[donnatello]

The gray foam on the bottom of the tank bag that came with my K1200RS is disintegrating in my hands and leaving crud on the tank when I mount the tank bag.

Obviously the BMW tank bag foam needs to be replaced; but how?

Is there a common material that I can use to replace the BMW tank bag foam?

 

[cobbler]

Repair

Hey Donnitello,
I found a site for bag repairs but the guy is not doing it anymore. I attached a photo from his site for inspiration. Here's a link for a BMW guy that restores old Beemers http://motos.home.att.net/stafford.htm
If he restore bikes I'm sure he may know someone that could help. My nickname is 'Cobbler" because it was my profession for many years, shoe, boot, and leather repair. Here's my suggestion. Find a shoe repair shop, that speaks english, or an orthopedic shop and have them sell you a piece of "light-weight orthopedic crepe foam, about a 15 iron as we call it in the business, that's approximately 1/4". (the attached photo shows about a 1/2" thick piece, use what ever thickness you like). Cut a pattern for the bottom, get some good contact cement, Barge cement is very good. Apply the contact cement to both surfaces and let them dry separately. Approximately 1/2 hour or dry to the touch. Very carefully attach the crepe/foam the the bag and press the very firmly together. You could even place it on your bench and pound it lightly with a hammer and your done. No stitching required. It's a thought. If you get in a bind and can't find all this let me know and I may come out of retirement to help you out. Drop me an e-mail with any questions. Hope this helps.

 

[donnatello]

I'll try cobbler's suggestion for orthopedic foam

Hi Cobbler,
What a great moniker for this thread! I will definitely check out the orthopedic foam for the BMW tank bag to replace the foam that is falling apart in my hands. The Barge cement and that foam look like they'll work. When I do the job, I'll post pictures (as I always do) so others can follow in our footsteps!

 

[jimbeem]

BMW Tank Bag Foam Issue

Hey, any news on how the experiment went? I have the same issue on my bag and want to check out your results. I was surprised that BMW or the bag vendor they OEM from doesn't offer replacement pads. I'm velcro-ing a cloth under there now...not ideal. Also need to replace a broken parachute latch but of course they are sewn up and make replacing a science project.

Thanks,

Jim

'98 K1200RS

 

[donnatello]

Hey, any news on how the experiment went?

Not yet. I have the tank bag in my trunk waiting for me to drive by a cobbler's store and jump out. Problem is I work 9 to 5 and the cobblers all seem to do the same. But, I'll definitely post back (as I always do) so that others benefit from all the help!

 

[johnpeter]

This thread interests me...

For my K75S w/aluminum tank I bought a near new Mulitvario off Craig's for cheap[($50).
Problem was the bag is for a R1150R. My cobbler added 1 1/4" of leather to the back strap so that the front elastics was not singing tight. Costs $20.
Now the front edge rests on the tank because the curve is not as tight as the 1150's tank. So I add foam to the front where there was none before. Majic!

I used 3/8" square weather stripping neoprene. Several dots of adhesive silicone were used as well as the adhesive that is on the weather stripping. I use 4 lengths 2 wide and 2 high to make the plot 3/4" x 3/4". Works for me as the neoprene foam was at hand.

Note: This dense neoprene can be had at Ace Hardware.

Hope this helps. YMMV

 

[donnatello]

Whatever we use to repair the BMW tank bag needs to be gasoline r

I used 3/8" square weather stripping neoprene. Several dots of adhesive silicone were used as well as the adhesive that is on the weather stripping. I use 4 lengths 2 wide and 2 high to make the plot 3/4" x 3/4". This dense neoprene can be had at Ace Hardware.

Thanks. I checked out ACE hardware last night. All their weatherstripping was, in my opinion, either too thin (as you noted) or not dense enough. It was strips (as you noted) and I really like the idea of the orthopedic foam. So I put the bag in my trunk and will carry it around until I see a cobbler open and I'll go for the foam.

One issue we'll have with orthopedic cushion materials is they need to be gasoline resistant.

I wonder what made the foam disintegrate in the first place? Do you think it's merely age (do they all disintegrate in your hands?). Do you think gasoline spills caused the disintegration?

 

[donnatello]

One inch thick closed cell neoprene should work

Closed Cell Neoprene Sponge Rubber seems to be a decent BMW tank bag repair foam cushion material.

Here is a one inch thick closed cell neoprene BMW tank bag repair ($15 USD).
http://www.earplugco.com/services.htm
Unfortunately the guy is also out of business (at those low prices, no wonder).

Looking up the properties of closed cell neoprene for BMW tank bag repair:
http://www.jdrussellco.com/neopren.htm
http://www.stockwell.com/pages/materials_ccsponge.php
it seems the neoprene closed cell sponge rubber cushion offers good resistance to ozone, uv, acid, alkali, gasoline, and oil and is flame retardant.

Neoprene is apparently supplied in 9 and 16# densities, whatever that means.
http://www.atlanticgasket.com/materials/foam.html

On the high end of the scale, we can get 42" x 72" sheets of black one-inch closed-cell neoprene sponge for $170.50 at
http://abbottrubber.thomasnet.com/viewitems/sheet-rubber/closed-cell-neoprene-sponge
but, we must be able to get a simple pad for a lot less than that somewhere.

So, I think we're looking for:
2' x 1' x 1" x 16 pound density black closed-cell neoprene sponge material
http://www.foambymail.com/closedcell.html
http://www.canalrubber.com/closed-cell-neoprene.html

 

[cobbler]

John Peter

That avatar just cracks me up.................is that your hound?

 

[johnpeter]

That avatar just cracks me up.................is that your hound?

No but I do love Boxer dogs because they are sweet, powerful and not too bright.
When I was a child my first Boxer(Fancy) would pull me and my bicycle everywhere.
I have had two more as an adult and both lived past 14 years.

I forget where I stole this Avatar from but it does suit me because I have been known to talk out my ass.

Your Rat Fink Avatar.
Gads! I would just stare at Ed Roth's work when I was a kid. Built several models made to his drawings.
Bought an autographed t-shirt from Ed Roth several years ago during the Seal Beach, CA car show on Main St.
Never been washed or worn. He died less than two years after I purchased it, iirc. He did look rather ill during that show.
Very nice man. R.I.P. Ed

 

[MarineK]

Bag Repair

I have an original RS/GT tank bag and the foam was wearing out. So I removed both pieces. Next I cut some of the beaded foam that is used to line tool trays. I cut it to fit the bottom of the bag. Next I taped off the bag and sprayed headliner adhesive to both the bottom of the bag and the bottom of the tool tray liner foam. It works like a champ and has the added advantage of now being way more stable and "grippier" than the original design without risking marring the paint. Just a thought.

 

[Thickasabrick]

open cell vs. closed cell foam

the open cell foams will hold water after a rainy day....closed cell won't...just a thought.

 

[MarineK]

Closed vs Open Cell

You are right that open cell will absorb water. On the practical application side, I've ridden in a 2 hor driving rain with the tank bag rain cover installed and noted no adverse absorption issues. What I like about the tool line method vice the stock padding and other repair jobs noted here and elsewhere is that the tool liner method lowers the overall CG of the tankbag load while simulataneously affording a non-deformable base - both of which enhance stability.

 

[BAK04GT]

No but I do love Boxer dogs because they are sweet, powerful and not too bright.
When I was a child my first Boxer(Fancy) would pull me and my bicycle everywhere.
I have had two more as an adult and both lived past 14 years.

I forget where I stole this Avatar from but it does suit me because I have been known to talk out my ass.

Your Rat Fink Avatar.
Gads! I would just stare at Ed Roth's work when I was a kid. Built several models made to his drawings.
Bought an autographed t-shirt from Ed Roth several years ago during the Seal Beach, CA car show on Main St.
Never been washed or worn. He died less than two years after I purchased it, iirc. He did look rather ill during that show.
Very nice man. R.I.P. Ed

this is a thread about tank bags..not dogs.....im outa here I cant take this crap ..... :boom: :rotf:

 

[voxmagna]

Hi Cobbler,
What a great moniker for this thread! I will definitely check out the orthopedic foam for the BMW tank bag to replace the foam that is falling apart in my hands. The Barge cement and that foam look like they'll work. When I do the job, I'll post pictures (as I always do) so others can follow in our footsteps!

Had to get some foam to replace some they put in the top of my helmet, similar problem, foam to thin and just breaking apart.

Showed it to an upholsterer who said the problem was caused by rubbing and probably the adhesive used. Contact adhesives eat foam. Best to use an upholstery adhesive sold for glueing closed/open cell foam.



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[cobbler]

Foam

Had to get some foam to replace some they put in the top of my helmet, similar problem, foam to thin and just breaking apart.

Showed it to an upholsterer who said the problem was caused by rubbing and probably the adhesive used. Contact adhesives eat foam. Best to use an upholstery adhesive sold for glueing closed/open cell foam.

Vox, when I refer to foam it is the orthopeadic type, or in the shoe repair industry referred to as "crepe". It is a very dense foam and is unaffected by contact cements. In fact contact cement is the best because the crepe is porous so the cement fills the holes and has a tremendous bond. There are different densities to the crepe also for various applications.

 

[donnatello]

Showed it to an upholsterer who said the problem was caused by rubbing and probably the adhesive used. Contact adhesives eat foam.

Just for the record, here is a pic of the original adhesive pattern for the original foam on the original BMW K1200RS tank bag.

I haven't had a chance to find the orthopedic foam yet ...