I'm not sure there was enough left of Dresden to warrant additional bombing.

 

Does anyone known how to remove the top case on a GTL/GTL Exclusive? The 2 small wires which I assume are for the radio and Sirius antennas are fine but how in the world do you get that HUGE 1" diameter plug fed through?! .....

Fed through what? The big plug shouldn't go through anything.

 

I don't know if exclusive is different than regular GTL, but on mine I lift the seat, disconnect the plug and then take the topcase off, if it takes 2 minutes I've been drinking. . .

 

Maybe we should have nuked Dresden too.

I'm not into political banter but that's a tasteless comment. Keep going in that direction and you're not going to receive much help.

 

I seem to remember a thread a year or so ago where someone at the dealer or factory routed the wire incorrectly under the seat.... The harness disconnects from the barrel type connector under the seat and stays attached to the trunk. You have to twist it to disconnect, mine was very very stiff the first couple of times.

And +1 to Straty1 re. comment.

 

Had my top case off yesterday........took a whole 1 minute to do.
Not sure where the problem is.

IMHO it's a pretty slick design.

Try taking the top case (or saddle bags) off of a Japanese touring bike like the Goldwing.
Yea got a week?
It's so easy to criticize....I've tore Goldwings down to the bones many times and talk about a PIA. The BMW K1600 is a dream to work on by comparison.
Don't get me started on all those bogus plastic pin connectors!

Sure is nice seeing metal hardware holding the parts together!

Nice post.

 

Obviously you do not understand the complexities of German engineering. There was a meeting of the storage department to discuss the new GTL. They had decided to use the bags that were already in use on the RT.

As they looked at the design their senior storage design engineer was upset that the RT top case was not only too easy to remove, but you could remove it without opening it! They worked on this issue day and night and came up with the present design. It would require more time and steps allowing you to fully appreciate the time and effort in the design of your machine.

BTW I had installed hyper lites on the back case of my '06 RT and it did not chance the simplicity of its removal. I blame that on my lack of engineering know how.

The nuke thing, uncool.

 

Let's keep this forum away from politics and war... thread title clarified.

 

So it sounds like the trunk comes off the exclusive the same way it did for my 2014 RT? Except now you're left with the arm wrests sticking up? that would look very strange IMHO.

 

Exactly why I did the armrest mod.

 

Exactly why I left the armrests off entirely!

 

Guys with GTL's - your responses say that you don't get it. The Exclusive is a whole different ball game when removing the top case from the bike. Bottom line is that it is not designed to be removed routinely. You need tools to do it. The old GTL connector is the same, but there are two additional wires, one of which is attached with a screw. These relate to the rear seat heater and the internal antennae. The old GTL has only three electrical/electronic functions in the top case.

The new Exclusive has five embedded electrical/electronic functions. The old harness is still there without modification and the plug is unchanged. That connection supports the wired interior light, top case brake light, and the locking system. But the two new wires were not integrated into that, and are routed further forward on the bike, are wire tied and screwed into place. I have removed my top case to take off the padded bits for the RDL upgrade, and can say conclusively that the Exclusive is intended to keep its case in place at all times, despite having the residual quick-removal hardware left over from the old GTL. If BMW wanted you to remove it, they would have provided plugs for those two new wires. Further, the arm rests are a biotch to remove, and the bike with arm rest just looks wrong without the case in place.

 

Guys with GTL's - your responses say that you don't get it. The Exclusive is a whole different ball game when removing the top case from the bike. Bottom line is that it is not designed to be removed routinely. You need tools to do it. The old GTL connector is the same, but there are two additional wires, one of which is attached with a screw. These relate to the rear seat heater and the internal antennae. The old GTL has only three electrical/electronic functions in the top case.

The new Exclusive has five embedded electrical/electronic functions. The old harness is still there without modification and the plug is unchanged. That connection supports the wired interior light, top case brake light, and the locking system. But the two new wires were not integrated into that, and are routed further forward not the bike, are wire tied and screwed into place. I have removed my top case to take off the padded bits for the RDL upgrade, and can say conclusively that the Exclusive is intended to keep its case in place at all times, despite having the residual quick-removal hardware left over from the old GTL. If BMW wanted you to remove it, they would have provided pugs for those two new wires. Further, the arm rests are a biotch to remove, and the bike with arm rest just looks wrong without the case in place.

That confirms what I was told by the dealer when I bought my GTL......That the top case was a PITA to remove as it was designed to stay on the bike.

And yet another reason why I didn't get an Exclusive.

 

I have a GTL but had the dealer add the top case break light and armrests. Aside from the armrest issue, mine looks like 1 plug attachment under the seat. I am assuming the break light is part of that?

 

Yeah, I added the brake light and the wiring was already in the case....So it's part of the bundle that handles the power lock and the interior light.

 

Thanks for confirming.

 

It's both a bagger and a tourer hehe

Topcase is only on when wife and I are touring,,, Have the DUSAK backrest for daytrips with the wife. (nice piece btw). Use part of his mount for my Ztechnic pod when I strip all the bags off and want just small storage for necessary items. Have alot of different setups, full out touring, semi-tour, and hooligan. Love this machine.

But my radio always works

J/K BTW,,,,have at it.

 

No problem.......we all have different needs, wants, and desires. :gm

 

Yup, if my wife is with me the topcase is on, otherwise it's in the garage.

 

Just wondering. Has dtpetty's question been answered yet? Everybody seems to chip in, but no reaction yet.

 

The large twist connector is not supposed to be routed through the rack frame. If it is, someone installed the topcase wiring incorrectly at the dealer. The topcases are shipped separately/not attached to the bike so this was most likely whomever assembled it. If you post a photo we may be able to tell you how to get it out and the topcase off. It normally takes about two minutes to remove the GTLE topcase but you do need a 25Torx to remove the ground wire and once it's removed the whole radio body can be lifted up to slide the FM antenna line underneath for removal. You may also need to remove a few zipties the first time but I've found them unnecessary for regular operation once the topcase is reinstalled. Be careful on first removal as it's heavier than it looks with lopsided weight towards the front hinge side.

To answer another question, the FM radio will not function with the topcase removed but the Sirius XM continues as it's antenna it located elsewhere.

 

It is a friggin operation to take off the Exclusive case and reinstall it - eight wires ties to cut and reinstall, a screw to remove and not lose inside the bike, and two added wires with different routing - the picture above says it all. If BMW could design a single barrel connection for everything else in the top case, why not change over and integrate it for the antenna and backrest heat? It was obviously their intention that it be left in place, or they would have made it as easy as the standard GTL.

 

You better not try replacing an air filter on a Goldwing if you think the trunk on the Exclusive is any big deal.

Anything you can accomplish in a few minutes I don't consider much of an issue.

 

I'm not sure what some of you are talking about. I had a GTL, and I have an Exclusive now. There isn't much difference between them when removing the top box (except if there's additional stuff for the Sirius system - we don't need that in Europe).
I've taken off the top box and the armrests. The top box is easy (ok, a few more cables to remove compared to the GTL, including one screw) and takes me 3 min.
Removing the armrests is a bit more work and not something I want to do before each ride. But overall no big thing (talk about removing a top box from a Harley Ultra Classic...)

 

Sorry to bring up an old thread - but I am close to a deal on an Exclusive and I intend on removing the top case --- just to be clear - the case and armrests can be removed - but the am/fm receiver needs to be either discarded or possibly relocated to work ? XM Sat will continue to work ....

Thanks guys - this is my last hurdle before purchase

 

It's just the FM antenna that's located in the top case. All other radio functions will work with the top case removed.

You can always add a different FM antenna, either an aftermarket unit or the factory BMW antenna that fits up by the right mirror.

 

Thanks - I though that was the case - but just wanted to be sure - I don't ride 2 up and will never use the topcase ... Plus I like the sleeker look without it installed ...

Excited to get back on 2 wheels :gm

 

So why get an Exclusive then?

Just wondering.

 

Got a pretty good deal on a slightly used one.....

 

I'd go GT if I rode one up all the time fer sure, fer sure.

Topcase and armrests comes off pretty easy but plan on spending a couple hours the first time. 20 minutes for the topcase, 20 minutes beer break, 60 minutes for rack removal to get to "all" the bolts then reassemble the rack back in position, followed by 20 minutes successful completion beer break and befuddled amazement at how the whole rack is plastic. Take care when moving the topcase as it's a bit heavy but mostly cumbersome.

Not sure you'd want to put that FM antenna on the front of an Exclusive. An antenna like that will make it look like one of those old school GTL models.

 

Buerkletucson,

Your diagram for the top case removal is great, it gives me the confidence to tackle the job, thanks.
BTW, do you have a diagram for removing the armrests?