Bobtail tail light
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 851
Likes: 1
From: Alberta, Canada
I tried shumachers idea, but that would require some kind of cover for the inner fender struts and wiring... And it just looked.. wrong I guess. Maybe with a 3" slam, but that would probably make it ride like chit.
May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,386
Likes: 35
From: Rochester, NY
As for making the bracket for a cheaper taillight (Cat's eye maybe) its not as hard as you think. In fact if you made one there is nothing telling you that you can't do Schu's idea. Just don't bother mounting a light.
There would not be any kind of welding needed. The worst would be a little cutting, drilling, and bending of some sheet metal.
All you need to do is make up a cardboard template and copy it on some 1/8" sheet aluminum. That poster board we used to use for class projects in grammar and high school works especially well for something like this. But a good old pizza box top will work just as well.
Cut it to match the contour of the underside of the fender and bend it forward at the sides to match the sides of the original taillight, mark the mounting holes. Then all you have to do is trace it to a sheet of aluminum, bend it where its needed and your in. It doesn't have to fit the underside of the fender perfectly. A cheap piece of car door edge guard along the top curve will let you get away with a lot of 'errors' in cutting and prevent it from rattling as a bonus.
Last edited by In Memoriam Citoriplus; Mar 23, 2009 at 09:17 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 199
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From: Lincoln, NE
My brother-in-law has a piece of diamond plate steel in place of his tail light and uses his signals for his brake lights. How difficult is it to make your rear signals function as brake, tail lights, and turn signals?
-Barry-
-Barry-
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 851
Likes: 1
From: Alberta, Canada
Lots of great suggestions here guys, thanks for the input
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May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,386
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From: Rochester, NY
It 'sounds' simple when you say it like that. But in practical terms its not as easy to do as it sounds. The stock turn signals are single element (1156) bulbs so unless you want to go through the trouble of mounting a set of front turn signals on the rear *with their dual element 1157 bulbs) you really do need one of the modules to operate it properly. Even if you do go the front turn signal route, your still going to need a brake turn module to get three functions from two elements.
Besides the HD version (and a couple of others) are really sweet plug and play units that don't require any wire cutting or splicing.
Besides the HD version (and a couple of others) are really sweet plug and play units that don't require any wire cutting or splicing.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 851
Likes: 1
From: Alberta, Canada
The plan you had for the custom bracket seems easy enough that I could probably pull it off, I just don't want anything half-assed on my baby...
I've got a lot of thinking to do... Part of me has always wanted to ditch that fender altogether... I've always loved the look of the Fat Boy fender, and of course the heartland kits are amazing...
Cabin fever is killing me, I really need to ride
