Intro and hugger question
 

Hi, I've been lurking about for the last week since I picked up a nice '99 R1100S. I'm a long time BMW rider (first was a new '73 R75/5) and also have an '03 R1150RT that I've put 57k miles on since new, so I'm familiar with things in general, but never paid much attention to the R11S before.

My question: My S has nothing to keep the grunge off the rear shock. I've read about the Ilmberger Hugger and know that there is a small carbon fiber shield from BMW. I'm leaning toward the hugger, but I'm not confident that I know all my options.

So,... what is the group's wisdom on this issue?

I have a Pyramid that has been on my S for over two years. The only problem was some play in the mounting holes. I shimmed it using some aluminum. I have heard the nightmare stories (only the illenburger though) but mine is fine so far.

Welcome to the board (bored)! There are some brilliant, if self-righteous members, that provide lots of info deeply embedded in their opinions. I have gotten great tech tips and saved lots of time, money too!

Welcome k100rs !
SmileWavy

about your question : this Ilmberger hugger does the job just fine !

Ron.

Geoff

There have been some failures of Ilmburger wit unpleasant results but I think most of the few failures were early production. The later ones should not have as much to worry about. There's one on mine.

Jim

I've had the Ilmberger for the last five years and I'm still very happy with it. SmileWavy As an alternative you might want to look at this too: Ilmberger copy

That is made of fibre glass unlike the Ill-burger CF part, but it's alot cheaper too.

i prefer the sexy look of the Ilmberger, but after numerous horror stories of unpredictable failures (not just of the early production units, btw), i went to the Pyramid.
available in CF or Plastic. i have a CF version, and i have seen some discoloration and slight chipping occur during 1 yr of usage. still prefer that to one that might catastrophically fail on me. it's a better fit for your 5.0" wheel than for the newer 5.5", btw. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1122900259.jpg
available here: http://www.streetfightersbydesign.com/streetweb/pyramid_page/bmw/R1100S.htm

I've had the Ilmberger on for a year now. No problems. Best looking IMHO.

> There have been some failures of Ilmburger wit unpleasant results but I think most of the few failures were early production.

That is NOT true. Failures across multiple generations documented.

I would like to know what area the failure accured. I`m not questioning the point, but it is hard to believe, that as strong as cf is, in a non stress application it would fail. I have one and love it. My neighbor(rider, auto racer, also and a good friend) is the ceo of composite resourses a company based in rock hill s.c. and has remarked how well built it looks. I`ll ask him what he thinks and if this is a safety concern we all need to know. I feel sorry for the poor fools flying on the new airbus A-380 when it comes out, it has a cf wing, center and outer.

Regards,
Lane

if you do a search on "ilmberger failure" on this site, you will find a variety of threads on it. (that's a very subtle & polite hint to learn to D.I.Y)
here's one to get you started.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=82119&highlight=ilmberg er+failure
the problem does not seem to be the CF itself, but something in the bond between the CF and the mounting material.

Hallo k100rs, and welcome to the asylum!!! SmileWavy

I had a imbeger that failed on me, so I bought a shock sock from traxion dynamics. Cheap and effective.

Don't get the Ilmberger, on top of being a piece of crap their CS is as good as the BMWNA's one!

k100rs - is your main concern just keeping junk off the rear shock? $14.95 gets you a Shock Sox from Traxxion Dynamics (sponsors of Nate Kern's racing 1100S here on the East Coast). I have one, it goes on in two seconds and when it gets dirty, I take it off and wash it. Velcro keeps the sock wrapped around the spring. They'll ask you what length the rear shock is and I forget what the rear spring length is on the 100S - do a SEARCH here on the subject and somewhere you'll see my original post and I report there which length sox to get.

I just checked my huger arm and it appears to be cf all the way to the two mounting holes with no metal. I did a mag check nothing, and then the tap test did not sound like it had any metal. The tap test is how you check for fatigue in aircraft cf(that`s scary). My brother inlaw worked on harriers in the marine corp when he told me that I did not believe him. I have some basic metallurgical training from the military and we used eddie current and dye penetrant, both are very effective.
And welcome aboard Geoff, sorry for the tangent but you brought up a very important topic. Thanks

Lane

Hey there K-dude, welcome...where's your best source/forum for the R1150RT info?

I seriously doubt, but don't KNOW, that the current huggers have no metal in them, though it would be nice, and if true, great news.

The old ones were aluminum armed and thus wouldn't respond to a magnet. The alum is also where the cracking occured. The CF was usually fine until it got wedged between the swingarm and wheel, or went under the tire, or skidding down the roadway. :)

The late Ilmbergers use CF further and further down the arm, and do, anecdotally, seem to fail less. The problem seems lessened, but not improved.

Besides the threads mentioned above, others of us switched to sox a long time ago, and mine at least, has held up fine. Better/faster/lighter/cheaper. A rare combination

I have had an Ilmberger mounted for 2.5 yrs or so. No problems so far. I did check the clearance between the hugger and the stock BMW shock thingy and found that the hugger and the thingy would definitely collide. IMHO this may have been the culprit in several failures. People say not, but ... In any event, I check it carefully before each ride -- along w/ tire press.

Thanks everybody for all the hugger info and other options.

I think I'll use a sock or make a simple shield akin to the original BMW piece, but out of platic or rubber, just something to protect the shock shaft from road grit off of the rear tire.

Someone asked about a source for info on the BMW RT. I suggest the IBMWR mailing list www.ibmwr.org or www.bmwrt.com.

...I inspected my Ilmberger hugger too ; looks fine, no crakking what so ever.
...BTW I think when this product should be total crap, they wouldn't dare to sell it.
...and this (or any other) hugger is not only keeping the dirt out of your shock ; it keeps also the rest of the bike nice and shiny.

Ron.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1122962827.jpg

...I removed this black plastic shock thingy...

RonL.

ron- the problem with the Ilmbergers is that when they did crack, there appeared to be no advance warning whatsoever. i remember at least one post that went something like "was fine when i checked it before i left, but 1 hr later it locked up my rear wheel as it broke." i wasn't willing to take that chance for mere money.

….hmmm bikerfish, your reply give me an unpleasant feeling !

R:(N

better an unpleasant feeling on this board, then an unpleasant feeling when you get bucked off the bike.

...I know...

I myself like the elegant styling of the ilmberger, but I also wanted the peace of mind while driving around w/ one, so I strengthened the aluminum connecting arm as depicted in this past thread: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=181380&highlight=ilmber ger+fix

I hope that link works...SmileWavy

Schneller

The new design it totaly different. It would have been nice if they had done this the first time. Look at Ron`s (RoLoo) pic a few post back, that is the new design. Sometimes new products fail, it has happened in aviation as well, the end result was different though, everybody died.

Lane

Lane ;...does it mean that I have nothing to fear ??

Ron.

actually Lane, if you look at Ron's pic, it shows to be the same setup as previous versions. Illmberger attaches to brake mounts with metal band (which clearly continues into body of hugger)- not 100% CF.
the Pyramid one that I have is 100% CF- no bonded metal.

> The new design it totaly different.

If you think that at all, then you havent' looked at both.
They are virtually identical designs with slight shape and cladding changes, unless my eyes are significantly deceiving me. Not that that might not be enough, but I think it's very misleading to call them totally different.

Been happy with the Carbo-Tech unit for over 6 years now. I think its still available?

I have seen both and they are different. Ron I am getting in touch w/Ilmberger to get the facts. Will keep you imformed.

Lane

Lane- just a word of caution- the "facts" from Ilmberger will NOT correspond with the experiences of multiple board members.

facts from Ilmberger is a questionable idea.
They've definitely distorted the record in the past.
Claimng only two known failures, when more people than that (a lot more) from this list alone had reported them.
I LOVE the look of the Ilmberger, but their quality and truthfulness would be questionable, if not for the fact that they're obviously shoddy.