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Posted by Old Drifter
- March 03, 2016, 09:46:52 AMGlad to hear that everything worked out! Can't wait to see the pics.
Posted by Trall
- March 02, 2016, 18:59:55 PMQuote from: Trall on December 21, 2015, 16:16:21 PMUPDATE- 3-2-2016 -I got a PM from Old Drifter (Gene) with a keen observation about the 3/4 aluminum bar may hit my rear fender, especially from driving down the road. For those that don't know, I went and had the 3/4" bar made for cosmetic reason to attach to the rear solo seat rail bracket holes that mount to the shocks of the 1500 and unused on the 800. Well I got all my fenders and tank back from the paint shop and I am in the process of reassembly and placed a towel over my rear fender and it is touching with the seat mounted and of course would be touching more from driving conditions. Another factor was my bike is in the air for winter storage with scissor jack in the front area and a standard floor jack on the rear swing arm or what you call that area. After lowering bike to the ground the brought more clearance but with driving conditions would bring rear fender up and down so no bar needed for 800.Just got the seat rail back from powder coater today. All I can say is WOW WOW WOW and WOW. The transparent red looks like Red Chrome in person. Installed with flat and locking washers, one to each seat bracket and it stays locked in place. The two rear holes have a 3/4" aluminum round bar that was cut to length and tap/die with two screws to look complete and connected. The seat fringe hides most of it but looks awesome if I had no seat fringe.
So off with the 3/4" aluminum bar. I just used the color matching bolt and a nut and filled the hole and attached two color matching bike tassels for a finished look.
Hats off to Old Drifter from saving me from scratch or worse........
Trall
P.S. I will post updated pics soon when bike is back together again..........
Posted by CDNRatMan
- December 22, 2015, 00:16:46 AMlooks really good and so much different then a chrome one.
Posted by pcarrell
- December 21, 2015, 17:57:43 PMThat looks great! Now we need a pic of it mounted to your ride!
Posted by Trall
- December 21, 2015, 16:16:21 PMJust got the seat rail back from powder coater today. All I can say is WOW WOW WOW and WOW. The transparent red looks like Red Chrome in person. Installed with flat and locking washers, one to each seat bracket and it stays locked in place. The two rear holes have a 3/4" aluminum round bar that was cut to length and tap/die with two screws to look complete and connected. The seat fringe hides most of it but looks awesome if I had no seat fringe.
Posted by kw-retrorider
- December 04, 2015, 03:34:17 AMFirst off Trall....nice job and nice documentation.
This might mean there is hope for 800 owners that one from Singh for a 1500 might be similarly fit.....
I never heard back from Singh on making one for the 800, but I know he markets one for the 1500....can't be much different if it's made to attach to the shocks, etc.....this may get me motivated again on seat rails.....thanks
Posted by Old Drifter
- December 03, 2015, 07:57:38 AMNice work, looks great! Glad it worked out, you were lucky to find it. I'm still look'in.
Posted by Trall
- December 02, 2015, 12:55:30 PMQuote from: pcarrell on December 02, 2015, 10:42:33 AMThat's exactly lwhat I just did. I went to the local metal shop and they cut the exact size being 11" of 3/4" Aluminum rod cost $5.23 and then went down the street to the machine shop who tapped threads for two 3/8" bolts (they supplied stainless bolts) and they did it while I waited 5 min for $35 and dropped it back to the powder coater.Why not get fancy and tap the rod on both sides so you can just thread the bolts into them?
The aluminum rod makes it look like it was made for it and completes the look.
I'll have it back in two to three weeks and post pics of the Transparent Red color and mounted on the seat. Stay tuned.......
Posted by pcarrell
- December 02, 2015, 10:42:33 AMWhy not get fancy and tap the rod on both sides so you can just thread the bolts into them?
Posted by Trall
- December 02, 2015, 10:16:38 AMIt was a relief that it fit and would mount so easy.
Iam still tweaking the rear two mounts. The front two mounts on left and right of 800 seat bracket make the rail rock solid and the rail does not move just with those alone.
So I mocked it initially to use the two corner brackets on the rear two mounts to the hard plastic seat shield under the seat for cosmetic reasons since not needed for support. That way I don't need to add two small holes and washers on the back side of the plastic shield but if I do it's no big deal.
Or I could use 3/4" or 1" round aluminum bar to connect the two rear mounting holes with the bar between. Need to check with a machine shop for cost.
Either way it will look good because now I rocking a bad ass looking seat rail on my Drifter 800.
Again for cosmetics and a finished look even though the rear two mounts are partially covered from the seat fringe. That way if I or anyone ducked their head under the seat it looks finished instead of two mounting holes not connected to anything. Details, details lol.
Posted by pcarrell
- December 02, 2015, 08:05:31 AMLooks great Trall! Seems like it wasn't a real big deal to mount after all.
As for your cataloge, the only big seat listing changes that I ever noticed between the years was between 2000 and 2001 when they went from the stock 2up seat to making the solo seat stock and the 2up an optional package. That would have also changed the finishes on some parts, like maybe a rail, from powder coated black to chrome. Other then that, 2001 to the end of the model run should have pretty much been the same.
Posted by Trall
- December 01, 2015, 20:20:17 PMThat would be interesting for a alternate way.......Like I posted earlier my 2001 Kaw. accessories catalog only had the oem seat rail for the 1500 but IDK about other model years.
These rails really make your seat and bike POP............Another nice accent / old school look....
Posted by greenbarn
- December 01, 2015, 20:13:43 PMLooks good, trall...
I have a solo stock seat for my 800, and it came with a rail on it. I always assumed it was an OEM 800 rail. I guess if they didn't make one, maybe it's not! I'll have to see if I can dig it out to see how it mounts.
Posted by Trall
- December 01, 2015, 20:03:41 PMpics
Posted by Trall
- December 01, 2015, 18:03:24 PMPics