New Year Off To Rocky Start

KMACR · Post by **KMACR** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 9:54 pm

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr. My right side system case popped loose today on the interstate-----somewhere. At least it had my heated gloves inside too. Rats!

My own fault though. I didn't do my normal check before I took off today for a quick maintenance visit to the BMW dealership. Was going to have them look at the chafed wiring harness sheath I discovered recently near the front of the tank and fork tree before I tape it up good and tight. It appears I caught it before any wires were damaged inside. Just so they would know about it if something develops later.

Anyway, just goes to show you that you need to thoroughly check the bike EVERY time you ride. Just like your gear. The one time you let up is typically when it gets you. I feel like a poster child for Murphy's Law. I figure I must not have properly latched it when I removed some gear from the case a couple of nights prior. I never heard a thing when it evidently popped off. It must have certainly careened and clattered down the shoulder for awhile before gliding off into the wilderness. Some hitherto luggageless wandering possum is baring a toothy grin at this very moment...I just know it.

I devoted a few hours looking for it before concluding it was...um..what's the term?...oh yeah, TOAST. I didn't notice it until I was almost to the dealership but I now remember a strange surge or feeling like the clutch slipped for a second at one point along the way. We had some good Oklahoma winds blowing at the time and I chalked it up to that. Might just have been the case telling me "So long"....

I'm checking into two new replacements...don't want to replace just one that likely won't match in finish-wear. But also open to pre-owned. Anyone know of someone with decent system cases for sale? Grrrrrrrrr...

Sunbeemer · Post by **Sunbeemer** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:41 pm

KMACR: Sorry for your loss- On the IBMWR marketplace there's a set of system cases for an '04 1150GS in Dallas, TX (posted 12/29) for $350 that sound pretty good... You can check it out at http://www.ibmwr.org/market/adlist.php?cat=oas

Post by **scottybooj** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:09 am

search for a post by cyclerob who put a cotter-pin through his mount to secure the bag against what happened to you.

KMACR · Post by **KMACR** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:16 am

Hi guys,

Thanks so far on the tips. I was pretty frustrated---but at myself mostly. However, I definitely will follow scottybooj's rec to do the pin-thru mod that cyclerob posted.

Sunbeemer I'll watch the IBMWR marketplace like a hawk. Not sure the GS bags will match up with the R...are they the same that year as the ones on the web photo I posted here? I'll contact the seller today and see. But while there I found another set posted that sound like they could be likely candidates. Checking those out as well.

I'm also having new ones priced by my dealer in Oklahoma City. They've been a great help in all my bike-related endeavors...but I don't know if they can get me a price I'm willing to part with. The bags run $719 list....wow! Pre-owned is looking pretty good right now. I've got a long trip coming up in June and have been scraping together funds for that so, of course, I manage to trip myself up with an avoidable extra expenditure before the departure.

This experience is just another item to list in my "Don't Do THAT Again" book....

Post by **NoRRmad** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:21 am

The GS bags dont have the cutout for the muffler on the left side. Many people lower the muffler -- or remove it, so they can have the extra room in the left bag.

R4R&R · Post by **R4R&R** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:33 am

NoRRmad wrote:The GS bags dont have the cutout for the muffler on the left side. Many people lower the muffler -- or remove it, so they can have the extra room in the left bag.

I think you are referring to the RT bags. Normally the GS and roadster share the same bags, with the high muffler. The RS and RT had the lower muffler and used the full sized left case (which is a worthwhile option for our bikes; either lower the pipe or remove it all together).

I too lost a case (the right one, like you, and I had my Gerbings heated jacket liner in it too) a few years ago and luckily I recovered the remains. The lid was shot but I re-used the base. I picked up a used lid from eBay for about $20 shipped and it seemed to blend in pretty good with my other case. Get some Mother's Back to Black and wax both cases, it will be hard to tell them apart.

KMACR · Post by **KMACR** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:56 am

Good info....learning everything I wanted to know about BMW system cases. Once again, the beauty of this forum.

John, what is it with the right side case syndrome? I figured if I was able to find the lost bag it would be pretty trashed but I hoped that like in your case the base might be salvageable. But I came up empty-handed after a two-hour search so it looks like either new cases, or a pre-owned set will likely be the end result. Unless someone somewhere has a right side case hanging around perhaps after losing the left?

I think you've convinced me that a pre-owned single case could be brought back to life, finish-wise, to match pretty well. Or I could also replace both lids with new ones if I can find the right side base somewhere. Might still be ahead of replacing the whole set. Good to options.

What about locks? Is it a big deal to have a lock replaced or re-keyed to match my bike key on a pre-owned case?

Post by **NoRRmad** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:56 am

Post by **baltm604** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 12:34 pm

Just an FYI....

The wiring harness on my bike showed no damage at all. The two broken wires (right turn signal button and the cancel button) were nowhere near the zip tie points by the headlight or other moving points in the wiring harness.

They were sheared perfectly at a point about 5 inches from the plugs under the tank. It was not the type of damage you would expect from to much movement or friction on the harness.

It appears that the over-tightened zip tie combined with the vibration of the bike caused the clean cut but did not damaged the outside covering.

Bill

Post by **challey** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 12:52 pm

KMACR --
I can sympathsize - but mine was the left-hand case that came loose - forgot to latch it down after stopping.

It was a big surprise to me when I hit a bump that afternoon, heard a "thump" from the rear of the bike and saw a familiar black shape in the rear-view mirror bouncing down the highway behind me. I had to go to the next exit (luckily only a few miles away) turn around and go back to the ramp I entered the highway on and then locate the bag. It came to rest leaning against the guard rail on the left lane (lucky again). There was a hugh amount of traffic and no left-hand shoulder to speak of. I put the bike on the kickstand right next to the left-hand road stripe as traffic whizzed by, jumped off, recovered the bag and quickly latched it in place, then jumped back in the saddle and burned rubber to merge into a virtually constant stream of 75 mph traffic.

Learned three valuable lessons that day: 1) the cases are pretty tough - the only damange was one big gouge and a few smaller abrasions; 2) I was really lucky and 3) always double-check the locking handles before getting on the road!

priapismic · Post by **priapismic** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:04 pm

Somebody didn't read my post earlier this year about a quick and easy way to secure your system cases, and a possible way you might get it back if you do lose one (at least it'll give ya a chance at recovery).

http://r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?t ... ght=system

Drilling and fitting a pin works, but is not necessary....

KMACR · Post by **KMACR** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:47 pm

Yep...guilty as charged. Coulda, woulda, shoulda. <Thunk> (sound of me kicking myself)....

Post by **challey** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 3:20 pm

The pin thing is right at the top of my "to do" list. Well maybe not at the top - let's see, there's changing out the QD's, fitting an external fuel filter . . .

rogerramjet · Post by **rogerramjet** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 4:55 pm

You'll have to be a contortionist to see both sides at the same time, so they don't have to be a perfect match. Good luck.

Rick Lee · Post by **Rick Lee** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 6:14 pm

I recently read Neil Peart's (drummer for Rush) "Roadshow" about his travels between concerts on his GS. He had a system case come off on a hwy. in CO and didn't learn of it until a motorist told him about it several miles later. Poor Neil had his prescription drugs, his Patek Phillipe watch and wedding ring in there. He went back and could not find the case. A few days later some good samaritan, who had picked up the case and drilled it open, found Neil's cell # and called him. But Neil accidentally hit "7", which deleted the guy's message. He put an ad in the local paper and even hired a PI to try with the phone company. No dice. He never got it back. If I ever start carrying stuff I can't live without in my system cases, I'll be doing some reinforcing.

R4R&R · Post by **R4R&R** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 6:37 pm

Luckily a motorist saw mine fall off and alerted me to it. My case failure was just that - a the latch failed (broke) and that's why it came off. The latch was still locked when I got back to it.

I think it may be worthwhile to make a set of dog tags with your info on it and rivet it to the back outside (the side that faces the bike) of the case or do the Cyclerob trick for securing it with the pins. I bought the pins shortly afterwards with the intention of installing them but never got around to it. Yet.

Post by **CycleRob** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 11:50 pm

A copy-n-paste of the relevant post repeatedly being referred to:

Here's the best way, although some careful drilling skills and rear wheel removal are required:

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/12180864-O.jpg
http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/12180869-O.jpg
http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/12180867-O.jpg
http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/12180866-O.jpg
http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/12180861-O.jpg

The pins are $1.20 for a bag of 2 pins at the Home Depot in one of the fastener aisle's slide-out drawers. I bought 2 extra bags for anyone willing to take a ride to my house. (Beemridian has taken me up on that offer)

You can use the dog collar until the pins are installed. The muffler and turning wheel might do considerable cosmetic damage to the collar restrained dislodged case before you "notice" it. That is impossible when they are pinned. Pinned bag security is as if they are bolted in place.

Pins.pins. Just Do It . . . . you'll be so glad you did.

Jonny_L · Post by **Jonny_L** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 7:26 pm

Didn't see this thread at first, I'll definately be taking steps to ensure mine don't come off too now.

A bit off topic, but reminds me when I once lost a spare helmet while riding. Gave a friend a lift home, he always put it on the backrest on my old intruder, but he made sure to strap it up first. That time he didn't

I didn't check it either, since I only had to ride a mile home. Taught me a lesson anyway, and to this day, I never did find that helmet!

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New Year Off To Rocky Start

New Year Off To Rocky Start

matching old and new cases