Great idea if your never going to leave you're 9T far from your eyeline ,but the day you can't see it your vulnerable to thieving bast*ards taking both you're seats for a walk
Obviously IMHO only as how often do you need to keep removing the rear seat as there's sh* t all space under your ars* purch is there ,but good for you

 

i need a spot I can access my registration. we don't mount them to the bike's exterior in Massachusetts, and i don't carry a wallet.

 

Fair doos path I know where to get some spare seats now Massachusetts you say

 

Great idea.

 

Im sure that handle is much easier than the Key wrench thats supplied, but I just keep the key on the same ring as the Bike key. Personally, I think they could have come up with a much better solution. Your solution with the knob, although not very secure, sure does make it easier.

 

Im sure that handle is much easier than the Key wrench thats supplied, but I just keep the key on the same ring as the Bike key........

The Instruction manual talks about a key wrench that is supplied, but I do not
appear to have been given one.
Unless it is stored under the seat as I have not lifted it yet :>)
Only discovered this fact when I started going thru the Instruction Manual.
Is this a USA "not issued"item like the dwA remote?
If possible, would like to know before I approach the Dealer.

Thanks,
Mike - West Palm Beach

 

that M4 or M6 ?

 

the bolt is an M6

...and where do you guy live where you worry about stolen seats?

lived in a city most of my life and never had a seat stolen, and 6 of those years were with a Buell that had its seat secured by a thumbscrew.

 

Thanks for that.
After bending my stock tool getting the seat off the first time, (Fritz must have use an air wrench) I was considering doing exactly what you did.

One caveat-Lubricate the bolt with a medium grease because the seat nut is aluminum and that combination will gall. This is what I think was happening on the new seat bolt.

I'm not really concerned that some is going to steal the seat or that really fancy tool kit that comes with the bike.

Now, off to Ace!

 

One caveat-Lubricate the bolt with a medium grease

anti-seize...i put that $h!t on everything!

 

Great idea! Thx for sharing.

 

No hacksaw needed:

 

No hacksaw needed: Amazon.com: 303 Stainless Steel Thumb Screw, Knurled Head, M6-1.0 Metric Coarse Threads: Industrial & Scientific

ok, thanks U22, that was a no brainer. You rock.

 

I think that you ordered the last one Karamazov. By the way, do you have the part number for the tail light adapter from Canada?

 

46 62 8 531 176

I think with taxes and shipping, I'm gonna be looking at $80 or so.

 

Another tool-less solution

Thanks for the awesome idea. I found this on Amazon. It works perfectly. Get the 25mm length.


https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/6482211/51a5Ct9jEhL._SL1500_.jpg

 

Great job Path, and for the naysayers and stealing seats to that I say BS. When your battery is dead, and it's dark outside, and you have to remove the seat to get to the jump terminals, with the stupid security key (which was a leftover from something as the pinned Torx not needed) Torx, the knob will be appreciated. For the more security minded, hey, go out and purchase the security Torx bolt so that you're safe from the people floating around with a set of standard Torx that can remove the seat.

 

Jpalamaro
Great for you but when they take your seats, and your ECU and your nice alloy tank ,what ya gunna do then apart from cry

 

Bose, not sure if that one little tamper proof screw is a real theft deterrent.
The wrench to remove it costs only 2 bucks!

If someone wants our tanks and ECU etc, they are surely gonna have it.
Thumbscrew or tamper proof screw. No different.

 

Apparently there are roving bands of thieving BMW parts specialists in the EU. Not so much of a problem in the US. ; )

 

Tis very true this is why my dog gaurds my bike
I'm only playing ,don't take it so seriously ,I may just get this thief helping bolt for my 9T ,just to oblige, and make it easier for them Ay

 

I DID read a pretty lengthy article last month about EU motorcycle theft. Way way worse than the USA. Sorry my overseas mates. BUT I did read that BMW was at the bottom of the list of theft brands.

 

..BUT I did read that BMW was at the bottom of the list of theft brands...

This may change with the nineT

...and the GS(A) is in the top 10 btw....

 

much more likely to have a complete bike stolen in the US than parts. parts theft just doesn't happen much (with the exception of bicycles).

anecdotally, i have travelled a lot, and it seems to me that petty theft happens more frequently in europe than it does in the states...you don't see gypsies targeting tourists on street corners.

true to reputation, americans are more likely to "go big" so to speak when it comes to taking something that belongs to others.

 

I made it to Ace hardware and bought a metric clamping knob 6mm. $2.99
Now you know what to call the part. It wasn't in the metric section , but next to the English measure clamping knobs.

I could have cut it off, but I found that it would be a lot easier to use if it protruded a little so I made two spacers from plexiglass that I cut using a hole saw.

I also chamferred the hole at the base of the seat so that insertion of the knob would be easier.

My picture doesn't show it, but I epoxied the spacers onto the knob so they wouldn't fall off.

 

I made it to Ace hardware and bought a metric clamping knob 6mm. $2.99
Now you know what to call the part. It wasn't in the metric section , but next to the English measure clamping knobs.

View attachment 4738

I could have cut it off, but I found that it would be a lot easier to use if it protruded a little so I made two spacers from plexiglass that I cut using a hole saw.

I also chamferred the hole at the base of the seat so that insertion of the knob would be easier.

My picture doesn't show it, but I epoxied the spacers onto the knob so they wouldn't fall off.

Ere, there's only one knob making himself one here
Don't be disrespectful or personal ,people may take offence

 

I got the Black anodized knurled knob from Amazon. Isn't it amazing how something so simple, can be such an improvement! Thanks for the great idea Path. (yes yes, grease. Forgot to put that on, headed to the garage to do that now)

 

BB- that is a great mod.

i think Bose is just taking the piss...he can't help himself. mention a "knob" to him and he blushes and twitters like a school girl.

 

I didn't comment on the mod just the name phrase Some take life far to seriously , now who could this be

 

This is a great idea, and thanks to the OP who came up with it. I used a slight variation and got a wing screw, because you can put a little more torque on it with just your fingers. Here's the link:

Edited because link was dead. This is the part description you need to get the J.W. Winco screw: GN 433-NI-34-M6-20-MT. It's a M6.0x1 thread pitch that has 20mm long threaded part. I've been using the one for years with never any problem so I just ordered another for my new to me scrambler. You can get more torque on it than just a knurled end. New link here: J.W. Winco link

P.S. If you are reading this, you are WAY into researching tool-less seat removal.

 

This is a great idea, and thanks to the OP who came up with it. I used a slight variation and got a wing screw, because you can put a little more torque on it with just your fingers. Here's the link:

item detail

Can you see this sticking down from seat from behind?

 

great idea there are so few of these motorcycles I doubt anyone is going to steal your seat or even know to look for the screw to begin with.

 

but ****, our stock tool kits are so tempting!

 

Excellent idea. Since I'm using the BMW tank bag frequently I have to remove the seat every time I mount it. Not a big deal, it's done very quickly and your idea makes it even more comfortable. By the way, I'm absolutely not concerned that someone could steal my seat. What should they do with a seat only? The nineT is anyhow sold out for this year

 

Just out of curiosity, why are you removing the seat every time you take off the bag? Do you remove the leather mounting base? I leave mine on permanently. It looks good and protects the tank from scratches.

 

Thanks!

 

I actually swap out the seats somewhat often, Custom pillion seat when my wife wants a ride, standard seat when I want to put the big rear BMW bag on. Otherwise, I generally leave the custom pillion seat on. The knurled knob makes it SO much easier. I pop a touch of lithium grease on the screw now and then.