I had another session of buying the little things for the bike. The key parts is the mounting brackets that holds the head lamp shell. Putting the brackets on requires fittings the front forks. What is handy about the BMW front fork set up is the that the top yoke is not a clamp like the bottom yoke or, indeed, like top clamps on Japanese bikes. It means that the top "yoke" can be removed whilst leaving the fork stanchions in the bottom yokes. The importance of this function, is that once the stanchions are positioned and the clamps pinched tight, you can work on each legs independently.
Each leg has a indicator stalk which is fitted over the stanchion and rests on the top of the bottom yoke then comes a bottom rubber to position the head lamp bracket and a top rubber to maintain the bracket position. Only then the is the top yoke plate fitted and secured by two hefty shaped nuts which are threaded onto top of the stanchion. There is an additional shaped nut that goes on the top of the steering pin. So the top yoke is secured in three places. The head lamp brackets are quite a lose fit. Once the head lamp shell is bolted to the brackets it all becomes rigid. It was then a matter of fitting the front indicators to the stalks and wiring up the bulbs.
I decided to locate the ignition switch in the head lamp shell where it suppose to be. I fitted the ignition key barrel but the wires are too long because the bike had a fairing so needed a longer cable. This gives me a bit a job to do. I had thought that I would position the ignition switch under seat but changed my mind. I looked over the wiring again but it remains a challenge.
I also bought the metal gaskets for the exhaust headers. I had to take the exhaust header and balancer pipe off the bike. I lubricated the gaskets and header pipes with Copper slip and re-assembled the headers. I did everything up just hand tight. I had also bought the stainless steel nuts for the engine mounting bolts. The rear engine mounting bolts secure not only the engine but also the exhaust brackets for the rear end of the headers and the foot rests. As the engine mounting bolts are tightened the exhaust headers are eased into their final position. The exhaust collars are nipped up. The final tightening will be done when the engine is hot.
All of a sudden the bike is really taking shape.
