[thompcat]

On US models, BMW has installed a charcoal canister to capture any fuel overfill. This is an EPA requirement but BMW's solution is a really bad design. This video does an excellent job of explaining why and how to remove this unnecessary assembly of parts. Aside from it interfering with installation of some aftermarket shocks and exhaust systems, it is basically crap and looks crap too.

This link speaks specifically to the solenoid that opens the valve when the engine is running. (this is the part you see Chris in the video pull off and chuck to "clean things up" as he put it. No fault codes will be generated as its a simply on/off switch.
Charcoal canister solanoid - BMW R1200GS Forum : R1200 GS Forums

And here is a nice PDF that provides a bit more detail in the pics.
[No longer available]

 

[Bonkorama]

Fantastically awesome video. Thanks Thom!

Canister coming off my RT soon.

 

[zugvogel]

I just removed the canisters from both my 1200GSA and 1100R which was pretty straight forward. On the 2007 GSA it was mounted on the left side next to the rear spring which I would assume is the only location where they could put it on the NineT.
My buddy has a 2009 GSA on which they had to move the canister forward, right, behind the front fork under the tank. I assume this will not work on the NineT so the big question is: where will they put it?
I have not seen any picture yet on which you could locate the darn thing.
Has anyone seen a US spec bike with the canister mounted?

 

[AzEinstein]

I just removed the canisters from both my 1200GSA and 1100R which was pretty straight forward. On the 2007 GSA it was mounted on the left side next to the rear spring which I would assume is the only location where they could put it on the NineT.
My buddy has a 2009 GSA on which they had to move the canister forward, right, behind the front fork under the tank. I assume this will not work on the NineT so the big question is: where will they put it?
I have not seen any picture yet on which you could locate the darn thing.
Has anyone seen a US spec bike with the canister mounted?

I was told at the show the can would be right under the seat and that is why the dropped the high Akropovic silencer, the can took up part of the mounting area the silencer used

 

[zugvogel]

ah, that's why we won't get the high exhaust, that's right. This mounting location is good as it makes it very easy to remove the canister.

 

[Maverick]

I get nervous removing parts like this in the case of a problem occurring and the warranty not being recognized. Is this an issue I should be worried about?

 

[zugvogel]

it is easy to put back on and as long as you leave the ECV (valve) plugged into the power line and just plug off the two ports on it the ECU and the dealer will never know it was ever off.

But also I can not imagine that this would have any impact on the warranty whatsoever since the US bikes are the only ones worldwide to have them fitted. But then again, a lawyer might not care about that...

 

[path]

I get nervous removing parts like this in the case of a problem occurring and the warranty not being recognized. Is this an issue I should be worried about?

i do not know where you are from, but in Massachusetts, the burden is on the manufacturer to demonstrate a modification caused a failure that voids a warranty.

seeing as the charcoal canister is a merely a catch can for fuel overflow, i have trouble thinking of a failure that could be attributable to its removal.

 

[gerry]

If in doubt, the manufacturer is always in the better position. I would do no technical modification in the warranty period.

 

[penner]

i can imagine lots of folks are going to be removing the canister.

 

[phillippeterson]

i can imagine lots of folks are going to be removing the canister.

The canister is coming off my bike as the second mod after first removing the fork reflectors.

 

[AAL]

I've removed the canister on a couple of Ducatis and a couple of Harleys I've owned, but never noticed any performance difference.

 

[path]

If in doubt, the manufacturer is always in the better position. I would do no technical modification in the warranty period.

in Europe there can be no question...this is good advice

 

[thompcat]

If you go to the parts diagram for any bike you are working with, you can usually get enough info to figure out how to eliminate this added on part. Its not that hard when you understand its an extra loop in a otherwise simple system. The electronic control unit is a simple switch that ensures the valve only opens when the engine is on and running. No manufacturer could honestly claim that eliminating this redundant sub system would cause a problem to the machine's normal functioning.

 

[frank]

I removed my fork reflectors today...nothing needed, just grab with your thumb and finger and pull it off...then rub the little bit of residue off with you thumb - you can't tell they were ever there...

 

[phillippeterson]

I removed my fork reflectors today...nothing needed, just grab with your thumb and finger and pull it off...then rub the little bit of residue off with you thumb - you can't tell they were ever there...

Yayyy !! So glad to hear it.

 

[mikeo]

Yayyy !! So glad to hear it.

Makes that leg feel better already, eh?

 

[path]

got my charcoal canister off today. it can be done surprisingly easily if you don't mind taking the easy route...all you need is 12" of PVC tubing and a zip tie. just unplug the harness (no lights or faults on the dash), pop on a vacuum cap, and add a small piece of tubing (potentially repurposing the piece that attaches to the intake)

of course i never do anything the easy way, so i removed the tank, replaced the old overflow line with a new one, and found a good place to zip tie the connector for the solenoid that attaches to the canister.

i kept all the pieces just in case, but i can't picture reusing them.

got the pigtail for my battery tender hooked up too.

time to fire up the grill and relax. 80 degrees F and sunny today in beautiful Massachusetts.

 

[path]

stupid canister:

 

[thompcat]

+1 What a mess of useless parts.