BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

OK, long story short, I loaned my bike to a good friend who took it down to La Paz.
100km out of lapaz he noticed that the rear wheel was rubbing on the pannier, thought he broke a pannier, only to find a bunch of lateral slop in the rear wheel.
He thought the final drive failed, and worked out to get get the bike in a ranchers truck to get to La Paz.
I had my spare FD shipped from chicago to me in LA in preparation of riding it down to him asap, but since there's no fluid I don't believe the FD has failed.
Now that I have some photos, and have talked with him it looks like the main bolt that hold the FD on came out, and he lost the insert thingy that goes in left side in the bearing to hold it on.

Does anyone have a photo of the FD that clearly shows this assembly?


here's what I have from him










Thanks!

New parts ordered, now just looking for photos to send my buddy... I looked through all of mine and can't find one with the wheel off for the left side.

It's very strange that this bolt would come loose since it's micro-incapsulated with red thread lock.
Last time this bolt was replaced was when I replaced the FD, 40,000 miles ago.
Checking the torque on this bolt might something to add to service for higher milage 1200R's....

Looks like the screw is part 16. I'm at work, so this is the best I can do. Hope your buddy gets it worked out.

Thanks Bill, yeah I ordered part # 2, 3, 10, 12, 16 (on my parts drawing).

Luckily the parts are all in country and will be here tomorrow.... now I just need to get them to La Paz.
Either by riding my girl's F800R down there, or flying.... not sure how long FedEx would take with Mexican customs and all... anyone have experience shipping to Mexico?

Hi Joe - You will find lots of people willing to help at the below forums. Many of them travel to and fro Baja all the time (some by airplane), and it is quite likely someone will be able to transport your parts (and possibly you). They will also be able to advise on paid freight services and customs issues.

Hope this helps.

- Dad (San Diego) out

http://forums.bajanomad.com/index.php

Great resource, thanks Dad!

I would definitely try and get the parts hand-carried into Mexico. Customs can be a pain. On a job near Mexico City last year, overnight delivery into Mexico took about 5-7 days if a value was placed on the items shipped. We could get no-value items in a bout 2-3 days with overnight shipping. Also, the paperwork for the shipment had better be very correct or expect even more delays.

Hope all goes well.
-Jim

I should also mention that the items shipped all arrived in Mexico in 1 day. Customs took the rest.

Hi Joe

Lots of these guys go to/fro Baja all the time also. Someone here might be able to help. There is probably a similar forum for LA adv riders but I don't know the name of it.

http://dualsport-sd.com/forums/index.ph ... hotos-etc/

hth, Dad

This is the total answer to parts to Mexico:

here’s the man:
Jim Dixon Jim Dixon Marine Services 2907 Shelter Island Drive Suite 105-265 San Diego,
California. 92106 +1-619-851-8260 Skype: dixonjim88
When we needed an inverter in La Paz, we called Jimmy on the sat phone from way up in
the Sea of Cortez; when we were pulling into Marina de la Paz a couple of weeks later, a
man was pushing a dock cart up to our boat with our inverter—before we got the engines
off and the dock lines on. Is he that good. Yes, he’s that good. You need it, he’ll get it there.

This is from an article I wrote on boating in Mexico....Jimmy told me when I got worried that the inverter would be there....that the inverter was not a problem...indeed he said, if I wanted a 55 gal drum of spent uranium and a couple of Thai hookers from the back of Soldier of Fortune magazine...he'd get that there too.

His guy meets the pkg...his guy delivers the pkg...the price is cheap...I mean he handles the customs... and your part will be delivered in La Paz...NEXT DAY. PROMISE.

Thanks you for all the good information!


I've been traveling/working like crazy, but in my research, both with resources you guys shared, and talking with a few friends who've been in this situation I've come to a decision.

On Monday I'm going to ride down to Tijuana to the DHL office there to ship the parts. Since I'll be doing the importing, there should be no delay with the delivery and he'll be back on the road Tuesday.
It's only 190 miles to the border so it'll be a one day excursion into Mexico, long enough to ship, eat some tacos and enjoy the border crossing at the end of the holiday weekend.... at least on a bike a person can slip lanes to the front where possible.


Thanks again for the info and link to the bajanomad forum - good stuff.


cheers

Finn

Your parts will never get there .... you are wasting your time. Use Jim the guy I told you about on Shelter Island Drive in San Diego...call him...Take the parts to him.

The parts need to be put on the plane by his people and received by his person in La Paz and delivered to your pal.. It's about 50 bucks and your stuff will get there. Use Jim Dixon or forget about it...been there done this...been up and down and all over this...don't re-invent the wheel. At least call Dixon.


Subject: Roadster broken down in Mexico, HELP PLEASE!

I know this is after the fact but here is my best pic of that.

One of the problems with DHL from TJ to La Paz or other places is that I believe all DHL goes through Mexico City....Stuff gets to Mexico City...but never makes it any further.

OK, even though I've talked with a good friend who owns a house in Cali and La Paz, plus talk on that baja forum, and both said DHL, especially fro TJ to La Paz was a solid way to go. No trip to mexico city if no importing going on.
I'll give your guy a call tomorrow. If he's available on Memorial day to ship it, great. You seem so confident and passionate, so I'll listen since I asked.

I've been working at a festival in the WA mountains with little/no cell/wifi for days....
I only have tomorrow to deal with this.

Either way it ships tomorrow.


Thanks! ( I hope)

just got off the phone with Jimmy Dixon...he told me I was exactly right and he rides motorcycles and he is all over this....he is waiting for your call

Thanks for calling ahead for me.

I called and left a message with Jim's VM this morning... hopefully he gets back to me soon.
I just was contracted to do a tour, leaving tomorrow for 5 weeks so besides needing to get my bike back on the road, I'm really crunched for time preparing to leave.
I'm leaving shortly to start my ride south, hopefully he get's in touch with me by the time I'm in SD. If not I have no choice but to go with Plan B.
My close friends have had great success with Plan B, shipping DHL with low value items, and I have no choice so it is what it is.



Cheers

A day late and a Peso short.

Well, not really a day since Jimmy boy never returned either of my phone calls. I went ahead with Plan A.


A quick 180 mile ride into Tijuana, no hassle border crossing, landscape instantly transformed, an hour of being LOST riding around the city (what a cool city, real shame with all the violence), Got more LOST, found a DHL office, managed to find out I still needed a duty stamp even though it was in country, got directions, found the airport and the Aduana Office, stood in line 1, got the package inspected, 1st stamp, and sticker, went through second line, paid 10 peso fee, got stamp and security tape, dodged the boxes of chickens, went to DHL office located in the same building, did the shipping part, paid 320 pesos, went back into line 1 for final stamp.
Left package with DHL, the company that will never get it there, found my way back to the border, met a self proclaimed "Mexican Biker" who I followed and showed me the secret bike route to the front of the line going through some cut fences to the busiest border crossing in the world, and was back in the good ole' USA in a matter of minutes.
A high speed blast back up the coast and was home in time for dinner.
Sometimes you just need to take care of poo yourself.

Tracked each step of the package in real time, all night, and it was hand delivered to my buddy at 9:36 am today.

So much for it never getting there, and Jimmy. Thanks for taking the time to try and help anyways.
I'll ship you out a couple LOST decals if you want them in thanks... PM me.


The bike is being fixed as I type, disaster averted and I'm off to the airport to jump on tour.


Here's the ride report my buddy is doing on the 1200R

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=689339


It sure is nice having a back up Roadster in the garage...


















Thanks daveyator for the photo, my buddy thanks you too.

Cheers

Joe, your riding adventures are enviable, but your storytelling is always the best. Happy touring.

Glad it worked out for you....

Glad all worked well! Safe travels *and* BTW, love the LOST decals ... already put to good use.