Phillip Thomas
08-06-2004, 02:35 PM
A couple of months back I asked the forum about suppliers of Big Mak tankbags in the UK. I've since taken delivery via Cycle Gadgets in the US and thought it worthwhile sharing me experience, and costs, with other UK owners.
http://www.cyclegadgets.com/
I didn't get any reply to e-mails to Big Mak direct or Cycle Gadgets, I think this may be an AOL and/or Spam filter issue as our US colleagues all claim these companies to be first class communicaters. However, I got an instant (automatic) reply to my order to Cycle Gadets and updates on a shipping delay and a final despatch note. Order to delivery was about 4 weeks but there was a two week delay due to the tank bag rain-cover not being in stock.
The Big Mak Stealth bag is excellent, smaller than the UK bags I'm used to, but very practical and is now used daily to store credit cards, phone, keys etc. Fitting couldn't be simpler and one piece of Velcro enables quick removal. Recomended.
I also bought from Cycle Gadgets, the PIAA1100X driving lamps, special Martin mounting brackets and an electronic device to adapt the indicator cancel switch to operate the driving lamps, as well as cancelling the indicators.
The PIAA lamps are incredible and dwarf the output from the standard headlamp, even though that's got a high output bulb in it. However they are expensive! The brackets mount the lights perfectly, but the fitting instructions could be better, they were obviously written for the US RS's smaller fairings. The European frames have a redundant lug, which must be a major mounting point for the US fairing, all went together perfectly, after some thought.
Lights are recomended but pricey. Brackets, well you will not get a better or neater mounting any other way, but they are also pricey.
The cycle gadgets electronic device means no extra switches on the handlebars, but took about 4 hours to fit (OK, so I'm no electrician!). The PIAA's came with a neat little switch with red and green leds built in. In hind-sight I'd have been happy to stick with that.
Dougs Website was a great help.
http://www.dougmosher.com/bmwr1150rs/index.html
Importing;
The good news is you don't pay US taxes. The bad news is you have to pay, based on my total order;
International postage ($49)
Import Duty (£13.99)
VAT (£68.62)
Clearance Fee (£13.50)
So my total bill was swollen by approx 30% for postage and taxes but I enjoyed a very good service from Cycle Gadgets and first class products.
Phill
2003 R1150RS
http://www.cyclegadgets.com/
I didn't get any reply to e-mails to Big Mak direct or Cycle Gadgets, I think this may be an AOL and/or Spam filter issue as our US colleagues all claim these companies to be first class communicaters. However, I got an instant (automatic) reply to my order to Cycle Gadets and updates on a shipping delay and a final despatch note. Order to delivery was about 4 weeks but there was a two week delay due to the tank bag rain-cover not being in stock.
The Big Mak Stealth bag is excellent, smaller than the UK bags I'm used to, but very practical and is now used daily to store credit cards, phone, keys etc. Fitting couldn't be simpler and one piece of Velcro enables quick removal. Recomended.
I also bought from Cycle Gadgets, the PIAA1100X driving lamps, special Martin mounting brackets and an electronic device to adapt the indicator cancel switch to operate the driving lamps, as well as cancelling the indicators.
The PIAA lamps are incredible and dwarf the output from the standard headlamp, even though that's got a high output bulb in it. However they are expensive! The brackets mount the lights perfectly, but the fitting instructions could be better, they were obviously written for the US RS's smaller fairings. The European frames have a redundant lug, which must be a major mounting point for the US fairing, all went together perfectly, after some thought.
Lights are recomended but pricey. Brackets, well you will not get a better or neater mounting any other way, but they are also pricey.
The cycle gadgets electronic device means no extra switches on the handlebars, but took about 4 hours to fit (OK, so I'm no electrician!). The PIAA's came with a neat little switch with red and green leds built in. In hind-sight I'd have been happy to stick with that.
Dougs Website was a great help.
http://www.dougmosher.com/bmwr1150rs/index.html
Importing;
The good news is you don't pay US taxes. The bad news is you have to pay, based on my total order;
International postage ($49)
Import Duty (£13.99)
VAT (£68.62)
Clearance Fee (£13.50)
So my total bill was swollen by approx 30% for postage and taxes but I enjoyed a very good service from Cycle Gadgets and first class products.
Phill
2003 R1150RS