well I got a great deal on a backrest, $100.00 so I went down and bought the docking hardware, $41.00 and change. seemed easy enough,so I went home and started to put it on. Then it said to reroute the air line to the shocks, I got thru that ok but when I went to tighten up the valve to its new bracket I think I tightened it to much, ya know when ya feel that point when it loosens up for a second then ya better stop, well that is what happened. Then today I go to the dealer to have them put air in it and damn if it wont hold air, so I get home and start checking stuff and pull that valve off to check it and then put it back on and it snaps, so now there is no valve in the body and I need a new one. Could the fact that I overtightened it last night have caused it to have a hairline crack which would cause it not to hold air?

 

Air it back up and brush some soapy water on it. That will tell you where it is losing air.

 

I will do that after I replace the valve that I broke. Can I still ride the bike with out the valve stem in there? or is that not a good idea?

 

I wouldn't as you will probably get some shock oil squirting out of that line.

 

I heard of guys letting all the air out to lower the rearend a bit. As long as it handles OK you could ride it. Prolly wouldn't load up the Old Lady though unless she's petite.

 

I never relocate those , they can stay in the original location.
You just have to pull off the backrest to get at the valve.
I would get it replaced as soon as you can, there is oil in those shocks.

good luck

 

not sure how you had a problem with that? They leave too much hose and all you do is move the bracket to make room for the docking bracket. Only problem I had is that everything is under stress and moves just far enough to make bolts not line up. An extra hand and its a fifteen minute job.