#1 Thread starter
to start out with, I'll specify that this thread targets the first gen VFR bikes (86 - 89 VFR 700's and 750's).
the back fender where the license plate mounts is a true eyesore, and has just GOT to go. its big, gaudy, and lets face it kids, just plain ugly. after plenty of research, i finally came to the conclusion that the laws of supply and demand have yet again bitten our beloved viffers in the butt, and the sportbike aftermarket world just doesnt produce a viable solution for this, so I set out to find something that would work. I ran across this generic license plate bracket at cycle gear, and i ended up paying $7.00 + tax (even though the website lists it for $9.99+tax). you cant beat 8 bucks and change!
http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=&...BK&tier2=14
and now, the nifty howto for your new ADJUSTABLE fender eliminator for a 1st gen VFR (sorry guys, no pics yet).
(1) buy cheap bracket assembly from cycle gear.
(2) note 3 pieces. the big bracket that the license plate is SUPPOSED to bolt to, and the other 2 that are there to hold your turn signal stems.
(3) you see that big piece of metal bigger than the other 2? good. toss it in the trash, or use some other method of making it go away. you dont need it.
(4) your slide pieces are essentially the same, except that one has 2 long pieces sticking out for the other to kinda slide into. trim those 2 longer pieces off so that the 2 slides are the same.
(5) remove the tail section, exposing that little tray-like section just in front of the computer/black box/whatever its called.
(6) note that the 2 slides are bent at a 90 degree angle. increase the angle of the bend by probably 30 degrees (open the bend up, do not bend the fold closer together).
(7) with the tail off, remove that gaudy piece of plastic that is holding your license plate and light, and unplug the wiring for the license plate light. (ok this is probably where i should tell you that this howto does not include a means of putting light on the plate...im probably going to mount a few LED's there later).
(8) back to that little tray-like thingy. youll know its the right spot cause youll be compelled to use it as a tray for nuts and bolts every time you work on the bike. about an inch from the rear of the tray (rear being the side toward the rear of the bike of course), cut a couple of straight grooves in the plastic about 1-1.5 inches long. one on the left side, and one on the right.
(9) with the bent-out tab facing the front of the bike, insert the 2 slide thingys into the grooves youve just cut in the tray-thing.
(10) locate a small nut and bolt for each side. since the slides are down in the fender pointing at your tire now, all you should be able to see is the small, bent-out tab. put a bolt through the hole in each of your newly inserted slides, and secure each one with a nut on the bottom of the fender.
(11) youll find that the slides are already at the perfect width for your license plate, so go ahead and bolt the plate onto each of the slides. note the looooooong hole cut in each of the slides now. this is where you get your adjustability.
if you have one of those brackets that sticks out below the license plate that your inspection sticker goes on, you will want to continue. otherwise, adjust your plate to where it wont interfere with the tire.
(12) install the license plate as high up in the slide tabs as it will go.
(13) bend the inspection sticker plate upward (toward the back of the tire) until it can safely clear the tire.
note: it LOOKS like you have lots of room as the bike sits now, but when you sit on the bike, that sticker plate gets VERY close to the tire....the only way i was able to clear this issue was to slide the license plate assembly all the way up.
how youre done. step back and admire your handywork, as well as the fact that you dont have that awful piece of plastic sticking down around your back tire.
the back fender where the license plate mounts is a true eyesore, and has just GOT to go. its big, gaudy, and lets face it kids, just plain ugly. after plenty of research, i finally came to the conclusion that the laws of supply and demand have yet again bitten our beloved viffers in the butt, and the sportbike aftermarket world just doesnt produce a viable solution for this, so I set out to find something that would work. I ran across this generic license plate bracket at cycle gear, and i ended up paying $7.00 + tax (even though the website lists it for $9.99+tax). you cant beat 8 bucks and change!
http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=&...BK&tier2=14
and now, the nifty howto for your new ADJUSTABLE fender eliminator for a 1st gen VFR (sorry guys, no pics yet).
(1) buy cheap bracket assembly from cycle gear.
(2) note 3 pieces. the big bracket that the license plate is SUPPOSED to bolt to, and the other 2 that are there to hold your turn signal stems.
(3) you see that big piece of metal bigger than the other 2? good. toss it in the trash, or use some other method of making it go away. you dont need it.
(4) your slide pieces are essentially the same, except that one has 2 long pieces sticking out for the other to kinda slide into. trim those 2 longer pieces off so that the 2 slides are the same.
(5) remove the tail section, exposing that little tray-like section just in front of the computer/black box/whatever its called.
(6) note that the 2 slides are bent at a 90 degree angle. increase the angle of the bend by probably 30 degrees (open the bend up, do not bend the fold closer together).
(7) with the tail off, remove that gaudy piece of plastic that is holding your license plate and light, and unplug the wiring for the license plate light. (ok this is probably where i should tell you that this howto does not include a means of putting light on the plate...im probably going to mount a few LED's there later).
(8) back to that little tray-like thingy. youll know its the right spot cause youll be compelled to use it as a tray for nuts and bolts every time you work on the bike. about an inch from the rear of the tray (rear being the side toward the rear of the bike of course), cut a couple of straight grooves in the plastic about 1-1.5 inches long. one on the left side, and one on the right.
(9) with the bent-out tab facing the front of the bike, insert the 2 slide thingys into the grooves youve just cut in the tray-thing.
(10) locate a small nut and bolt for each side. since the slides are down in the fender pointing at your tire now, all you should be able to see is the small, bent-out tab. put a bolt through the hole in each of your newly inserted slides, and secure each one with a nut on the bottom of the fender.
(11) youll find that the slides are already at the perfect width for your license plate, so go ahead and bolt the plate onto each of the slides. note the looooooong hole cut in each of the slides now. this is where you get your adjustability.
if you have one of those brackets that sticks out below the license plate that your inspection sticker goes on, you will want to continue. otherwise, adjust your plate to where it wont interfere with the tire.
(12) install the license plate as high up in the slide tabs as it will go.
(13) bend the inspection sticker plate upward (toward the back of the tire) until it can safely clear the tire.
note: it LOOKS like you have lots of room as the bike sits now, but when you sit on the bike, that sticker plate gets VERY close to the tire....the only way i was able to clear this issue was to slide the license plate assembly all the way up.
how youre done. step back and admire your handywork, as well as the fact that you dont have that awful piece of plastic sticking down around your back tire.