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Leading link for R1150R ..What mods ??

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(@jrapose)
Posts: 96
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I have a question.... I have seen leading link front ends on late model BMW R1150R and S bikes..... but how is that done ?? All I see advertised is steering modifications ...to relocate the A frame ball joint... How is the leading link used instead of the A-Frame ball joint ?? Is the steering head the same as the earlier bikes ?

Thanks

Joel Rapose
Chester Ca.


 
Posted : December 30, 2009 4:20 pm
(@jrapose)
Posts: 96
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I know about the adaptor that moves the ball joint.....but what I want to do is install a Leading Link unit.... Do you still use the ball joint ? or is that removed ?


 
Posted : December 30, 2009 5:12 pm
(@jrapose)
Posts: 96
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Is it possible to take off the front end of the R1150R and install a Triple Tree from a R100R...then use a Leading Link Unit for a R100R...Will it work ?


 
Posted : December 30, 2009 5:27 pm
(@jrapose)
Posts: 96
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I just finished looking at a R1100RT...and the steering stem is way different...so that is not going to work...


 
Posted : December 30, 2009 5:53 pm
(@claude-3563)
Posts: 2473
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Doing a leading link on a telelever BMW is possible and has been done. Most commonly the exisiting telelever shock is replaced by a solid bar. This gets rid of the suspenion that came with the bike but allows the ball joint to still be a pivot point for the leading link down tubes. From there the leading link is fabricated to whatever design one desires.
The more common method of trail reduction on the telelvers is moving the pivot location (ball joint) to kick the fork tubes forward. Typically a redesigned bridge takes care of this although other options are doable. If anyone thinks they want to do this on their own it is a little more complicated than at first glance. Care must be taken that the upper pivots of the fork tubes do not max out as this could cause a failer which would do nothing for the old fun meter.
.


 
Posted : December 31, 2009 1:15 am
Brstr reacted
(@jrapose)
Posts: 96
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That was exactally what I wanted to know.... I just could not understand how you could do away with that lower pivot....the solid bar is the answer... Thanks.. it was bugging me.

Joel


 
Posted : December 31, 2009 4:12 am
(@joe-goodfellow)
Posts: 27
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Hi, I have just finished making and fitting an under engine "cradle"  etc so I could attach a Velorex sidecar to my 2002 r1150r. I am now wondering if I should change the telelever to leading link. Has anyone any ideas /designs for this? Are the advantages worth the trouble? Thanks, joe (Ireland) 


 
Posted : May 20, 2026 1:14 am
Brstr and FlyingMonkeys reacted
(@miles-ladue)
Posts: 1555
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Posted by: @joe-goodfellow

Hi, I have just finished making and fitting an under engine "cradle"  etc so I could attach a Velorex sidecar to my 2002 r1150r. I am now wondering if I should change the telelever to leading link. Has anyone any ideas /designs for this? Are the advantages worth the trouble? Thanks, joe (Ireland) 

Joe, leave it to an olde Irishman to revive a 16 years old forums thread. Wink  

If you can find a Wasp manufactured "UNIT" branded Leading Link, especially since they are made in that British country to the East of you, then putting a Leading Link on the front of your '02 R1150R would be a good thing.

If you can NOT find a "Unit" branded Leading Link, then what in tarnation are you going to do...have one made ? Are there any Leading Link fabricators on the Emerald Isle ?

Joe, I would suggest looking at both options, just to see what is available. I can check with MY guy here in the "colonies", that would be Chuck @54vintage, as he WAS a huge fan of the R1150 bikes (more GS than R), to see "IF" he has a used Leading Link front end for your '02 R1150R, but...shipping it to Galway, Ireland may cost more than the Ireland national GDP.

In the colonies, we have a few choices for moving that ball joint on the Telelever, to reduce trail, to make it easier to steer.

 


Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort

 
Posted : May 20, 2026 7:40 am
Thane Lewis and Brstr reacted