EWS / FPC Spares & Fitting

[Rasher]

Spawned from another thread and I did not want to go well off topic.

Do many people carry these around, not looking to start another reliability thread, but wondered if people who do go touring think of these as being essential to completing a tour and if so have they been needed.

My bike is an '08, the dealer told me everything has been sorted and I have nothing to worry about, but as he wanted me to part with £8.5k was unlikely to say "don't leave home without an extensive spares kit mate".

Also do they take up much room and are they easy to fit roadside with the standard toolkit, although I suppose you could try handing them to the breakdown man when he arrives.

 

[haydw]

After hearing the horror stories when I first bought my 1200 I decided to carry a spare FPC- its in my tooltube along with a slightly more comprehensive toolkit- at least I can remove the wheels if I need to.

Thought about an EWS but I believe this fault is rarer. These parts are small to carry and are relatively cheap compared to an FD. In any case, an FD doesn't fail all at once- probably only worth carrying those that may stop you in your tracks and you can install easily at the roadside with sod all tools. An FPC is one of them- an EWS would probably be easyish as well. My Mrs always carries my spare key just in case I lose mine.

Anything else I would rely on a plastic card supplied by my breakdown company.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

I take a spare FPC and EWS when doing my long trips in the States as a precaution. Took 12 GS's across the US this year and didn't need them For teh price they are and the room they take up, it's worth it.

The only other thing I take is a puncture repair kit, duct tape and cable ties. If you can't fix the thing with those you're doomed!

A good investment is a comprehensive toolkit and not that roll of crap they give you with the bike IMHO.

 

[cookie]

tip: if you do carry a ring antenna (that's the bit that used to fail, giving an EWS fault), you'll need a very good toolkit to fit it, or carry a spare key as well.
can't recall seeing anyone having such issues for ages on here. bmw changed them all for updated parts months/years ago.

FPC unit: yes, if you get one free.

puncture kit: likely to get more use out of that than previous items.

the most important thing you should do is stop worrying

 

[Rasher]

Put tyre safe stuff in ZZR last year, a mate swears by it and has had it keep a holed tyre running for ages, it seemed fine until I got on the Autobahn, at around 130-140 it started hammering up and down at the front end. Probably be OK at GS speeds so may get some with new tyres before the tour.

May be tempted to take FPC, will see how much they are when next in dealers, does anyone know if these common fault parts are widely available in Europe, or am I likely to end up being driven home / waiting for a week for the thing to be fixed.

I am surprised the roadside recovery people don't carry them.

 

[cookie]

I am surprised the roadside recovery people don't carry them.

they used to.

 

[Racey]

I take a spare FPC and EWS when doing my long trips in the States as a precaution. Took 12 GS's across the US this year and didn't need them For teh price they are and the room they take up, it's worth it.

The only other thing I take is a puncture repair kit, duct tape and cable ties. If you can't fix the thing with those you're doomed!

A good investment is a comprehensive toolkit and not that roll of crap they give you with the bike IMHO.

Exactly the same approach as Sarge... When you look at what a major (or minor) trip costs you and how precious the time is - why scrimp on a couple of spares... I take coils too...