Backrest removal

[GWS]

Hello all. I'm new here and just posted a question on the general message board, but it belongs here. I just bought a '98 Standard and am loving it. But while I'm waiting to get her on the road, I have a question:

If I want to remove the rear seat and backrest, do I have to take the shocks off? The backrest slides into a ninety degree piece, which fits under the horizontal chrome on the fender, which is bolted twice to the fender and once through the shock. I removed the two bolts holding the chrome pieces to the fender, but the ninety degree pieces don't want to move. Thought I'd ask for help before I started prying and hammering.

Thanks for any help. And, by the way, this bike is AMAZING!!!!

[h13man]

I had go check and its not necessary to unbolt the shocks. The rails are a chrome cover thus removing the  backrest bolts into the frame separately as shown:

https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/honda/motorcycle/1998/gl1500c-a-valkyrie/seat

[Chrisj CMA]

I had go check and its not necessary to unbolt the shocks. The rails are a chrome cover thus removing the  backrest bolts into the frame separately as shown:

https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/honda/motorcycle/1998/gl1500c-a-valkyrie/seat

You must know a trick I don't. Because to remove the fender rail to gain access to the two bolts in question I have always had to remove the shock first. With the bike on the lift it's really no problem. Do one side at a time. You really only need to undo the top bolt and pop the shock of the post. It can lean forward and out of your way until it's ready to go back on.

[-mike-]

Removing part 14 as seen in h13man's linked picture leaves an (in my eyes ugly) gap between the horizontal chrome grab rail part and the fender.

So I let these vertical #14 grab rail plates on but added a grab bar to connect them.
You can see the construction here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXnQWHytLfY

-mike-

[h13man]

Just seen the picture in the "General" post, duh. I guess it does require shock unbolting. Thus doing one side at a time would appear to be the proper approach. Hey I only got half my coffee drank when I posted.  

[gordonv]

I didn't look, but if you are removing the bolts for the rails, again, only do one side at a time. They go into the fender, and the fender can move, so trying to align them can become very difficult. I would use/make an awl, easier to pock into one bolt hole to align, and then bolt the other I'm also thinking the bolt towards the front first, as you can grab the fender and apply a little up/down pressure to try to get it aligned.

[GWS]

Thanks for the replies guys. And thank you Mike for the youtube video link. That's exactly like my bike. I found her in Vermont. She was big and fat and blue and white. It's nice to see what she'll look like with a naked butt.

I found another thread that suggests a short-cut. The backrest bracket is bolted to the rails at the rear. If you only loosen the top shock bolt, you can swing the rail up just enough to slip a 12 mm wrench in and remove the bolts holding the bracket to the rails. Worth a try.

[Chrisj CMA]

Thanks for the replies guys. And thank you Mike for the youtube video link. That's exactly like my bike. I found her in Vermont. She was big and fat and blue and white. It's nice to see what she'll look like with a naked butt.

I found another thread that suggests a short-cut. The backrest bracket is bolted to the rails at the rear. If you only loosen the top shock bolt, you can swing the rail up just enough to slip a 12 mm wrench in and remove the bolts holding the bracket to the rails. Worth a try.

Another shortcut is to remove the aft portion of the rear fender. Sheffjs suggested that on the general board

[h13man]

Thanks for the replies guys. And thank you Mike for the youtube video link. That's exactly like my bike. I found her in Vermont. She was big and fat and blue and white. It's nice to see what she'll look like with a naked butt.

I found another thread that suggests a short-cut. The backrest bracket is bolted to the rails at the rear. If you only loosen the top shock bolt, you can swing the rail up just enough to slip a 12 mm wrench in and remove the bolts holding the bracket to the rails. Worth a try.

Definitely would give it try as I have installed the rear section of the fender in the past by myself, not fun.