Fazr6 deemed "illegal"

[robaho]

Re: My two cents

Hey Scorp -

Maybe you could find a couple of small spacer tubes, cut an angle on the ends with a grinder, and use some longer bolts to make your plate tilt down somewhat. That way, you would not have to try and bend the FE. Just a thought.

 

[krid80]

I made my own FE from aluminum and was pulled over for lacking plate visibility (only once in the 18 months I had it like that). I simply grabbed and pulled and it bent. Not sure if the FAZR6 one will do that or not.

 

[OneTrack]

If the FE bracket is made of aluminum, I wouldn't try to bend it....it can and will start to crack at the edges where you bend it. Much better to enlarge the bracket mounting holes to angle it down more.
If it's made of steel, you should be able to bend the bracket without any issues.

 

[REO Scorpio]

If the FE bracket is made of aluminum, I wouldn't try to bend it....it can and will start to crack at the edges where you bend it. Much better to enlarge the bracket mounting holes to angle it down more.
If it's made of steel, you should be able to bend the bracket without any issues.

Unfortunately, the FAZR6 is aluminum I believe. I'll try to find a way to make it work, but I don't want to add any vibration down there.

 

[Dennis in NH]

Dennis,

Thanks for the insight and experience. How, pray tell, did you actually go about bending your new FE kit?

I just worry that I will break it or somehow bend it too much so that if I bottom out my suspension, it trashes my tire.

Scorpio

For mine, I had to bend the metal of the FE itself. It's on the R6 and has 4 bolts holding it so it was fine -- I just used my hands and slowly did it.

For your kit, see what can bend to make it a little more vertical. Maybe bend the plate a little.

After you finish, you can also play nicey, nicey and ask the police to see it and confirm it's acceptable.

Dennis

 

[REO Scorpio]

For mine, I had to bend the metal of the FE itself. It's on the R6 and has 4 bolts holding it so it was fine -- I just used my hands and slowly did it.

For your kit, see what can bend to make it a little more vertical. Maybe bend the plate a little.

After you finish, you can also play nicey, nicey and ask the police to see it and confirm it's acceptable.

Dennis

Great idea! I'll pop over there if I get it fixed and ask them to take a look.

Scorp

 

[discgolfdude]

I talked to one of my wife's co workers, who is a bike cop here in Vancouver, WA, and he told me that anything that isn't stock on a bike is technically illegal. He owns a harley, with loud after market pipes, and he said that local cops will not really bother with after market mods, but that staters will.

 

[REO Scorpio]

Well, I took it off and tried to bend as much as I was comfortable with, which really isn't much.

I feel like anything else would have stressed the metal too much.

We will see. You can see where I attempted to bend it, so if I do have an issue with another officer I can show an attempt.

Thanks again everyone.

Scorp

 

[Mancolt]

I talked to one of my wife's co workers, who is a bike cop here in Vancouver, WA, and he told me that anything that isn't stock on a bike is technically illegal. He owns a harley, with loud after market pipes, and he said that local cops will not really bother with after market mods, but that staters will.

I'm not stating that you're necessarily wrong, but I've come across plenty of police that don't know the law. What you just stated sounds a little bit ridiculous. It is possible that it's true, but I'm skeptical.

 

[Kriswithak]

Here in Aus a good rule to go by is that if your doing something wrong your probably going to get pulled over and if your not polite and friendly the officers will probably find as many things wrong with your bike as they can and make your life miserable.
If your unlucky you'll get a douche-cop (a special breed) and they will do this anyway.

From the pics your plate doesn't look all that visible, so its hard to argue with him on that one, although it may be the angle of the picture.

Probably the best thing to do is try and fix it so that you can't get pulled over for it.
I like to think the little things like this are a warning, you can follow them and fix the problem, or you can do what my sisters boyfriend did when he got pulled over doing 30 over the limit and they didn't have anything set up, letting him off with a warning. The next week he lost his license doing it again.

Like others have said speed limits are set for the lowest common demonination, instead of not allowing them licenses.

 

[REO Scorpio]

Agreed on being polite. I was and he did not actually write a citation for the fender. To be honest, I was genuinely shocked by the speed. Had no idea I was going that fast. Therefore, I was pretty humble with him.

My point in posting in the first place was to see what other FAZR6 owners have experienced. I just hadn't heard of ANYONE having an issue. I have had cops follow me and not pull me over, so I was a little shocked when this officer mentioned it.

But I think that if I'm not speeding, I'll be alright. Just wanted some feedback on what other people have experienced.

I'll post after shots today to see if people can see a difference.

EDIT: almost impossible to bend the angle of the plate without warping the top that connects to the u-bracket. Looks like I'll be going back to OEM fender for 3 mo probation period. Ugh, that thing is huge!

Thanks for all the suggestions (and criticisms)!

scorp

 

[psnbye]

In Montana it is like $15.



I got nailed for 19 over:spank::spank: and the ticket was 74 bucks. Police take this speeding thing serious apparently all over the country.

I do agree that unsafe speeding is crazy, I deserved that ticket and got what was coming to me, no question.

 

[krid80]

In Montana it is like $15.

I got nailed for 19 over:spank::spank: and the ticket was 74 bucks. Police take this speeding thing serious apparently all over the country.

I do agree that unsafe speeding is crazy, I deserved that ticket and got what was coming to me, no question.

prices have gone up since my buddy Bob got his ticket! still, $74 for 19mph is still cheap compared to most.

 

[REO Scorpio]

prices have gone up since my buddy Bob got his ticket! still, $74 for 19mph is still cheap compared to most.

TBH, I was actually pretty happy that mine was "only" $95. One mile an hour more and it would have been much worse. ;(

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

The police department I retired from keeps track of tags from traffic stops. The officer is supposed to note on the computer, cited for speed, warned for unable to read the tag. If you get stopped a second time for the tag, the 2nd officer will know you've been warned already and might not let you slide. I know down here in Florida they've tightened up tag laws (among others) big time. The tag must be easily readable from a certain distance.

I personally would put the tag in a vise and bend it down some. If there's not enough room after bending, as stated above, some spacers and longer bolts to pull it out maybe a half inch, just so its more visable.

 

[REO Scorpio]

The police department I retired from keeps track of tags from traffic stops. The officer is supposed to note on the computer, cited for speed, warned for unable to read the tag. If you get stopped a second time for the tag, the 2nd officer will know you've been warned already and might not let you slide. I know down here in Florida they've tightened up tag laws (among others) big time. The tag must be easily readable from a certain distance.

I personally would put the tag in a vise and bend it down some. If there's not enough room after bending, as stated above, some spacers and longer bolts to pull it out maybe a half inch, just so its more visable.

Thanks for the insight. A friend in another departmet here in Chicagoland told me the same thing.

The problem with the FAZR6 is that because of the way it's constructed, it's very difficult to bend the tag side. Regardless of hiw I've arranged it in a vice, it bends on te top, where it attaches to the scorpion u bracket. This makes the rear lights and license plate light angle down too much for my taste.

I have to bring it in tomorrow, so I guess I'll throw the OEM on tonight. Just want to ride

 

[REO Scorpio]

Ok, consider this "Case Closed". Went over to my parents' house to utilize my dad's immense collection of tools from teh 50's.

I was able to bend, without too much warping to the top section, the main plate section of the FE kit enough that I felt it was readily seen but without coming too close to the tire in case the suspension bottoms out. I'd rather like to avoid the plate digging into the rear...

I also took Dennis's advice and went over to the station. The officer who originally warned me wasn't there, but another cop (couldn't have been a day over 18) said "Oh yeah, no problems there!". This leads me to believe that unless I was speeding 20+ again, I wouldn't have had a problem.

So thanks to everyone for their help and feedback. I have posted before (left) and after pics for reference.


Only bad news is now it seems the switch for the front brake is acting up. Comes on with rear brake, but not with front brake. I jumped the connectors with a paper clip and it came on, so I guess a replacement switch is in order?

Scorp

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

Only bad news is now it seems the switch for the front brake is acting up. Comes on with rear brake, but not with front brake. I jumped the connectors with a paper clip and it came on, so I guess a replacement switch is in order?

Scorp[/QUOTE]

Spray a little WD 40 in there and work the switch in and out. Theres just 2 contacts in there, it should clean them up.... Electrical cleaner would also work but MAY melt the plastic switch housing. There's only one phillips head screw holding the switch on. You can take off the switch and clean it up on a bench. If you have access to an air compressor, I'd blow it out as well.

Tag looks fine BTW, no way it'll hit the tire...

 

[REO Scorpio]

Townsends, you're the man. Once the wd40 worked through, started working again.

Thanks again,

Scorpio

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

Townsends, you're the man. Once the wd40 worked through, started working again.

Thanks again,

Scorpio

Your welcome!!!