drilling side fairings

[hsracer]

Here is a simple DIY project. I helped a friend of mine over the weekend install frame sliders on his F4i. The reason I am bringing this up is because most people are afraid to drill holes themselves in the side fairings and they take it to the shop where they fork out some $$ to have someone else do it. I realize this doesn't apply to most SV's, but if anyone here has the full fairings and wants to put the sliders in a different location, here is an easy way to drill the holes yourself. Pardon me if everyone already knows this, I just wanted to contribute something to the site. Sorry, no pics, they really aren't necessary tho.

1. remove the stock bolt where you want to mount the sliders.

2. install the longer slider bolt and leave a little bit of it hanging out

3. place play-dough (sp?) or sticky putty on the inside of the fairing in the approximate location the slider is going to go

4. install the fairing as normal

5. remove the fairing you just replaced and there will be an imprint of the bolt head in the play-dough

6. use a small drill bit to start a pilot hole in the center of the imprinted bolt head (such as a 1/8" drill bit)

7. now you have a pilot hole in the exact center of where the slider will be. remove the play-dough and either use a hole-saw of the correct diameter or draw a circle on the fairing (with non-permanent ink) and use a dremmel tool to cut the circle

8. install the slider

9. install the fairing

this way there is no guessing of where to drill the hole. i also used this method on my old bike too, and it came out very well. virtually no gap between the slider and the fairing. Hopefully this helps someone out there!


:rockon:

[DVS]

Good tip hsracer201, I have Suzuki lowers and want the flexibility of having them on or off for the track.

I didn't want to go and changeover sliders as well.

[kwilson]

I've seen this method before but was still too chicken to try it. I also didn't like the idea of making it permenant. When I come to sell the bike, the buyer might not want the slider and a hole. You know how picky some people are.

BTW anyone seen the R&G Racing sliders that work with the lower fairing. They mount on a bracket that spans 2 of the frame bolts and the slider sits in the middle allowing it clear the fairing. I've bought some but not installed them yet.

[DVS]

Kwilson, very interesting. Do you have a link to where we can see / read more?

Any concernc about the structural integrity of the brackets? The Suzuki ones are prone to bending when it goes down.

[kwilson]

They have a few pictures here
http://www.rg-racing.com/crash-protectors/suzuki-crash-protectors-frame-sliders.html

If you do order some, make sure they company send the correct ones! I got mine from a place in Germany and they sent the old style first. Just received the correct ones a couple of days ago after sending the originals back. Quality of the R&G stuff looks really good which I've read before on here.

When I get around to fitting mine I'll take some decent pictures but they do look pretty strong. The Suzuki brackets will break on any contact and may also crack the fairing as they do.