System case mounting hardware - how difficult?
 

I'm thinking about ordering the complete part set for system cases and the mounting hardware for my R1100S. Is this something a semi-intelligent woman can do herself?

I know what a socket wrench is. I've burrowed under the fuel tank and changed the battery on this bike. I've changed fork springs, neutral switches, and all kinds of other stuff on a K1100RS a few years back. So I'm not afraid of it. I kinda draw the line at torches.

I guess the question is, how much dis-assembly of the tail section is required, and how intelligible are the instructions. There are instructions, right?

TIA

LOL, Good one.

Not bad at all. I took mine off to repaint. No big deal. If you can change oil, you'll do fine!

ditto, I fitted a set recently to mine and they're easy enough

Pretty easy for the most part, just need some basic tools, and dexterity in your fingers

Before starting the install, check to see that bolts freely thread into the 4 steel inserts in the tail piece (2 on left, 2 on right). My tailpiece had rust in the threads and the bolts siezed up in them almost immediately. A thread tap and some oil might be needed to clean up those threads if they've been sitting open and unused for several years. I would also recommend some anti-sieze paste on these particular bolts when installing them.

so...as you can see, it's not difficult to do.

it is, however, much more fun and quite entertaining for friends, if you use the torch.

I took mine off and put them back on a few months ago. Simple. That said, have you looked at the price of those things? Ouch!

About $1,100 was the last quote I got for the cases and hardware. Eh? Not cheap, but stuff costs money, man. I hear the dollar's strengthening, so maybe the price'll come down a bit too.

Who's your favorite BMW discount parts shipper?

these guys appear to be a popular option. Moto-bins - BMW Spare Parts and Accessories for Motorcycles - Index
otherwise, many local dealers will give a discount if you're an AMA, MOA or local MOA club member.

Actually that's not as bad as I thought. Btw, the cool part about the S bags is the underseat exhaust means you'll have a full bag on both sides. You'll be the envy of your lopsided oilhead friends.

Btw, don't forget there is also a lower bracket on each side. It extends up and back from the passenger footpegs.