Removing the Front Wheel

[Shortpower]

When removing the front wheel on my R1200R, after dealing with the brakes, I know I loosen the pinch bolt on the right fork. Now, do I have to unscrew the axle (using a 22mm allen wrench), or will it just slide out? If I have to unscrew it, will the sparkplug wrench that is supposedly in the tool kit do it, or is the axle usually really tight? All I have is a cheap H***a sparkplug wrench, which won't handle much torque. Somehow, the BMW sparkplug wrench didn't make it into my tool kit. BMW sells a 22mm allen wrench for $45. Do I really need it?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Shortpower

[Shortpower]

OK, I'm doing my own research. Since the axle is torqued to 50Nm, it looks like a special tool is needed. I found one at Cycle Gear, called the Motrax Axle Wrench No. 54113. It can be used for three axle allen sizes: 19mm, 22mm, and 24mm. It is listed for $16.99. Sure beats BMW's $45. Has anyone used this?

Shortpower

[deilenberger]

There are several options - Mark Parnes makes a lovely aluminum one that I carry on the bike.. or what a lot of people do is go to Sears and buy a spark plug wrench that just happens to have a 22mm hex on the outside end. They use it with a 3/8" extension drive.

I'm sure if you search just a tiny bit you'll find a long thread on the subject including the PN for the Sears wrench.

[hjsbmw]

OK, I'm doing my own research. Since the axle is torqued to 50Nm, it looks like a special tool is needed. I found one at Cycle Gear, called the Motrax Axle Wrench No. 54113. It can be used for three axle allen sizes: 19mm, 22mm, and 24mm. It is listed for $16.99. Sure beats BMW's $45. Has anyone used this?

Shortpower

You need *some* kind of tool to remove the front wheel. I have one, might be Motion Pro, not sure, that has four sizes. Looks somewhat like a toy from the geek store, can be driven with a ratchet directly or a socket, works well, does the job. In the end they are all the same, regardless what brand. The price you quote is right. Make sure it's some kind of hardened material.

[Cosmic-Rider]

You can do as I did. Go down to your local hardware store. Buy a bolt and two nuts that measure 22mm. Spin the two nuts all the way down the bolt until they come close to the head of the bolt. The two nuts need to be parallel with each other and offset from the head of the bolt. Now, cut the threads off flush with the two nuts. Go down to your local welder and have him weld the two nuts to the threads where you cut. You now have a BMW tool for under five bucks. I carry it on my bike. It's not pretty, but it works. I would add a picture of it, but I don't know how to add pictures here yet.

[celticus]

I went to a local pawn shop and looked through their $1.00 box until I found a Craftsman spark plug wrench that would do the trick. As I had my bike with me at the shop I was able to take the wrench out to the bike and make sure. It works like a charm.

Mark

[Shortpower]

Thanks for the input guys. And thanks for not pointing out how pitiful I am for not bothering to learn how to remove my bike's front wheel before. I won't be able to make Tennessee, but hope to see youall in West Va.

Shortpower