GSXR SRAD tail tidy but keep original rear light?
Discussion
As title really, helping a friend with his 97 GSXR 750 and he wants to get rid of the original rear mudguard/fender, minimising the number plate and still being able to fit rear indicators, but more importantly retain the rear light.
Obviously there are a lot of tail tidy options from back in the day (twin shotgun LED round tat, etc) but he's looking to keep the back light to make it look a little more original, while reducing the profile of the tail section.
The tail light has a black abs surround but would need something else to cleanly support the plate and indis.
I know it's an older bike but has anyone ever seen this done well?
Obviously there are a lot of tail tidy options from back in the day (twin shotgun LED round tat, etc) but he's looking to keep the back light to make it look a little more original, while reducing the profile of the tail section.
The tail light has a black abs surround but would need something else to cleanly support the plate and indis.
I know it's an older bike but has anyone ever seen this done well?
Had a 600 back in 1999. Being 20 at the time I was keen on modding. This was home made but fairly easy - I cut the rear fender off, used a piece of aluminium plate for the plate mount. Drilled the seat unit with a wood drill (careful!) and fitted some Mondeo(?) side indicator lenses with some standard mini indicator internals. I thought it looked cool at the time, would probably leave standard now though
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 28th December 13:34
JS748 said:
Just had a couple of old photos, so they're not the best. Long while ago, but seem to remember trimming the mudguard right around the shape of the brake light.
Thanks again
Firstly, buy another undertray while before you cut the current one, so when he wants to put it back it's not too difficult.
Earlier this year I bought a TL1000R that someone had done what you're seeking to do. They cut the undertray right back so that the existing light mounting part remained but little else (let's gloss over the fact that when I say "cut" I think they used a blunt axe...). Then the undertray was cut from under the passenger seat to give room for the new "undertray" - it was left under the riders seat for the ECU, reg/rec mounts etc. The new plastic undertray was then fitted (with zip ties and hope), then a number plate bracket (L-shaped bit of stainless) bolted to the undertray, and then a piece of U-section with a washer welded on each end bolted to the bottom of that. It didn't look too bad as long as you were not looking too closely. I can take photos if it'd help as it's still on there at the moment (whilst I try to find the enthusiasm to tear it apart to fit the undertray I managed to find on eBay Belgium....). In the UK the only used undertray on eBay was Buy-it-now for £250, hence the suggestions he makes sure he gets another before ruining his!
Earlier this year I bought a TL1000R that someone had done what you're seeking to do. They cut the undertray right back so that the existing light mounting part remained but little else (let's gloss over the fact that when I say "cut" I think they used a blunt axe...). Then the undertray was cut from under the passenger seat to give room for the new "undertray" - it was left under the riders seat for the ECU, reg/rec mounts etc. The new plastic undertray was then fitted (with zip ties and hope), then a number plate bracket (L-shaped bit of stainless) bolted to the undertray, and then a piece of U-section with a washer welded on each end bolted to the bottom of that. It didn't look too bad as long as you were not looking too closely. I can take photos if it'd help as it's still on there at the moment (whilst I try to find the enthusiasm to tear it apart to fit the undertray I managed to find on eBay Belgium....). In the UK the only used undertray on eBay was Buy-it-now for £250, hence the suggestions he makes sure he gets another before ruining his!
stang65 said:
Firstly, buy another undertray while before you cut the current one, so when he wants to put it back it's not too difficult.
Earlier this year I bought a TL1000R that someone had done what you're seeking to do. They cut the undertray right back so that the existing light mounting part remained but little else (let's gloss over the fact that when I say "cut" I think they used a blunt axe...). Then the undertray was cut from under the passenger seat to give room for the new "undertray" - it was left under the riders seat for the ECU, reg/rec mounts etc. The new plastic undertray was then fitted (with zip ties and hope), then a number plate bracket (L-shaped bit of stainless) bolted to the undertray, and then a piece of U-section with a washer welded on each end bolted to the bottom of that. It didn't look too bad as long as you were not looking too closely. I can take photos if it'd help as it's still on there at the moment (whilst I try to find the enthusiasm to tear it apart to fit the undertray I managed to find on eBay Belgium....). In the UK the only used undertray on eBay was Buy-it-now for £250, hence the suggestions he makes sure he gets another before ruining his!
I've seen a few butchered ones in my time too Earlier this year I bought a TL1000R that someone had done what you're seeking to do. They cut the undertray right back so that the existing light mounting part remained but little else (let's gloss over the fact that when I say "cut" I think they used a blunt axe...). Then the undertray was cut from under the passenger seat to give room for the new "undertray" - it was left under the riders seat for the ECU, reg/rec mounts etc. The new plastic undertray was then fitted (with zip ties and hope), then a number plate bracket (L-shaped bit of stainless) bolted to the undertray, and then a piece of U-section with a washer welded on each end bolted to the bottom of that. It didn't look too bad as long as you were not looking too closely. I can take photos if it'd help as it's still on there at the moment (whilst I try to find the enthusiasm to tear it apart to fit the undertray I managed to find on eBay Belgium....). In the UK the only used undertray on eBay was Buy-it-now for £250, hence the suggestions he makes sure he gets another before ruining his!
GPWM about retaining an undamaged one, but the owner has had the bike for 20 something years and has no intention of selling it, so I guess it's dealer's choice on that one.
If you do have any pics of any similar stuff such as the attempt on the TLR it would be good to see them too. Hell, it'd just be good to see a TLR again!
Hi Vince
Finally managed to get down to the garage today to take some photos, then found some better ones I already had! This is what it looked like from behind, which I guess is the look your friend is going for:
This was just after I bought it so the silly blue levers, pegs etc are long gone now. Behind the plate was this:
As you can see there's an L-shaped stainless bracket bolted through the undertray and another L-section bolted to that, to hold the indicators. In this you can see that the two are held together with numberplate bolts as the numberplate was also held on with the same bolts. As you can also see. it's a complete mess with the undertray/light surround cut back far more than necessary - I guess whoever did this had no plans to ride in the rain! The number plate hid most of it. To fit between the cans the numberplate is undersized but not silly.
From under the seat you can see the attachments:
Here you can see the true horror of how badly this has been done. Whoever did this used both their tools I think...but I assume they were a blunt axe and a sharp hammer!! Cable ties vaguely hold things together. This is after I'd made some adjustments so a steel plate caps the previous hole (I had to drop the lower L-section lower to put indicators on bright enough for people to actually see!).
Finally a view from below (after the changes to drop the indicators):
Hope that helps. I really would use this a the "bad example" of how not to do things that you always get in text books to show you the wrong way to do stuff before they show the correct way!!
Finally managed to get down to the garage today to take some photos, then found some better ones I already had! This is what it looked like from behind, which I guess is the look your friend is going for:
This was just after I bought it so the silly blue levers, pegs etc are long gone now. Behind the plate was this:
As you can see there's an L-shaped stainless bracket bolted through the undertray and another L-section bolted to that, to hold the indicators. In this you can see that the two are held together with numberplate bolts as the numberplate was also held on with the same bolts. As you can also see. it's a complete mess with the undertray/light surround cut back far more than necessary - I guess whoever did this had no plans to ride in the rain! The number plate hid most of it. To fit between the cans the numberplate is undersized but not silly.
From under the seat you can see the attachments:
Here you can see the true horror of how badly this has been done. Whoever did this used both their tools I think...but I assume they were a blunt axe and a sharp hammer!! Cable ties vaguely hold things together. This is after I'd made some adjustments so a steel plate caps the previous hole (I had to drop the lower L-section lower to put indicators on bright enough for people to actually see!).
Finally a view from below (after the changes to drop the indicators):
Hope that helps. I really would use this a the "bad example" of how not to do things that you always get in text books to show you the wrong way to do stuff before they show the correct way!!
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff