BigClayton Posted July 22, 2014 #1 Posted July 22, 2014 So just about ready for my vacation trip to colorado on the 83 First Gen. Gott my backrest installed, sheep skin on the seat, and full size windshield. My issue is now with the backrest on my momma can't fit. Lol. She is riding with me out there and outside of removing the trunk I'm not sure if there is any other options. I'd like to keep the trunk if possible. I've read about trunk mods on newer bikes but not finding anything on the first gen Any help for the Big Momma syndrome? Tips please Thanks again!!!!!! Blessings Big C
Marcarl Posted July 22, 2014 #2 Posted July 22, 2014 Move the trunk back about 2 inches and then cut a bit out of the rise in the back of the seat. Then cut about half of the rise from the back of the seat pan. To Move the trunk: Remove trunk, remove rack, get two pieces of flat bar, 2 inch by about 10" 1\8" thick. Drill holes in the flat bar to co-ordinate with the original bolt holes and have the flat bar extend back from there, catered in slightly so that you can drill 4 more holes to accommodate the mounts from the removed rack which you will bolt to the bars. You will need to make some bushings to put under the flat bars so that come up to level. I used 1\2" copper tubing. Once it's all together you can just mount the trunk back on.
Venturous Randy Posted July 22, 2014 #3 Posted July 22, 2014 A lot of the 1st genners have moved the trunk back. There was a kit with four brackets shaped like a "Z" kinda that lifted and moved the trunk back two inches. My bike had these on it when I got it and I took them off. When I made the passenger arm rests, I used that bracket and made two more and moved the trunk back about an inch. It is not hard to do. Just remove your trunk and you will see the four mounting points and get some metal strips and figure how far you want it moved. You may have to figure an off set to clear the bolts. RandyA
BigClayton Posted July 22, 2014 Author #4 Posted July 22, 2014 I really overlooked the obvious on this one. Thanks for the advice. I will start to work on getting the bars added this week. Thanks again, If momma ain't happy. Lol
Flyinfool Posted July 22, 2014 #5 Posted July 22, 2014 Does Mama know that you referred to her as BIG MAMA? If not you may soon need to move your backrest a lot forward giving her plenty of room .......
BigClayton Posted July 22, 2014 Author #6 Posted July 22, 2014 What she don't know won't hurt me lol. I hope. This mod will also keep my wife happy too. It will give her more room too.
BigClayton Posted July 22, 2014 Author #8 Posted July 22, 2014 Thanks Condor for the pics. Worth a thousand words as they say.
BigClayton Posted July 23, 2014 Author #9 Posted July 23, 2014 Well after the input I went to Home Depot and got some flat bar and bolts and stuff. Well it ain't pretty, lol, but not bad for a musician. The test well be when my wife gets home but my mom is a little bigger. The good news is my real biker babe is my daughter (6 yrs old) can still set with me and not falling out the back. She is my primary rider but this setup is not to hard to take off Thanks again for the help!!! Big C
Pegasus1300 Posted July 23, 2014 #10 Posted July 23, 2014 Well you now what they say about musicians always playing around and fiddling with something.
jasonm. Posted July 24, 2014 #12 Posted July 24, 2014 jjjeeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...i really would like a picture of WHY the trunk needs relocation.. Some of these suggestions could result in a broken rear frame...like mine . the rear of a venture has it's limits.
BigClayton Posted July 24, 2014 Author #13 Posted July 24, 2014 That is a great point about weight limits. 30 year old bike putting a lot of strain is not to good for it.
jasonm. Posted July 24, 2014 #14 Posted July 24, 2014 seriously...I posted a few weeks ago a thread. The 86-93 have a trunk that weighs with luggage rack 30# . Then they say ANOTHER 20# can go in there. But if you remove the trunk ..you still can only put on 20# directly on the chrome rack per the owners manual. Something is wrong with this math. I suspect mine broke for a few reasons.1st- I no longer have a passenger 99% of the time, where a passenger would at least damp the shaking stresses. 2nd I had a progressive rear spring that I set very firm. 3rd..the chrome rack and frame tabs just don't line up exactly= constant stress. NOW riding w/o the trunk on a MKII makes the bike truly........... sporting...it's a bagger.. yes it's all fixed and aligned now. BUT I will only use the trunk for big trips..maybe:fingers-crossed-emo
Bob Myers Posted July 25, 2014 #15 Posted July 25, 2014 Like to see some pics of this with no trunk in place
Prairiehammer Posted July 25, 2014 #16 Posted July 25, 2014 (edited) Like to see some pics of this with no trunk in place The MKI and MKII were available in Europe without the trunk. I'm not certain, but it (the trunk) may have been an accessory, to be purchased at the option of the buyer. At least it appears that the trunk was not included as standard for some of the time the Venture was offered in Europe. Note the color of the MKI immediately below. That color wasn't offered in the US or Canada until the 1991 Black "Tuxedo". Also note the MKII anti-dive on the MKI. Notice, too that that MKI has CLASS, but no radio or CB and it is not a Royale. Edited July 25, 2014 by Prairiehammer
jasonm. Posted July 25, 2014 #17 Posted July 25, 2014 that's interesting...europe looks the same . But no studded mounting TABS for the trunk or antenna
Bob Myers Posted July 25, 2014 #18 Posted July 25, 2014 Wish I had one of those European trunk mounts
icebrrg3rd Posted July 28, 2014 #19 Posted July 28, 2014 Whoa! That black bike with the brown seating area, wow. Now I might change my paint scheme idea... When I get a moment, I'll snap a pic of my '83 that I moved the trunk back. I used 2 angle brackets (5 x 5 x 1.125, 1/8 thk, Menards, less than $2 each) that I cut at the angle, they already had holes and it moved the rack back about 2 1/2". It moves the whole rack back, as the trunk is removable. Went on a 400+ miles ride with the wife (her first time on it) and not an issue. -Andrew
Bob Myers Posted July 28, 2014 #20 Posted July 28, 2014 I moved mine back too, and up about ½", made and sold a few sets of aluminum brackets to do that. Having a flat rack like those Europeans would make adding a rectangular fuel tank under the trunk really easy
Neil86 Posted July 28, 2014 #21 Posted July 28, 2014 Note the color of the MKI immediately below. That color wasn't offered in the US or Canada until the 1991 Black "Tuxedo". Also note the MKII anti-dive on the MKI. Interesting Kevin.. even the electric antidive is the later side mounted (88-up) vs the front mounted 86-87 version.
icebrrg3rd Posted July 29, 2014 #22 Posted July 29, 2014 (edited) So I took a few pics of my relocated trunk, it actually moves the rack back 3 1/4". The brackets were narrow enough that they fit into the rack mounts w/o any shims, and all the holes were drilled, and evenly spaced, so I didn't have to measure or drill, just cut and bolt on. All I had to do was find 4 nuts & bolts, which I have a bunch from dis-assembling my parts bike. As for the plastic cover, I don't have CLASS (PO removed it) so I just trimmed the plastic away where the bar would be, I'll probably find a piece of sheet metal and make a nicer cover that sits down further so it'll look nice if I run w/o the trunk. I left the plastic on because there is a hole otherwise, and it shows the taillight wires. -Andrew Edited July 29, 2014 by icebrrg3rd
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