Needless to say, my GS Handguards only cost me $72 and a trip to NH, always a pleasure. Thanks Max!
The BMW parts list prescibes two 12mm bolts and two brackets. Do not buy either. They will be of no use on your Roadster. You will need some stainless steel bits: two hex head cap screws 8 mm x 55 mm, four M8.4 mm fender washers (These from McMaster-Carr), and four 5/16 x 1-1/2 Fender Washers (Lowes). I tried a number of places to find torx or even allen head bolts in stainless, to no avail. You will also need some 1" by 1/8" aluminum bar stock, also Lowes, and a 5 mm bolt and nut.
Using an old bolt attach one of the large fender washers to an electric drill and run it against a grinding wheel or #10 bastard file to reduce the diameter slightly and provide a 45 degree angle to the edge. This will allow the washer to fit snugly against the hand guard. Do this to two washers.
Remove your windshield. Remove the bolt holding the left side handlebar weight. Don't drop it. Insert one of the new stainless steel bolts through a smaller fender washer, a larger (modified) fender washer and a smaller fender washer and through the end of the left guard. Add another large fender washer and screw the whole thing through the bar end weight and finger tighten.
Contrary to what you may have read elsewhere, the left side mounts work on the left side, and the right side works with the addition of a small bracket you can make at home with a minimum of tools. The brackets consist of two pieces and are clearly marked "L" and "R".
Install the left side bracket, finger tight.
Install the right side bracket finger tight Notice that the bracket will not connect to the handguard. Using a piece of cardboaurd, cut out and fold a piece to make the connection, about 1" by 2" with about a 120 degree bend. Cut this out and trace it onto a piece of 1" aluminum bar stock. Holding the piece of stock in a vice, hammer it over to the desired angle. It will be better if you do too little and have to go back for a few extra blows than if you have to unbend it.
Holding the bent piece in place mark it for the holes in each end, one to attach to the bracket and one to attach to the handguard. I drilled the bracket end "just right" and the guard end a little tight. I forced abolt through thehole to thread it. These threads made assembly a little easier. I backed it up with a nut after. To finish the bracket sand lightly with some 220 sandpaper and coat it with clear nail polish (Walgreen's $2.49). It will blend in perfectly with the gray brackets.
With every thing finger tight you can adjust the two sides so they match and then tighten every thing up. Don't you think the BMW guards coordinate much better that the Barkbusters, etc? They do cost a little bit more, but the delta is not so great.
Bruce
Is there a specific year of GS handguard to get?
