solo seat help!!
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6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10
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solo seat help!!
i have a 2008 nightster i want to order a solo seat with the springs but every solo seat i look at said i need a mounting kit. my problem is i cant find a mounting kit for a sportster some of them say universal though can i use that?
thanks
thanks
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,154
Likes: 5
From: Phoenix, AZ
RE: solo seat help!!
If you want it to look absolutely FLAWLESS, none of those kits will work perfectly. I welded a plate of steel across the back and drop-mounted my springs so the seat sits lower and more level with the frame.
Justified Defiance has em for the newer sportys if you're still gonna go with the kit. J&P may also have them for the newer models for around a hundred bucks.
Justified Defiance has em for the newer sportys if you're still gonna go with the kit. J&P may also have them for the newer models for around a hundred bucks.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,077
Likes: 1
From: The High Desert, SoCal
RE: solo seat help!!
Where is the ECM mounted on the 08 Nightster? My son has an 08 1200c and wanted to go solo with springs. However, the ECM is mounted in the rear fender under the 2 up seat. To go with a solo spring seat would require relocating the ECM, patching up the hole left behind and then repainting the fender. Not worth it to him.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,961
Likes: 3
From: Boise, Idaho
RE: solo seat help!!
ORIGINAL: chromedome
Where is the ECM mounted on the 08 Nightster? My son has an 08 1200c and wanted to go solo with springs. However, the ECM is mounted in the rear fender under the 2 up seat. To go with a solo spring seat would require relocating the ECM, patching up the hole left behind and then repainting the fender. Not worth it to him.
Where is the ECM mounted on the 08 Nightster? My son has an 08 1200c and wanted to go solo with springs. However, the ECM is mounted in the rear fender under the 2 up seat. To go with a solo spring seat would require relocating the ECM, patching up the hole left behind and then repainting the fender. Not worth it to him.
I completely agree with 60... A kit won't really do the trick if you want it to look clean... Just covering the ECM might look okay... But is that good enough?
I am in the process of installing a Lick's Custom Cycles spring seat on my bike.... It has honestly been a real hassle, and it has taken much longer than expected....
I had the ECM hole filled with a piece from a take-off fender.... And then had the fender re-painted... The ECM was relocated underneath the battery panel side-cover... Which had to be covered and then hollowed out slightly...
Yeah... Lots of work (mostly not done by me, because I am no great wrench).... I think it will look sick when completed (hopefully in the next day or two)... But... It takes some real time and effort to do it right.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,154
Likes: 5
From: Phoenix, AZ
RE: solo seat help!!
Good filling techniques:
Tack weld some 24 ga. sheet metal as flat as you can on the underside of the fender over the hole (it's thinner so it's more plyable), strip about 1" all the way around the hole on TOP of the fender,
use either Metal to Metal filler or fiberglass resin WITH fiber cloth and coat it leaving a "bubble" of filler built up to about 1/8" to 1/4" higher than the surface of the fender.
Get a heavy chunk of steel (I use my old highway peg mount) and some 150 grit paper, pop in a good CD, and level sand until you can't feel the difference. You may need to fill in imperfections with a second coat after sanding.
EDIT: BONDO SUCKS *** - DO NOT USE IT!!!!! [&:]
Afterwards, mask approx. 2" around the fill, leaving both the original paint and filler somewhat exposed.
Get your factory color from HD (pretty cheap, honestly), and spot repair the fill using a good primer and feather edging like a ****. Then use an automotive clear over the spot repair (the rattle can stuff from autozone/checker/etc. works GREAT!)....wet sand with 800, 1000, 1500, and 2000 then following w/a good rubbing compound and some wax will blend the spot seemlessly. It's a bitch to hand sand all that, but it's worth it.
Between coats and changing grit, use rubbing alchohol to clean out the dust.
Just some tips in case anyone decides to do this in the future. This is how we filled the factory fender on my buddys 1200C when we removed the stock tail light and replaced it with a teardrop.
EDIT#2:
I've heard an idea for relocating the ECM using the frame mounts for your batt box and oil tank with a custom bracket to mount it in between the two and keep it secure...something to think about at least. I'd think there'd be plenty of room to mount it freely and safely with some creativity.
Tack weld some 24 ga. sheet metal as flat as you can on the underside of the fender over the hole (it's thinner so it's more plyable), strip about 1" all the way around the hole on TOP of the fender,
use either Metal to Metal filler or fiberglass resin WITH fiber cloth and coat it leaving a "bubble" of filler built up to about 1/8" to 1/4" higher than the surface of the fender.
Get a heavy chunk of steel (I use my old highway peg mount) and some 150 grit paper, pop in a good CD, and level sand until you can't feel the difference. You may need to fill in imperfections with a second coat after sanding.
EDIT: BONDO SUCKS *** - DO NOT USE IT!!!!! [&:]
Afterwards, mask approx. 2" around the fill, leaving both the original paint and filler somewhat exposed.
Get your factory color from HD (pretty cheap, honestly), and spot repair the fill using a good primer and feather edging like a ****. Then use an automotive clear over the spot repair (the rattle can stuff from autozone/checker/etc. works GREAT!)....wet sand with 800, 1000, 1500, and 2000 then following w/a good rubbing compound and some wax will blend the spot seemlessly. It's a bitch to hand sand all that, but it's worth it.
Between coats and changing grit, use rubbing alchohol to clean out the dust.
Just some tips in case anyone decides to do this in the future. This is how we filled the factory fender on my buddys 1200C when we removed the stock tail light and replaced it with a teardrop.
EDIT#2:
I've heard an idea for relocating the ECM using the frame mounts for your batt box and oil tank with a custom bracket to mount it in between the two and keep it secure...something to think about at least. I'd think there'd be plenty of room to mount it freely and safely with some creativity.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
RE: solo seat help!!
yeah i just popped my seat off looks like the bracket that come with the kit would fit but i didnt realize i had that computer on the rear fender.. damn these new bikes. if i was going to do anything i think i might buy a new fender and chop the hell out of it and maybe see if i can get that computer under the seat but i dont know
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,154
Likes: 5
From: Phoenix, AZ
RE: solo seat help!!
I still haven't seen anyone just make a little cover for that damn thing and leave it where it's at...lol. Hell, if it's down IN the fender, that would be easy solution #1 for me. No relocating, no modifying this, repainting that, etc.
Wouldn't be that big of an eye sore if it was done right, I think.
Wouldn't be that big of an eye sore if it was done right, I think.
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 515
Likes: 0
From: The Woodlands, TX
RE: solo seat help!!
I'm in the process of doing this mod as well, I went the route of buying an 04-06 rear fender off of ebay, got one for $15+$10 shipping. Obviously I had to chop the back of the fender off, but that was an easy process with the right tools. I'm still waiting for the seat kit to show up. I'll post some pics of the process this week
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Stage I
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Yo, if anyone has put a solo-springer on a nightster and lives in the SanDiego/OC/or LA area...please hit me up @ jnash81@rocketmail.com I'd like to see it in person - Also any advice as far as someone that might want to work
on it with me or if you know someone - I live in S.D. but travel back and forth to L.A. Thanx
peace
on it with me or if you know someone - I live in S.D. but travel back and forth to L.A. Thanx
peace
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