Preserving RS mirrors with "leashes" (K100RS & K1100RS)

[frankenduck]

RS mirrors are mounted to the main fairing body via a base plate with three posts. (L=46632309801,R=46632309802)  Each RS mirror/turn signal housing has three U-shaped square clips (part number 46631455047 - about $1.50 each) that attach to the base plate posts to hold the mirror on.

When a mirror assembly falls off or is knocked off of the bike the results usually aren't good, especially if the mirror comes off while riding.  In order to prevent the mirror from falling to the ground, many RS owners use "leashes" so that the mirror is tethered to the bike.

There are many options:

1) You can buy mirror leashes from places like Wunderlich: http://www.wunderlichamerica.com/motorcycle/8600730.html

2) You can make your own using rope/string. (I did this using 1/4" paracord on my K100RS4V.)

3) You can go the your local sports/fishing store and buy two stainless steel fishing leaders. (How the mirrors are leashed on my K1100RS.)

4) You can use bungee cord.  This has the advantage of keeping the mirror somewhat in place in the event that it gets bumped.

[greenmtrider]

You can also use waxed string.  If it gets wet or dirty it will never fray or rot.

[WayneDW]

I used fishing line.

[Lawrence]

I fitted a new mirror glass to the right side of my 1985 K100RS this week.  The glass had an odd metal strip clipped to the center post on the backside of the mirror.  I asked the parts guy what it was for or where it went on the bike.  He didn't know.  I removed it and the mirror easily snapped into place - the two plastic grooves and the center post popped right in to position as far as I know.  Now I'm concerned I may have screwed up.  BMW wouldn't have included that piece if they could have gotten away with leaving it out of the package.  Anyone know that that "extra" bit is for?

[BexarWolf]

I popped one of my mirrors off today in a controlled environment so I'd know how to put them back on in a parking lot or something. My mirrors have leashes installed.......but only to the mirror part. They weren't attached to anything on the fairing. Any suggestion where to attach the other end?

[sh00ter]

I popped one of my mirrors off today in a controlled environment so I'd know how to put them back on in a parking lot or something. My mirrors have leashes installed.......but only to the mirror part. They weren't attached to anything on the fairing. Any suggestion where to attach the other end?

I took the mirror bracket off the fairing and ran it through the center hole, then under the bracket and bolted it back up - makes the leash semi-permanent to the fairing, then you can disconnect it from the mirror side to service, but it stays attached to the bike.

[Filmcamera]

I just got my mirrors back from paint and am having a very hard time 'popping' them back on.  Is there a recommended technique apart from brute force? Do you put them where they are supposed to sit and push them into the bike or do you slide them onto the clicks by pushing backward? I feel I am about to break the housing I have been pushing so hard and nada..

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Only advice I can offer is to not try to push all three of the clips on at once.  Do one or two first, and then the last one.  That they are so easy to knock off while damn near impossible to reattach is one of the mysteries of the universe.

[Laitch]

Have you tried swabbing the mounting clips with rubbing alcohol before mating them up with the housing?

[Filmcamera]

Nope but I will maybe even some grease but since they apparently come off easily I was hoping to avoid that

[Laitch]

Nope but I will maybe even some grease but since they apparently come off easily I was hoping to avoid that

That's why alcohol is used instead of grease. It evaporates.

[jakgieger]

Nope but I will maybe even some grease but since they apparently come off easily I was hoping to avoid that

FC, what method worked best???  I just bought the 1100 mirror extenders and intend to leash my mirrors and put on the extenders this weekend.  My mirrors have never been off :eek: !

[Filmcamera]

Jack, trial and error, blood sweat and tears. 


In the end the best way seems to be that you can angle the mirror housing and line up the first (bottom rear looking forwards) and maybe even second (bottom front ) clips by eye then do the last one (front top) after getting the first two on.


I do recommend tethers, they have saved me a number of times already, in fact i actually have two tethers, one for the whole mirror/indicator housing made of wire and a second just for the glass made of fishing line, both have shown they work. (I live up a steep bumpy hill with a road made of concrete poured by the neighbours ten years ago...)


Good luck, I made sailors blush with my language the first time I tried to get them on before I got the knack of it

[Closed_Casket]

OK, I find it interesting no one has added to this topic in a couple years, and that no one offered any YouTube videos?  About attaching the mirrors to the fairing housing and of lashing leashes properly?  I'd rather not take my '85 K100RS to the BMW dealer to get them to do this for $105/hr. 

I bought all 3 new clips for my right mirror after it popped off one day (slow speed, so the indicator wire held it on, thank Jebus).  I could only replace one of the three clips, the others wouldn't budge out of the existing housing.  And Lord knows I've tried to reattach it to the bike.  Then the mirror glass popped off on another ride.  WTF?  Is this BMW's wurst design yet?  (Sausage jokes welcomed). 

Once I ship this beautiful beast with Hannigan sidecar to my new home on the Oregon coast, I intend to ride it on some longer trips, not just to the store with my bulldog Annie tethered to the hack seat.  Gorilla glue is starting to sound real good about now..lol.  Or remove both mirror housings and put my CRG bar end mirrors on the bar ends.  But I like the look of the originals. 

Any help would be greatly appreciated to this brick newbie.