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Luis' 2018 Roadster

26766 Views 100 Replies 20 Participants Last post by  laalves
19
So I got mine in Feb 2018 with 1 km on the odo after waiting from Oct 2017 when I placed my order:



Specc'ed it with ASC, heated grips and alarm, so basic stuff.

She looked like this:

Just like all others….

Then I bought the single seater stuff, including a flat aluminium hump:


Next stage was Rizoma: black Eccentrico mirrors, black front Club indicators and rear black Club S indicators/lights, PT706B plate holder, right chassis plug. A bit of Wünderlich, with the stand extender and spikes and front fork and paralever sliders and a bit of BMW with black valve covers and matching black plastic protectors.



In the mean time I also got the BMW soft black side bags that I use to go shopping for groceries as well as BMW radiator cowlings in brushed aluminium.

Last week I painted the hump, snorkel cover, throttle body cover and ignition cover in black storm metallic from RS Motorbike Paints.




Today a lovely package showed up and inside there were a BMW machined handlebar clamp, BMW brushed aluminium side covers and the lovely BMW adjustable footrests as well as the rear footrests for when my son is riding pillion..

I started with the handlebar cover, and used tie-wraps to secure the handlebar before I removed it:


Love it, it’s in plain sight while riding. I disguised the heinous “By Roland Sands Design” with 3M black tape. Might end up painting altogether. I would get more of these parts if it wasn’t for that intrusive branding. The belt cover looks great but that stupid branding…. I would never buy, as it can’t be disguised.

Then the footrests. First remove the original ones:

In plain sight, the Rizoma plug. Can’t understand why BMW put in a plastic cover on the left and then left the bolts visible on the right. And the hole itself, looks as if it’s half painted only. Ridiculous.
Apply a new footrest:

Removing the pins that hold the microswitch to the old footrest was a pain. Had I known, I would have bought a new microswitch. Again, the instructions are ridiculous: they say to “remove the pins using an appropriate tool”, yeah right. That’s impossible, I had to surgically drill their heads to then slide the microswitch through the beheaded pins.
The other side:

In both photos, they are already set to my taste: full down (cramps…) and slightly back to stay away from my trousers when I put my feet down on traffic lights.
And in compliance with Euro4, they fold!:


Then for the brushed side covers. The rear holders come in a really weird colour, more or less white. Another stupid design choice so I painted them black storm metallic but didn’t apply clear coat, left it satin as it is a great match for the frame:


Hardware is ready:

In this photo all the bits have the per instructions thick protective tape. I had to remove that tape from the front brackets otherwise they wouldn’t fit in the frame. I don’t think they actually test run these instructions…
And here is the left, easiest one:

The front brackets disappear under the hose but the rear ones are very visible, particularly if left in their original, whitish weird colour. Like this, in black, they’re passable.

On the right, that was another story, and again it seems the parts are made for another bike: the outer (visible) rear bracket would not fir, because there is a solder seam right where it would go.
So, some cutting was required:

The weird thing in the forefront is a vacuum cleaner tube to suck the shavings.

End product:

Tomorrow I’ll try to do some under the sun shots and will post them here.

Next mod: Puig chassis plugs to hide and protect some of the recessed bolt heads. I will apply a layer of vaseline before I plug them for extra corrosion protection.

Then I’m considering the BMW brake and clutch machined levers and the single Akra. Let’s see….
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Great build thread! Thanks for sharing. A very similar looking breast plate can be bought from ebay and doesn't have any branding. I've fitted it to my bike and it looks great. The quality of the one I got was also high, especially considering the price!
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Great styling choices. Airbox plate/covers in brushed silver complements the existing contrast.
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Great build thread! Thanks for sharing. A very similar looking breast plate can be bought from ebay and doesn't have any branding. I've fitted it to my bike and it looks great. The quality of the one I got was also high, especially considering the price!
Yes, they seem nice but I have to say that I don't like to support chinese knockoffs, it just encourages them to keep on doing it. Once in Shanghai, I saw a car that I thought initially to be a Range Rover Evoque but upon closer inspection, it said "Land Wind". A full-car knockoff. Disgusting :(
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I don't like to support chinese knockoffs, it just encourages them to keep on doing it. :(
I'm with you on this - and I go further and resist supporting products where styling cues were obviously *inspired from competition.
Great styling choices. Airbox plate/covers in brushed silver complements the existing contrast.
Yes, they are expensive but look very stylish and the finish is very, very good. It is of the exact same quality and appearance as the brushed part of the tank. I chose to paint the snorkel and my aluminium hump (I know there is a brushed one but made a mistake when I bought it) because they didn't match the other (brushed) aluminium parts.

I toyed with the idea of brushing and clear coating the snorkel but wasn't convinced I could do a matching finish.
Yes, they are expensive but look very stylish and the finish is very, very good.
Which mfg/part is it? I had contemplated that from Back Motocyclettes and still considering.
Which mfg/part is it? I had contemplated that from Back Motocyclettes and still considering.
BMW original accessories!

Radiator covers: 77128564926 + 77128564925 + 2 torx screws 07129907403

Side covers come as a set: 77318394222

Other BMW bits I installed:

Handlebar clamp - machined 77252455641
Front footrest right 77258394588
Front footrest left 77258394587
Pillion footrest set 77252452955
Great build! Coming together piece by piece. I really like the handlebar clamp!
Thanks for sharing
Nice!
Thanks for sharing this ...
You've inspired me ... I've had the side covers on my to do list for a while ... time to get them ordered and follow your suggestion about painting the mounting clips.
Thanks again for the write up @laalves .. I installed my frame covers yesterday.
Didn't get any instructions so your guide really helped!
Sprayed the brackets black like you did ...
Broke one of the little clips .. but didn't have to do any drilling to get the front bracket mounted - guess the weld seams that got in the way for you weren't there for me.
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And today I added LSL Tour Match clipons.

The kit comes with blanks to cover the handlebar riser holes but I didn't manage to remove the pins in the fork bridge:

128165


So off the covers went to the mill:

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I milled a square(ish) slot:

128167


Interestingly, when I removed the instrument/bracket/fork bridge assembly, I found a missing screw:

128168


I put on a new screw and used thread lock in all of them, hoping that helps preventing them from falling off in the future.

I cut bits of the bracket, hoping that would help pull the clipons up to the bridge but it didn't work out. In the photo above, the saw marks can be seen on the edges. I might try again, put smaller headed screws instead on the outer positions and remove more material. Or I might even remove that whole section and open threaded holes on the bridge on more inboard locations and relocate the outer screws there. Then there should be space to bring the clipon brackets up agains the bridge.

Anyway, she now looks like this:

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On order, black Luismoto seat covers, transverse threads with grey stitches.

I'm going also to experiment with black exhaust wrap to see if I like the looks.
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And today I added LSL Tour Match clipons.
Looks good, any problems routing the cables? Had a chance to ride it yet?
Looks great - nice job. I'll be interested to know how you make out with black pipe wrap - I've been toying with that idea myself but I've read many posts about the black fading quickly, and also that it's a real PITA to install - fiberglass dust everywhere, and also gets ratty looking over time. Right now I'm leaning towards not bothering for those reasons, so please post anything related to this.

I also had a hard time trying to remove the rear brake micro switch and ended up breaking it trying to remove it. Now I have to buy another.
Looks good, any problems routing the cables? Had a chance to ride it yet?
Routing not really, the right side cables I widened the curve down the headlight. On the left side, the bundle presses against the headlight, which I don't like much although doesn't appear to be a problem. Am still trying to figure out what to do, if anything.

Tonight I'm having a go at pulling up the clipon brackets against the bridge by modifying the instrument bracket further. This should reduce the angle of the bundle and reduce the rubbing against the headlight. Will report on this.
Looks great - nice job. I'll be interested to know how you make out with black pipe wrap - I've been toying with that idea myself but I've read many posts about the black fading quickly, and also that it's a real PITA to install - fiberglass dust everywhere, and also gets ratty looking over time. Right now I'm leaning towards not bothering for those reasons, so please post anything related to this.

I also had a hard time trying to remove the rear brake micro switch and ended up breaking it trying to remove it. Now I have to buy another.
The wrap I got is made by an American company called DEI, Design Engineering: https://designengineering.com/black-titanium-exhaust-wrap/ and looks like a better quality than a gazillion ones that are available in ebay. Let's see how it goes... There's also the option of painting it with HT paint to ensure it stays black.
Yes, I bought a roll of stuff from BAAK Motorcycles in France - it looks like the good quality stuff too, but I'm still unsure. Let me know how it goes - I will be interested to know if you get a lot of fibers when you install it. I thought about the same thing - painting the wrap if it fades - is that what you mean? Not sure how that would turn out. The thing too is - if it doesn't turn out, the original chrome finish is probably pooched - no going back!
I thought about the same thing - painting the wrap if it fades - is that what you mean? Not sure how that would turn out. The thing too is - if it doesn't turn out, the original chrome finish is probably pooched - no going back!
DEI has this specific product: https://designengineering.com/hi-temp-silicone-coating-spray/
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