Stefano
New member
Hi everyone, I just want to let you know, in few weeks Cymarc Engineering Ltd, will start selling online the antitheft brace for TFT screen.
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TFT brace for C400GT
- Thread starter Stefano
- Start date
chillie
New member
That's great, where will the firm be based?
- Thread starter
- #3
Stefano
New member
wspollack
Well-known member
Looks nice, and functional.
A few questions for you:
1) That page (https://www.cymarcbikeparts.co.uk/bmw-c400x-tft-screen-security-brace-1608-p.asp) mentions "C400" and shows a picture of it mounted on a C400X. Am I correct that this will also fit a C 400 GT?
2) It looks like the security brace is held in place by some Allen-head screws (I think). For a tiny bit more security, have you folks considered using Allen or Torx security screws instead? You know, where there's a pin in the middle of the recessed area?
I have bits in my tool box at home that will work with Allen-security and Torx-security screw heads, so that doesn't make this completely secure ... but of course nothing is completely secure, as a few burly blokes can always lift an entire bike and put it a get-away van. But it seems to me that it would be a nice idea to change those screw heads, because -- as you note -- this is designed to thwart "opportunistic" thieves.
3) You folks ship to the USA? And, if so, do you have an estimate of shipping costs? (I like that you accept PayPal, which is what I would use for a purchase, but I didn't want to click on it, in order to see if a shipping price appeared.)
Thanks for your time.
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Harry Hippy
New member
That version will not fit the 400GT. Only the 400x.
The 400GT version is to follow.
It looks like the screws are the torx type. But needs to be the anti theft version with the small pip in the middle of the head. IMHO.
Personally. I was quite disappointed with the design.
Won’t give my reasons here.
The 400GT version is to follow.
It looks like the screws are the torx type. But needs to be the anti theft version with the small pip in the middle of the head. IMHO.
Personally. I was quite disappointed with the design.
Won’t give my reasons here.
- Thread starter
- #6
Stefano
New member
Message from Mark
Fausto
New member
wspollack
Well-known member
I incorrectly posted this report yesterday in the CE-04 sub-forum thread on the Cymarc product. Here's the report I posted there.
Incidentally, Max BMW lists the TFT screen for the C 400 GT at $2,340!
My report on the Cymarc TFT security brace for the C 400 GT:
I received the Cymarc brace -- https://www.cymarcbikeparts.co.uk/bmw-c400gt-tft-screen-security-brace-1610-p.asp -- about three weeks ago, and installed it a day later. Thus, it took about two weeks from ordering to delivery to the Albany, NY, USA area (which is about 150 miles north of New York City). This was just a few days before I set off for a 2,000-mile round-trip to NC.
The unit was nicely packaged, and all parts were present. Here are the included instructions (and there's a typo -- a missing word, I believe -- in the third paragraph):
I think Cymarc should have included a clearer picture or two depicting the placement of the bottom (i.e., front-side) foam pieces. That is, I think they should have included a photo like this, which I took
I was a little annoyed that I had to cut the sticky-backed foam lengthwise into two 5mm strips. This is pretty narrow, and I enlisted my wife, who supplied some very small and very sharp sewing scissors for this task; working with such fine tolerances took nerves of steel during the cutting. Given the cost of this product (see earlier post), I feel that the foam should've been pre-cut.
I also feel that when ordering the system in black that the security bolts should have been anodized in black, too, but I suppose that that's a matter of personal preference.
I was a little concerned that the front side of the strap might be too close to the bodywork over the headlights, and so might scratch it, but that turned out to be a non-issue. The two foam pieces that go underneath that area keep it sufficiently raised off the plastic.
Here are some of the pics I took after installation:
My main disappointment here is that the final setup allows some up-and-down movement. I put up a one-minute video to show what I'm talking about:
I'm not sure what can be done about this minor movement. Such movement is not noticeable while actually riding -- well, I suppose it might be, if you're actually fixating on it -- nor does it detract from the security functionality of the unit.
On the other hand, I'll probably put some sticky-backed foam of my own, below the bottom of the brace. That way, the brace will remain in the upper-most position. This will make it a little easier for me to plug in a USB cable over there on the right, in the socket I added; with the brace in its lowest position, it slightly interferes with my plugging in a cable. (So if anyone's contemplating adding an external USB port, as I did on my C 400 GT and several other bikes over the years, you might be better off positioning the port an inch or so rearward. I describe that modification in my C 400 GT gallery, starting with this image and caption: https://billanddot.com/C400GT/#S-18 ).
I think that covers everything. The Cymarc brace looks like it will accomplish what it set out to do: prevent casual attempts to steal the bike's TFT screen. It probably won't prevent professional attempts of thievery, but then nothing will stop a determined group from stealing the entire bike, either.
Incidentally, Max BMW lists the TFT screen for the C 400 GT at $2,340!
My report on the Cymarc TFT security brace for the C 400 GT:
I received the Cymarc brace -- https://www.cymarcbikeparts.co.uk/bmw-c400gt-tft-screen-security-brace-1610-p.asp -- about three weeks ago, and installed it a day later. Thus, it took about two weeks from ordering to delivery to the Albany, NY, USA area (which is about 150 miles north of New York City). This was just a few days before I set off for a 2,000-mile round-trip to NC.
The unit was nicely packaged, and all parts were present. Here are the included instructions (and there's a typo -- a missing word, I believe -- in the third paragraph):
I think Cymarc should have included a clearer picture or two depicting the placement of the bottom (i.e., front-side) foam pieces. That is, I think they should have included a photo like this, which I took
I was a little annoyed that I had to cut the sticky-backed foam lengthwise into two 5mm strips. This is pretty narrow, and I enlisted my wife, who supplied some very small and very sharp sewing scissors for this task; working with such fine tolerances took nerves of steel during the cutting. Given the cost of this product (see earlier post), I feel that the foam should've been pre-cut.
I also feel that when ordering the system in black that the security bolts should have been anodized in black, too, but I suppose that that's a matter of personal preference.
I was a little concerned that the front side of the strap might be too close to the bodywork over the headlights, and so might scratch it, but that turned out to be a non-issue. The two foam pieces that go underneath that area keep it sufficiently raised off the plastic.
Here are some of the pics I took after installation:
My main disappointment here is that the final setup allows some up-and-down movement. I put up a one-minute video to show what I'm talking about:
I'm not sure what can be done about this minor movement. Such movement is not noticeable while actually riding -- well, I suppose it might be, if you're actually fixating on it -- nor does it detract from the security functionality of the unit.
On the other hand, I'll probably put some sticky-backed foam of my own, below the bottom of the brace. That way, the brace will remain in the upper-most position. This will make it a little easier for me to plug in a USB cable over there on the right, in the socket I added; with the brace in its lowest position, it slightly interferes with my plugging in a cable. (So if anyone's contemplating adding an external USB port, as I did on my C 400 GT and several other bikes over the years, you might be better off positioning the port an inch or so rearward. I describe that modification in my C 400 GT gallery, starting with this image and caption: https://billanddot.com/C400GT/#S-18 ).
I think that covers everything. The Cymarc brace looks like it will accomplish what it set out to do: prevent casual attempts to steal the bike's TFT screen. It probably won't prevent professional attempts of thievery, but then nothing will stop a determined group from stealing the entire bike, either.
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Fausto
New member
I used a thick dense foam that does not allow any play.
mgg
Active member
Okay so now I see that this screen pops right out of one socket. Looks very easy to remove. This link shows the replacement unit for $335. I have purchased the back case rack from Aliexpress and while it took 2 weeks to get it, it was in perfect condition factory new. I think I paid $250 and BMW was asking $800. These parts come from China which is where they are likely made.
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