I'm assuming you have a 5th or 6th gen? Yeah those clips are nasty buggers. I cut mine off with dykes the first go 'round before I figures out to take 'em out. To get 'em out, get a small screw driver and push the tab thats in the middle. That will unlock the thing and they can be pushed out. Good luck MD
Hi jclavelle and to the board! I found this diagram on pg 97 of my 07 VFR800A owners manual. I was able to download the owner's manual as PDF free from honda ownerslink site.