Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

Tool tubes?

also if I am correct, Chris. At Flying Brick can supply a tool box that mounts behind the number plate which is quite discreet

Thanks David, busy looking on their website now, but will give Chris a call in the morning.

Cheers

T

If you lift up the bck seat (the pillion's seat) there is a lot of space. I store my puncture kit with 6 CO2 bombs, all of my sockets/torx tools, gloves, earplugs, beadbreaker etc etc. Lift the seat and see. You can store right up the the rear tail light. Just be sure to zip lock bag anything you dont want to get wet as it's not 100% waterproof in there. Tool tubes just get in the way IMO

Wow! didn't realise there was that much space available. Don't have the new bike yet so can't check, but will have a look when I get it later this week.

My tools are in a cordura bag and have survived well under the 800 seat so I guess they'll be fine under the pillion seat of the 1200.

Thanks for the advice Rob, much appreciated.

Hi Rob, I've taken delivery of my bike and looked under the rear seat, but I don't see the kind of space you're talking about. Perhaps something has changed with the model,revision? I see a space behind the rear seat up to the tail lamp, but it's all out in the open and not ideal as whatever I store there will be visible to prying eyes. Also, I would have to figure out a way to secure it in there.

can you take a photo of the tools under your seat so,I can see and compare?

i tried to,fit the toolbag from my 800 under this seat but it won't fit in there, so our bikes might be slightly different.

Also looking forward to the picture... not seeing any space under my LC's pillion seat...

Hi,

Herewith the link to the "Master of Space utilization", Andyman's P/Point manual. I fitted this to my GS LC, specifically to always have my pump and puncture kit with me. I had to retrofit a support, as obviously I don't have the pannier brackets of the GSA to fix it to, but it's all good and works perfect. I can definitely endorse Andy's patent.

http://bmwmotorradclubcape.co.za/sites/bmwmotorcycleclubcape.co.za/files...

"Is your man a Andyman?" - That is brilliant!! 

Thanks for this solution Dudley (and Andy). At this stage I'm leaning towards getting the BMW side cases because I don't ride off-road, unless 'normal' gravel roads are classed as off-road, and even then I prefer the tar if it's available!

So this solution might not work for me, but it's interesting to see the innovative solutions coming out.

I'm probably going to attach a tool tube to the LHS frame at the back, underneath the cases and that will hold all my stuff. The rest will go into the top box or tank bag or wherever. If all else fails there's roadside assistance LOL!

The box under the number plate looks like it would prevent the number plate lamp from illuminating the number plate at night? Could be an advantage :)

Looked at those plastic side cases on Saturday but didn't like them. I'm rather going to fit racks and use the aluminium side panniers. Then I will be in a position to do Andyman's Pelican case mod behind the number plate. Will probably also fit a tool tube or small toolbox behind the LHS bracket. That should give me all the space I need and I quite like the idea of having a small first aid kit available on the bike.

Some good advice on this forum, thanks Guys!

One of our marshals recently bought this box from Macro for around R300.

Hi Guys

I've had a go at fitting the small 1120 Pelican case to my bike today. I stopped short of drilling the case because it doesn't fit nicely and I may need to return it. The handle of the case prevents the box from positioning high enough to reach the number plate mounting bolt holes, and it also obscures the red reflector at the same time. Clearly I need to make another plan here and am now looking for a suitable piece of plate, preferably aluminium or stainless, so I can drill the holes exactly where I want them and fit the box properly.

I can make it work by moving the box down, so the reflector will still be visible. Very important safety feature! Not to mention the roadworthy issue.

Dudley, I will contact you by email to see if we could meet so I can see what yours looks like in the flesh.

Has anyone else done this mod on an LC and if so, did you encounter any difficulties like I am seeing now?

I'm still concerned that by fitting this box, I'm making my bike un-roadworthy, because the number plate lamp will be too far back to illuminate the number plate. Anyone been pulled over for this yet?

Hi Trevor,

I removed the handle with a hack saw. Once the box is fitted, t's not as if you are going to use the handle again. I also had a metal plate fitted to support/strengthen the fixture. This was done by Jandre Koekemoer, who is in Bellville and works on BMW's - advertises on this forum as JK Works. I work in Parow and live in Durbanville and you are welcome to contact me to come have a look. As for the reflector - I put two on the back bottom end of my top box.

If you are worried about the number plate not being lit up, you could use the micro-led's that Cafe Racer shops use for JUST this purpose: a bolt to hold the number plate on is TOPPED with a micro LED, it lights up the plate.

Cheers, Chris

Thanks for the input Guys. Much appreciated.

Dudley I would like to come and look at your installation. I also live in Durbanville, but work in Ndabeni (Hence the need to commute by bike), so we could meet up after hours sometime soon?

My cell is oh ate two, nine too double six, double oh seven. SMS or WhatsApp me your number and I'll give you a call to arrange a mutually convenient time to meet.

Chris, the Micro LEDs that you refer to, do they run off 12V? Then I would need to run a wire down to the box which may not be such a good idea? I thought of extending the rear light cluster back by a few cm but I think it may invalidate the warranty and might spoil the looks of the bike. Think I'm going to have to live without a lit up number plate, like the other guys do.

I'm thinking of using a piece of aluminium plate, a bit smaller than the number plate, to make a mounting plate for the box. This will allow me to move it down away from the reflector and use the same mounting holes on the bike. Maybe Jandre could supply me with a suitable piece of plate? I'll look at yours first and then take things from there. I do have pannier brackets so mine will be a bit different to yours.

I'm a bit of a perfectionist so apologies for the back and forth. Whatever I do must be done properly ( to my mind) from an engineering perspective.

Regards

T

Sent you a sms - we can take it from there.

Please do come have a look, before you proceed.