Another R1200GS Mod Session

I installed a set of LeoVince SBK Header Pipes and a Touratech Engine Guard Extension last weekend.  I was also going to install Hyperpro 3D shocks but I ran into a problem with the rear shock.  The McCruise cruise control vacuum actuator sits in the space where the hydraulic reservoir on the shock needs to go.  After communicating with Klaus at EPM Performance, I am sending the shock back so he can convert it to a hose mounted reservoir.  After dealing with two different broken bolt issues during my mod and maintenance session, I also decided to wait on installing the front shock until I get the rear shock back.

The LeoVince stainless steel headers are light weight, look very nice and went in without any fuss.  They are a stepped header  design and the fit and finish are excellent.   They measure 45mm in diameter at the exhaust port, step out to 50mm in the down tube area and finally out to 54mm at the collector.  The muffler came off without any problems and the header drawing that comes with the headers is more then adequate to figure out how to install them.  The area where the catalytic converter was located is now neat and uncluttered.  I haven’t had time to do a decent road test yet, though I don’t expect any startling improvements.  I’m still using the stock muffler and I don’t have any plan to change that out in the future.  The ride around the block and the seat of the pants says there is improved low end grunt.  The exhaust sounds a little different though it is hard to quantify.  I guess it sounds throatier and slightly louder. 

On more of a maintenance topic, I was having increasing problems with the McCruise cruise control.  Over a period of time the cruise control started to deactivate on it own and the problem eventually got to the point that I couldn’t get it to set.  I went through all the diagnostics procedures and there was only one thing that wasn’t eliminated.  There was something wrong with the wheel speed input.  I examined the McCruise sensor that is mounted on the right front brake caliper.  About all I could see was that the sensor wasn’t perfectly aligned with the magnets that were installed in the heads of the right brake rotor bolts.  I moved the sensor and reduced the gap between the sensor and the magnets.    Now everything is working as it should again.  The obvious conclusion is that the sensor has been moving so I tightened the hardware as much as I was comfortable with.  I am going to add an inspection/adjustment of the speed sensor alignment to my regular maintenance regimen.

I updated the table in the “I Think I am Finally Done” article to include these additional modifications.

JD