These are quite a bunch of questions. I am new to the GS myself, but I'll try.
1.a. I did evaluate most other options available in the market. I was able to narrow down to the following choices:
- Givi racks are good as well. I found they make the cases sit on the bike leaving slightly lesser space for the passenger (extra welding works needed).
- Jesse Safari racks and bags. At the time of my purchase I felt this company was lacking service and response.
- H & B: I like these cases, and I am very happy with what was done to the racks. I would definitely take the H & B again, despite their miserable mounting bits and pieces. But I would reconsider the colour of the powder coating. Next time I would chose black, not silver as I did.
1.b. Judging from the photos the Happy Trail exhaust lowering kit seems pulling the muffler more out to the rear, which does not look really nice. As well it makes the muffler being more horizontal than I needed with the H & B luggage. Well I guess that the kit fits perfect with the HT bags. It should be easy for any workshop capable of welding stainless steel to lower the muffler. Then the result will match best with the cases.
1.c. Now there is lesser space, but still easily possible. I have no issue with it.
2. The TFI settings provide a positive difference for me. It makes the engine pulling better and even smoother - at the price of a gas mileage hit. The engine sound is audibly mellower. Essential for the GS? No! Nice to have? Yes! You should buy her first and then see how she runs. I guess I 'need' it more than you, because here the weather is always hot.
3. I can not say anything to the airflow screen. I do not know the half fairing you mention. Pls. provide a link or so. May be someone else can comment.
4. The H & B bars where tested as the second best by a German magazine (in a test field of six spill bars), which means they are not bad either. Note: The sample the magazine got was a miserable fit. I did prefer the SW-Motech because of their 25 mm tubing.
5. I needed this, because the new shocks do not cause the bike sinking into suspension as much as the OEM shocks do (after mounting the bike). The GS is 20 mm higher than the V-Strom. So I just guessed this would be a good point of orientation. 20 mm lowering came out as being spot on for me. I have the seat at high position.
Other comments: Wilbers was not too accurate with their 20 mm lowering, WP was. I was able to balance the difference out with the free height adjuster present on the WP. My decision in favour of the WP for the front is only from the reason that this shock does not alter the total front travel. The Wilbers front suspension cuts about 40 mm suspension travel. Mr. Wilbers told me their aim was to remove excessive bike movement when the bike is ridden very sharp. A GS shock absorber group test done by another German magazine confirmed this statement. I am not a sharp guy anymore, so I do not ask for sharp rides every day. Besides, I feel the function of both Wilbers and WP are very good, and compared the Wilbers comes even better crafted.
6. These are items I would buy again (besides some goodies meantioned already in this thread):
- Ilmberger rear hugger, expensive but excellent
- Fender Extender, whatever brand
- Wunderlich throttle position sensor protector is a must to me
- Wunderlich screen mounting with 20 mm adjustability is very good (depends on the screen used)
- Oil cap lockable, whatever brand
- Wunderlich steering stops (or Touratech steering stops, I guess the Touratech are somewhat better)
- Cee Baileys GS liner bags, they fit the H & B cases with some room left for a bottle or such, or original H & B liner bags
- MRA screen spoiler (depends on the screen used)
- PivotPegz II, I like them (but tey should come with a removable rubber pad)
Hope this helps.
