| Author | Message | ||
     Swordsman |
This single headlight conversion is killing me. Nothing, and I mean nothing, that I've purchased wants to work together at all. The overpriced aftermarket brackets only fit at the very top of the forks, the Puig fairing will only fit the M2 headlight in one specific position, and now that I've finally gotten around to rigging a gauge mount, I've discovered that the one location these headlight brackets fit covers over the ignition switch just perfectly. I can't move the brackets down because they start making contact with the frame and limiting the turn radius, and I've yet to find a spacer that would make them fit the forks right anyway. I tell ya, I'm just about ready to scrap the whole idea! I've blown $230+ on this project already, and I'm no closer to having it working.  These f'n Fly-n-Cycle brackets seem to be the source of all my problems. I know others have done this conversion... surely there's a way to get it right without all this headache! It would REALLY help if the XB forks were anywhere close to a uniform shape. I dunno why they can't just make them the same diameter all the way down... they start off 54mm at the top, then taper down to... something smaller, I dunno, no caliper gauge. But then they flare again to maybe 58mm or so. When you have to buy specific bracket sizes, it really starts limiting your mounting options. I thought maybe the X1 brackets would work, but no chance... X1 forks don't taper back and forth, and the M2 brackets aren't designed for inverted forks, so probably not wide enough. Bah!  ~SM (Message edited by Swordsman on January 31, 2010) | ||
| New12r |
I see you love fab work... It never goes easy, or as planned. Good luck to ya. | ||
| Swordsman |
Ha, yeah, I must have a masochistic streak to attempt this! ~SM | ||
| Froggy |
After your done, I need someone to bolt a Uly tail on my 1125R  | ||
| Swordsman |
I decided to suck it up and ordered a different set of brackets AND a new headlight that doesn't have the weird recession in the sides like the M2 one. I think it'll actually take both brackets to position it the way I want (clamps from one, arms from the other), and then I'll sell the M2 light, which should cover the cost of the new one. Tricky bidness, this is! BUT, when this is all over with, I'll be able to recommend the best set of parts to anyone else that wants to give it a go. Froggy, if I work on your bike, I'm bringing nothing but a hacksaw and duct tape.  Saying that reminds me of my Papaw... every time he went to work on something, it somehow involved a hammer and a cutting torch. Needless to say, when my car stereo burnt a wire and Papaw went for the 5 lb sledge, I banned him from the project. ~SM (Message edited by Swordsman on February 01, 2010) | ||
| Swordsman |
Ha! Good news! I ordered some different brackets from http://www.moto-madness.com/, and they work much, MUCH better than those overpriced chunks of plastic from Fly n' Cycle. They still make contact with the frame, but just barely. I'll mount some dense rubber pads underneath to keep them from messing up the frame (hopefully... the point that makes contact is a protrusion). The best part is that now I've switched brackets, the M2 headlight and Puig fairing fit perfectly. Of course, that means I bought the 2nd light for no reason, but better to be safe than sorry I guess. The only thing I don't like is that these arms stick out a bit farther than I care for. I think I'm gonna cut about 1-1.5" off the end and redrill the holes. Hopefully it'll still fit together the way it does now. So, in review: Good brackets=  Bad brackets=  And the project continues.... dang I'm slow!  ~SM |
