So, last week I received longer 12.9 bolt. Just what I wanted. I was confident because the 12.9 strength is what BMW recommends. Installed the bolt and, as it was longer, secured it with locknut at the other end. I was full with confidence as I saw no way the bolt could work its way out now. And it was true. For more thn a week I was checking the bolt that I marked with permanent marker to see if it moved. And it really didn't. Today, on one speed hump I heard wiered metal noise from the rear wheel. On the next speed hump it was there again. I stopped and my first suspition was the bolt. I looked at it... Well, it didn't move but the hugger was shattered arround it.
So, this is the point where my saga with rear hugger ends. Removed everything and put back original BMW bolts back in. I'm sad as this is going to be my first bike without rear hugger. Well... I have Mudsling there so I'll learn to live without it.
As a final note, there was something I noticed when I was putting BMW bolts back in. The bolts I ordered, twice, were expensive, 12.9 tensile, just per BMW recommendation. When I have removed them today, the bigger one and the smaller one, I noticed that as soon as I made a half turn the rest of the way they went out by hand. When I was putting the BMW ones, they went in just a few turns by hand and then all the rest of the way I needed ratchet and they were resisting. I remember when I removed them for the first time the needed the use of ratchet too, almost all the way. So, I guess there is still something particular in those OEM bolts.
