<=== Prev Next ===>

I came back from Death Valley with my mind made up to switch from the stock BMW cases to something not made of plastic. I’ve not been 100% confident in the stock hardware since I lost a case on my way home from Gardnerville in 2005. I decided on the Touratech Zega 35L special set for the R1200 GS.

UPS brings toys

UPS brings toys
ISO 200   f/5.6   1/80   0 ev   41.0mm

Lots of bubble wrap

Lots of bubble wrap
ISO 200   f/5.6   1/30   0 ev   20.0mm

UPS brought me toys in a large cardboard box filled with more cardboard and bubble wrap. Nothing was missing. Nothing was bent, broken, or otherwise damaged.

Prepped GS

Prepped GS
ISO 200   f/7.1   1/80   0 ev   24.0mm

Zega components

Zega components
ISO 200   f/8.0   1/8   0 ev   17.0mm

Hardware and German Instructions

Hardware and German Instructions
ISO 200   f/5.6   1/10   0 ev   17.0mm

I’d prepped the GS by removing the luggage rack and the plastic luggage platform earlier. I took the time to give the newly exposed bits of metal and plastic a good cleaning while things were appart. I knew that removing those parts was necessary having found a PDF of the installation instructions on the Touratech USA site. This is a good thing as the instructions that came with the hardware were in German.

Brace position

Brace position
ISO 400   f/5.6   1/50   0 ev   26.0mm

Frame paint protection

Frame paint protection
ISO 400   f/5.6   1/160   0 ev   33.0mm

Brace installed

Brace installed
ISO 400   f/6.3   1/100   0 ev   47.0mm

The first step was to mount the brace. I put it in place to eyeball its location and then remove it to place a small strip of 3m film over the frame tubes to protect the paint where the brace could rub. The brace was then re-installed and the tail light wiring connector plugged back in. Then I made my only error… I should have put at least the lower section of the luggage platform back on the bike. I didn’t. This caused minor problems later.

<=== Prev Next ===>