steel, which wasn't always the case).  One day I had my Accessory outlet strung up to my tank b
ag because I was charging something.  Rather than go through the hassle of taking everything apart, I came up with the more compact method that I now use.  I usually fold the left flap up under the bag, so as not to risk it melting/burning on a hot engine.



Anyway, I would be surprised if the kit doesn't do a quick-disconnect, but I wanted to make sure....

EDIT: Duh.  Maybe if I had just followed the link you provided....  

heres a link to one of our UK members "Steve-C" trips to france , its a good read , 2500 miles in 15 days  

http://www.steve-c.com/Web%20Pages/Trips/France%202004/index.htm




Lev

Quote from: KerryFor my week-long trips I rigged up an Accessory Power Outlet so that I could plug in chargers for my cell phone and AA / AAA batteries.

With my AA battery chargers, if you unplug them before the battery is done, and then plug them in again, then they seem (to me) to overcharge the batteries... almost as if they use a simple timer circuit, rather than shutting off when the batteries are truly charged.

I could hook a cheap 12v AA charger to the battery circuit, so it stays on even if I turn the ignition off... but will there be enough voltage to keep it from resetting when I press the starter again?

Quote from: Rema1000will there be enough voltage to keep it from resetting when I press the starter again?

I would think so, but  :dunno:  BTW, I keep forgetting to watch how far the voltage level drops at startup time on the 5-function digital gadget.  What has your experience been?

That multifuntion dash guage seems to have more "damping" to its voltage readout than either of my multimeters.  It seems to take 1-3 seconds after a sudden change before it displays the new voltage, so it's probably not the right meter for the job.

The needs of the charger are probably device-specific.  If you need really stable power, you could use a Car Power Sequencer/Dropout Regulator (also called an ITPS).  



I think it will cover up to 5 seconds of low-voltage (5v or higher). It's what that guy used who put a FreeBSD PC under his motorcycle seat.