Removing lowers from R 1200 RT

[darcym]

This isn't something I'm necessarily intending to do, but looking at the bike the other day got me thinking about it. I've always liked the look of a naked bike, and dread the expense of replacing said plastic parts if in a wreck because they will probably be the first thing to break. There's also the issue of the pieces having to be removed if you want to access what's underneath.

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/doomscribe/BMW%20Artoo/2006R12RBlack.jpg

On my bike these are the silver bits that go from the lower front fairing to the rear pegs. As far as I can tell they are mostly cosmetic, that is they may provide some lower leg wind protection but probably not much. I assume that what's underneath is similar to the R bikes without lowers. As I used to ride an R 1150 R, I'm not averse to this look.

The difficulties I can see in removing the lowers is where to attach the stuff that appears to be attached to them. Obviously you'd have to retool something to hold the passenger peg and more importantly (because I never ride with passengers) the lower bag holder and stop. I don't think this would be too difficult to have a machine shop simply copy that portion in a smaller piece of plate metal.

At the front, the lower fairing has one bolt that attaches to the upper fairing. This would be problematic, as it appears to be a support structure for both pieces.

In the middle, the driver's peg and gear shifter are integrated into the lower but surely can be directly connected.

Like I said, just thinking aloud and wondering how it would look and to see if anyone else has tried this. As it stands I've not even had the lowers off the bike, so I may be completely delusional.

[RJM2096]

One thing to consider is will the modifications you are considering lower the value of the R1200RT. Any change you make will need to be reversable. I know I would not even consider an ad that said "R1200RT converted to a R1200R or R1200RS". If you like those styles, sell it or trade it in this spring.

PS: Beautiful R1200RT.

[PGlaves]

I really like the look of a naked bike too. And I don't like plastic (or much plastic) in the way when service time comes.

But I have to ask: Why not sell the RT and get an R1200R?

[cruisin]

I kinda think I'd like to see that done. It would be sort of like an S but with a larger fairing. Could turn out to be pretty slick looking. If the lowers are a separate piece from the upper portion and it wouldn't expose any delicate parts to the elements or make for an ugly exposure of some sort; I say give it a go.

[deilenberger]

Psss.... kid.... go take a ride on an R1200R. Bring your checkbook.. :-)

It's very hard to ride the R1200R and leave the dealership without one (as all the R1200R owners came to find out..) and to me - that's a much better answer than bastardizing an RT. Let someone who wants an RT have it - and get what you want.. BMW does make it..

[guitardad]

Hmmm. If you do it, post the pictures. I'd like to see what a half-faired RT looks like. I'm in a quandry right now - BMW doesn't import what I want. I want a Hexhead version of my R1100RS. I need enough fairing to mount all the farkle I want, but not the fully faired look of the RT.

[cruisin]

Psss.... kid.... go take a ride on an R1200R. Bring your checkbook.. :-)

It's very hard to ride the R1200R and leave the dealership without one (as all the R1200R owners came to find out..) and to me - that's a much better answer than bastardizing an RT. Let someone who wants and RT have it - and get what you want.. BMW does make it..

:scratch and what if he 'wants' an R1200RT with half a fairing? Isn't that just another customization to add to the long string of others above and in other threads about the new RTs?

[deilenberger]

:scratch and what if he 'wants' an R1200RT with half a fairing? Isn't that just another customization to add to the long string of others above and in other threads about the new RTs?From his original posting: "I've always liked the look of a naked bike"

[cruisin]

From his original posting: "I've always liked the look of a naked bike". . . and continues on to say "On my bike these are the silver bits that go from the lower front fairing to the rear pegs. As far as I can tell they are mostly cosmetic, that is they may provide some lower leg wind protection but probably not much. I assume that what's underneath is similar to the R bikes without lowers. As I used to ride an R 1150 R, I'm not averse to this look.

The difficulties I can see in removing the lowers is where to attach the stuff that appears to be attached to them. Obviously you'd have to retool something to hold the passenger peg and more importantly (because I never ride with passengers) the lower bag holder and stop. I don't think this would be too difficult to have a machine shop simply copy that portion in a smaller piece of plate metal. . . ."

indicating that removal of the lowers would be exposing the nakididity* of the lower portion only. Never once was having the 1200RT totally naked mentioned.

When left in context, the statement "I've always liked the look of a naked bike." would indicate to me simply a personal taste and not the intent of future modifications. I interpret a possible choice of getting partially naked while maintaining some amount of weather protection similar to the R1100RS and R1150RS models.

This makes me wonder why it is some modifications are readily accepted while others are considered "bastardizing". :scratch I'm so confused.

*nakididty: (n),state of nakedness, coined by Radar O'Reilly when caught sunbathing by Colonel Potter; "please excuse my nakididity sir" :D

[kbasa]

Good luck making those half fairings. The whole fairing fits together like a jigsaw puzzle.

Without the lowers, there're going to parts flapping around in the breeze and you'll probably have the front glove box as a prominent design feature.

[deilenberger]

This makes me wonder why it is some modifications are readily accepted while others are considered "bastardizing". :scratch I'm so confused.

*nakididty: (n),state of nakedness, coined by Radar O'Reilly when caught sunbathing by Colonel Potter; "please excuse my nakididity sir" :DSorry. You must be right and I'll try to refrain from posting anything that is an opinion. :dance

[cruisin]

Sorry. You must be right and I'll try to refrain from posting anything that is an opinion. :dance

jeez man, lighten up. I'll re-read the rules here so I know exactly how many smilies I need to include to get the feeling of levity with tongue-in-cheek comments from now. :type oh wait -- that's probably not enough; hows this
:dunno :type :laugh ;) :drink :bolt

[deilenberger]

jeez man, lighten up. I'll re-read the rules here so I know exactly how many smilies I need to include to get the feeling of levity with tongue-in-cheek comments from now. :type oh wait -- that's probably not enough; hows this
:dunno :type :laugh ;) :drink :boltThat's exactly what I'd suggest for you.. so... :drink to it.. :laugh

[cruisin]

That's exactly what I'd suggest for you.. so... :drink to it.. :laugh

:drink well if you're offering to :drink to it; that makes it all ok :drink

[darcym]

Thanks for all the thoughts and replies. For the record, I am a "she" and I actually traded in an R 1150 R for this bike, and I don't think I'm ready to go back yet.

Obviously any changes would have to be reversible if I think I may ever want to sell it. I like the wind and weather protection of the full fairing. I think the changes I've considered would only be cosmetic, in that looking at the bike I find that the lower parts seem to be superfluous.

I've not been a BMW owner for a long time, but it appears to me that the majority of BMW owners are averse to any kind of radical customization of their bikes - I don't see too many wild paint jobs for instance. Not that there's anything wrong with that, just an observation.

Anyway, I wouldn't want to have parts flapping in the wind or have ugly bits showing, so I guess this can wait until I actually need to remove said bits and find out what it looks like without.

[RJM2096]

Thanks for all the thoughts and replies. For the record, I am a "she" and I actually traded in an R 1150 R for this bike, and I don't think I'm ready to go back yet.

Obviously any changes would have to be reversible if I think I may ever want to sell it. I like the wind and weather protection of the full fairing. I think the changes I've considered would only be cosmetic, in that looking at the bike I find that the lower parts seem to be superfluous.

I've not been a BMW owner for a long time, but it appears to me that the majority of BMW owners are averse to any kind of radical customization of their bikes - I don't see too many wild paint jobs for instance. Not that there's anything wrong with that, just an observation.

Anyway, I wouldn't want to have parts flapping in the wind or have ugly bits showing, so I guess this can wait until I actually need to remove said bits and find out what it looks like without.

I would agree with you about BMW owners and customization. Customization for functionality seems to be very accepted, but making a BMW ostentatious seems to be frowned upon. I believe that personalizing a BMW is OK, but radical change is a mistake.

[BuddingGeezer]

Thanks for all the thoughts and replies. For the record, I am a "she" and I actually traded in an R 1150 R for this bike, and I don't think I'm ready to go back yet.

Obviously any changes would have to be reversible if I think I may ever want to sell it. I like the wind and weather protection of the full fairing. I think the changes I've considered would only be cosmetic, in that looking at the bike I find that the lower parts seem to be superfluous.

I've not been a BMW owner for a long time, but it appears to me that the majority of BMW owners are averse to any kind of radical customization of their bikes - I don't see too many wild paint jobs for instance. Not that there's anything wrong with that, just an observation.

Anyway, I wouldn't want to have parts flapping in the wind or have ugly bits showing, so I guess this can wait until I actually need to remove said bits and find out what it looks like without.


It's your bike. Do with it what you want. You don't have to make anyone happy but you.

Ralph Sims

[darcym]

It's your bike. Do with it what you want. You don't have to make anyone happy but you.

Ralph Sims

This is true. I once talked to a BMW club member about painting Artoo a colorful blue or maybe canary yellow. He kinda frowned and asked if that was the BMW blue (as if any other blue would be verboten). I just laughed ...

But it all depends on how long I'm keeping him. Right now I'd like to think Artoo is my forever bike ... so I should be able to do whatever the hell I want to do. Even if it is ostentatious. :)

[cruisin]

This is true. I once talked to a BMW club member about painting Artoo a colorful blue or maybe canary yellow. He kinda frowned and asked if that was the BMW blue (as if any other blue would be verboten). I just laughed ...

But it all depends on how long I'm keeping him. Right now I'd like to think Artoo is my forever bike ... so I should be able to do whatever the hell I want to do. Even if it is ostentatious. :)

RIGHT ON GIRL!! :thumb :thumb It's a machine built by meer mortals, none of whom are perfect nor do they produce perfect ideas even though most engineers have the attitude that their designs ARE perfect and it is a mortal sin to even think about altering them. Along that same line of thinking, a large number of BMW die-hard owners support the engineers in their belief of being diety. It's your bike and you should do with it as you please. Like stated earlier; you are the only one you have to please.