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LUGGAGE

Siskiyou Panniers by Giant Loop

This Giant Loop Siskiyou soft luggage solution has a few major benefits over its hard box counterparts, namely weight and durability, and it passed the waterproof test on our first day in the field. The Siskiyou package comes with a pair of water-resistant sealable liners, helping keep out even more rain.

Adjustable compartments and easy routing for the remote AC power cord adaptor make Giant Loop’s new Fandango Tank Bag really handy to use with all the modern electronics we tend to carry around these days. The quick-release zipper for getting the bag on and off the bike not only helps in removal, but in filling up.

The new zipper system is different from the previous “U-shaped” zipper which we enjoyed during fill-ups, but it worked just as well. When all of the above is mated to the Rogue Dry Bag, we have plenty of space to take bare essentials into the desert for some testing.

ELECTRONICS

NiteRider 3600 Pro Lighting System

After leading the market for bicycle lighting for over two decades, NiteRider has launched NR Off-Road and comes to market with an amazing  3600 Lumens LED light packed into a convertible twin unit, with wiring directly to the bike’s power source.

The NiteRider solution on the URM uses the OEM mounts for the auxiliary LED lights. The pair of Pro 3600s emits more light than anything its size and weight we’ve tested.

SPOT Trace

We tested SPOT’s new Trace theft-alert tracking device and it works great. We hid the unit out of plain sight and sticky-taped it in front of the head tube, where it maintains an unobstructed view to the sky.

When the bike moves, text or email is sent to the owner’s inbox. SPOT’s website allows owners to track stolen items’ locations every 5, 10, 30 or 60 minutes. Consider the benefits of this gadget if the bike goes missing.

The Arrival, Destination and End

What does “ultimate” really mean these days? It seems quite diluted from overuse by Madison Avenue-like exaggerated claims. Yet in BMW’s case, they gave us an ideal foundation upon which to build our “ultimate” machine.

Is this THE Ultimate Riding Machine? The reviews have been great for BMW’s fully equipped dealer units, and we agree this is a great jumping-off point for a bike that can be fitted to near-perfection with near bullet-proof durability.

When evenly weighed on range, speed, maneuverability, agility and utility, we’ll take this bike into the bush before any other. That makes this F8GSA our “Ultimate Riding Machine,” at least for the moment.

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