BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

After visiting the Alpaca ranch last night, I discovered the rear tire (Bridgestone OEM) was screwed, literally. Big ole' drywall screw just off the square center of my 3000 or so mile tire. The owner of the ranch graciously offered the use use of his barn and tools and also took me to a tire shop some miles down the road for a quick plug and go. (No receipt, no guarantee, we never saw you!) This little episode made 2 things crystal clear. 1. The OEM Bridgestone tires SUCK. Poor wear, flimsy construction (not blaming the tire for the screw) and not too great handling in the conditions here in North Idaho. 2. The piss poor excuse for a "tool" kit found under the seat in the RR. I don't know why they even bother. I remember back to my R75/7 having a similar experience at midnight in the rain north of Pt. Mugu. I was able to easily remove, repair and replace the rear wheel, all with the factory supplied equipment under the seat of that bike. This bike, not even close. Had I not had the advantage of the ranchers barn and tools, I'd be walking. Taught me a lesson, not remembering my cell phone, and more importantly not packing the real tool kit http://www.advdesigns.net/ulcobmwr1gsg.html I bought for this bike some months ago. Yeah, I know, I'm a pinhead.

Even better having a tire plug kit with you at all times, won't help in all senarios (sidewall problems) but in 20-30 minutes you can plug a tire and be back on the road.


Dave

The tool kit with the 12 is sad. Nothing like what came with my K75. The first thing I did was go get some Torx bits and a ratchet so one could remove the rear wheel on the road. Harbor Freight has an extending ratchet that that is 3/8ths on one side and 1/4 on the other, and the handle pulls out for leverage. The best part is after I trimmed a 1/4 inch of the plastic grip, it fit under my seat with the tool kit. Now I need to get or make the tool for the front wheel.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=98802



BTW, my 09 came with Continentals, not Bridgestones. Did they ship with both?

Scott

My 09 came with Metzler Z6s. Perfectly good tires, but my new Michelin PR2s are better, IMO.

What kind of Bridgestone? I've changed may tires and found their construction to be very sturdy. Wear is another story depending on which kind of tire.

I totally agree with the absolutely terrible tool kit that comes with BMWs these days.

http://www.motorsports-network.com/acru ... /rtb12.jpg

"RoadTech™ B1 Tool Kit for BMWs®"

This kit's pretty good, comes with Loctite and WD40! Make loose things tight, and tight things loose...

Needs a little augmentation here and there, but a read good start.

Peter

So, Saturday I paid for the privilege of allowing Cycle Gear to scratch my rear rim mounting a new Michelin Pilot 2 that replaced my worn and flat Bridgestone BT018. Live and learn. So today, I was able to replace the not so worn but still square front. Again my disgust at the OEM joke for a toolkit. But, because I had the kit I referenced above, I had the tools required to do it. Not as elegant to remove and reinstall the wheel as my old R75 airhead, but OK. So next problem, breaking the bead. An old piece of pipe and a chunk of 2x4 solved that problem nicely. A few pieces of split nylon hose to protect the rim, and all is well! What a difference! No more riding on the edge, then falling into the turn. Gotta love new skins!

whitelightning wrote: Gotta love new skins!

+1. As a rule - ANY brand of new tire is better than ANY brand of a worn tire.