Fitting of SW Motech bars

[grimo]

I have just received a nice set of lower bars £154 all in. these were purchased from http://www.motorcycle-road-and-race.co.uk/.
Before I start with the fitting, I just want to say that I have the Ali rocker protectors as fitted to the GSA. I wasn't 100% sure if these would fit so i search but could not find the answer so I ordered them anyway. The paper instructions are not entirely clear so I have added a few photos to help.



Above you can see the top fixing that has to be removed ( only the bolt ). When you go to do the off side you will find that there is no bolt here its just an empty thread.
The lower rear engine bolt that connects to the lower frame needs to be removed.



Place the large spacer in the void left from removing the rear lower engine bolt.



Carefully position the new bars and install the replacement bolt and spacer that came with the bars.
Now install the front lower engine bolt & spacer ( engine side ) provided & also the rear engine bolt also provided with the bars.



With the Ali rocker guards in place there is a small gap of .65mm between the guard and the bars ( tight to say the least ), but there is a gap and I don't think it will cause any problem. Worst case would be to have to alter slightly the shape of the guard for clearance and this would only be fractions of a millimeter.
The off side I found easier to fit and is basically the same as the near side apart from the top fixing that is empty already.
The Ali guard on the off side had a slightly larger gap. The only other thing is to fit the crossbar which is simple enough to do. Just make sure everything is tightened down and the jobs a goodun. whole job took about an hour, if I had to do it again 20 min.



Regards.
Grimo

 

[Riktus]

Good instructions

Just out of interest - I have the same bars but lost the fitting instructions in a house move. This means that I dont have the torque settings (I have to remove the bars for servicing or the dealer charges me an extra hours labour for removal and refit as the cylinder head does not come away with them on.

Do you have a list of torque settings you can post?

Many thanks
Rik

 

[Bigrodders]

Good Instructions,
I found mine easy to fit and I think they look good, but my god they do start to rust quickly, the bracket and bolts are turning brown before my eyes so much that i think I'm going to take them off and get them powder coated.

Bigrodders

 

[grimo]

Hi, Riktus.
Torque settings :-
M6 9.6 Nm
M8 23 Nm
M10 46 Nm
M12 79 Nm
Regards,
Grimo.

 

[bikebits]

Same bars (v4) on a 08 standard GS

Hi folks,

I have just ordered the same bars from Nippy Norman. They are hopefully the v4 - the ones that don't need attaching to the engine bash plate.
I'm keen to fit them with as little hassle as poss so some questions to those who have travelled this road:

1. Will I need to support the engine (I have a centre stand)
2. The bike came with the TT engine protectors attached. I am agonising over whether I should remove these or not. For a start I don't even know if they were attached using the original bolts (wasn't given any originals by the prev. owner). There is also some talk about the bars "flexing" on any impact and pushing them into the cylinder head.

Any ideas or "sage words" would be appreciated.

 

[Arthurwg]

Why choose these over Touratech?

 

[Riktus]

Excellent - thanks Grimo.

 

[bikebits]

Why choose these over Touratech?

For me, it was both a money thing and I didn't like design of the TT ones.

 

[BeemerBaz]

For me, it was both a money thing and I didn't like design of the TT ones.

Same here and I think the Motech ones offer better protection.

 

[bikebits]

Same here and I think the Motech ones offer better protection.

Hi BeemerBaz, I would be interested to know if you also decided not to fit the upper bars - at least not initially.

I'm going for the "most likely need" (you know, when you drop the bike just outside the garage...) and delaying that outlay for a couple of months.


The main thing is to get to/from work amongst the cosy car drivers (whic, on some days will include me) along the B651 & B652 with some protection if I ride up someone's bonnet
The speed some people drive towards a blind bend is amazing

 

[bikebits]

Good Instructions,
I found mine easy to fit and I think they look good, but my god they do start to rust quickly, the bracket and bolts are turning brown before my eyes so much that i think I'm going to take them off and get them powder coated.

Bigrodders

I got mine delivered and I'm about to fit them on but what's all this about rusting????

 

[Monty]

For anyone else buying these, the cheapest I found them was £121.72 plus £4.99 delivery at Motorbikes And Parts: Clicky

(That company also offers an incremental discount the more you spend with them, so I also bought a Givi screen at a discount and next on the list is some luggage.)

I had a low-speed crash the other week with the Mrs on the back, and the only damage done was a flat worn on the right-hand lower bar. They protected everything else, so have already paid for themselves.

 

[THE DOCTOR]

If you go to Nippy Norman's site, you'll see an orange list on the left. At the bottom you'll see 'downloads'. Click this & you'll find SW Motech fitting instructions c/w a parts list & torque figures.

..........

 

[nedflanders]

Just a quick word of warning, the bottom engine mounting bolts have a habit of siezing in, you won't notice until you take it to a dealer who will charge you a fortune to remove them, luckily I took mine off myself before a service, took some doing, a thin smear of copperslip (anti-sieze compound) is highly recommended

 

[BeemerBaz]

Hi BeemerBaz, I would be interested to know if you also decided not to fit the upper bars - at least not initially.

I'm going for the "most likely need" (you know, when you drop the bike just outside the garage...) and delaying that outlay for a couple of months.


The main thing is to get to/from work amongst the cosy car drivers (whic, on some days will include me) along the B651 & B652 with some protection if I ride up someone's bonnet
The speed some people drive towards a blind bend is amazing

Never considered the uppers to be honest.

 

[bikebits]

Just a quick word of warning, the bottom engine mounting bolts have a habit of siezing in, you won't notice until you take it to a dealer who will charge you a fortune to remove them, luckily I took mine off myself before a service, took some doing, a thin smear of copperslip (anti-sieze compound) is highly recommended

great tip. Thanks. I have just ordered a tube.

 

[bikebits]

Never considered the uppers to be honest.

Hi BeemerBaz. My bike came with the TT head protectors. From what I can see by offering-up the bars, there will not be much space between the TT protector and the horizontal bar. Some people say that if you don't leave enough a gap then the bar will push the protector into the head if you drop the bike.

I have no idea whether the TT protectors come with longer bolts so I'm trying to see if I can work out how many and which bolts/screws would have to be replaced from BMW parts if I was to ditch the idea of keeping them on.

Has anyone else fitted the TT protectors and if so any info on the screws/bolts please ?

 

[Steveralt]

I fitted these bars to my 06 gs, they are strong and i dont feel they will flex, i only had to put the bike on the centre stand and its a easy enough job with the panels off, relax.

 

[bikebits]

I fitted these bars to my 06 gs, they are strong and i dont feel they will flex, i only had to put the bike on the centre stand and its a easy enough job with the panels off, relax.

OK, I have everything I need (I think) and all set for this weekend (I use the bike most days for commuting).

So far I have the following (anyone chip in if you know better):

a) The engine bars
b) A set of Torx bits and socket set
c) A cheap torque wrench that clicks only the first time you reach the setting !!!
d) A tube of Copaslip
e) Locktite
f) A basic set of instructions downloaded from Nippy's
g) A car jack to hold the engine
h) A 2"x4" plank

The plank has a secondary use - to hit myself on the head for trying to save money on removing the TT rocker cover protectors and replacing the original screws/bolts.

I'm off to the BMW workshops this Friday to have the petrol gaugage/computer looked at so I will ask whether they could work out how many of the original screws/bolts are missing.

 

[sven]

Hi, Riktus.
Torque settings :-
M6 9.6 Nm
M8 23 Nm
M10 46 Nm
M12 79 Nm
Regards,
Grimo.

Did everyone use these torque values from the SW Motech instructions http://shop.sw-motech.com/cosmoshop/artikelpdf/sbl_07_562_100.pdf or those from the BMW torque values link http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134046

Rear frame to engine, bottom, M12 x 50 55 Nm
Crash bar Screws, top, M6 9 Nm
Crash bar Screw, bottom, M10 25 Nm

Also, did you use Loctite on the threads?

Fitted mine the othere day, but I just want to be sure of the torque settings before using the bike