Help with factory bag install, faded instructions

Help! I'm trying to do the factory bag install and ran into some trouble. First off the instructions completely suck, I'm really just figuring out as I go along. Does anyone have a close up picture of the back mud flap area, the drawing is faded and they don't describe anything just say to "install in this sequence". They show what they describe as a spacer, it's the plastic piece that goes behind the light and plate bracket on the stock bike, as still being used. If so, than what are the metal collars they provide used for, that bracket already has collars and a long bolt that fits. if I try to use their bolt supplied it does not fit all the way thru to the beefier support bracket that was installed. If I don't use that stock plastic piece, than I can use their collar provided and their bolt, although it still barely makes it thru to the beefier support, only a couple of threads with the their bolt being used. Oh, I for got to ask about the small metal spacers they provide, from what I can see it goes against the mud flap, is that correct????? any help is appreciated, my dealer wanted 2hrs labor to install, thats at least 170 bucks to start.

 

Did you drill out the holes on the mud flap to 12mm?

The original flange bolts and collars that hold the license plate light on are replaced by the ones in the kit. You need to drill the plastic mud flap holes to 12mm to put in the new (provided) collars (the short ones) and then use the new flange bolts with the new collars that fit in the light assembly to bolt it all together with your Bracket "A" of course in the middle.

Red = new parts
Blue = holes that need to be drilled to 12mm (note the rear set just really need a cleaning by the drill bit, you should be taking away too much metal, if you are your bit isn't straight.)



Leave everything loose except for the main bracket which attaches to under the seat until you get the main saddlebag stays on.

 

Jason,that helps, my picture is all faded can't see anything. I didn't drill anything yet, so do those short collars fit inside the drilled holes in the mud flap? not resting against it. It also appears we still use the large plastic spacer that came with the bike. I couldn't find a 12mm bit anywhere, I went to every store and auto parts store around me, so I have a 31/64 bit which is a hair over 12mm, I assume that should not be a concern.

 

Yep they fit right in. 31/64 will be just fine.

 

It figures, my drill doesn't open large enough to accept the drill bit, I'll have to finish up tomorrow. Thanks for the help Jason, seems like it should all go smoothly now, well we'll see about that.

 

I knew it was to good to be true. There is no way using the new supplied flange bolt 6mm that it will thread thru while also using the black plastic spacer (behind light assy) that is on the bike from the factory. Even with the longer stock flange bolt it doesn't make it by much. Without that black plastic piece it all works fine.

 

2wheels... are you taking about the big spacer right behind the light assembly?? If so, you are doing something wrong. Mine is on and I have at least 3 threads protruding past the nuts on the back side of the fender.

If your talking about something else... all I can say is if you do it all as per the instructions it works. It really does. No modding required and no parts left over (aside from the ones that are supposed to be).

Check and make sure you are using all the bolts in the right places. Check and make sure you have replaced the proper bolts from the kit.

 

Jason, Yes I"m talking about that large black spacer behind the license plate bracket assy. The license plate assy is the one with the rubber grommets that has the longer flange collars in it that actually continue on into the 2nd large black plastic spacer behind it. Those longer flange collars get replaced with the new shorter flange collars, if I continue to use that 2nd large black spacer the bolts don't fit. All the bolts seem to match up everywhere else, that diagram doesn't really show that the license plate bracket assy is larger and matches up to that second spacer, looks just like it but is part of the bracket assy spacer.

 

This is after drilling out the holes in the plastic so that the new collars fit in the holes? If the collars are sitting on top of the plastic then the bolts will be too short. Also the new 'bracket B' is installed?

Yes I thought the instructions left a bit to be desired too. The trunk instructions are worse, since they seem to be some generic instructions from Givi, then Honda includes osme other instructions negating some of the givi steps, and there's a bunch of extra Givi hardware that doesn't end up getting used which confuses it more.

 

Yes, this is after drilling the holes for the short collars to fit in.

 

Don't know what to tell ya 2wheels... If ya have all the "right" parts in the "right" place then it should all go together. The spacer is supposed to be there... If you are 100% sure you have everything where it should be then maybe your kit is messed up?

 

Does anyone have a picture of from the back end, that will help a lot if I can see what should be there. The closer the pic the better

 

I can probably take some pics this evening. The only other thing I can think is that as you tighten down the nuts, it will compress those rubber parts in the license plate bracket quite a bit and give you more engagement on the threads. I don't remember off hand how engaged the nuts are on mine....maybe I better check!

 

Here are pics from my install... ask questions from here if these don't get it done for you. I guess if I labelled them better, it might be more searchable?

nozzle Gallery - VFRworld Photo Gallery

- Paul

 

I just bought a 2007 VFR. I got a set of used oem hard bags and the mounting hardware. However, after looking at this post, I think I am missing some of the mounting hardware. Does anyone have a list of what is in the mounting hardware. Also I have a fender eliminator on the bike (it came that way) and I need to know if I can mount these bags without the oem fender? Finally the bike has 2 brothers exhaust does that present a fitment problem ( it doesn't look like it)
I would appreciate any information or suggestions that you have along these lines.

 

Check out my photo gallery my set up with Fender iliminator is there.

 

Here it is

 

Does anybody have a part number for the rear mounting plate (Bracket "A" in JasonSmith's photo).

Thanks all!