Topic: Installed new seat and tail light...

[BobR]

 Well got a new seat and tail light for xmas. Didn't waste any time installing them on my shortened rear fender. Betsy 2.0 is coming along...   Bob

[Terry in Australia]

Looks good Bob, how did you shorten the fender? Put some stripes on Betsy's tank though mate, she looks naked without them!

[BobR]

Looks good Bob, how did you shorten the fender? Put some stripes on Betsy's tank though mate, she looks naked without them!

  Thanks! Cut the front off the fender, drilled new holes and bolted it back on with strategically placed washers as shims.  As a bonus reduced weight by about 7lbs overall too with the cut fender, smaller tail light and removed grab rail...

   Yeah - its been "naked" a long time now. Might have to spruce the tank and side covers up too but Ive got a bunch of other stuff first. Ordered an aluminum rear sprocket , 17 inch front sprocket ,chain, petcock, fuel lines, drainage lines, turn signals . Want to get a shorter front fender, new rear shocks, clean up the triple clamps etc...Just finished replacing the swing arm bushings, repacking the wheel bearings and working on finalizing my sprocket offset issue...  Lot of work for the old K4 this year!  It beats painting the interior of the house this winter(honey do list) but somehow I don't think I'm getting out of it. lol! bob

[Terry in Australia]

Ha ha, nice mate. I keep hanging pictures in my house so the wife doesn't notice that the 25 year old paint is buggered...........

[Yamahawk]

I was looking at your fender, and I thought, yeah... he cut the FRONT of the fender, as the rolled lip was still there... l
Nice way to do it! My rear fender is missing a little chrome from wear right behind the seat, so I am going to try this little 'Bob' on my fender, courtesy of Bob... the one who spells his name backwards hehe 
How many inches did you cut off, Bob?
Charlie

[BobR]

 About 4 inches. That was as much as I could while still being able to mount the sides in the original bracket. I suppose I could have added a bracket though. Oops-forgot a washer on this side. Bob

[Yamahawk]

Thanks Bob! I have this taillight, brake and turn signal combo that will clean up the rear also, and will install it on the fender after the 'bob'...
https://www.ebay.com/p/Motorcycle-LED-Dual-Tail-Turn-Signal-Brake-License-Plate-Integrated-Light-HP/2263880069?iid=112573130281&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D41375%26meid%3D2976f27602cb4085ac385027d0713c15%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D371951814241&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Charlie

[evinrude7]

looks great bob.  what's your plan for turn signals?

[BobR]

looks great bob.  what's your plan for turn signals?

 Thanks! Im thinking perhaps right into the fender where its double thick (braced inside)- about where the red circle is drawn in the pic. Plenty strong enough for the mini's. Not sure if it will look weird though. thoughts? Bob

[Yamahawk]

Here's an idea...


Where you want to mount them should work well!
Charlie

[evinrude7]

looks great bob.  what's your plan for turn signals?

 Thanks! Im thinking perhaps right into the fender where its double thick (braced inside)- about where the red circle is drawn in the pic. Plenty strong enough for the mini's. Not sure if it will look weird though. thoughts? Bob

doesn't look bad.  i'd go slightly bigger if there is such a signal. 

[riverfever]

Looks great! That's how I did my fender but I went even shorter still. I have another full one on the shelf and I'm going to look at sectioning it this winter so I can use the stock area to mount it under the seat and run a fender liner. I used LED turns pretty close to where you are looking and they are extremely bright.

[BobR]

Here's an idea...


Where you want to mount them should work well!
Charlie

  Thanks, think thats where they are going! Got the week off so tomorrow I'll put them on. My new aluminum rear sprocket should be here Friday I'm kind of excited about that too. fwiw-  I know right, left and blinker left hand signals on cause I have a bad habit of doing so! lol! Bob

[Yamahawk]

Being mine is a 1971, I don't think turn signals were mandatory until 1972, but they are nice to have. with the rear tail light, brake light and turn signals built in together, I am also thinking of replacing my headlight with one of these, to get the 'clean' look.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/7inch-35W-Motorcycle-Headlight-Amber-LED-Turn-Signal-Indicators-With-DKVP-01/222677046605?epid=13007218078&hash=item33d896154d:g:RM4AAOSwRuFZ4IJU&vxp=mtr

Charlie

[BobR]

Being mine is a 1971, I don't think turn signals were mandatory until 1972, but they are nice to have. with the rear tail light, brake light and turn signals built in together, I am also thinking of replacing my headlight with one of these, to get the 'clean' look.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/7inch-35W-Motorcycle-Headlight-Amber-LED-Turn-Signal-Indicators-With-DKVP-01/222677046605?epid=13007218078&hash=item33d896154d:g:RM4AAOSwRuFZ4IJU&vxp=mtr

Charlie

  That head light is pretty cool! I have an LED on mine but sans signals...
    Ive just assumed I am required to have turn signals on mine in CT so I always have. Speaking of signals I just got my son an LED rear turn signal light bar for his Indian for xmas. Bolts right up to the bottom of the fender. Very clean look.

[BobR]

looks great bob.  what's your plan for turn signals?

 Thanks! Im thinking perhaps right into the fender where its double thick (braced inside)- about where the red circle is drawn in the pic. Plenty strong enough for the mini's. Not sure if it will look weird though. thoughts? Bob

doesn't look bad.  i'd go slightly bigger if there is such a signal.

Yeah I kept finding ones that were too big or the mini -so I went with the mini. Bob

[BobR]

Looks great! That's how I did my fender but I went even shorter still. I have another full one on the shelf and I'm going to look at sectioning it this winter so I can use the stock area to mount it under the seat and run a fender liner. I used LED turns pretty close to where you are looking and they are extremely bright.

 Thanks! Yeah the mini LEDs are pretty bright. I was thinking of going shorter but would have to devise a different way way of attaching the sides. Bob

[Yamahawk]

Nice! That looks real clean. Yeah, the laws per state are different, but there is a cutoff date for some things, and on bikes the DOT law was 1972 for turn signals, 1975 for headlight always on from manufacturer, stuff like that. I want turn signals, but would like to use these type to get rid of the large stock ones. Pretty sure this headlight will bolt up to the stock ears, and 35W would help the charging system out. Probably able to replace it with a real LED COBB type bulb for a brighter light too.
Charlie

[BobR]

Nice! That looks real clean. Yeah, the laws per state are different, but there is a cutoff date for some things, and on bikes the DOT law was 1972 for turn signals, 1975 for headlight always on from manufacturer, stuff like that. I want turn signals, but would like to use these type to get rid of the large stock ones. Pretty sure this headlight will bolt up to the stock ears, and 35W would help the charging system out. Probably able to replace it with a real LED COBB type bulb for a brighter light too.
Charlie

  My son sells specialty lighting so he got me a "plug and play"replacement bulb LED for mine. Id like to get these bar end LED turn signals! They are way out there so there's no confusion and you can see them from behind.

 

[BobR]

Ok after a bit opf deliberation I decided not to mount the signals to the fender but to the taillight instead. Cleaner and less permanent than drilling two big holes in the fender. Bob

 

[evinrude7]

Ok after a bit opf deliberation I decided not to mount the signals to the fender but to the taillight instead. Cleaner and less permanent than drilling two big holes in the fender. Bob

 

bob, now that you have them more towards the back i think they look terrific.  they were sort of hidden farther up the rear fender. 

[BobR]

 


bob, now that you have them more towards the back i think they look terrific.  they were sort of hidden farther up the rear fender.

 Thanks so do I! Took about 1/2 a day to get it finished including a trip to the hardware store. I could never be a good full restoration guy. Too impatient. lol Bob