Remus y-pipe and hard bags: Clearance issue

[slowtorque]

Well, I got the new Remus y-pipe on easily enough but cannot space the can mount far enough in toward the wheel so that I can mount the left bmw bag. Did I miss something and the y-pipe makes saddlebag use impossible? I tried it with the stock exhaust can and still had to add a spacer between the frame mount and can mount to make it work. May still be too close to the bag to withstand the heat. Anybody have the Remus y-pipe and either stock exhaust can or Remus can and using set-up with bags. Please advise. Many thanks!

[grwrockster]

Slowtorque

I've got the same set-up (Remus Y-Piece and Can) and have no problems fitting the side bags. My exhaust was s/hand and previously fitted to an R1150GS, but I was told beforehand that the fit was the same and it went straight on (which it did). As the exh can fits in behind the frame section and close to the wheel, it theory it can't stick out too much!

The Y-piece is pretty fixed due to the mounting points down by the mainstand mounts. The Remus Exh Can mount bracket has 2 Allen bolts that can be slackened to help line the main mount up with the frame lug on the inside face of the passenger footrest arm, so that can give you a bit of leeway.... but not enough to make the thing stick outwards and get in the way. So I'm a bit confused as to what is wrong!

Just in case..... you do have the correct bags? The R1150R / Rockster and R1150GS all use a narrower LH case to allow for the upswept silencer. The bags for the R1150RT and R1100S are larger (deeper) and won't fit our bikes unless you modify (i.e. lower the silencer and fit a new lower front case mounting).

G.

[grwrockster]

Oh - I should point out though that my bags are really quite close to the back of the LH side bag.... but I've not had any issues at all with heat transfer and any damage - it's all been fine. I've had the bags on for 11 days solid on a 3200 mile European Tour with no probs - I don't even have the reflective heat foil you can fit on the back of my case either.

Hope this helps. G.

[slowtorque]

Thanks so much for the reply. Yes, I do have the correct bags with the lefthand side exhaust cut-out, ordered from my local BMW dealer. When I first got the Remus can and still had the cat, I had to use a 5/16" spacer between the frame mount tab and can mount so that the exhaust would have a minimum of 1/2" clearance from the bag (it contacted the bag without the spacer). I have not fiddled with the adj mounting bracket on the can (and it appears the allen bolt heads may be a bit buggered by previous owner). Anyway, last night when I installed the y-pipe which is indeed fairly fixed by virtue of the mounting points, the bag could not be fitted even with my 5/16" spacer. In fact, I do not have enough play to make this work. I then tried the stock can with the y-pipe; not as bad, but not good. A 1/4" spacer just barely allows the bag to be fitted but still contacts the bag. Something is just not right. I plan to stop by the dealer today at lunch and see if they have any ideas. I could go with a low mount can but that is several hundred more dollars. Thanks so much.

[slowtorque]

Could be out of luck here. Dealer says (he's not sure) that maybe the y-pipe is not designed for use with bags and is for a track application only. Also said it is possible I may need the full system rather than the y-pipe and the slip-on can. I have attached a pic of the rather fixed mounting to the centerstand bracket (there is some play but not much) and how the fit is with my stock can using 3 washers to space the can away from the bag (it still touches the bag so it WILL MELT). Time to call the distributor and see what they know if anything. Not going to waste my time driving one hour to dealer. If I cannot make it work, I am sure they can't.

[slowtorque]

Best I can do right now is put the stock can back on. I am using a 5/16" spacer and the can now just clears the inside of the left bag by about 1/16" inch. I do have reflective foil tape so the proximity should not be an issue. I can't use the Remus can, at all. I like the sound better with the stock can but I wanted to use the Remus. Waiting on California time so I can call distributor. Not optimistic.

[goomicoo]

It's a long shot but could your rear sub frame be bent?
The tab for the muffler should be perpendicular to the ground.
Good Luck

[jas]

I had the carbon remus evolution mounted on my rockster and it had the same issue. I purchased a longer mounting bolt and made a spacer (washers would work too) to fit between the mounting brackets on the can and bike frame. The carbon can's mounting bracket is adjustable as well, with the mounting slots running front and back for adjustment (you should be able to do this with the stock can too.. I took a dremel tool and slotted out the holes side to side.

When mounted I kept everything loose and alternated the tightening between where the y-pipe mounts to the bike, the mount to the can, mount to the bike and collar for the can/y-pipe.

After I finally got it sorted out, I lowered the can and added a full size left bag. I should have done this mod the day I bought the bike.

The pictures are probably no t worth posting:











How hot does the stock can get with the y-pipe? It would seem that the stocker is restrictive and would hold the heat compared to the through-type design of the the remus muffler.

[goomicoo]

How hot does the stock can get with the y-pipe? It would seem that the stocker is restrictive and would hold the heat compared to the through-type design of the the remus muffler.

It's that way by design. It's a CAT. That's why it's so heavy.

[slowtorque]

No, sub frame appears OK. Bike has never even thought about being dropped.

What would I need to purchase to lower the exhaust?

[slowtorque]

The stock can does get very hot. The exhaust gases do heat the bag up to 150-160 degrees, perhaps higher on a hot day, high miles. I took the bags off and remounted the Remus. It sticks so far out to the side that it nearly contacts the footpeg mount, and I had to use a washer to space it in. I really think they changed the fabrication jig on this. It is just too far off to be tweaked in with spacers and mount adjustment. With everything loose (all clamps) there is only so much play. To get the bag to clear, I would really have to push it into the extreme inboard position, and then when I gradually tightened things back up, there would be quite a bit of stress applied to the system as it does not naturally want to "sit" this way.

[slowtorque]

SOME PICS:

[hank]

I had the same problem with a y piece and the BMW can. Remove the bolts from the y piece mounting bracket. Loosen all three clamps on the y piece. Re align y piece and and can till it is out of the way of the panniers then tighten clamps again. Replace bolts in mounting bracket, you may have to apply some leverage to get the holes in the bracket to line up. Some of us don't bother to put the bracket bolts back in place.

[Biff's R]

What saddlebag rails do you have? The GS rails have a spacer that gives it more clearance between the baf and the can. The 1150R rails don't need it and have handles.

[slowtorque]

I believe I have the usual dealer-installed R1150R rails.

Not using the y-pipe bracket mounting holes? I had not considered that, and honestly don't like the idea that I'd have to do that to get it to work after paying $450 for this. REMUS distributor swears they have never had a problem with fitment. Not being able to use the, to me foundational, bolts for the y-pipe which secure it to a robust part of the bike is a problem with fitment. I do appreciate your information though and find it rather surprising. I'd have certainly commented back to REMUS if I had to do that. No way will mine line up even if I could manage to coax enough movement out of it to get the bag on, which I doubt.

[grwrockster]

Slowtorque...

Your pics show an exhaust bracket that is not anything like the one on my Remus can. Also - it isn't 'square' with the through bolt. In that pic - the only thing I can think of is that the bracket (held on by 4 bolts into the silencer) has been fitted the wrong way round maybe?. If it was reversed (turned through 180 degrees) and bolted back onto the silencer, and then the silencer was twisted on the connecting pipe to line things up - would it then fit properly?

In the close-up pic it certainly isn't fitted properly. (BTW - it's so long since I looked a standard can that I can't recall its mounting arrangement. But that image isn't of a Remus bracket, so I assume it is the stock one).

As for the race-only suggestion for the Y-Piece by your dealer..... well, I have to say that just sounds like a wild shot in the dark from someone who actually has no idea at all! I've heard of full race systems which mean you can't fit the mainstand, but a Y-piece that uses all the stock mounting points - I just can't see that being the case. I'm not sure you can relay on the info you're getting from this source - I'd get a 2nd opinion if it were me.

Best suggestion I can come up with....... try to find someone else locally with an R1150R or a Rockster that you can have a good look at to compare your set-up with back-to-back. At least then you can eliminate any non-stock or incorrectly mounted fittings and check clearances. I really think the parts you have should all fit without the hassles you're having.

Good luck. G.

[slowtorque]

I DID notice that the Laser version of the y-pipe does not use a mounting bracket at the centerstand as does the REMUS.

http://www.laser-exhausts.com/wp-conten ... 1150GS.pdf


Using this mounting point does really lock you into a narrow range of potential positions, none of which work for me.

[slowtorque]

Back on the lift and trying it again after removing y-pipe mounting bolts entirely.

[slowtorque]

Did not take long to determine there is no way that's gonna work. Crap! Pipe sounds great and the bike runs stronger, for sure. I know it does as I have been riding my peppier R12R lately and my much peppier VFR800, and this thing really pulls nicely in the mid-range now.

[slowtorque]

GRWROCKSTER: You may be right. The can is second hand. I'll try to sort out if something is amiss with this. Thanks