Ilmberger Hugger Failure

[SLP]

Does anyone have any experience with this http://www.recchia-motos.com/produit.php?reference=3 hugger? I like the greater coverage and my wife is fluent in French so I'm toying with the idea, but this thread has me scared to put anything on -- I pick the bike up from the dealer this afternoon -- they called last night to let me know it was in .

Thank,
Sean

[198491132]

On hold - my purchase of the Ilmberger hugger. Looks good but I will watch carefully for future developments.

Dave

roger albert
Certainly didn't want to cause anyone to lose business. Neither Mitch nor Julius nor Robert. I'm really more worried about someone getting hurt than getting a couple hundred bucks back, or a new unit.

Over three months ago, I ordered one of the Ilmberger huggers from an on-line e-commerce site. I got a phone call yesterday, telling me that my hugger has arrived, "Do I still want it?"....

I must admit, this thread has put some serious doubt into my head about bolting this thing on. I'm kind of risk-aversive when it comes to the potential of danger due to no fault of my own...I think I might pass on the hugger, too.

[Rapid Dog]

Holy Shmokes!
Alot has happened since 5pm yesterday here!
I'm agree "we" shouldn't make a Federal case out of this issue. The repercussions on good peeps like Mitch are unfair. He is providing a product we all desired...and I am sure the folks at Limberger will get the drift.
This is not an inexpensive item I might add.

That said, I checked out my hugger last night. It must be an improved model ( looks like dated 3/02) with no structural, mounting or clearance problems.
But future failure may still be imminent.
To put a bandaid on an possible rubbing, I still put some rubber seal material in the arm on the caliper side. There is about 1/8" clearance there...



Maybe a waste of time but an ounce is an ounce.
If the twisting that happens when the bike goes thru that roughrpm range is gooing ti fatigue the arm, then it will break anyhow. Perhaps they should have used stainless instead of ..(aluminum?).

I've always maintained that BMW should have provided at least an optional plastic mold hugger. I'd buy one. I figure it should be in the $50-$100 range max.
Let's get one made!
Any takers?

[boxercup]

Greetings,

This should not be labeled as a "Federal case", just a safety alert and the quest for more information both from the end-users and the manufacturer. There are a lot of Ilmbergers on the road, let us all have a look! There will be many at the MOA, I'm sure.

Remember the quote from the US Ilmberger rep:

"Both Ilmberger and myself offer NO Warranty whatsoever for these parts. The reason being we cannot account for possible abuse, which owners from all over the map may inflict on their respective bikes both intentional or non intentional".

Key word, "non-intentional." Does that mean normal everyday use, the kind the "S" is designed for?

This is what I mean about the power of this board. I am in process of returning over $3500.00 to clients alone, due to concerns that I have over a possible safety issue with this Ilmberger hugger and a most recient conversation with Mitch Herman (Ilmberger US distributor.)

I see that other people do not want to be a crash test dummy also!

Robert

[Rapid Dog]

Good man Boxercup.
I wonder if you can help convince other distribyers (i.e.dealers) to do the same.
Maybe an information e-mail would be in order.
I bought mine from Santa Cruz BMW.
I hate to see this happen to Limberger, but there definately seems to be a design flaw.
bummer...

[boxercup]

Greetings Rapid Dog,

The only convincing that I am after is to assure the owners of the Ilmberger Huggers; that they are OK, or that they should be removed for safety issues.

We have enough trouble on the road contending with the bad drivers, poor roads and such. We should not get hurt from a self-inflicted event.

Cheers,

Robert

[The Woody]

Thanks to you all for the information on Ilmberger Huggers, I am new to this site. I was just about to order one of these Huggers, I won't be now. Anyone heard of Carbo-Tech Huggers?

Cheers,

Woody

[Joe]

Wow..........I thought it was a good product. FWIW I have over 30,000mi. on mine. I'll have to take a closer look to see if anything detrimental is visible.

[roger albert]

I'd recommend doing so Joe. It's not a new topic, so I looked mine over carefully (magnifying glass) at the last tire change. NO problem. Appeared fine. This week's tire change and inspecition yielded a much different result.

Overall, to be fair, I think it's a very good design. I've studied composite materials a lot informally, and a bit in college, and LOT while helping out my best friend during PhD work (focused on composite materials in automotive applications - which invariably requires attachement to metal)
Anyway, I'm no true expert compared to him, but I have a fair feel for things

My point is that the hugger has some very good design elements. The attachement to metal is a typical weak point where cracking a fracture occur where stresses are concentrated. This design works around that by molding the material (a relatively large % of total area) arounnd the metal arm. That instantly grabbed my attention. Using the existing caliper mounts was nice too.

Ironically, the purely metal part ended up being the weak point. Seat of the pants design (no FEA etc) is good about 95% of the time. Didn't work here.

I'm not convinced the slight reshaping will eliminate all the failures, but rather more likely will delay them. but, I don't KNOW that and am NOT claiming that. Sharing a hunch and a fairly educated guess.

Aluminum is fairly interesting in fatigue. Even a small increase in thickness can reduce the vibration amplitude enough that fatigue is radicall reduced. All but eliminated.

If the arm was changed to slightly thicker aluminum and the stresses at that bend were reduced by a longer radius or polishing or the material changed to Ti, I'd buy another in a heartbeat. It is a very good design with one (hopefully just figuratively) fatal flaw. A slightly lower-quality-appearing, but functionally identical version with a lighter/thinner CF structure would help to.

Cool looking and (mostly) working design, but be careful.

The whole topic of warranty is one (relatively unimportant) thing. The safety issue quite another.

later Joe (and all)

[Daniel Restrepo]

im scared to put mine on.

[tominator]

That why BMW never made one for the s...huge liability!

Tomas

[ckcarr]

Originally posted by Daniel Restrepo
im scared to put mine on.

Would you put one on a GS? (I don't know). Seems it could get ripped to shreds though with mild off road.