System case mounting hardware - how difficult?

[Dana in Philly]

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

[AZ-Twin]

Originally Posted by Dana in Philly

I kinda draw the line at torches.

LOL, Good one.

[Bob K.]

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

[slparry]

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

[PFFOG]

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

[TX_Biker_Scum]

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.

[bradzdotcom]

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.

[JimMoore]

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!

[Dana in Philly]

Originally Posted by JimMoore

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?

[bikerfish1100]

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.

[JimMoore]

Originally Posted by Dana in Philly

About $1,100 was the last quote I got for the cases and hardware. Eh? Not cheap, but stuff costs money, man.

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.