Has anyone remove the license plate/rear fender ...whatever ?

That thing is butt ugly. I've seen bikes without it and the rear view looks so much better.
It seems to me that if I remove it and tilt the license plate out just a little bit, I would
block the same amount of debris, but I would like to hear the pro/cons of someone that has actually done it.
TIA, Alfredo.

 

I cut mine off to the point just behind the bottom of the license plate. It certainly looks better in my mind but if I had to do it over again, I wouldn't. The rear tire really does throw up a whole lot of shit from the road. And if you are inclined to ride in rain, you will be in a mess in very short order.


As you can see, it appear that my license plate sticks out enough to keep the road debris off, but it does not.

 

Here is the link DIY
http://vfrworld.com/forums/general-vfr-discussions/41738-diy-fender-eliminator-cheap.html

 

So Tink. You must be the only one here fool enough like me to ride in shit weather. I guess you get pretty dirty too then?

 

I did the exact same thing to mine too Randy,and yeah I know I spelled weird wrong. :redface:
I went down to the DMV and got a new plate with the correct spelling.

I my think dyslexia acting was up day that. :lol:

 

Like I said, I think it looks good trimmed that way and all would be fine riding only in fair weather. But then, I can't imagine you riding yours in the rain....snow for that matter.

 

Thank Randy, that is what I was afraid of. I would probably think then that your tail light is taking a beating from road debris.
Bummer, I really like the look without it, so much more agressive, but I don't want to end up with the entire back end chipped.
I am not sure why Honda could not put one of those small real fender close to the rear wheel that a lot of bikes have. Just as it is now the pipes are getting hit. I was doing 115 mph when I picked up the bike (I couldn't help it). Wouldn't a small stone come up with enough force of the wheel to do some damage ? Just wondering.

See, the Ducati ST4s (another favorite bike) has the small fender for the back wheel.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...9-7UY6AOI768QSl0oCQDQ&ved=0CEQQ9QEwAw&dur=126

 

Don't let all that pretty paint fool you Randy,first and foremost my bike is a rider and not a show bike. I've been caught out in the rain plenty of times with it.
The darn thing is an absolute biotch to clean because all that paint just seems to turn it into one giant dirt magnet.

 

I have not had anything fly up that hard that would cause any damage. Tink is very right about that.

I have flown along a lot faster that I care to say here in the rain and after loosing direct contact with the asphalt, shitting my pants and slowing down, all that was wrong was that I was dirty from road debris, or basically grit and dirt. I think that if I was to look extremely close at my tail light, Like with a magnifying glass, I may see some minute chips but I am over that for sure. If you ride, you are going to get some wear on paint and parts. Mine received a total paint job a little over a year ago because the paint was getting pitted, but then there was close to 100k miles on it at that time.

Now, if you don't ride in the adverse weather, then cut the bugger off or shorten it to your liking.

I just don't like the mud and crap spraying on my back or all over my back pack then dragging that shit into the house. Wifey doesn't much care for it either.

 

Was this guy at Grumpee'sWeenie Wagon when that picture was taken Stosh:



Enough of the highjack.

 

Randy, do you mind telling from that 2nd pic, what kind of softpacks and rack you have in the back

 

Sure. That is the Corteck bags. The saddle bags and the truck bag are sold separately but they connect together quite nicely with nylon strapping and plastic buckles. It is hard to see from that photo, but the bags expand outwards and they do hold quite a bit. There is no rack involved here. You want to be careful when setting them up for the first trip. I have not had any problems but I went to a weekend meeting in California where on of the guys I think had the same system on his. His straps got caught somehow on the rear tire and did some minor damage which was mostly to the licence plate area.

If you get these, get hold of me. I took pix of my install and can post them up for you.

 

Did it on my 93. Cut it off even with the bottom of the rear end and put a piece of SS sheet bolted to the bottom of the rear end at a 45 to shield my taillight. Also added a set of red LEDs to the brake lights above the plate for added lights. Works great. Stay away from aluminum as it fatigues and mount the plate far enough rearward to keep it away from the rear tire.


Larry

 

Randy, sorry for asking so much. Don't the saddle bags get scorched from the pipes or do they come with some sort of protection ?


PS I just checked them out online. They tail trunk seems to be reasonably priced. Maybe I start with that one and then see if I want the saddle bags.
Thanks.

 

Not at all.

So long as you leave your heat shields on your pipes you are OK. Your pipes at that location do not get all that hot. I understand that even the after market pipes are mostly pretty good too. Such as Staintunes. Last spring, I rode at freeway speeds for 17 hours straight only stopping for fuel from the Abbotsford BC Border to Sacramento California. The bags did get warm but come no where near to be considered hot or even dangerously warm. I wouldn't carry an ice-cream bar in there though.

If you mount where any part of the straps touch paint, I would put a small layer of duck tape on the paint first. That way the strapping will rub on the tap and not on the paint. That will wear through the paint rather easily.

I am not sure how you would attach just the trunck bag as they do attach together with plastic buckles but are also meant to be stand alone as well. I am sure you will figure that out. I will have to do likewise because I gave my saddle bags away when I got my hard bags, but kept the trunk bag.

 

OK, since the heat of the pipes are not an issue I am going to order the saddlebags. So if you don't mind, yes do post the pictures for me.
BTW, have you ever tried to see if you can carry a passenger while the bags are on ?. Thanks again.