Rear Guard Chop.

Well after some lengthy thought, Oh about 20 seconds. The chop was on. The good thing about this new LED tail light is that it has a clear bottom section where white/faint blueish light shines down for a number plate. So might as well make use of it, Right ? The reflector came curtousy of one of three old postie bikes in the shed. Dont tell Jan.

There.... much better!

Bet it felt good to hack saw the thing in half

now it just needs a hugger

reddog wrote:There.... much better!

Bet it felt good to hack saw the thing in half

Hack saw ! No way. 5" angle grinder with 1mm disc.

paul wrote:now it just needs a hugger

Me ! or the bike ? We'll see.

I even removed the Bike Shop no: plate surround, on advise from Gus. I admit it does look better. Thanks Gus.

Here is what the no" plate light looks like. It is a bit brighter than the photo. At night it should look ok. I have no real need or desire to ride at night anyway.

Looks much better
If you cop any heat you can get a bolt on shovel from the bike shops
My FZ needed one to pass RWC. It’s now hanging up in the shed
You do get a lot more spray without the longer guard though

Hammy wrote:

paul wrote:now it just needs a hugger

Me ! or the bike ? We'll see.

I had a fender eliminator & carbon fiber hugger on my 04 bandit / looked good .
I put some pop rivets in the old holes from the number plate surround to fill them up ( just part of my obsessive compulsive disorder I guess ) but I think it looks better .

I hate bikeshop number plate surrounds. Why should I advertise the shop when I paid them money to buy the bike. They don't pay me to ride around with their name on my bike. Last 4 bikes as soon as I got the bike home off came the numberplate surround.

FUTURE aka Ross wrote:I hate bikeshop number plate surrounds. Why should I advertise the shop when I paid them money to buy the bike. They don't pay me to ride around with their name on my bike. Last 4 bikes as soon as I got the bike home off came the numberplate surround.

I'm the exact same with cars as well. Have alwys peeled off the sticker that they put on your rear window.

4wheelsagain wrote:Looks much better
If you cop any heat you can get a bolt on shovel from the bike shops
My FZ needed one to pass RWC. It’s now hanging up in the shed
You do get a lot more spray without the longer guard though

I just checked the QLD regulations. The guard must come out far enough to cover the furthest verticle rear point of the wheel. OOps. Oh well. Just play dumb. I have the off cut and could reattach if I ever had to.

paul wrote:

I had a fender eliminator & carbon fiber hugger on my 04 bandit / looked good .
I put some pop rivets in the old holes from the number plate surround to fill them up ( just part of my obsessive compulsive disorder I guess ) but I think it looks better .

Yes Paul, the holes bug me too. Dont worry I will come up with something. Now where did I see those CF rear hugger/chain guards ?

Hammy wrote:

4wheelsagain wrote:Looks much better
If you cop any heat you can get a bolt on shovel from the bike shops
My FZ needed one to pass RWC. It’s now hanging up in the shed
You do get a lot more spray without the longer guard though

I just checked the QLD regulations. The guard must come out far enough to cover the furthest verticle rear point of the wheel. OOps. Oh well. Just play dumb. I have the off cut and could reattach if I ever had to.

There is something about a 45 deg angle from the axel too. That might be an ADR.
Playing dumb comes naturally to me

Sorry Officer, it was like that when I bought it.

4wheels wrote you do get a lot more spray without the longer guard though.

You are not wrong, chopped the guard down on my old 2006 Bandit 1200 they look great but did a ride down to tassie got 2 days of rain & the bottom of my Ventura bag was wet inside.

Looks a lot better Hammy.

Reardo wrote:Looks a lot better Hammy.

Cheers Reardo. I'm surprised that you have,nt gone for an LED tail light yet. Would look good on your colour Bandit.

Hammy wrote:

Reardo wrote:Looks a lot better Hammy.

Cheers Reardo. I'm surprised that you have,nt gone for an LED tail light yet. Would look good on your colour Bandit.

I'm not joking when I say this, But I ride manly with Harley's and the Bandit out brakes them sooooooo easily that I'm shit scared of getting violated from behind, by a 300kg HD.

I've tried LED globs and seen shit shit LED tail lights.

My movie below....



I would like to see them side by side, to see how good they are. Because do like your's, but with the smoked lens.

Know what you mean Readdo, I had a ton of trouble finding an LED that was as good as the standard bulbs when I changed my indicators over, I kept the standard mounting but got a set of smoked lenses from the same place I got my smoked LED taillight ( WhiteLights in Germany). There are a couple of eBay sellers (also from Germany with them), I haven't noticed anyone else selling the smoked tail lights. Bit pricey, cost about A$137 delivered for the tail light and the 4 indicator lenses back in Oct.

I recently received a newsletter from DDM (who I got my HIDs from), it explains why the LEDs aren't as good in a simple photo, basically the majority of the SMD new style LEDs have their active parts pointing to the sides. Only the original christmas bulb type LED has a good enough front spread - that is the one I ended up using for my indicators by the way. It is also interesting that this bulb has only a rating of 76 lumens, where the others are over 3 types as strong but waste the light (in the case of our indicator housings) lighting up 360 degrees.

Hey Barry. I got my plug & play, Flasher relay & plug Adapters from whitelights.

I was thinking of going for the smoked lens normal red bulb.

Have you got a pic of your set up Barry?

Reardo wrote:Hey Barry.

Have you got a pic of your set up Barry?

Hi Reardo, been meaning to take some more photo's, especially now that I have some of Gus's CF pieces (L & R side covers and chain guard, Sprocket cover being done now), the R77 Yoshi and Corbin seat.

Unfortunately my camera, me or the sunlight don't mix too well and I the shots don't do the tinted lenses or Gus's work the justice they deserve, looks much better in the flesh:



BTW the headlight cover comes off (uses hd velcro) to reveal the hi/lo beam HIDs. The two little yellow LED on the front are just running lights, but I have a modulator in line so they "twinkle" - theory is that a light changing in intensity stands out more than a steady beam, and the lower square lights are hi power LEDs hooked up to the Hi beam, so if I am ridding through a tunnel/car park during the day and haven't removed the headlight cover I just switch to hi beam for a bit of extra light (they are focus fairly low at the moment so do not hit other drivers in the eye - will adjust for long night trips in the future).

I have been toying (with photoshop) with the idea of a Suzuki S badge on the rear mudguard with one of those red led backing plates so it glows with the tail lights just as a bit of added illumination for the dopie cage drivers behind me - I think hooking it up to the brake lights might be a bit too distracting. I have changed the left rear indicator bulb (actually all lights are now LED) from orange to red and wired it to the brake circuit, it was previously disconnected as the side car had the left indicator.

Trying to find the regs for SA so i can cut mine down as well as they look sweet chopped and all i can find is the following relating to SA

Vehicle Standards – Transport SA, Vehicle Services
Kateena Street, Regency Park SA 5010, PO Box 2526 Regency Park 5942
Phone 1300 882 248 Fax (08) 8348 9533
REQUIREMENTS FOR MOTORCYCLES & SIDECARS
INTRODUCTION
This Information Bulletin provides details relating to the requirements for motorcycles and sidecars
contained within the Road Traffic Act and Regulations and Australian Design Rules (ADRs).

MUDGUARDS
Every motorcycle must have a mudguard fitted to both the front and rear wheels. The mudguard must be
constructed and fitted so that it will as far as practicable catch or deflect downwards any stones, mud,
water or other material which may be thrown up by the rotation of the wheels.
In the case of a motorcycle with sidecar attached the sidecar must also be equipped with an effective
mudguard.

REFLECTORS
Every motorcycle and sidecar attached to a motorcycle must be fitted with a reflector to the rear which
is capable of projecting a red reflection of light.
The centre of the reflector must not be higher than 1.5 metres and must be fitted in the vertical plane
facing squarely to the rear.


does this mean i can cut it down as much as Hammy, providing i have a reflector and numberplate under light? looks like it to me.

Skywardbandit wrote:4wheels wrote you do get a lot more spray without the longer guard though.

You are not wrong, chopped the guard down on my old 2006 Bandit 1200 they look great but did a ride down to tassie got 2 days of rain & the bottom of my Ventura bag was wet inside.

That'd be mainly because Ventura bags aren't waterproof. Mine was wet inside when I was in Tassie last month and my guard isn't chopped (yet)

Ventura sell waterproof covers to get even more out of us

Hammy wrote:Well after some lengthy thought, Oh about 20 seconds. The chop was on. The good thing about this new LED tail light is that it has a clear bottom section where white/faint blueish light shines down for a number plate. So might as well make use of it, Right ? The reflector came curtousy of one of three old postie bikes in the shed. Dont tell Jan.

Looks good Paul, been thinking of doing something similar.