"Secret" storage space on Airheads

[montmil]

A recent thread in Trading Post sorta morphed into a comparison of the early v later R65 tool trays and storage under the seat's tail piece. There's also another space for storage that many owners completely miss.

With the tool tray removed, take a peek at the open end of the frame's backbone tube. There's about 22-inches of available space inside that large diameter frame tube. It's closed at the steering head stock so nothing can escape at that end.



I purchased this heavy-duty bag from Bob's BMW some years ago. It's a Kathy's Journey Designs item -one of many luggage bags that are sold through Bob's. The pouch is secured within the frame tube by the 'nose' of the tool tray. Full length zipper and strong loops at each end of the bag.

I just checked the Bob's BMW site and discovered this item is NLA but I imagine a good seamstress could make up a replica for just a few bucks.

My bag has spare spark plugs and plug tools plus a few extra bits that might be needed for a roadside fix-it chore.

http://store.bobsbmw.com/browse.aspx?q=Kathys+Journey+Designs

[marcmax]

And I always thought that is where the less principled folks did their "Easy Rider" imitation and carried illicit substances.  [smiley=beatnik.gif]

[nhmaf]

Like Monte, I have one of those pouches with long skinny tools in it on my R65 - I wanted to buy one for my R100, but haven't found a new source yet, but I am SURE that SOMEONE must be making & selling those things.

Try as I might, I cannot get my wife to wipe the dust off her sewing machine...

[Luca]

If you've got a local fabric shop around that offers sewing lessons, I'm sure you could contract somebody there to make one.

Even if they don't offer classes, there are probably a few competent seamstresses who would take the work.

[nhmaf]

I think that Bob's got the originals from a small company called "Kathy's Journey Designs" - I found their website and they have alot of sewn/fabric products but none of those tubes.  There is another small company which is run by a woman who once belonged to our group here, called "DontWannaPickle"
(dwapickle.com) and she also has some travel bags, etc. for sale, but none of these tubes.   I am thinking that *maybe* we could get one or the other of them to consider making some up for us, if we were to get some sort of "group" buy organized..

[Ed Miller]

Bob's shows them under "related stuff" at the bottom of this page:

http://store.bobsbmw.com/product/kathys-fairing-pockets-for-r100rs-gray

but when you click on it it's gone.  

[montmil]

Bob's shows them under "related stuff" at the bottom of this page:

http://store.bobsbmw.com/product/kathys-fairing-pockets-for-r100rs-gray

but when you click on it it's gone.  

Yep. A low demand item. Now AWOL.

[Tony Smith]

And I always thought that is where the less principled folks did their "Easy Rider" imitation and carried illicit substances.  [smiley=beatnik.gif]

Damm, I was going to say that.  About 10 years after I bought the R100Rs I accidentally discovered a cable lock in the spine tube.  Funny thing I knew I'd paid for one and I'd always blamed the Australian dealer who did the re-delivery.

[nhmaf]

Yes, that is where the factory lock is supposed to go.