Hi Wayne:

I bought a 1983 R100RS with bags etc. and had a similar problem except that I did have one key for each bag: a #059 and a #067 as it happened.  I do not like having just one key for anything and so I fiddled around for several weeks and found a guy who has a stash of keys and other OEM parts.  

Here is his contact info:

Larry Stonestreet (he’s online as Stoner’s Beemer Stash). His phone number is: (951) 813-1704 and email: CA.Stoner@yahoo.com

I don’t recall what he charged me for the keys but he was nice to deal with, he accepted PayPal and the charge was not outrageous. I paid happily and shortly afterward, two of the correct keys arrived taped to the inside of an envelop.  

I will add that the design of the locks on the BMW bags (they’re actually made by Krauser) is absolutely stupid. The keys look like something a little girl’s jewellery box would use and the goofy little springloaded doors you must open to access the lock is impossible with gloves and pretty tough on a chilly day with frozen fingers.

I also added a Velcro strap around each bag just in case the locks fail (which they have been known to do). I don't want my laundry strewn all over the 401.

The only thing worse than the luggage locks is the springloaded-up BMW sidestand which is totally silly and endangers the bike. II cannot deploy it without a big struggle and it props the bike up too close to vertical. All of the cycle magazine testers criticised it back when these bikes were introduced - and yet, they never changed the design AFAIK. I guess it was a government mandate to prevent people from riding off with the stand down.

Get yourself a Brown’s sidestand (available at Bob’s BMW near Boston) - you won’t regret it. Its a bit clunky and looks like something off a Harley, but it is easy to fit and it works well. I found it worked better to heat up the last 8" or so and bend it a bit to make the bike a tad more vertical.

I have attached a photo of my bike taken at the Wawa goose from last week.

Other than those two things (the bag locks and the sidestand), I love my bimmer and have taken two quite long trips with no serious issues (SW Ont. to Newfoundland last year - 8000 km and up to Kenora this year - 4400 km). It is smooth, quiet, reliable and handles nicely and is good on fuel. I added a Honda GL1100 top box for lightweight stuff and it’s perfect for me. 

Oh, and I recently added a billet aluminium fork top triple tree which makes handling even better (no more "gummikuh" - which is German for "rubber cow").

Cheers,

Peter

Sounds good Wayne - have a nice ride and keep an eye on the engine oil level.  

Peter