04 1150 RTL Question

[Hacksaw]

Does this model come from the factory with stainless steel tupperware fasteners. I picked up a Black 04 RTL yesterday and all of the screws are stainless steel. TIA

[GERALD]

I have had my RTL for about 8 months now and the screws on
mine are painted black. I would love to trade with you because
one of my screws is already flaking the black paint off. I will be
stuck with plain metal screws at some point that will probably
start rusting.

I stand corrected, I just checked mine and they must be aluminum
thus no rust just ugly. You would think with the price of the RTL
that BMW might have anodized the screws so that the color
would last.

Gerald

[Diesel Dan]

In their infinite wisdom BMW switched to stainless steel screws for the tupperware as you put it in mid production 2004. Good news is for about 30 bucks you can get the set in stainless and replace them in 1/2 an hour

[BMWRich58]

In their infinite wisdom BMW switched to stainless steel screws for the tupperware as you put it in mid production 2004. Good news is for about 30 bucks you can get the set in stainless and replace them in 1/2 an hour

Cheaper than that,is to remove the screws and take them over to a bench grinder wire wheel,hold them with pliars and buff off the black! Coupla'seconds and "bam" your good to go. They will be shiny silver,won't rust and spend your $30.00 on gas for a ride.

[BRADFORDBENN]

There is a plus to buying the additional screws, when you drop a screw during a repair by the side of the road... you will have spares, albeit black ones but spares non the less.

[philspace]

The black special '04's with factory radio had the stainless screws. My wife and I just switched to '04's without radios, both Titan Grey and both with the old black screws that like to rust in the socket.

Since my first RT (we are now on numbers 4 and 5) I have always replaced the cheap BMW screws with Stainless ones.

I bought the hardware in boxes of 100 for cheap from the local hardware store. Cycle Gadges also sells a kit for the RT with stainless screws.

[GERALD]

My '04 RTL came with and still has the black screws. I thought
they were aluminum since a magnet is not attracted to them,
but a long time RT rider told me they are stainless under the
black.

I didn't think aluminum nor stainless steel rusted.

Gerald

[philspace]

Originally posted by Gerald
My '04 RTL came with and still has the black screws. I thought
they were aluminum since a magnet is not attracted to them,
but a long time RT rider told me they are stainless under the
black.

I didn't think aluminum nor stainless steel rusted.

Gerald

Not sure what they are made out of, and I did notice that mine are not magnetic, but they would show a rust like discoloration in the socket. The screws (head and threads) never rusted, just the crap in the socket which I thought looked cheezee.

It was especially noticeable after a week of riding and camping in the rain. So I started swapped them out, and they always look great. We have an old fashioned hardware store that stocks metric screws, I asked the old guy and the next day he had two boxes of 100 of 16 and 20 mm stainless button heads. Ended up costing a coule dollars a bike.

Besides, they look better and obviously make the bike go faster too

[matthew517]

My R1150RTL has the stainless steel bolts. I like the way they look against the black.

[matthew517]

My R1150RTL has the stainless steel bolts. I like the way they look against the black.