This feels really dumb

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stevec

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Last week I popped my '07 1200GS off its centre stand, put my foot down and found no road under my foot. Over we went. Damned pothole

The parts have arrived so I set about repairing the damage

New indicator - no problem

New hand guard - opened the replacement and found totally new guards which meant removing both mirrors, fitting new hardware and replacing both guards. I followed the instructions but couldn't budge the nuts on the mirrors...left hand threads....why don't they mention that for heavens sake!

Fitted the new hand guards, all torqued down..looks smart. Grey and black, which matches the rest of the bike

Then moved on to the rocker box cover. Removed the plastic spark plug cover then tried to remove the spak plug cap. Do you need a special tool...I can't budge the damned thing?

Then what about removing the spark plug itself...special wrench? The gap in the rocker box looks awefully tight for a regular wrench

Grateful for any advice
 
Just use 2 screwdrivers to gently lever the plug cap off (one top and one bottom) put a bit of tape on the rocker cover to protect it if you dont want to add anymore damage,

As for plug socket, that shouldn't be a problem, I have used a regular one ok. (not sure if you need to remove the plug to get the rocker cover off - someone wiser will let us know in a minute)

Oh and by the way, been there, done that but got away with only a scraped engine bar!
 
you don't need to take the plug out to replace the rocker cover. make sure the round gasket is seated properly when you replace the cover. The spark plug socket does need to be quite narrow to get down the plug hole. Some plug sockets will fit, some are too large. If it feels tight don't push it in else it can be hell getting it back out again
 
The cost of a fall...

In total, simply overbalancing nearly cost me £1200!

Including:
a new helmet - whacked my almost new Shoei on the cobbles, so needed replacing....much better than a fractured skull though!
Indicator
Windscreen - I eventually polished out the scuff, now looks like new
Luggage rack - 'Smart' repaired that and it looks like new
Rocker cover
Spark plug cover
Rocker cover protector (Fat lot of good that did. Didn't protect the rocker cover AND cost me £37 for a new one!)
Hand guards - needed to replace both as the originals have a safety issue in that they can twist around and apply the brake
Recovery - after the bike fell over it developed an EWS (immobilizer) fault and wouldn't start (this should have been fixed on a recall that the previous owner missed). Coopers BMW repaired this for free.

By skipping the windscreen and luggage rack and fitting the replacement parts myself, the eventual cost was £850 and a ruined weekend.

On a positive note I must mention Paul at Coopers BMW Sunderland, who did everything to help despite the fact that I bought the bike elsewhere. They'll definitely get my order when I buy a new twin cam!

Anyway, back to my little problem....Thanks for all the advice. Most appreciated.
 
stevec said:
Last week I popped my '07 1200GS off its centre stand, put my foot down and found no road under my foot. Over we went. Damned pothole

The parts have arrived so I set about repairing the damage

New indicator - no problem

New hand guard - opened the replacement and found totally new guards which meant removing both mirrors, fitting new hardware and replacing both guards. I followed the instructions but couldn't budge the nuts on the mirrors...left hand threads....why don't they mention that for heavens sake!

Fitted the new hand guards, all torqued down..looks smart. Grey and black, which matches the rest of the bike

Then moved on to the rocker box cover. Removed the plastic spark plug cover then tried to remove the spak plug cap. Do you need a special tool...I can't budge the damned thing?

Then what about removing the spark plug itself...special wrench? The gap in the rocker box looks awefully tight for a regular wrench

Grateful for any advice
Click to expand...


have you thought about putting a claim in to the local council, im assuming the pot hole was a deep one and you was on a tarmac Road?

Just a thought. :nenau
 
stevec said:
On a positive note I must mention Paul at Coopers BMW Sunderland, who did everything to help despite the fact that I bought the bike elsewhere. They'll definitely get my order when I buy a new twin cam!
Click to expand...

He is a star isn't he? Worth his weight in gold.
 
Job done!

Just thought I'd let you know....spark plug cap came straight out with 2 screw drivers and some protective duct tape.

Rocker cover came straight off without a problem but left the rubber spark plug oil seal behind on the head, so thanks for the 'heads up' on that one

So its all back together....both cylinders running and my anal personality happy once again that all the scratches are gone!

Your advice was most appreciated

And i will certainly consider writing to Reeth Council....I specifically pushed my bike off the cobbles and onto the flat tarmac to avoid problems, not noticing the hole a couple of feet in front and to the left of where I was standing.

Cheers!

Steve
 
They land heavily when they go over :(

I dropped mine on the first day I had it. Left it idling on a dirt road that wasn't flat while I closed a farm gate, and it vibrated itself off the sidestand as I watched from 10M away.

New clutch lever @ $140...., so a cheaper experience than yours, but still felt pretty stupid it had happened.
 
Most of us have done it...my was cheap, slightly scuffed righthand rocker cover, and scuffed right pannier. Panier cleaned up ok, the other scuffs I left. tell people I got them on a trail in Nepal........ total material cost 0. Cost to pride..well a red face as it was in my own drive...
 
maybe engine bars and cylinder head covers....
as a vertically challenged woman, i have chucked my 1200 on the floor more times than i goin to admit.............and apart from the odd scratch on the engine bars and the hand guards..........i've done no damage...
maybe take if off the centre stand first then get on....i'll get me coat..:augie
 
Have you tried claiming off your contents insurance for your lid, if you have personal possesions and accidental damage cover?
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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