Hi,

I’m a 1st time HD owner (long time admirer) of a ’07 Sportster. On occasion my wife likes to ride with me so I would like to add a detachable sissy bar and backrest for her.

The dealer tells me its 3 hours of shop labor to add the detachable docking hardware kit to the bike. Now after just laying out $11K for this beast I’m not ready to shell out another $500 just for a backrest. Plus just looking at it, it would seem a pretty easy install, except the dealer tells me that they take the back wheel off.

My questions are:


Do you need to take the back wheel off just to install the docking hardware?
Is this an easy install?
Should I try this install (I have B plus mechanical ability)?[/ol]

I just have this gut feeling that the dealerships make as much if not more money on the upgradesas they do on the bikes themselves.

 

With no prior experience I installed an HD Q/D sissy & luggage rack in about 1.5 hours (being slow & careful). No tire removal necessary, You will need to loosen and slide back the upper shock bolt on each side ( do one at a time). I assume you have torx wrenches.

 

No you don't have to take the back wheel off, I have the detachable hardware on mine and it took a 1/2 hour to install. You do need a torx bit to take the old bolts out and a allen wrench to put the new longer bolts in. It was a easy install if you have any mechanical ability at all there is no need to pay the Stealer to do it. The good thing about the detachable backrest setup is you can take it off really easy to chean the bike and it does not rub the paint on the fender like the rigid side plates.

 

Why do you have to loosen the upper shock bolts?

 

You Don't, My BAD memory. You have to remove & replace the 2 bolts behind each shock on the side plates. You will want to do them one at a time.

 

STOP!!!! Go geta bottle of BLUE LOCTITE before you go any further. Do Not put any hardware on a Harley without it!

 

I did it in about 1/2 hr it would of been nice to have the bike on a jack, as the clearance is tight near the rear tire, but with some patience its very do able.

TOm

 

The instuctions with the docking hardware tell you to put blue locktite on the bolts. So if you don't have any you might want to get it before you even start.

 

Thanks for your help guys.

 

Does anyone have the installation instructions for the docking hardware they would share with me? I just bought a used detathcable sissy bar with the docking hardware but haven't a clue as to which part goes where. Thanks in advance..