There’s plenty of discussion and information on the xChallenge and xCountry bikes, so this is more of a reference for myself. It’s surprisingly easy to lose track of all your mods and accessories over time.
BMW OEM rear rack
This one came with the bike. The rack is complete with pillion grab rails (small though they may be), and attaches via 4 M6 bolts to the subframe. It’s a decent bit of kit, but the actual plate could do with being 50% larger, and shaped more like the Touratech one (now discontinued). That being said it would be easy enough to buy a sheet of 4mm aluminium and craft a new top plate.
The main issue with the rack, and this will affect all racks on the xCountry is the aluminium subframe. Screwing hard stainless steel into soft aluminium never fills me with confidence. Some have been known to use helicoil inserts to provide a little more reassurance, and the totally paranoid have drilled straight through the subframe, inserted a steel sleeve and used a longer bolt and nut on the other side.
My current thinking is that I might keep the mounts but buy some 4mm aluminium sheet and have the mounted instead. I’ll look for a local workshop to do the cutting/bending as required.
Hepco & Becker crash bars
These bars are another mod that came with the bike when I bought it. I’ve never bothered with crash bars before, as i’ve always been of the opinion of “why add the extra weight?” but since these were essentially free, I see no point in removing them.
Wunderlich fender extender
In the UK it rains a lot, and I always find that standard bike fenders do a great job of protecting the rider from spray (as I found out when mine went missing in France) but fail miserably at protecting the lower engine and radiator from dirty water and general road crud. The Wunderlich extender takes care of this. It costs around £30 and weighs less than 200g.
Dirtbagz pannier frames
I’d been looking for some pannier frames for the bike for a while when I came across a picture of an xChallenge with the Dirtbagz frames on. The only other frames available are the Hepco & Becker ones, and the set that Eric at Hot Rod Welding has created.
I hate pannier frames almost as much as I hate crash bars. One thing sports bikes, and other bikes with low hung exhausts have going for them is that you can throw over a set of cheap panniers with no additional hardware. Try that on the G650x range or even the F650 and the luggage will end up a molten mess.
The Dirtbagz frames work out at about £150 shipped, and weigh less than 1.5kg. Of course that means that they aren’t as strong as some, and don’t offer a traditional mount, but I like the low profile look of them, and I’m not a crazy off-roader so I’d expect them to hold up.
Dirtbagz also sell two different types of bags for these frames but I find the capacity of both to be woefully inadequate, so I’m looking for a different solution when it comes to bags.
Ram mount and X-grip
I’ve used a mobile phone for navigation since my trusty Nokia N80 back in 2007. I currently have a Samsung Galaxy S3 with a cracked screen (should deter thieves). To mount the phone I’m using a Ram Mount 1″ ball that replaces one of the handle bar clamp screws, combined with a 2″ arm, and X-Grip. The system is sturdy, and while it vibrates like hell at idle, it’s easily visible once on the move.
To finish it off I’d like to add a locking knob for the arm, and find a slim wireless charging matt to sit in the X-Grip under my phone.
Symtec heated grips
To keep my hands nice and toasty on long rides, my girlfriend bought me a set of Symtec heated grip inserts. I actually had them when I still owned the Dakar but never fitted them as I knew I’d be selling the bike. I’ll create a new post detailing my electrical setup at a later date, but for now all you need to know is that they work. Boy do they work. In fact they work so well that I actually burned my hand on a trip back from Luton Airport.
I mounted the rocker switch on handlebars using the wing mirror clamp screws.
Of course that isn’t all. Here’s part two of my xCountry modifications.
Other resources
- Matt Snook’s (aka Snooker) website – Great resource containing Matt’s xCountry mods and experiences
- Drone’s BMW G650 XCountry Mods – Another ADVRider member with some nice mods
- ADVRider – The xCountry mega thread. If it’s not in here you don’t need to know it
Nice work here, Looking to get one myself and get on with it. If you don’t mind can I ask how much did you shell for your XC and what was your mileage. I am having a very hard time finding one and one I have found is plain 07 with 18k miles for 3k. Just wondering with all the extras you got?
Ride safe
FreeBird
Hi,
I paid around £3,000 for it with roughly 6,000 miles on the clock. I say roughly as the clocks had been changed at 4,000 miles (they’re know for failing if water gets inside). Regardless of mileage the going price seems to be around £3,000. It’s just a case of biding your time.
Great setup! I love my XCountry too and on my bucket list is a trip to South America so I’m following along with great interest! I have a lot of common mods as you, including the X Grip and a ton of RAM mounts. I’m now looking at the Mosko Reckless 80 bag and as to the rack to use I decided the same as you. I’m looking at either the DirtBagz rack or making my own very simple one that would basically just parallel the frame and go over the right side aux gas tank.
You said on ADV you beefed up your subframe. So you did not get a steel subframe but added gussets to support the original aluminum one, right?
Great trip and great reporting and pics here and on ADV! Would love to connect with you more upon your return… -matt
Hey Mat,
I don’t know about the DBZ frames. The left one works great, but I couldn’t fit the right one with my aux tank in place. In the end I left the right one off and use the aux tank bracket too keep my right bag out of the wheel. It works, but I’m travelling two up so our luggage is heavy and the shock isn’t up to scratch. I could probably use a brace from my left DBZ pannier rail, behind the fender and up to my aux tank bracket.
Yes, you’re right. I still have the aluminium subframe (strengthened) and OEM rack (the rack has bend slightly backwards). I’ve got a large touratech plate on the rack. It works well but is only secured with M3 screws. I’m carrying 70 litres up there so I use two lots of straps around my bag. One pair just from the plate to the bag, and another strong pair under the rack and over the bag (just in case).
Be sure to either helicoil the M5 rack mounting holes, or at least carry a kit with you. The threads strip easily.
Plenty of ride report updates to come, just been busy and without internet access for a while.
Hi!
I’m writing from north Italy and i’ve a question for you… where can i buy the BMW OEM rear rack?!
I need to mount a top case but i can’t find it anywhere!
Thanks a lot
Your local BMW dealer should be able to order it for you.
They call it the ‘luggage grid’
Hi, wondering if you had to remove the passenger footpegs to install the DB panniers frame? The website mentions this but I see your footpegs are still on. Thanks!
No I fitted it just fine with the foot pegs on. I’m not sure why the website recommends that. I would recommend drilling out the holes in the subframe (the top side ones not the footpeg ones) though and installing some threaded inserts though. I managed to strip the holes over time and installing inserts on the road without the right tools isn’t easy.
Hi and thank you for your website which is very nice ! I felt in love with the Dirtbagz pannier frames and want to buy it for mine but I can’t find where to buy them, could you tell me where you find it ? Do you have a link of a website I can buy it ? Thank you in advance.