It was a little bit chilly here in Colorado with high 20's during the day so we're spending a reasonable time in our garages fixing the bikes and getting ready for the riding season which should be starting in about... *looks at the calendar* 2 months...
Until we're on the road, we want to see some fixes, mods, goodies installations, time spent washing the bike, services, tire changes, anything. Here, I'll start:
It all started with a post on the GSGiants FB page and this horrific picture:
I decided it was time to replace my stock skid plate. So I went on the internetz, googled (when did that become a verb?) black dog cycle works and within a few days, I had a package!
Let me start by telling you, the folks at Black Dog Cycle Works have made an EXCEPTIONAL product. But they could have spent a little bit more time writing the instructions... In their defense, I should have spent a little bit more time reading them before I started :roll:
So since my space in the garage is limited to non existing (you try to fit 4 bikes and a trailer in a one car garage), I decided the easiest way to work on the bike is to put it on the trailer so it is standing up and I can work under it. So I did. I was actually quite proud of myself!
Then I started reading the manual:
I guess I should have read the manual first, right? Oh well, off the trailer and back into the garage.
Step 1a: Remove the stock skid plate. Easy enough, take 5 bolts out (I have a '14 GSA).
Step 1b: Remove all related hardware as well but keep the 4 (four) stock M8x25 bolts.
This is what you need to see before starting installing the BDCW hardware:
Let's put the two skid plates side by side for comparison...
So as I mentioned earlier, I should have spent more time reading the instructions before I started. Therefore, there were several steps I missed. Such as the part that says "move the U-nuts into place AFTER you install the the front mount... This is what I did:
Well, the problem is that the tool that the BDCW people were kind enough to provide, will go through the hole but not through the nut...
Until we're on the road, we want to see some fixes, mods, goodies installations, time spent washing the bike, services, tire changes, anything. Here, I'll start:
It all started with a post on the GSGiants FB page and this horrific picture:
I decided it was time to replace my stock skid plate. So I went on the internetz, googled (when did that become a verb?) black dog cycle works and within a few days, I had a package!
Let me start by telling you, the folks at Black Dog Cycle Works have made an EXCEPTIONAL product. But they could have spent a little bit more time writing the instructions... In their defense, I should have spent a little bit more time reading them before I started :roll:
So since my space in the garage is limited to non existing (you try to fit 4 bikes and a trailer in a one car garage), I decided the easiest way to work on the bike is to put it on the trailer so it is standing up and I can work under it. So I did. I was actually quite proud of myself!
Then I started reading the manual:
1. Place bike on center stand (even if using a bike lift). This eases installation greatly.
I guess I should have read the manual first, right? Oh well, off the trailer and back into the garage.
Step 1a: Remove the stock skid plate. Easy enough, take 5 bolts out (I have a '14 GSA).
Step 1b: Remove all related hardware as well but keep the 4 (four) stock M8x25 bolts.
This is what you need to see before starting installing the BDCW hardware:
Let's put the two skid plates side by side for comparison...
So as I mentioned earlier, I should have spent more time reading the instructions before I started. Therefore, there were several steps I missed. Such as the part that says "move the U-nuts into place AFTER you install the the front mount... This is what I did:
Well, the problem is that the tool that the BDCW people were kind enough to provide, will go through the hole but not through the nut...