RT fuel cap

[moshe_levy]

Why the F did BMW decide to have the cap flip toward the rider instead of away as on the Oilhead RT? Now you're wedging the filler nozzle and its enormous rubber vapor catch between the cap and the handlebars, peeking inside as you strain your head to the right of the bike in the vain hopes of avoiding an overspill. The Oilhead cap flipped away - plenty of space, no wedging, natural line of sight. I hate it when a good thing is ruined in the name of "progress."

 

Does anyone have a solid explanation as to why they did this?

 

-MKL

[Paul Mihalka]

I think in the oilheads the gas cap also flipped toward the rider. Some people modified it and turned it around. R11000RT gas tank:

 

[AviP]

Yes, BMW has decided it wants to make the R bikes as annoying as possible with every iteration. They will go to great lengths to achieve this under the guise of German engineering and the Ultimate Driving Machine. IMHO, every iteration has added needless complexity.

 

But seriously, I think they have lost touch with the user.

[Firenailer]

 

I've been struggling with that since I got the bike and kept telling myself there had to be an easier way. I wonder if we can spin these around?

[moshe_levy]

Paul-

 

Not sure about what Oilhead model has what cap, but all our previous Oilheads ('96 R850R, '04 R1150R, and '04 RT) all had the cap flip away. This made perfect logical sense since the rider is on the left (kickstand) side while filling. He stands there with the hose to his left and has clear vision into the tank to top off and avoid spills.

 

Now it's an ass-backwards nightmare. I'm thinking not as bad for my friends in other states where the filler nozzles don't have these enormous, greasy rubber vabor catches, but here they do - and they DO NOT fit between the cap in the open position. So now you touch this slimy residue-covered rubber catch to squeeze it in place, and then put your fouled fingers back into your gloves after fiddling with this stupid setup, ruining them as well.

 

A bad idea is forgivable, but a bad idea replacing a perfectly good one is not. This takes a common task any and every motorcyclist (well, not the Zero guys, but I digress) must routinely perform and makes it into an aggravation. A $20,000 touring bike with a filling process that makes a $50 moped from 1970 look like an ergonomic breakthrough. I cannot for the life of me understand what the hell went through their minds with this.

 

-MKL

[Paul Mihalka]

 

[Geoffster]

Why the F did BMW decide to have the cap flip toward the rider instead of away as on the Oilhead RT? Now you're wedging the filler nozzle and its enormous rubber vapor catch between the cap and the handlebars, peeking inside as you strain your head to the right of the bike in the vain hopes of avoiding an overspill. The Oilhead cap flipped away - plenty of space, no wedging, natural line of sight. I hate it when a good thing is ruined in the name of "progress."

 

Does anyone have a solid explanation as to why they did this?

 

-MKL

I, for one, appreciate the attention given to details by our Teutonic Overlords.

 

There's no way I can snag the family jewels on my RT's gas cap should it come ajar during a front end collision. If it were turned around, the EMTs might be collecting them from the motorway.

 

OUCH!!

 

The "boys" are of no use to me unattached.

[David13]

I never had any problem with it. I can fill from either side.

I have never overfilled. I have never tried to. Usually I underfill.

I just take two paper towels, and hold them under the nozzle as I move it in and out. In case there is any dripping.

It doesn't matter to me which way the thing faces.

dc

[moshe_levy]

David-

 

From what I've seen of CA filler necks, I'm not surprised you don't have a problem. I have less of a problem filling in NY or PA where these rubber vapor thingies aren't mandated. But here in NJ they are, and there isn't a rider I know of here on an R1200 that doesn't complain. You would think BMWNA (located a stone's throw from my parents up in Bergen County) would have voiced some complaints to the overlords in Germany by now.

 

As for the safety aspect, I dunno. My chances of riding up the tank that way vs. having to be annoyed during every fill? I'll take my old Oilhead cap, thanks very much.

 

-MKL

[lkchris]

Things must be slow.

 

I've only had my R1200RT for about 5 months now, but the direction the gas cap opens seems a nonproblem to me. And I, too, fill from either side, i.e. not compulsive about how I get to gas pumps.

 

BMW bashing is pretty boring in any event, and, you know, they really haven't turned to crap.

 

I'm managing to bathe my new motorcycle in gasoline at about the same frequency as I did with my Airhead--it's the pump nozzles with stiff off-or-max action to blame and no damn way the direction the cap opens. If these aren't the good ol' days, that's your problem. Me, I'm rollin' with it and getting a little fun out of life.

 

Here's an idea--if you're used to it opening one way and it's changed, try standing on the other side of your bike to fill up. It's maybe a lefty/righty thing. Hey, I can remember when 7-series filled on the left and 5-series on the right. Adapt or complain I guess.

[David13]

Moshe

They have the vapor recovery systems here.

dc

[BerndM]

Quite some time ago, over on the Adventure Rider forum,

 

www.advrider.com/forums/

 

there was a good thread on how to turn the gas cap around on the 2005+ R12GS's.

I'm sure a search or query will bring it to light.

[DiverRay]

You have six evenly spaced fasteners holding the assembly on. Unscrew them, turn it 90, or 180, and bolt it down again.

What's the problem????

[CoarsegoldKid]

I don't have any issues with my '05 R1200RT either with our California heavy rubber foreskined fuel nozzles. I do see that some folks struggle at the gas pumps. On the '05RT the gas cap does have a plug on it for lack of a better term that seals off the tank neck. On my model the plug is positioned such that I can easily get the nozzle in the tank. I have noticed that on later model GSs and RTs the cap's plug is positioned in such a manner that pressure can be applied to the cap by the nozzle. I know of one rider that broke the cap right off. So maybe this area does need some attention. But on my bike all is well with the universe.

[PhilipJCaputo]

I just push the nozzle down into the filler hole and let the pump stop itself. Haven't had an overflow yet! (knock on wood)

[dirtrider]

You have six evenly spaced fasteners holding the assembly on. Unscrew them, turn it 90, or 180, and bolt it down again.

What's the problem????

 

Morning Ray

 

It isn't that easy as the cap is not a simple turn 180° then re-fasten. It can be done but needs Dremel or grinder & some re-work time.

 

[AndyInLZ]

Early /5 Airheads (such as my 1971 R75/5) had a cap that opened way from the rider.

 

This was viewed as a jewel-ensnaring danger in a crash and, soon thereafter (perhaps as early as 1972) the cap was redesigned to open towards the rider.

 

This design detail is an easy way to tell if an early /5 has the correct gas tank.

[tallman]

Don't know if they have VRS fillers in Europe?

But, we're definitely not the #1 sales market for BMW.

 

I still have issues w/new switchgear/turn signals and karma

seems to have reared wrt that part of the bikes.

 

Perhaps the fuel filler e z fill will help.

[EddyQ]

Geesh Moshe, with all that angry complaining, I get the feeling you haven't told us something. Did you have an embarrassing spill or something?

 

I think if it bothered me that bad I would figure out how to reorientate it or remove the flip cover.

[Cleatus]

Kinda funny how they keep changing the simplest things, sometimes better, sometimes not. I remember my 93 Airhead GS had a gas cap that required key insertion, and then had to be unscrewed from the tank and placed somewhere. It was always a pain to try and re thread the cap back on since the threads did not catch easily.

[moshe_levy]

Ed-

 

No, no spills yet, but I just find filling this bike a pain compared to my old Oilhead RT. There's this weird plug on the fuel cap too which doesn't allow the vapor catcher through... What can I tell you? I think it's a poor design compared to the old one, but I'm not about to take a dremel tool to my tank over it. I was more hoping someone in here could shed some light as to why the change was initiated. I thought maybe I was missing something, but apparently not.

 

-MKL