Rear light bar for 1st Gens

[lonestarmedic]

I finished my Garmin install and took some time to upgrade my rear lighting. I did the L.E.D. upgrade to my trunk lights last year. They work great but tend to wash out in full sunlight. I liked the undermount bar that many folks are installing on the 2nd Generation bikes. So, how to get that 15" bar under my trunk? The answer, remove the helmet locks and put an aluminum bar in their place. I countersunk places for the original screws and then mounted the light bar over top of them. On the ends of the aluminum bar I reinstalled the helmet locks. Tapped all of the holes and applied some blue locktite. Now, I have a bright running/brake light unit just above the tail light. It looks like it blocks the original unit, but I can remove the lens to change the bulbs with the bar in place.

 

JB

[nyjerry]

Nice job it looks good and the helmet locks look like they are going to work easier.

Jerry

[PBJ]

Great for an 86 and newer but the helmet locks also lock down the trunk on the 83-85's making them immovable for us. I did see some led strip lighting at Americade amd may experiement with those for extra braking lights for my 85.

[skydoc_17]

WOW JB,

What a great idea! I really like the look of the helmet locks! I bet they work a lot better. Those Second Gen. guys better watch out, Soon we'll be swiping stuff off their bikes to put on our First Gens! Not to worry, we will just grab some parts, and then out run them!!!

 

Great job JB,

Earl

[lonestarmedic]

The neat thing about this project was the time and money. I got 2 of the light bars for $30.00 and the aluminum for $8.00. Two flathead bolts and a few feet of wire. It took me about an hour from start to finish. I had 2 OEM torx bolts for the helmet holders. However, the OEM bolts could hold the bar to the bike and 2 1/4 - 20 bolts would work great on the helmet holders.

 

Earl, why would I want parts off of a 2nd Gen.? I might as well lock out 5th gear!!

 

JB