Grab Rail mounting

Woody850 · Apr 1, 2023

I recently took the grab rail and clips off my 1973 850 Roadster to clean the frame of the cloth tape used as padding for the grab rail clips. The main reason for this was the grab rail was mounted far too far back.
The main questions is, how were the clips originaly padded on the frame from the factory or what have been your cures for this problem of the overlarge clips to the frame?

concours · Apr 1, 2023

The clips I have are plastic dipped.

Woody850 · Apr 1, 2023

concours said:
The clips I have are plastic dipped.

Yes mine too, but they seem too long to really grip the frame.

concours · Apr 1, 2023

Woody850 said:
Yes mine too, but they seem too long to really grip the frame.

Only guess I can offer is they were replaced somewhere along the history with something similar, but not exact.

trident sam · Apr 1, 2023

concours said:
The clips I have are plastic dipped.

Mine are also plastic coated, I've seen the st steel ones dig into the frame paint/powder coat many times

Bonzo · Apr 1, 2023

Woody850 said:
The main reason for this was the grab rail was mounted far too far back.

The rail mounts on my '74 mk2 roadster are directly above the rear axle.

Just checking, you haven't got the Intersate grab rail fitted by any chance? I think It's a little longer to accept the longer seat.

Woody850 · Apr 1, 2023

Bonzo said:
The rail mounts on my '74 mk2 roadster are directly above the rear axle.

Just checking, you haven't got the Intersate grab rail fitted by any chance? I think It's a little longer to accept the longer seat.

Well thought, but the rail is correct just too far back. I am thinking of cutting some thin bands of rubber to push in and take up the free play.
Normally I have no seat strap. I put on an old Harley one just before putting it on the road to make sure it was fully road fit then I took it off, I have no bolt holes in the pan anyway.

Tornado · Apr 1, 2023

The HiRider sissy bar mounts with a beefy metal clamp on each side of the rail. Not plastic dipped "P" clips.

Woody850 · Apr 1, 2023

Tornado said:
The HiRider sissy bar mounts with a beefy metal clamp on each side of the rail. Not plastic dipped "P" clips.

Woh-ha HiRider, cult through and through.

Tornado · Apr 1, 2023

Woody850 said:
Woh-ha HiRider, cult through and through.

To each his own Good Sir! Personally, I knew my HiRider to be a hideous thing but still bought it anyway. After an emergency Roadsterization process it is now quite a thing to behold ;-)

Woody850 · Apr 2, 2023

Tornado said:
To each his own Good Sir! Personally, I knew my HiRider to be a hideous thing but still bought it anyway. After an emergency Roadsterization process it is now quite a thing to behold ;-)

Tornado my good friend, under no circumstances was that critic. We love our ladies whatever they may bring with them. I remember long ago reading on here somebody wrote "Every time I go in the garage I know that I bought the right bike" and I can't remember how often that I have recited that phrase to myself.