R80ST vs G/S pannier frame cross brace

[sidkn33]

I am looking for a cross brace after my right side pannier rail cleanly snapped at the weld point where it hangs from the rear carrier and this is clearly a weak spot and fixed on the later GS Airheads - i.e my R80GS PD has a rear brace from the factory as did my ex R100GS.

I found this is item:

Webshop Meyer [Gast]

But, Meyer told me it does not fit the ST, without explanation.

It's my understanding that the pannier frames differ only in colour, black vs chrome on the G/S vs ST - can anyone here advise?

 

[dr nosh]

Description says 'Single seat'?

I think that you are correct in that G/S and ST frames are the same.

But, with a single seat are the frames located further forward perhaps?

 

[sidkn33]

Description says 'Single seat'?

I think that you are correct in that G/S and ST frames are the same.

But, with a single seat are the frames located further forward perhaps?

You're right, it does say single seat, but I'm reasonably sure fitti5 the single seat and rack on the G/S doesn't involve adjusting the pannier rails

 

[tuftywhite]

This may not be of any use at all, but the Hepco and Becker rack and rails (from Motobins) are a good replacement for the originals.

They don't look too disimilar, but they do have the brace for the pannier rails. Obviously, you'll need new panniers too.

 

[dr nosh]

Looking at the item again, the ends have bolt holes, suggesting a 'tab' on the pannier frame itself.

My ST pannier frames do not have any visible additional fixing brackets in the frame loop.

 

[sidkn33]

This may not be of any use at all, but the Hepco and Becker rack and rails (from Motobins) are a good replacement for the originals.

They don't look too disimilar, but they do have the brace for the pannier rails. Obviously, you'll need new panniers too.

Thanks, I have used H&B panniers on several bikes over the years and have a H&B rear rack and Journey top box for my GS PD.
But as I already have 3x sets of BMW touring cases in good shape, changing to H&B panniers is not an option.

 

[sidkn33]

Looking at the item again, the ends have bolt holes, suggesting a 'tab' on the pannier frame itself.

My ST pannier frames do not have any visible additional fixing brackets in the frame loop.

Not sure what you mean - there is a tab on the G/S pannier frame that's not present on the ST version?
The Meyer brace like the GS factory brace I assumed would attach using these clamps - No. 7 in the GS parts diagram.
So no particular fixing required on the pannier rails, the clamps just bolt around the vertical L&R rear tubes.



Part 6 in this diagram for the GS, is the equivalent of the Meyer part for the G/S, but it's not deep enough for the G/S as the GS rails sit more to the rear of the bike and therefore the cross brace doesn't reach around the back wheel as much as is necessary on the G/S.

 

[dr nosh]

On my ST frames there is no fixing point on the frame loop to fix a cross brace.

The diagram that you show above is interesting.

The 'P' clip, item 7 is shown in the wrong orientation - shown horizontal, when it sould be vertical ?

When the motocase pannier is clipped in, there is very little room either side of the clip, maybe 20mm or so, leaving litle space to fix the 'P' clip.

What is item 10 ?

 

[sidkn33]

Have seen this picture of an R80 GS Basic, which (rear sub-frame-wise) is closer to the ST and G/S than the GS, with what appears to be a factory pannier frame with a deeper cross brace than the GS version and with different BMW part numbers and in black or chrome versions.



R80 GS BASIC parts diagram - you can see the luggage frame is similar to the G/S, but with a cross brace (No 4) and from the above photo, that brace is deeper and should fit the ST and G/S like the Meyer part from my original post.

Case holder for BMW Motorrad R 80 GS Basic from 1996 - BMW Motorrad

www.bike-parts-bmw.com

Black 46542317409
Chrome 46542317535

 

[sidkn33]

On my ST frames there is no fixing point on the frame loop to fix a cross brace.

The diagram that you show above is interesting.

The 'P' clip, item 7 is shown in the wrong orientation - shown horizontal, when it sould be vertical ?

When the motocase pannier is clipped in, there is very little room either side of the clip, maybe 20mm or so, leaving litle space to fix the 'P' clip.

What is item 10 ?

You don't need a fixing point, because the P clip (part 7) wraps around the vertical tube of the pannier rail and yes, the diagram has the part in the wrong orientation.
No idea what part 10 is!

For comparison, the distance between the pannier rail vertical and the back of the mudguard is about 30-40mm greater on my ST (and it seems the GS Basic and G/S) than the GS

R80ST


R80GS PD

 

[sidkn33]

In the absence of any evidence to the contrary, I've convinced myself that the Meyer part will very likely fit and that they are playing safe by saying it's not ST compatible just because they don't know 100%
Alternatively, it looks like BMW added a cross brace (equivalent to the Meyer), to the GS Basic which would likely also fit the ST and BMW have a chrome version.

 

[dr nosh]

I suspect that part 10 is a 'brace', but without fixing holes, under the mudguard in order to spread the load around where the 2 tab brackets of the cross brace are fixed to the muduard. If so, then its shown back to front. The ears should be pointing forward to sit under the mudguard.

If you do order, I will be interested to see how it all fits together.

A the moment, I am not convinced how this will fit and not foul the moto-case locking clip .

 

[sidkn33]

I'll be ordering the GS Basic part I think, if available and will update as and when....

 

[Colt]

There is no cross brace on the factory oem g/s or 80st frames.
the r80 basic pannier frame on one side is different to the g/s st ones and mounts differently.
The Meyer one is not for the st g/s because it will not fit the st or g/s frames.

 

[sidkn33]

There is no cross brace on the factory oem g/s or 80st frames.
the r80 basic pannier frame on one side is different to the g/s st ones and mounts differently.
The Meyer one is not for the st g/s because it will not fit the st or g/s frames.

The Meyer one IS for the G/S, that's why I asked Meyer if it would also fit the ST (they said not) and hence my original post about the difference (or not) between G/S and ST pannier frames.

 

[Colt]

Ok , Just trying to help clarify .

It is not for the g/s their description is wrong.

There is not a factory gem pannier brace.
The one in the link of your first post is as you say the later paralever one, like you have on your later paralever.
The one pictured in your post no6 ,is as you say for the basic.

The left hand pannier rail is the same for the Basic ,r80g/s and r80st.
The right hand pannier rail is different on the Basic compared to the g/s st , it mounts onto the frame differently.

 

[sidkn33]

Update.
I bought a full GS Paralever pannier frame from a forum member for a very price (thank you again Grantiii) and used the cross brace from that frame along with some spacers to connect to my recently repaired ST frame. I now have substantially stronger luggage setup on my ST.
It's clear that the original design on the ST and G/S leaves a lot to be desired as the horizontal flex in the side rails (without a cross brace that became standard on the paralever bikes) exerts itself on the relatively weak weld points of the hanging brackets on the top rack.

 

[sidkn33]

Note that the spacer on the left is about 20mm, the right is about 30mm because the right hand side rail sits about 10mm further forward, meaning that the pannier positions do not exactly match front to back on these bikes, for whatever reason.

 

[Colt]

How did you get on with the Meyer part for the G/S?

 

[sidkn33]

How did you get on with the Meyer part for the G/S?

Having asked for and not received clarification about why the Meyer part was not compatible with the ST and then having the idea to modify the GS brace, which cost half the price and came with the brackets (the Meyer brace does not come with the necessary brackets), I did not order the Meyer part.