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Fit of full size left system case
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 8:47 am
by cc
I'm in the process of lowering my muffler and installing a full size left case.
I purchased a used full size case back and it doesn't fit the 2004 R1150R case holder. The tang that hooks over the front mount is almost 1/16" too small.

Also the place where the tang fits over the holder is much thicker on the R1150R holder than it is on other models. This makes it so the front tang won't fit on the holder at all.
Has anyone seen this problem on a R1150R and if so what did you do about it? Was there a design change on the case? Anybody know what vintage of case will fit?
full size left side case
Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 7:52 pm
by rpaul01754
the upper rails are the same for the standard case or the full size case, but the location of the lower tang is different. The 1150R tang is farther outboard than say the 1150RT. The tang on your new case (assuming you got the right part) is inboard towards the wheel by about 4.5"
BMW offers a retrofit "police" kit that includes some brackets that have the tang in the right place. It's made for the GS but fits the R fine. This is a USA only part. Search back in the archives... it's been disussed many times with pics.
Re: full size left side case
Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 8:41 pm
by cc
rpaul01754 wrote:the upper rails are the same for the standard case or the full size case, but the location of the lower tang is different. The 1150R tang is farther outboard than say the 1150RT. The tang on your new case (assuming you got the right part) is inboard towards the wheel by about 4.5"
BMW offers a retrofit "police" kit that includes some brackets that have the tang in the right place. It's made for the GS but fits the R fine. This is a USA only part. Search back in the archives... it's been disussed many times with pics.
Thanks for the reply.
I'm fabricating my own lower bracket, muffler mount and also the pipe adapter. I think I have all that nailed.
The issue is the top mounting tangs which everyone I have talked to is quite sure are the same for all models. My measurements show they are not. The upper front tang that goes over the case holder fits snug but OK on the cases that came with the bike, but the tang on the full size case I bought it is much smaller. See the photos in my original post. I have since measured two more mid-nineties vintage cases and found them similar to the one shown in the upper photo in my original post.
I'm now wondering what year the tang changed size so I can look for a used case of the right vintage.
Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 11:07 pm
by DJ Downunder
Hey Charlie...about that used full size left case...do you know what it was off.
Did you re rivet the old lid and handle mechanism from the normal left case yet.
You might want to consider the mod to the case and use the normal foot and just make a bracket to lower the exhaust.
DJ
Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 11:16 pm
by cc
DJ Downunder wrote:Hey Charlie...about that used full size left case...do you know what it was off.
Did you re rivet the old lid and handle mechanism from the normal left case yet.
You might want to consider the mod to the case and use the normal foot and just make a bracket to lower the exhaust.
DJ
I don't know where the full case back came from, but it looks like the one from my sons 93 R1100RS.
I'm not sure what you mean by "the mod to the case".
Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 11:53 pm
by DJ Downunder
I'm not sure what you mean by "the mod to the case".
This is what MIXR did to his case...others have used little 'L' shaped brackets to locate the lower foot on a full size case.
I made my own bracket that mounts off the existing one..have you seen it?..I think the case mod is a better way to go.
Then you just have to make a bracket to do one thing and not two things..(mount the lowered exhaust)
Did you buy the complete case or just the inner part?
anyway here's some pics of what I did....
DJ
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic1633.JPG
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic1634.JPG
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic1636.JPG
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic1637.JPG
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic1638.JPG
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic1639.JPG
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic1641.JPG

Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 11:15 am
by cc
[quote="DJ Downunder
I made my own bracket that mounts off the existing one..have you seen it?..I think the case mod is a better way to go.
Did you buy the complete case or just the inner part?
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic1639.JPG
[quote]
I have purchased just the case back and haven't assembled the front onto it yet.
I don't like (for me) the method of bolting on the extra bits to the case. If I were going to do that I think I'd machine something from Nylon that looked more like the original mount and attach it with four bolts to get a more unified structure. I'd need to think about what happens when you hit a really big bump. It looks like there is more support vertically with the outboard mount, but then the three mounts aren't in the same plane any more.
About 15 years ago I rode some of your 1 and 2 lane roads and they were pretty similar to a lot of the roads that I ride here. Durability on really rough roads is important to me. I've experienced more that one episode of the self detaching bag.
I liked your mount a lot. It looks like you milled on a bar for a while then formed it to the right location?? It also looks like more support when the above mention big bump comes along.
Is that piece of wood how you store the bags when they aren't on the bike? I think I'll copy that idea.
Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 11:24 am
by DJ Downunder
Remember the top mounts take the weight and load...the lower mount just stops the case swinging in and out against the wheel...it does not rest on the lower mount...making something out of black nylon might look good and would be a lot easier than making a bracket like mine...yes those wooden mounts work great...I'll take another pic tomorrow for you without the case and post the dimensions for you.
DJ
Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 7:43 am
by DJ Downunder
Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 6:46 pm
by cc
DJ Downunder wrote:Remember the top mounts take the weight and load...the lower mount just stops the case swinging in and out against the wheel...it does not rest on the lower mount...making something out of black nylon might look good and would be a lot easier than making a..
DJ
When not hitting a bump this is true, but I've looked at 4 different bags (I know, a small sample) and the three with lots of miles all show evidence of the knard "bottoming" in the slot on the case. I suspect the case will flex that much. Even so, I'm leaning toward the outside plastic add-on mount.
I first have to figure out what to do about the top front tang not fitting into the case holder.
I'm likely a month from fabbing this and 3+ months from testing because of ice and salt on the road, but I'll let you know how it comes out.
I've saved your pics (thanks for posting them) and put the wall mounts on my to do list.
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 10:07 pm
by cc
Well, I finally got the bag to fit and made a lower mount.
All I need now is a few thousand miles on it to see if it will be OK.
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 7:56 am
by DJ Downunder
Nice job...

...thanks for the pic.
DJ
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:22 am
by ljasonb
Heck yeah! That mount looks great. I want one and am willing to pay for it. The aluminum L stock I used works fine but looks like crap.
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 9:06 am
by cc
ljasonb wrote:Heck yeah! That mount looks great. I want one and am willing to pay for it. The aluminum L stock I used works fine but looks like crap.
Thanks.
I'm not inclined to manufacture these, but I can supply a rudimentary drawing if you or someone else wants to make them.