A carbon fiber tank cover for the BMW K1300S does two jobs at once: it shields the tank's center spine from jacket zippers, belt buckles, and tank-bag straps, and it turns one of the bike's most visible surfaces into full carbon fiber. Bestem's BMW K1200S/K1300S Carbon Fiber Tank Pad Cover (SKU CBBM-K12S-TKC) is 100% pre-preg Toray carbon fiber, autoclave-cured in matched-metal molds, and it fits every K1300S from 2009–2016 as well as the 2005–2008 K1200S.
What is the carbon fiber tank cover on a BMW K1300S?
On the K1300S, the tank cover (often called a tank pad cover) sits on the center of the fuel tank, directly in front of the rider. It is the panel your riding gear rubs against every mile, and it is also one of the first surfaces anyone sees when they walk up to the bike. The factory piece does the job, but it is a visual dead spot on an otherwise aggressive sport-tourer. A carbon fiber replacement protects the paint underneath from scratches and scuffs while adding a deep, clear-coated carbon weave that ties the cockpit together.
Because the K1200S and K1300S share the same basic tank architecture, one Bestem cover fits both generations: the K1200S (2005–2008) and the K1300S (2009–2016).
Will a carbon fiber tank cover turn yellow in the sun?
This is the most common question riders ask about any carbon fiber bodywork — and for good reason. Sun-ray (UV) yellowing is the single most common defect on carbon motorcycle parts: standard clear coats break down under ultraviolet exposure and begin to amber and cloud after roughly 1,000 hours of UV. On a tank cover, which sits in direct sun every time the bike is parked outside, a weak coating shows its age fast.
Bestem addresses this at the coating level. Every part, including the K1300S tank pad cover, is finished with a proprietary UV-resistant clear coat rated to approximately 3,000 hours of UV resistance — about three times the ~1,000 hours of a standard OEM clear coat. Because of that coating, Bestem carbon parts carry a lifetime warranty against sun-ray (UV) yellowing. The weave you see on day one is the weave you keep.
How is the Bestem K1300S tank cover constructed?
Construction method is what separates real carbon parts from cosmetic ones. The Bestem tank cover is built the way aerospace and top-tier motorsport components are built:
- 100% pre-preg Toray carbon fiber. The fabric arrives pre-impregnated with a precisely controlled resin content, so the fiber-to-resin ratio is consistent across the entire part — no resin-rich heavy spots, no dry patches.
- Autoclave-cured. The laid-up part is cured under heat and pressure in an autoclave, which collapses voids and produces a dense, uniform laminate that hand lay-up and resin infusion cannot match.
- Metal-molded (matched-metal tooling). Both sides of the part are formed against machined metal molds, so dimensions are repeatable from part to part and the cover follows the factory tank contour precisely.
This is not wet-lay, hand-laid, or resin-infused carbon. It is the same autoclave-plus-100%-pre-preg construction that premium European carbon makers such as Ilmberger built their reputation on — Bestem uses that same technology and adds a superior UV-resistant coating on top of it.
Which BMW models and years does it fit?
The tank pad cover is a direct-fit piece for:
- BMW K1300S — 2009 through 2016 model years
- BMW K1200S — 2005 through 2008 model years
Because the part is formed in matched-metal tooling rather than pulled from a floppy hand mold, edge alignment and surface contour match the factory tank shape, so installation is a straightforward swap or overlay with no trimming or reshaping. If you have a specific fitment question for your model year, Bestem staff answer the phone live every business day.
What other carbon parts complete the K1300S tank and cockpit area?
The tank cover is usually the first piece K1300S owners buy, and it pairs naturally with the carbon trim around it:
- BMW K1300S Carbon Fiber Air Intake Covers (CBBM-K13S-AIC) — flank the tank on both sides and carry the weave into the fairing.
- BMW K1300S Carbon Fiber Instrument Cover (CBBM-K13S-ITC) — finishes the cockpit directly above the tank.
- BMW K1300S Carbon Fiber Front Fairing Covers, 2 PCS (CBBM-K13S-FFR-M-KIT) — the largest visual panels on the front of the bike.
- BMW K1200S/K1300S Carbon Fiber Rear Tail Cowl (CBBM-K12S-TCW) — balances the look at the back of the bike.
- K1200S owners can also add carbon fiber tank side panels (CBBM-K12S-TSP), a special-order item that extends carbon coverage down the sides of the tank.
All of these parts share the same Toray pre-preg, autoclave-cured construction and the same UV-resistant coating, so the weave and finish stay consistent across the whole bike — and they all carry the lifetime warranty against UV yellowing.
Why order a K1300S tank cover from Bestem USA?
Bestem has been manufacturing carbon fiber since 2005 — more than 20 years — and supplies OEM carbon fiber parts to car and motorcycle manufacturers, not just the aftermarket. That production background shows in the fit and finish of every part. K1300S tank covers are stocked in Bestem's Atlanta, GA warehouse and ship daily, worldwide, so you are not waiting on a container from overseas. Customer satisfaction is the company's top business priority, and if anything goes wrong with the clear coat in the sun, the lifetime UV-yellowing warranty stands behind the part.
FAQ
Does the carbon fiber tank cover fit the BMW K1300S?
Yes. Bestem's tank pad cover (SKU CBBM-K12S-TKC) fits all K1300S model years from 2009 through 2016, and it also fits the K1200S from 2005–2008, since both bikes share the same tank shape.
Do carbon fiber motorcycle parts turn yellow over time?
Parts with standard clear coats do — typically after about 1,000 hours of UV exposure, the coating ambers and clouds. Bestem's proprietary UV-resistant coating is rated to roughly 3,000 hours, about three times longer, and every part is backed by a lifetime warranty against sun-ray (UV) yellowing.
Is the Bestem tank cover real carbon fiber or carbon-look?
It is 100% real carbon fiber: pre-preg Toray fabric, autoclave-cured, and formed in matched-metal molds. It is not a hydro-dipped plastic part, a wrap, or a wet-lay overlay.
Is a carbon tank cover hard to install on a K1300S?
No. Because the cover is molded from the factory tank contour in metal tooling, it aligns with the stock panel edges and installs as a direct swap or overlay with no cutting or reshaping required.
Where does Bestem ship from, and how quickly?
All parts ship from Bestem's own warehouse in Atlanta, GA. Stock is held in-house and orders ship daily to customers worldwide. If you want to confirm availability before ordering, live phone support is available every business day.