Almost a Tale of Woe

[Jafdp]

Spent last Sunday (7th) fiddling with my GS12 and eventually fitted my Baglux tank cover. Very pleased with the result. Part of the process of fitting this required the removal of the 2 side covers. I can remember thinking at the time "crap connectors". As you all may be aware, the side covers are held in place by 2 twist and lock type catches at the top and rear, whilst the lower front is a naff plastic catch and the top front on the leading edge is a push in rubber bung thingy.
(Creative technical writing has never been my thing by the way.)

Monday early evening, still light, finally left work and the Luton rush hour traffic and hit the Barton bypass heading toward Bedford on the A6. Dry roads and a relief to be back on the bike after a 2 week layoff due to bad weather. Selected 6th at around 90 when nearside side cover bent right back at 90 degree to bike, acted like a bloody great wind brake. Caused almighty wobble as well as huge decrease in speed. The only thing that kept the cover on was the 2 twist and lock catches. Managed to get bike under control and into a layby. Examined cover, swore a lot and thanked God I was still alive! This could have been serious, I was lucky to get away with that one.
Now I except that my re-fitting of the side panel may have been a contributing factor to this near miss, however I will be taking this up with BMW as I also feel that the naff quality and design of the retaining catches at the leading edge of the panel are more to blame.
So.... be warned, if you remove and refit the side panels make sure you get them right. Otherwise you too could be experiencing high speed wind sailing on a motorbike!
I have now fitted several tie wraps to help retain the covers in place but I have lost some confidence in the bike. Hell if both had come off at the same time I could have gone airborne!
Roll on summer.
Dave

 

[Dahoum]

Yep - it's happened before.

Some advice here

flapping bits thread from last July

 

[Russ]

My own personal opinion on this matter will not be popular so i will keep it to myself.

It is with good fortune and skill that you are here to tell the tale, that is what is important.

 

[Cestria]

My own personal opinion on this matter will not be popular so i will keep it to myself.

It is with good fortune and skill that you are here to tell the tale, that is what is important.

Oh , go on.....

 

[Mouse]

I've always been really careful about replacing these covers correctly, and have never had a problem.

The lower front fixing point IS fiddly, but if you do it properly I don't think there's anything to worry about.

 

[wilbjr21]

The easy way to fit the plastic connector (bottom inside) is to turn it to it's closed position then just push the panel. It will just "click" into place. This is much better than trying to push the connector in using the open postion, then turning through 90deg.

 

[scotty42]

Exactly the same thing happened to me, I was doing about 180KMH and the LH panel folded back onto my knee, giving me a hell of a surprise!

This panel had never been off the bike as far as I am aware.

Had to tie the panel back down with a bit of twine pinched of someones fence, as the locking part had gone!

Have taken this up with VPP in Chiang Mai.

 

[Jafdp]

Thanks Dahoum

Had a look at the link that was posted by Dahoum and that thread was started by Fanum. In this thread he starts by saying about a red demo 1200 at Wollastons Northampton that was a right bloody mess due to the side panel flapping out.

Guess who bought that red demo 1200.

I will definately be talking at length to Wollastons. Minimum they owe me is a new pair of y fronts.

Dave

 

[Pressurized]

On my 12, the right hand panel clips in reasonably securely but the left one has always been difficult. I got the left one secure by taking the twistable fastener out and catching the outer rubber washer. I then removed the inner washer (that comes out with the fastener) and replaced the fastener, making sure the outer washer is back in place. This gives the fastener more 'reach' and lets the panel be better secured.

I looked at the bike again tonight and reckon that I could get away with both washers again by bending the bracket that the fastener fits into out a little bit.

When all's said and done, however, I'm going to be fixing the panel with a cable tie as I can see the fixing is poor and, when it does go it's bad.

 

[AndyT]

I am very suprised...

...that the cover folding back:

A) Stayed on at all if it was acting as a wind break
B) You noticed any reduction in speed as these things have nigh on 100BHP
C) It induced a wobble (I think that it was more likely to be yourself caused the wobble reaching for the loo roll)

I took my covers off to fit an oil cooler cover and coincidently the annoying screen rattle started soon after. I was convinced it was the panel not refitted correctly until I saw a thread on here ref the vibrating screen syndrome which was proved bty accelerating whilst holding the screen.

Hope you get sorted okay, they are lovelly bikes and I will have another next year.

AndyT

 

[Fitzy]

Why remove panels ?

I have also just received and fitted the Baglux tank cover as i`m fed up with having to unzip the BMW tank bag every time i refuel and the Baglux system is easier and better designed.
But in fitting the cover i simply attached the various straps (correctly i think) and the whole thing seems to be snug and well fitting without having to remove the side panels at all.
All i had to remove was the seat which is a pain to refit in the correct position but this will hopefully be resolved when i receive my new Touratech sports seat.

 

[Eric_Norman]

If i can hijack the thread for a moment

what baglux bags are you guys using ?

Baglux advised me not to go with the athena as it was deemed to be slightly too long !!

Any thoughts ?

Cheers

 

[Welshmagician]

Re: If i can hijack the thread for a moment

what baglux bags are you guys using ?

Baglux advised me not to go with the athena as it was deemed to be slightly too long !!

Any thoughts ?

Cheers

It's a fair point, i use the Athena and it is a wee bit long and wide, it activates the horn on full lock as i mentioned in a previous thread.

 

[birdseye]

Re: Why remove panels ?

I have also just received and fitted the Baglux tank cover as i`m fed up with having to unzip the BMW tank bag every time i refuel and the Baglux system is easier and better designed.
But in fitting the cover i simply attached the various straps (correctly i think) and the whole thing seems to be snug and well fitting without having to remove the side panels at all.
All i had to remove was the seat which is a pain to refit in the correct position but this will hopefully be resolved when i receive my new Touratech sports seat.

There are 2 holes punched into the vinyl fabric of the cover and these are supposed to fit under the screws that are revealed once the grey side panels with the twist fittings are removed. Whether this is necessary to minimise sideways movement with a bag connected or whether its unnecessary I dont know.

 

[alecmuffett]

Re: Re: If i can hijack the thread for a moment

It's a fair point, i use the Athena and it is a wee bit long and wide, it activates the horn on full lock as i mentioned in a previous thread.

I am using the Baglux "City" bag just fine; I tried the Shibuya but found it extended too far down the tank and into my "riding space". Baglux swapped it very helpfully/quickly.

The "City" gives me about 8ltr, enough for wallet and specs and mints, the usual oddments, and a pair of winter gloves. On full-lock it sometimes hits the indicators, but that's all...