2017 reflectors

[baxtercat_imp]

Took delivery on my 2017 today, but it was too wet to take her out for her maiden voyage. So instead I performed my first mod. I don't intend to do much--I don't think the bike NEEDS much--but I did want to perform the same procedure as on my 2013--the reflectorectomy. The front was easy on the old bike--just let the fork sit in the sun for awhile, then twist the things off. On the 17, just as easy, but a more refined approach: they are held on with hex screws, but come off in under 60 seconds. before and after:
For the back, I found a nice solution. The reflector lobby in North America is evidently very powerful, as our bikes arrive with an unattractively wide license plate holder with red reflectors hanging off either end. On the 13 and 14 bikes, people employed the Chip Beck Spec mod to get rid of these and clean up the tail. Whenever possible prefer not to take files and sandpaper to parts that go on a new bike, however, and I happened to notice that, in the photos of Euro and Japanese bikes, there were no side reflectors on the front or rear. So I ordered the corresponding Japanese model license plate holder (thanks, Takashi!) which arrived in the same shipment as my OEM rear rack. The Honda part number is # 84701-MGC-DA0. As you can see, switching the NA part for the Japanese involved simply loosening three 10mm bolts and replacing it with the new part. Factory appearance and cleaner look. FYI I compared the stock North American holder I took off with the corresponding part on the 13, and they are not interchangeable--the 17 version has a third threaded post not found on the 13, so this swap only works on our 2017s. Now that I'm plated, I hope to get out on the road!