Author Topic: Modifying headlight ears for clip ons.........  (Read 4641 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline jonbuoy

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 263
    • My rebuild:
Modifying headlight ears for clip ons.........
« on: February 09, 2007, 08:53:43 PM »
I've just started my Cafe Build/Restoration and have been toying with the idea of clipons or clubmans.  A pair of GB500 clip ons came up cheap so I bought them - thinking if they looked rubbish I could sell them on again.  I think they look pretty good, I was thinking of how to mount them - I have seen a few people dropping the forks through the top Yolk and mounting them on top I was concerned the Forks will bottom out, I don't think it looks right either.  I quite like the original headlight ears - good place for indicators and they space out the headlight well, with the build costs slowly mounting it was nice  to  re-use something. 

Originally I was going to just cut out a notch so that the clip ons could fit between the ears (shaded on the photo's), but on having a closer look at the ears I could see that the bottom cup was seperate to the top, its held in by three spot welds.  If you cut off the bottom cup just above where it meets the shaft of the ears you can see  a gap - I used a sharp screwdriver, pliers and a Dremel grinder to remove the spot welds, cut the shaft on the ears to the right size, then pressed the indicator cups back onto the shaft - it doesn't seem to need spot welds to hold them in - they are a tight fit anyway.  If they start to move I might put some Expoxy resin to hold them. 

Not sure if all the CB's have the same style ears - mine is a F1.

Offline nickjtc

  • I was numero dieci
  • Old Timer
  • ******
  • Posts: 4,210
  • Yamaha XT500 'Gromit'
Re: Modifying headlight ears for clip ons.........
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2007, 09:16:57 PM »
Did you take a 'before' pic of the ears on the bike so we'll have something to compare with when you are done......you will post 'done' pics, won't you?
Nick J. Member #3247

2008 Triumph Tiger 1050
1977 Suzuki GS750

"That which does not kill us reminds us to wear proper motorcycle clothing...."

Offline jonbuoy

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 263
    • My rebuild:
Re: Modifying headlight ears for clip ons.........
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2007, 09:43:42 PM »
Should be in the attachment above - is it not there?  Here are the clip ons fitted as well, shabby picture can just make out details.

Offline nickjtc

  • I was numero dieci
  • Old Timer
  • ******
  • Posts: 4,210
  • Yamaha XT500 'Gromit'
Re: Modifying headlight ears for clip ons.........
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2007, 09:49:02 PM »
How does the headlight look in relation to the rest of the front of the bike?
Nick J. Member #3247

2008 Triumph Tiger 1050
1977 Suzuki GS750

"That which does not kill us reminds us to wear proper motorcycle clothing...."

Offline jonbuoy

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 263
    • My rebuild:
Re: Modifying headlight ears for clip ons.........
« Reply #4 on: February 09, 2007, 09:56:14 PM »
Almost the same as it was before, only about 25mm lower.  I have taken photos but by the time I compress them you can't see anything!  I just need to lower the instruments as they sit up a bit high, I turned the bracket they are on upside down then they sit too low.  The GB clip ons are nice - they look in keeping the new ones all seem a bit angular.  I had to turn them upside down so left is on the right bar.  See how they feel on the road.... in about 6 months!

Cheers

John

Offline chung

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 335
  • Giddy Up
    • chungfucycles.com
Re: Modifying headlight ears for clip ons.........
« Reply #5 on: March 09, 2007, 02:14:02 AM »
Good job. I like modifying the stock parts although I don't care for the fat blinkers.
Member#2815
1971/76 CB750 Hack @970cc,
1975 CG750K
1970 CB350,
1972 YDS7, 250
1972 YR5, 350
1977 RD400,
1978 Piaggio Grande/Batavas HS50 Special
1981 XS650 Special II