Tail light / rear cowl shakes very bad over bumps - normal?

Discussion in '6th Generation 2002-2013' started by SouthTexasRich, Jun 8, 2013.

  1. SouthTexasRich

    SouthTexasRich New Member

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    Hey guys,

    On my '07 6th gen the plastic part of the bike that holds the tail lights (rear cowl, I believe) shakes very badly going over bumps. It has always done it as far as I can remember, but it seems to be getting worse. I checked and there is nothing broken and there seem to be no screws missing, etc. The part that shakes is from where the grab handles bolt down and back.

    It seems like it's not supported well enough. Is anyone else familiar with this issue?
     
  2. SouthTexasRich

    SouthTexasRich New Member

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    TTT

    Anyone have any thoughts?
     
  3. crustyrider

    crustyrider New Member

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    Fender eliminator.....
     
  4. Scubalong

    Scubalong Official Greeter?

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    Rich they do shake a bit on mine but not too bad. Are you sure all the screws are tight? I will check my and report back. Stand by
     
  5. Scubalong

    Scubalong Official Greeter?

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    The tail light is hold up by two screws under by the exhaust and two holding the rear hugger and the plate you can see them by removing the seat. The tail light does flap around, I wasn't thrill with the design. Ope this help
     
  6. Keager

    Keager Member

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    are the bolts long enough to go through to the support?
     
  7. PorscheBob

    PorscheBob New Member

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    Rich,
    Sounds like you might have been touring in Kalifornia.
    Worst roads in history here!
     
  8. TOE CUTTER

    TOE CUTTER Mullet Man

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    I would call it normal. Been wanting to make a bracket to firm it up for a while.
     
  9. CandyRedRC46

    CandyRedRC46 Member

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    Mine was doing the same thing, flopping around so much I was blowing tail bulbs, and fuses all the time. It seems like the 2 rubber grommets that support the tail light had worked their way out. After a subsequent attempt of installing the grommets the flimsy plastic that held them in began to tear resulting in the tail flapping around again. Last week I got another set of grommets and epoxied the shit out of everything. It seems much better now.

    On a side note I think crusty is right about the fender eliminator kits messing everything up. the previous owner had installed the eliminator on my bike and upon inspection it seems like the factory fender added some support and rigidity to the assembly. I am tempted to buy a fender, trim it and install it in there to see how much support it adds to everything.
     
  10. Guj

    Guj New Member

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    Not as much as you're hoping.

    DSC08416.jpg

    I did it becuase there was a large gap behind the tail light where water could easily get in if I was riding in the rain.
     
  11. CandyRedRC46

    CandyRedRC46 Member

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  12. CandyRedRC46

    CandyRedRC46 Member

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    It just pisses me off that Honda couldn't find away to secure the tail properly, with say, the 500 pound subframe that they put on the bike....
    Have you ever messed with an FZ1? Those tail lights and tail sections are like a fuckin rock!
     
  13. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    I did a recall on a tail section of a vfr 800 years ago, I think it was for a panniers though. Required drilling a support, but am not sure now...Rubber mounted trash is what it comes down to....
     
  14. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    The recall had a square piece of metal that got inserted into the tail section, then it was drilled and tapped and screwed...99% sure on this one...
     
  15. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    On a side note I think crusty is right about the fender eliminator kits messing everything up. the previous owner had installed the eliminator on my bike and upon inspection it seems like the factory fender added some support and rigidity to the assembly. I am tempted to buy a fender, trim it and install it in there to see how much support it adds to everything.

    I would not buy a bike for meaningful money that was not un-molested. IE no fender trim, no dremel tools...you get the idea.
     
  16. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    Fucking quote things dont work, dont hate me...one day a bunch of southern CA bastages are gona come down here and what are you gona do? Call, Ghost Busters???
     
  17. CandyRedRC46

    CandyRedRC46 Member

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    the bike was mostly stock. i was more concerned at the time about taste and character of the mods than the lack of them. it came with a touring screen, throttlemeiser, top case, aftermarket seat. in all honesty i didnt really notice the fender eliminator and tail light flasher, but those two were the ones that gave me the most greif, besides the throttlemieser falling off after a couple of years of awesome use.

    i was mainly looking for a bike that wasnt owned by a drag racer, squid like myself lol. and this toured out bike seemed to fit the bill of resposible oldman owned and well maintained and not thrashed at 12,000 rpms vtec all day.
     
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2014
  18. CandyRedRC46

    CandyRedRC46 Member

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    i would really like to do some custom sub frame work to lighten everything up and support the tail section better. ive got to finish exhaust work first though.
     
  19. SouthTexasRich

    SouthTexasRich New Member

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    Thanks for the replies. I'm going to assume it's normal then. I agree that it's a poor design.

    Even though I'm from Los Angeles originally, I haven't ridden this bike in CA. I did, however ride from my current home in San Antonio to New Jersey in April. Of those 1800 miles, my butt told me the worst roads were in Louisiana, but most states I went through were competing for the title. I'll be going back in a week or so.

    Thanks again for the help. When I'm home and close to my tools, I'm going to try to make up a bracket.

    Oh, and I am going to examine the grommets CandyRed has pictured. Who knows? That could be the problem too.
     
  20. Amadeus777

    Amadeus777 New Member

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    @CandyRedRC46 May i know the size of those 2 grommets?
    Where can i buy it from internet sir?
     
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