Topic: Help me fab a taillight mount [56k some thumbnails]

[50words]

I just bought a new seat for my bike (my ass will be much happier with this one), which precipitated me to do some painting. So now that I have a shiny 'new' tailpiece on the bike, I can't figure out how to mount the taillight. It was fabbed up before, and I have no idea how it is supposed to look stock.

Need ideas.

Here is what the tailpiece was mounted onto before:



On this tailpiece:



I also got this taillight assembly, but it may not be from the same bike:



I kind of what to us that one, actually, since it looks a bit sturdier. It is heavier, though. In either case, the plate the old one is mounted on is #$%*, so I don't want to use it on this:



My bike in its current state:



And its stablemate, Stella:



The bike is a 1977 Honda CB750F2 Super Sport. It was essentially made this way for only one year. Body parts from other years don't fit.

I can't find anything that will easily take the place of the previous plate. To use the more complete taillight assembly, it needs to be fairly sturdy. I don't have the means to cut aluminum, which would have to be about 1/4" thick, anyway.

I also don't have the means to generate a CAD drawing of what I need. This is the best I can do:



I need some thick plastic or something, but I don't know where to find it. A trip through the aisles at Home Depot turned up nothing. I spotted some Lexan plexiglass that might work, but they were out of the thicker stuff in the smaller sizes, and it isn't worth $40 for a big one.

Any ideas?

[kghost]

You could invest in a dremel tool. Then spend several hours.

Could you show a close up pic of the back cowl, I didn't follow what your trying to do.

[Killer Canary]

I mounted a 750F seat on my 550 so I had to fabricate a completely one-off sub-frame for the tail light, but are you sure you need a 1/4" thick mounting plate? I used 14ga. and it's plenty solid; I can lift the rear wheel off the ground using that plate for a handle. I've never seen the tail light mount on a750F, what does the plate bolt to?

[Killer Canary]

About all I knew for sure when I started was that when you hinge open the seat on a750F the tail light stays put. I'll get a digital camera tomorrow if you still need pictures.

[kghost]

Would something like this work?

[Terry in Australia]

Would something like this work?

Ooh, thassa nice tail-light, Timbo! Where can I get one, my K1 "Rat" would look pretty cool with a light like-a that? Cheers, Terry.

[CB750R]

The stock mounting was on the chrome grab rail/turnsignal/brake light bar, that attaches to the sub frame below the seat as in the pic provided of my bike.  The second pic is what it can look like without the chrome grab rail combo unit. you can tuck the tail light in closer to the fairing by making a bracket for the tail light, and mounting it to the fairing, and then I mounted the turnsignals, to the frame, as seen in second pic.  (you can also see, I need some smaller turnsignals due to location of new pipe...) 

I have my grab rail thingy if you would like to purchase it. zip me an email if so. If you want a picture of what I did to mount mine to the fairing, lemme know as well.

G

[jtb]

Hey 50words,
Here's and ebay auction which has a bracket.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1978-HONDA-CB-750-F-CB750F-REAR-FENDER-W-EXTRA-PARTS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35584QQitemZ4568245373QQrdZ1

Often there is one on ebay.  Just search on CB750F.

John

[CB750R]

Hey 50words,
Here's and ebay auction which has a bracket.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1978-HONDA-CB-750-F-CB750F-REAR-FENDER-W-EXTRA-PARTS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35584QQitemZ4568245373QQrdZ1

Often there is one on ebay. Just search on CB750F.

John

I just checked that guys listing out, he's double selling the grab rail!!  the auction posted is for the fender, tail light and tail light mount. Yet in another auction he's listed the passenger grab rail, which is what the fender, and tail light mount too!!! Looks like he hasn't bothered to actually look at what he's selling.

I've emailed you  a price for the grab rail, if you want I'll toss in the stock plastic fender, as well.

[Geeto67]

A couple of questions for ya:

What kinda look are you going for on your bike? Cafe? Stock? Streetfighter?

Do you need a center stand?

One thing that really cleans up the look IMHO of the supersports is the elimination of the grab rail/ stock taillight mount. Usually this piece weighs more than it should and ruins the visual lines of the bike (it looks less repli-racer and more pedestrian). The big problem is that without it getting the bike on the center stand is a little difficult. On my 76 cb750F I was originally going to use one but then I thought about it and realized that I didn't really need one on the bike. What I am going to do is make a smaller mount using the smaller support holes for the grab rail (the rail bolts to the rear schock mount and also the frame and storage box, I will be using the frame holes) and mount 59 cadillac tailights to it. You don't want to mount your taillight to the seat/tailsection because then your taillight wires would have to be long and could get in the way.

Another way you could do it is to mount two taillight/tunsignals to either side of the bike. This will take some creative wiring but basically have them work like brake lights and turn signals (some ultra chopers are like this).

just some different ideas....