I came back from Death Valley with my mind made up to switch from the stock BMW cases to something not made of plastic. I’ve not been 100% confident in the stock hardware since I lost a case on my way home from Gardnerville in 2005. I decided on the Touratech Zega 35L special set for the R1200 GS.
UPS brings toys
Lots of bubble wrap
UPS brought me toys in a large cardboard box filled with more cardboard and bubble wrap. Nothing was missing. Nothing was bent, broken, or otherwise damaged.
Prepped GS
Zega components
Hardware and German Instructions
I’d prepped the GS by removing the luggage rack and the plastic luggage platform earlier. I took the time to give the newly exposed bits of metal and plastic a good cleaning while things were appart. I knew that removing those parts was necessary having found a PDF of the installation instructions on the Touratech USA site. This is a good thing as the instructions that came with the hardware were in German.
Brace position
Frame paint protection
Brace installed
The first step was to mount the brace. I put it in place to eyeball its location and then remove it to place a small strip of 3m film over the frame tubes to protect the paint where the brace could rub. The brace was then re-installed and the tail light wiring connector plugged back in. Then I made my only error… I should have put at least the lower section of the luggage platform back on the bike. I didn’t. This caused minor problems later.