Baghira Tail

[dgunther]

I decided to fit an LED fender-taillight to my Baghira this afternoon. I think it's gonna look sweet! I decided that the stock signals are too large and aren't going to go back on, so it's off to the shop to get some smaller clear lens signals before I finish it up.

EDIT: finished it up. I think it looks pretty slick, and is actually more visible than the stock single bulb taillight.

[kman.45]

Nice, gotta be the Baja Design tail piece yeah? I just ordered that last week, so glad it looks that good.

BTW, what kind of rack is that?

kman

[dgunther]

Yeah, it's a heavily modified Baja Designs LED universal fender and a pair of Motrax short stalk signals. I think it looks pretty slick now that I've got it finished.

I took several pics while I was making it, if you want to see the steps I took.

[dgunther]

Nice, gotta be the Baja Design tail piece yeah? I just ordered that last week, so glad it looks that good.

BTW, what kind of rack is that?

kman

That's the Hepco and Becker rack with a mounting plate on it for a generic small topbox.

[kman.45]

Yeah, it's a heavily modified Baja Designs LED universal fender and a pair of Motrax short stalk signals. I think it looks pretty slick now that I've got it finished.

I took several pics while I was making it, if you want to see the steps I took.

Sure, post pics or IM/email pics would be great. We must shop at the same store (Cycle Gear?), jeez I bought the same damn turn signals the other day..

[dgunther]

Before:


Remove the seat and unhook the 4 bullet connectors for the turn signals and the molex connector for the taillight


Remove the 2 bolts attaching the fender to the grab rails and lower bolt from the tail to the loop of the subframe to remove the tail


Stuck the whole Baja Designs fender in for a test fitting. Looks OK, but the concave part in the middle holds the top of the fender too high off the cross piece of the subframe. Modifications will be required to the tail, and a loop-ectomy is also in order.


Time to cut the Baja tail. I used a air-powered cutoff tool (like a huge dremel), but you could use a saw, or even a knife if you're careful and patient.

View from the underside of the new tail after modifcation (I ended up cutting the sides of the V shape about 1.5" shorter by the time I was finished)

Side view of tail - I cut the sides of the fender off until I was about .5 inches from the flat pieces where the signals will mount

Top view of Baja Tail (I still haven't shortened the sides of the V yet)


Time for some a tasty beverage


I removed the lower bolts from the rear fender and lifted it with a pair of leather gloves. Then I wrapped it in a wet towel to protect it from debris and sparks. It's loop-ectomy time...

Oh, I can't believe I took a cutoff tool to one of my bikes! I removed the loop and braces right on the welds. I'll get a brace welded in place just to be on the safe side.

Side view of test fit - you can see the loop laying on the ground

Close-up showing how the notches in the Baja Tail fit over the subframe now.

Rear view of test fit

Screwed in and ready to finish the wiring


I bought a set of Motrax turn signals to finish off the tail, as I felt the stockers were too big and bulky. The new signals cam with very short leads, so I opened up the old turn signals and found that the wires were attached to them with some very small spade terminals. I removed the wires and cut them about 1.5" below the spade terminals and joined them to the new signals. I could also have extended the leads from the new signals, but I could not find bullet connectors to plug into the bike wiring harness that fit tightly enough to make me happy.

Finished!

[beamisinbtw]

Very good job! I have been debating so many ideas with the tail, it so hard to find stuff when you cant see it in the flesh. Thanx for the step by step. I would be lost without this website! Im going to fit an Art deco led cat eye to that baja fender and see if i can get it to work. I have also been dreading the loop-ectomy but that thing has got to go! B

[cat]

Thanks dgunther! Photos always appreciated.

What's the red one in the background?

[Fil]

Excellent guide - I can see a trawl of the internet coming today to get one for my bike!

I did the 'loopectopy' on my bike a couple of years back but I didn't bother welding any extra bracing on. I figured that the cross brace that the grabrails bolt to should be enough...

[dgunther]

Thanks dgunther! Photos always appreciated.

What's the red one in the background?

That's my baby - a 2001 VFR800 - the last year with the gear driven cams. What a wonderful noise she makes!

[cat]

That's my baby - a 2001 VFR800 - the last year with the gear driven cams. What a wonderful noise she makes!

ahhh. bet you wouldn't cut it's tail off.

That sounds like a good idea - gear-driven cams. I'd forgotten about that. I don't know much about them, any of the current road bikes. I just know they're the v engines. So did they change the VFR to chain-driven? Why, I wonder.
Maybe that's why Ducati desmos sound so nice.
[/i]

[kman.45]

Excellent post! Got about 1/2 way into the same thing last night, going to take fender off though so I can fit mine in similar fashion. The B-D piece is really tidy little thing, and sturdy as hell, thicker than stock plastic.

[keithcross]

I am going to have a go at cutting the loop off of my subframe soon. Got a spare one off of ebay just in case I change my mind

Keith

[cat]

I am going to have a go at cutting the loop off of my subframe soon. Got a spare one off of ebay just in case I change my mind

Keith

you and ebay! how much did it cost?

[Fil]

[quote="cat So did they change the VFR to chain-driven? Why, I wonder.
Maybe that's why Ducati desmos sound so nice. [/quote]

I think the Ducati V-twins use cam belts running on the outside of the engine - kind of like a car.