The Best BMW Motorcycle Accessories - Crash Protection And side Cases

by Andy Ambrose Business Owner

BMW motorcycles - especially the R 1200 GS - are just as thrilling to ride on the pavement as out in the wild. No wonder the GS is so popular - and has spawned a full range of accessories. Here are just a few examples of the best ones available to you, from the top brands.

Because none of hate to damage our motorcycles, we’ll start with crash protection.

BMW motorcycle crash protection

You can’t ride for long before you find yourself and your motorcycle in a scrape or a fall. The goal of crash protection is to add accessories that hit the ground (or some other unmovable object) before your motorcycle does. You’ll want to protect handlebar ends, control levers, the exhaust system, the oil pan, and the cylinder heads, so that if you take a fall, you can still ride afterwards. That’s what you’re shooting for.

One of the best ways to protect the undercarriage and vulnerable lower section of the R 1200 GS is with a SW-MOTECH Aluminum Engine Guard. It’s rugged - made out of 4mm thick aluminum plate welded into a single structural piece. It’s designed so that you can drain and change the oil without having to remove the plate. Side vents keep the air moving effectively to reduce heat buildup. You can mount it without drilling, cutting or welding; you just bolt it on.

To keep your next encounter with a boulder or freeway divider to a minimum, you’ll want to install SW-MOTECH Lower Crash Bars. These bars are made from sturdy steel tubing that is .10-in. thick and have a sandblasted steel construction that protects against corrosion even when scratched. These crash bars also mount to the existing anchor points on your motorcycle’s frame, and come complete with mounting hardware and instructions.

And when you’re riding in the middle of nowhere, far from help, you’ll be glad you protected your radiator with SW-MOTECH Upper Crash Bars. Their stainless steel finish is also sandblasted and powder coated, with a gloss clearcoat. (You’ll need to install the lower SW-MOTECH crash bars first.)

You won’t get far if your hands - or your handlebars - are banged up. The best way to protect your BMW’s stock plastic hand guards are with the Barkbusters VPS Lever & Wind Protection Set. These full-wrap handguards blend tough obstacle protection with moderate weather coverage. A hardened aluminum backbone protects both the bike’s controls and your hands from contact with terrain. Easily replaceable hand guards keep branches and sand from tearing up your gloves.

Panniers and Hard Luggage for your BMW motorcycle

At the end of a long ride, no matter how muddy or wet, you will want to be able to open your saddlebags to find everything dry - including food, clothing, electronics, and tools. And you’ll need something beyond the stock luggage to hold it all. Check out the SW-MOTECH TraX ADVENTURE ALU-BOX side cases for the BMW R 1200 GS, which come in 37-liter and 45-liter sizes. For the current liquid-cooled BMW R 1200 GS, you’ll want to use one 45-liter bag on the left and one 37-liter bag on the right, the pipe side.

These panniers are factory tested for water tightness, have double-walled construction for stiffness and durability, plastic edge caps for protection, and convenient carrying handles. The fully lockable lids can be completely removed. All of these functions came from years of customer feedback and testing.

You can mount the ADVENTURE bags using the SW-MOTECH Quick-Lock EVO Sidecarrier set, which you can install or remove in less than 20 minutes.

If you are going on a super long trip, add the SW-MOTECH TraX ADVENTURE 38-liter top case, mounted with the SW-MOTECH Alu-Rack Toprack. The top case has the added advantage of providing a comfortable backrest for a passenger. All combined, with the side cases and top case, you’ll have a total of 120 liters of stay-dry storage.

There are additional ADVENTURE accessories, including inner lid bags, lid bungee nets, and a lightweight camping table that clips to the lid.

For more about what you have to choose from, check out our article on the pros and cons of hard and soft luggage for your R 1200 GS.