[Clem]

Well, I got the $217 BMW tool kit from MAX, and the very first time I used it, the adapter broke. I mean, the metal completely ripped apart. Little retainer spring and a ball bearing on the floor. I'm an old man & don't use steroids. Just crap metal, IMHO. So what tools do you guys use when you remove the front wheel, or service the bike? MacParnes tool looks good, but you can't torque with it. Craftsman torque wrench.
I use the $35 A&S Cycle oil filter wrench. It fits to open the filler cap!
Oil Filter Wrench - Multi Tool - BMW Hex-Heads & K Series Bikes - Made by A&S BMW Motorcycles® - - A&S BMW Motorcycle Parts and Accessories

 

[Classic11]

No matter what if you are doing your own work, you should get a torque wrench. One that can be recalibrated and that has a place nearby you can do so. Otherwise, I mostly use a Hitachi drill and impact drill (to remove) to do body and other non torque specific work on the bike. No matter what I'd recommend getting a torx head set in 3/8 and 1/4 to work on our bikes. Craftsman is a decent brand for hand tools but would steer clear of their tq wrenches. I've had a couple different ones and they don't hold up well and their famous craftsman warranty doesn't apply to them. If you can get them I'd recommend snap-on or mac. If you are looking to pack a set underneath the seat, good luck my friend! You could probably find a breaker bar skinny enough to be zip tied along the frame rails? Then you'd just need the torx heads for removing the brakes for the front and the silencer in the back.

 

[Hoshiko]

Can you returned it???

I have not done to much to my bike, the LED directional I think are the biggest mod since I had to remove several parts of the bike, I bought a really cheap torx tip set from Black and Decker, and used a battery screwdriver I bought to put some of my IKEA furniture together. I didn't have to remove major parts like wheels or such so I'm sorry I won't be of much help here but, what i can really recommend for those little screws is a flexible extension for your drill, it made things so much easier.

 

[Clem]

Thanks Classic. Didn't know Craftsman doesn't warranty their torque wrenches. Hmmm? SnapOn are three times the cost. I got a 3/8"drive 9.5"long breaker bar under the seat.

It will break the front axle & rear wheel bolts free. A word of caution. These new R1200Rs are lighter, but the torque values for the 5 rear wheel torx bolts has decreased from 105Nn to just -60Nms. Without a good torque wrench, you can stretch or strip them easily. Dry, NO grease. Easy does it. Front axle torque -50Nm. Brake calipers -30Nm.

Hoshiko, I'll take the broken wrench back to the dealer, BUT even if they do replace it, which I seriously doubt, I will just have new POS multi-tool which still won't do much more than turn the axle/wheel bolts AFTER they have been broken loose. LOL Don't waste your money on this BMW kit. IMO Much better to assemble your own tool set.

Laars says, "Is too late to learn."

 

[nardowell]

Since trading my 1974 in for a 2012 R1200R, my old tool kit does not have a lot of stuff I need.

Has anyone tried this tool kit? It looks like it has a lot of tools I will probably end up with.

BMW R1200 Tool Kit: BMW R1200GS, GSA, RT, S, HP2 Tool Kit

It is specifically for the newer R bikes.

 

[sup909]

Not impressed with the stock tool kit, nor am I impressed with the ones I have found online to purchase. I am building my own over the next month or two.

Building a Tool Kit for My R 1200R - Matt Supert

 

[Hoshiko]

I will love to built my own tool kid.

 

[Hardy]

I still haven't bought my bike yet but am in need of a torque wrench for other duties. Would like one that would be suitable for R1200R. Did a search in this forum and this is the only thread dealing with torque wrenches.

What do you all recommend? Some of you don't like Craftsman but this one seems to be a deal, Craftsman 3/8-in. Dr. Digi-Click Torque Wrench, 5-80 ft. lbs. - Tools - Wrenches - All Open Stock Wrenches . From the website, Craftsman 3/8-Inch Drive Digi-Click Torque Wrench, 5-80 ft. lbs.
LED backlit screen is easy to read in low light conditions. Converts units from ft.lb. to in.lb. to Nm at the touch of a button. Sleek ergonomic styling for better grip. Measures 5–80 ft.lbs. in .25 increments. Wt. 4.5 lbs.

It has a 90 day warranty. The manual ones (not digital) have 1 yr warranty.

Would value your opinions. Thanks for any.

 

[Pete In The 'Couv]

I got this tool kit from Powersports Superstore Inc via Amazon. It is the Cruz tools Road Tech B1 for BMW.

It cost about $120 USD and that included shipping.

 

[PinchiHuerinchi]

Thanks Classic. Didn't know Craftsman doesn't warranty their torque wrenches. Hmmm? SnapOn are three times the cost. I got a 3/8"drive 9.5"long breaker bar under the seat.

It will break the front axle & rear wheel bolts free. A word of caution. These new R1200Rs are lighter, but the torque values for the 5 rear wheel torx bolts has decreased from 105Nn to just -60Nms. Without a good torque wrench, you can stretch or strip them easily. Dry, NO grease. Easy does it. Front axle torque -50Nm. Brake calipers -30Nm.

Hoshiko, I'll take the broken wrench back to the dealer, BUT even if they do replace it, which I seriously doubt, I will just have new POS multi-tool which still won't do much more than turn the axle/wheel bolts AFTER they have been broken loose. LOL Don't waste your money on this BMW kit. IMO Much better to assemble your own tool set.

Laars says, "Is too late to learn."

I dont see it anywhere else on the forum, but I'm sure it's been asked before...
What is the procedure for removing the front wheel in the bike?
Tire shops want $150 to dismount wheels with old tires and mount wheels with new tires. I can see that this bike is way easier to dismount rear tire than any other bike, since it has single sided swing arm.

 

[Pilot]

Has anyone tried this tool kit? It looks like it has a lot of tools I will probably end up with.
BMW R1200 Tool Kit: BMW R1200GS, GSA, RT, S, HP2 Tool Kit

$300.00 for THOSE tools

 

[surflj]

I was thinking the same thing, way too much money for the toolkits, especially so if the quality is lousy as was in the case with Clem's BMW kit. Way better to assemble your own kit with quality tools, and I am sure you can get very hight quality for that amount of money!

As far as toque wrenches go, after a lot of research I wound up purchasing this one. Super high quality at a very good price, made by the same company that produces them for SnapOn Tools. Here is the link:
CDI 1002MFRMH 3/8-Inch Drive Metal Handle Click Type Torque Wrench, Torque Range 10 to 100-Fo - - Amazon.com

Not cheap but I believe in getting good quality tools that will last for a lifetime.... after all I did buy the BMW R1200R......

 

[dbyker]

Nice find on the CDI torque wrench Surflj, I'll be ordering one to replace my 30YO Craftsman (which still works but has a broken plastic collar and is suspect after all these years), the current Craftsman torque wrenches are crap (bought and broke two, no more).

Jim Bade, aka Jim von Baden, over on ADVRider has assembled a very complete tool kit here. You probably already own many or most of these tools, in better quality than some of the pre-assembled kit tools, why not roll 'em up and stick 'em in your bag:

Tool Kit

He also has excellent R bike maintenance DVDs at very reasonable prices. Sold mine with my last GS, need to pick up another set from him.

JVB Productions

No financial interest, just helping out my fellow riders.

 

[yonderbob]

What do you all recommend? Some of you don't like Craftsman but this one seems to be a deal, Craftsman 3/8-in. Dr. Digi-Click Torque Wrench, 5-80 ft. lbs. - Tools - Wrenches - All Open Stock Wrenches .
It has a 90 day warranty. The manual ones (not digital) have 1 yr warranty.

Would value your opinions. Thanks for any.

I have 3 torque wrenches, All Craftsman, non-digital. One, beam and pointer style, that goes down to inch-pounds, one 1/2" for big stuff like axles and sprockets (came in handy recently when I replaced my son's chain and sprockets) and one 3/8" for intermediate duty. All have served me well and accurately for a long time.

 

[yonderbob]

Well, I got the $217 BMW tool kit from MAX, and the very first time I used it, the adapter broke. So what tools do you guys use when you remove the front wheel, or service the bike?

That's too much money for that assortment of tools even if they were top shelf!

I have found that all "kits" suk... they have tools I don't need and are missing ones I do need. I got an empty tool roll and I just load it up with the torx heads I think i'm most likely to need, spark plug socket, driver, etc... duct tape, hack saw, sledge hammer, baling wire... :hellno: that makes up my roadside kit which I take with me on trips along with tire repair and inflation doo-dads.

I leave the "big" tools in the garage. I know, I know... "Yonderbob should not be allowed to own tools!"

 

[dbrick]

Bob's right. Figure what you might do on the road, what tools you need to do those things, and carry those tools. Leave everything else behind.

I wanted to be able to R&R both wheels, change bulbs, and move or adjust the handlebars. So I added Torx bits, a few metric hex keys, sockets for the rear wheel lugs and muffler bolts, and a front axle removal tool...along with a PVC extension for the 3/8" socket wrench so I can loosen the axle.

They fit in the stock tool roll but it's thick, and I have to make sure the bag is fully pressed into the recess in the seat bottom so it latches. But I have the stuff with me even if the saddlebags aren't. A tire repair kit and electric pump and some duct tape are wrapped in a rag, and live under the seat just aft of the battery.

 

[Air_Ops]

Motion Pro and Cruz Tools both sell a multi size hex tool that will fit the front axle, I bought the Motoin Pro one after I took the front wheel off for the first time. http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/partno/08-0397/
Did not think using the spark plug wrench for this would be good for it if I wanted it to last. When I bought my bike I ordered the tool roll and the few tools I did not have from the expanded tool kit from my previous R1150R, everything rolls up nice and fits on the bottom of the seat.