Bling day

Well, it's pouring rain today, so I guess I've got an excuse to go install the new bling that's been layin' around in my garage for weeks now.

I've got this sort of phobia, you see: Nomads are already so heavy that I'm reluctant to add any more weight to the bike.

Judging by some of the leadsleds you guys ride with trunks and fairings and all, mine is positively sporty! http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[Top Cat]

And just what bling thing are you adding now Cadd ???

The rear fender "bumper", and the front fender "tail". I ordered a front fender "bumper" too, but it's not here yet. I might go buy some Kuryakin grips as well. My stock grips are getting pretty worn.

The rear fender "bumper", and the front fender "tail". I ordered a front fender "bumper" too, but it's not here yet. I might go buy some Kuryakin grips as well. My stock grips are getting pretty worn.

Just installed the front fender rear tip... best "bling for the buck" I've done in a while.

[radco]

I have all 3 Fender Tips.. REAL nice addons, ALSO added the Drifter Pedal and the Chrome Shift/Break Covers, Chrome Floorboard covers,Chrome InnerEngine Cover.Chrome resovoir covers,,,Kuryakyn Grips on the way with my Lower Bag rails,Got these for 188$ NEW.....So much for my Stim u less Check http://s2.images.proboards.com/shocked.gif.. Rich
We get goodies for 20% over Dealer cost at Smiths bros,,,,,,

[ringadingh]

I think the fender rails really finish off the fenders, well worth the expense. Keep them well polished. I don't know why but the chrome on my front rail is pitted a bit on the mounting brackets. The plating on my lightbar started to rust and peel also, and I sent it out to get replated. Maybe Makaws plating has some bad batches once in a while.

It's just hard to get good chrome nowadays unless it's custom done. The factories just aren't careful enough about contamination and polishing.

[ringadingh]

I think your right Cadd , the parts that I sent out looked a lot better than the OEM chrome.

I modded my rear bumper a bit, because I was totally unhappy about the design of the mount under the fender. (I bought this bumper used, BTW.) Maybe I'd be less anal about it, except that a Nomad fender is like $600 (!), and I want this "bumper" thing to do more than just look cute. If I'm adding weight to an already heavy bike, it's gotta be functional too. Kawasaki calls this bumper a "fender trim" BTW. I can see why. In their incarnation it wouldn't stop a determined hamster from denting your fender.

This is the bracket Kawasaki gives you.
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh269/caddmannq/Nomad/bracket.jpg
It's plenty thick & sturdy, but the design is all wrong! First, it hangs the bottom rear of the bumper from the two tiny turn signal mounting bolts (!) which are simply attached through the fender. If the bumper's function is to protect the fender, why in the devil would you attach it to the fender? Second, it hangs almost vertically when mounted. As such, it provides about zero resistance to horizontal impact, say like someone actually using this bumper as a bumper. Maybe Kawasaki thought we were going to use a bumper jack under it ? Why is their bracket vertical? Because Classics don't have anything else to mount it to!

I bent the (nearly) vertical tab on the chrome bumper down horizontal, and fabricated this quickie bracket to attach the bottom of the bumper to the frame. It's gonna provide about 10 times the impact resistance of Kawasaki's arangement.
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh269/caddmannq/Nomad/bracket1.jpg
It ain't pretty, but you can't really see it unless you get on the ground. I'll paint it black later, but I left it white initially so it would show up in the photo, and because I wanted to make sure it fit before painting.

It could be more rigid if I'd made it completely flat, but it will protect the fender much better now. Eventually, when I have the time to get some welding done, I'll just weld a tab on the crossbar. I'll cut the "Z" off flat on the bumper, and make a straighter bracket without the hokey "P" clamp arangement. But my buddy with all the welding equipment is out of town right now so this was the best I could do without welding & on short notice. Still, it's dang sturdy for what it is, compared to what it would have been.

[bigjohn]

Looks like you done good work on the bracketry. I"ve got a HitchDoc hooked up there so the "bumper" won't fit. But, I was able to install the finder tip by lengthining the drawbar an inch. It's getting so that I gotta modify the bling to get the bling to fit...

[misunderstood]

The rear fender "bumper", and the front fender "tail". I ordered a front fender "bumper" too, but it's not here yet. I might go buy some Kuryakin grips as well. My stock grips are getting pretty worn.

Good for ya. I finally picked up another rear bumper for just $5 more then I sold mine to you for. Now I gotta put it on again. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

Looks like you done good work on the bracketry....

Don't be impressed. It's hokey and the design sucks. It was easy to make and it works, but that's all I can say about it. A better one is definately in my future.



It's getting so that I gotta modify the bling to get the bling to fit.....

Since I already had the backrest with thick mounting plates and the passenger grab rails, I had to get longer bolts. The heads stick out farther, so I had to shim the bags out at the top a bit. It took a little diddling to get all the parts lined up & get the bolts in. Of course I bought chrome allen heads & chrome washers, (6 each) which was (urk!) $36 at the only local hardware store that sells chromed metric hardware.

bump!

BTW, I installed the rear front fender tip that I got from Radco on Monday. It looks nice.

But of course, nothing is ever easy for me....

I did a trial fit first. The instructions say to drill 1/4" holes, but the screws are smaller than 3/16". I drilled them to 11/64"

The instructions say to clean and wax the fender first--so it doesn't rust, evidently, because I can easily see where this thing's gonna trap dirt and water. It's doesn't fit really perfect, and nowhere's near water tight. Nor do they give you a gasket for it. I almost made a gasket, but....

They give you little nylock aircraft nuts, and the screws are too short to actually engage the nylon part. A gasket would have prevented them from reaching the nuts at all.

Grrrr....

I bedded the entire perimeter in silicone gasket sealer. I siliconed the nuts, washers, and screws down too. Of course, with half a tube of Permatex silicone on it, the screws could fall right out and it's never gonna come offa that fender.

Of course while putting the silicone-smeared nuts on I dropped one. Picking it up off the floor, I found a glob of dirt & dog hair glued to my finger, which transfered neatly to my fender. While hurrying to tighten the screws so I could polish the siliconized dog hair off my fender before it dried on I dropped the other screw, and proceded to dog-hair the other side of the fender as well.

Fortunately it was a dry day, and silicone drys slower in low humidity conditions, so it all came off neatly in the end.

I'm still waiting for the chrome front bumper I ordered to come in. That should go on easier, and no holes to drill.

[tomk]

Hey Cadd, that sounds too funny! You're the second person who thought those trims didn't fit well (I was the other).

I tried to install the rear and the gaps on either side of the center point of the thing was over 1/16". I also tried the black silicone. There was so much of it in there that when I took it off after a week (before I drilled) the silicone was not cured in the center. Big mess and I quit.

When I emailed the manufacturer, the guy responding told me they fit perfectly and basically, I sucked.

I'm going to try to make a rubber gasket that will cure on the fender but I don't expect success. I think they really look great though.

I didn't bed the entire thing, but just around the perimeter. More than about 3/8" and it takes forever to cure.

[radco]

On the Fender Tips I did pull/push them to get a better fit,, 1 fit real good, 1 I had to pull wider,1 pushed in closer...... I used Clear silicone as a Seal. THE FRONT TIP whisled when I rolled over 40mph,,,,, The Screws NO PROBLEM ,you can get LONGER ones at most hardware stores....... Now the Bumper, Dang May have to get it,, BUMMER MORE BLING $$$$

[tomk]

I would buy the bumper in a minute if they made one for the 05 and later. BTW, I just got the side rails and they look good. I'm putting them on next weekend.

[radco]

Tom,
The Rails are VERY easy to install. 20 min? give or take,, I polished the Rails before I reinstalled the Bags..I took the Bags off and it was QUICK!!! The instructions are Fair,, and if you look you will see how to put it in w/o them,,,,, Rich

[Top Cat]

When I emailed the manufacturer, the guy responding told me they fit perfectly and basically, I sucked.



Ahhh, customer service, gotta love it ;)

[ringadingh]

You're the second person who thought those trims didn't fit well (I was the other).


When I emailed the manufacturer, the guy responding told me they fit perfectly and basically, I sucked.



Maybe a sloppy fit is perfect for that manufacturer. http://s2.images.proboards.com/shocked.gif

What I particularly didn't like about the lower bag rails was the fact that they just clamp around the cross-tube of the bag mount rails. If one takes any actual hit from the side, like when you tip the bike over, that clamp can just slide sideways until the bag hits. Plus you're putting a clamp over a painted surface, and the paint just immediately cracks off when you tighten the clamp down. Overall I think the Nomad is a really well designed bike, but some of the accessories were designed by a moron.