Gen1 (also works for Gen2) DIY Fender Eliminator
I always thought the rear fender looked pretty good on the 14. Not as good as no fender but compared to other bikes, the 14’s isn’t too bad. Still, it looks better without. You’ll be surprised at how much it weighs. Might as well get rid of it. There are a few fender eliminator license tag brackets out there, but if you want to save a few bucks, I have included a couple ideas for DIY brackets at the end of this How-To.
Do First:
Remove seat
A number of people have commented that it is unnecessary to remove the tail light and tail fairings. See comments after the tutorial, p 2.
Rear Fender Removal
You will need:
4mm hex tool
ratchet
5mm allen hex socket
3” extension
10mm open end wrench
needle nose pliers
1. Pull the relay box out of the rubber retainer.
[URL=http://s461.photobucket.com/user/Rookzx/media/2008%20ZX-14/ELECTRICAL%20SYSTEM-/RELAYS/Relay%20Box/removal-relay%20box/RearfenderremovalandDIYeliminato-4.jpg.html]
Pull the ECU out of the rubber retainer.
Locate the tag light lead and exit hole in the mudflap.
2. Locate the tag light lead connector.
Disconnect the tag light lead.
My thumb points to the tag light wire connector and the power source half of the connector rests on my pointer finger.
If you ever plan to use the connector remaining on the bike as a power source for aftermarket electronics (see LED Tag Light and Autotune Install), mark the female contacts NEGATIVE and POSITIVE.
3. Use a 5 mm allen socket and 3” extension to remove the two front bolts and washers from the studs in the fender.?
4. Using a 10 mm open end wrench, hold nut on rear fender bolt.
Place the wrench through the hole that the tail light wire passes through where it connects to the tail light.
Remove the bolt and washer from below the fender using a 10 mm socket.
Retrieve the washer and nut from the top using a needle nose pliers.
5. Slide the tag light lead under the cross member on the tail frame and guide wire through the exit hole in the mudflap as you remove the rear fender.
Installation
6. Installation is the reverse procedures of steps 1 through 6.
DIY Cheapy Fender Eliminator
This is a quick and easy way to attach you license plate after fender removal. The existing holes line up perfectly with license plates. You could use either of the holes shown in the first pic below. I chose the larger holes because they are farther back and this looks better IMO.
You will need:
A vice and vicegrips or just 2 pair of vise-grips will work fine
10mm box wrench
10 mm socket with 4” extension
blue Locktite
2 one inch steel L brackets
2 M6 x 16mm hex cap screws
2 M6 hex nuts
2 six mm flat washers
4 three sixteenths by one inch fender washers
OEM license plate screws and nuts
The brackets are bent open using a vise and vise grips to create an appealing angle for the license plate.
The cap screw is placed through a 1” fender washer. The screw and washer are placed inside the seat compartment so that the threads drop through the hole shown below. Use some blue Locktite on the threads. A 6mm flat washer is placed over the threads. This will help keep the screw centered in the hole. A second 1” fender washer is placed on the outside of the mud flap and an L bracket is placed on next. Finally, all pieces are fastened with a 10mm hex nut. The L brackets can be bent a small amount for a perfect angle after the plate is attached using the OEM plastic license plate screws and nuts.
This is the order that the pieces are assembled. The small washer fits inside of the hole in the mud flap to keep the screw centered.
Not too shabby for 3- 4$$, huh?
Before
After
You can keep going on this little job. I plugged the screw holes under the tail by using some small nuts and bolts and neoprene lined washers. The large washers are called fender washers. I was able to find a rubber washer that matched them perfectly and I placed that between the fender washer and the bottom surface of the tail. The screw that is farthest to the back seems to be perfectly positioned for illumination of the plate (see LED Tag Light).
Weights
The entire rear fender assembly with all equipment weighs 1 pound 13.7 oz.
* Last updated by: Rook on 11/10/2017 @ 9:42 PM *