You can get rid of the diode board all together if you buy the motorrad Electrik charging system. For me that was a major selling point of the ME system over the Omega, the solid state replacement seems less likely to go south.
Solo Lobo, I suppose I should be more specific--my stocker was still working when I removed it, but one of the four rubber mounts were broken and another broke when I removed the board. I replaced my board with a Thunderchild with billet mounts. I have the old board on my wall, along with my Valeo starter and stock shock. The shock & starter will work for me while the other units need rebuilding in the future. If you'vehad good service with your stock board,more power to ya!
The Omega still uses a diode board. In fact, it is mounted in the same location. The endralast system relocates the diode rectifier to a location outside of the timing chest.
I'm would say I'm for solid mounts, and against "needing" to change the diode board. There are better options out there when yours does eventually fail, but thousands of BMW airhead riders who have covered millions of miles would disagree with saying there are prone to failure and are a weak point. I would guess that I have 25,000 miles on airheads with the stock charging systems, and have had one brush fail, and one diode board die (but only about half-way) Maybe I have been lucky? SL
...from all the bruhaha on this board I assumed it was a GS thang...I got 110K out of my 1978 /7 with no such diode failure....but I did have two OEM rotors fail about 10K apart.
My knowledge on diode boards comesfrom listening to others. I have about 60,000km on my GSPD. I've been told that through the years BMW has sourced boards from various vendors, and my '93 board was a questionable one. I haven't stepped up to an aftermarket charging system--I don't have an electric vest (yet) nor auxillary lights (yet).
Do a search for Ernie here on ADV.......then just PM him. Those clamps are BMW stock and don't like coming off and going back on. Dont ask how I know.
Rapid Pooch....you might wantto check these out http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=181334
...i ended up paying retail to SJ for the CC forkbrace...a pleasent surprise!...it has tapped mounting holes for the low fender!...a bit diff than this older pick I'm guessin'...