I am planning to re-grease the steering head bearings without removing any of the fairing panels or beak. Yes I can undo the top and bottom hex head bolts holding in the fork tubes. I need to know if I can unplug (without removing any fairing panels) the skyhook wire that goes in the top of the left fork tube??
I dont want the hassle of time removing the fairing panels / nose beak, I need to know what panel I need to so remove to get to the plug, can you tell me that?
I can't speak to your year model, but on the 2014 you cannot remove the (same) fork without removing the tank. Just had to do it last week in order to replace a leaking fork seal. They wrap the cable around the frame and plug in in down under the tank on the left side on mine. Look at the parts diagram for yours I bet the plug is in the same vicinity. Not only was it snaked (wound) around the frame it was cable tied on mine. Impossible to get it loose. Which was off the charts annoying because I could have serviced the fork without all that hassle if they had not.
No you can't get away without taking body panels off, I did manage to do it without removing the tank, just lifted the rear to unplug the connector, surprised you can get an allen key in the bottom yolk without removing the beak? The beak only takes a few minutes to remove anyway.
You can do it with short hex sockets and a small ratchet (1/4 drive). I also considered doing the job without removing the outer tube from the bike. Just wrap a garbage back around the lower fork when pulling it apart to catch the fluid mess. But that doesn't help the plug problem.
Thanks for replying and pointer around the lifting the rear of the tank to disconnect the plug. As regards the pinch bolts I can have small kit with a mini ratchet that I can out a a small allen key bit in, and it works fine. I think could also use a Allen key that has been cut down, although it will be fiddly. Link to mini kit, I use this all over the bike and take it away with me on tours. https://amzn.eu/d/8mrIGjd
I have managed to unplug the skyhook cable without removing tank, but fiddly but managed to unplug just as it disappears into/underneath the tank, mines a 1260 2018 and it may have been modified on later models, please pics attached. I still hope to remove the fork legs to enable me to, remove the fork carries to change the bearings.
It is fiddly, and to be honest, once you've had the tank off a few times you get a lot quicker at it hence, probably just as quick to remove it rater than struggle.
Ok in summary, I have managed to replace the steering head bearing without removing any if the main fairing panels, i did remove the left panel the one with the Ducati on it, as it made accessing the skyhook lead connecting plug am little easier as i have very big hands and finders. I though if changing the fork seals but if they do fail its less then an hour to get the fork tubes out, and an hour to get them back in. I did use a sky jack that made my life a lot easier.
