Easy mod I/S trunk move for more passenger room

[sixlow]

My wife has always had more room on the Tourer than on the I/S due to the trunk crowding her more forward.  Steel Cowboy shared this easy modification and I took some pics to better splain what needs to be done. Here is his thread,  http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,84617.0.html

my findings are that you gain 1 1/8 in. more room. First; the rear cross member, just to mock it up for size I cut a bic pen sleeve 1 1/8 in. for spacers over the longer bolts, you will need 4 bolts M6 x 1.00 x 40. The 2 sleeves are above my boots in one pic. The finished product should have either the square stock as spacers or some block, maybe a poly material 1 1/8 thick, 1 in. tall by 2 in. long, it will need to be drilled to fit the 2 bolt pattern.
The front/black cross member is held on by 4 short bolts to welded on nuts. (my bike was missing the right side 2 bolts). I think using 2 bolts on both ends with new nuts in the CB mount holes (shown in pic) is sufficient but a flat bar can be added/drilled to use all 4 mounting locations. 4 slightly longer than stock bolts and nylock nuts will be needed there. This mod may be possible without flipping the trunk over if a ball end tee handle allen tool is used to access the bolts in the front cross member. Here are some pics

[_Sheffjs_]

Looks good and agreed two bolts on the black cross member and it will be solid.  put some heavy items in that trunk and {pop a wheelie!}

I think that was the saying in the 70s

[Steel cowboy]

I hope your wife enjoys the extra space. Great pics too, helps explain it visually.

[Miker]

Damn! Where can I get a set of those saddlebag rails? And cool mod, too.

[flsix]

That is a good mod. When carrying extra bags on the pillion 1 more inch of room will add to the comfort.

[sixlow]

Well I spent the better part of the morning looking for something to cut up and make work for a spacer, then gave up and went back to Ace Hdwe for the easy but expensive solution. I needed to show it here because I doubt anyone even me will ever see these pricey parts again, 4 one inch and 4 one eighth inch chrome spacers did a nice job.

[samoanrich]

How about we move that same trunk forward and use it as a driver backrest. Any suggestions or how to to accomplish this? Looks good though.

[_Sheffjs_]

How about we move that same trunk forward and use it as a driver backrest. Any suggestions or how to to accomplish this? Looks good though.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,83764.msg825276.html#msg825276

[_Sheffjs_]

Well I spent the better part of the morning looking for something to cut up and make work for a spacer, then gave up and went back to Ace Hdwe for the easy but expensive solution. I needed to show it here because I doubt anyone even me will ever see these pricey parts again, 4 one inch and 4 one eighth inch chrome spacers did a nice job.

Soooooo.   Has Momma been on a ride and given the approval???

[sixlow]

She has only done a garage, vroom, vroom ride so far    and she did notice the added comfort/spaciousness. 

[samoanrich]

Does that black cross member get push back an inch also? Or is it an 1 1/8? Thanks for the tip. Considering doing this mod to my bike. With the extra weight in the back I'll be pulling better wheelies

[sixlow]

Take a look at the second pic, this is the black bar in its new position, it came from the 4 holes in front of it, look behind your passenger seat and you will see it. The holes I used are already drilled but it only has 2 bolts now and I used the stock bolts but needed nuts. the stock holes have nuts welded underneath. Again if you can get those bolts from the black bar out with the trunk still attached to the bar it will save some time, Then access the 4 bolts from the chrome bar thru the rubber caps you will see from the rear.