RE: R1250RS Option 719 Classic Wheels on 2016 R1200RS? - 2

QUICK UPDATE:
Wheels arrived about a month ago. Front wheel comes ready to install, bearings seals and internal spacer, sans discs. Brake rotor bolts are indicated by BMW to be single use, so I purchased them new and added Galfer Wave discs purchased at the MOA rally in June. The Option 719 "classic" wheels DO NOT have a polished lip as some photos may indicate and are a very glossy grey color, diamond cut or machined areas are also clear coated. Since my bike is a 2016, I changed out the TPMS (RDC) sensors as the internal batteries would have been questionable. The new replacement sensors are much smaller than the longer units installed from the factory. Also, the sensors do not mount the same way, I purchased the "service kit" for the wheels which consists of new silver right angle valve stems and hollow torx nut. These will not work with the old sensors. Since the BMW sensors are over $220 each, I did some research and discovered that the KTM sensors are the same from schaffer ( the OEM who makes them) although with a KTM logo instead of a BMW and are only $59 each! I used a $7 GM TPMS "wake up" tool from Amazon and the GS911 wifi to install and program the new sensors to the bike. This was very easy to do. I did one sensor by typing in the serial number for the front wheel and the rear by waking it up and having the GS 911 wifi discover it. Both ways worked. I installed an EVO sport radiator guard and decided to do a service on the steering stem bearings and that is where things have completely stalled out.....I sourced the NTN bearings from a local bearing supply place we use at work, and again the bearings where half the cost of the BMW bearings and they came in under a week from Japan as I now the first person in the USA to ever order these special bearings! They are a 45 degree radial thrust bearing, which works similar to a tapered roller bearing, but in a more compact fashion. These NTN bearings are also used on a few Ducatti motorcycles as well FWIW. The issue I am having is that to remove the lower inner race (easy to do with a long reach pin punch) you ruin the lower seal driving the race off. I ordered new lower and upper seals as well as the rubber washer that goes between the two castle nuts at the top of the steering stem. NONE of these parts are in stock in the USA (really? C'mon BMW!) and I have been waiting almost a month for $35 worth of parts to finish putting my RS back together and get it back on the road.....Which is just sad when I paid the extra money to expedite, these parts could be overnighted in a small DHL or Fedex envelope AND I got Proti Forged Titanium rear Lug Bolts in three days from Taiwan so I know shipping them should not be an issue. Of course the standard Covid excuses are being used for this delay and I feel for the folks who have bikes at dealerships who cant get any basic service parts either......it's pretty sad....at least I can still ride my Son's 2017 S1000R (God, I love that thing! Dynamic Pro is a Beast!) to work while the RS is dead in the water.....Unfortunately, and I hate to say it, but Max BMW ( I don't have a local BMW dealership) has been great in the past and not so much for this...two to three days responding to emails (if at all) not answering the phone and seemingly unable to do much with BMW about the shipping delays....My guess is that they too are understaffed and overworked....sign of the times I guess....don't they know that the R1200RS is deemed and essential motorcycle? If and when I ever get the parts, I should have the RS back on the road in an afternoon all fresh and ready for the next pothole or chunk of concrete! ( I hope not!) Oh yeah I almost forgot, I did some more research and got the SKF seals and O-ring to rebuild the steering damper which was weeping a bit of fluid, I'll go over that in a separate post. I'll do one for the KTM RDC sensors as well.

It was good to meet you Sandman this week at the Springfield Best Western.
You did a great job with all the farkles you added.

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BTW Sandman was able to get a BMW LED light strip to work.

Thanks Lee it was great meeting you as well! I haven't been on the site much as I have been busy riding and farkling my 2022 S1000RR with the M package. It's been a real fun project so far and I must admit my poor RS has missed me a bit! Still, she is a great bike and I can't see getting rid of her anytime soon, but the S1000RR is on a whole different planet!

Safe journeys!

Ivan