sam46
Ok i love the duke and everything about it...........except the plate holder. If i was using the bike for commuting or regular wet weather riding, then yeh a hooooge overhanging numberplate assembly makes a good mudguard.
But i think the back of a bike if its best feature, and after researching the options (mostly very expensive for what they are), and the end result not much better than the original.
I'd say this job is tricky but to be honest the tricky part of it was working out how to it out as i went.
With these instructions and pics, its easier than taking the sas system off. And you only need basic tools.
Total cost of job £0.00 but i was given a piece of checker plate
Ok first thing i did was make a cardboard template and cut bits out till i had roughly what i wanted. (I can forward you dimensions if you want to try make one.)
Drill indicator holes
Basic tool to make it.
Original indicators used
Stripped rear end down. Rear light is easier to remove with tray unbolted.
Cut the bill off about half inch from flat face just infront of the original plate holder mounts.
Drill 2 holes in tray using the tail tidy as a template
Rear holes i used original screws and new holes i used some m6 stainless nuts/bolts.
Smoothed the new visible face using blade and dremel, then carbon wrapped it just to blend in a bit.
Offer everything up and check its all square.
Only thing id say is to make the tailtidy first before cutting anything off as you can get it all ok before u go beyond return.
Ive not put a numberplate light on, i may do, theres space to put one. I think you could use the original one if u wanted. But there are some really bright micro ones on ebay.
I'm gonna cut some more bits out of the ally to lighten it. But its lighter than the original bits that i took off so not that bothered
Number plate is 7x5 and fits just nice and its been mot'd with it a few times.
Legally its behind the swingarm and rear light to its legal in that sense. Size of plate is the only thing that may be a pain, tho u could put a bigger plate on even if only a temp one.
Hope it makes sense
But i think the back of a bike if its best feature, and after researching the options (mostly very expensive for what they are), and the end result not much better than the original.
I'd say this job is tricky but to be honest the tricky part of it was working out how to it out as i went.
With these instructions and pics, its easier than taking the sas system off. And you only need basic tools.
Total cost of job £0.00 but i was given a piece of checker plate
Ok first thing i did was make a cardboard template and cut bits out till i had roughly what i wanted. (I can forward you dimensions if you want to try make one.)
Drill indicator holes
Basic tool to make it.
Original indicators used
Stripped rear end down. Rear light is easier to remove with tray unbolted.
Cut the bill off about half inch from flat face just infront of the original plate holder mounts.
Drill 2 holes in tray using the tail tidy as a template
Rear holes i used original screws and new holes i used some m6 stainless nuts/bolts.
Smoothed the new visible face using blade and dremel, then carbon wrapped it just to blend in a bit.
Offer everything up and check its all square.
Only thing id say is to make the tailtidy first before cutting anything off as you can get it all ok before u go beyond return.
Ive not put a numberplate light on, i may do, theres space to put one. I think you could use the original one if u wanted. But there are some really bright micro ones on ebay.
I'm gonna cut some more bits out of the ally to lighten it. But its lighter than the original bits that i took off so not that bothered
Number plate is 7x5 and fits just nice and its been mot'd with it a few times.
Legally its behind the swingarm and rear light to its legal in that sense. Size of plate is the only thing that may be a pain, tho u could put a bigger plate on even if only a temp one.
Hope it makes sense