The thing about mods and farkles

[the Ferret]

Funny thing about mods and farkles. Everything on a motorcycle is designed to work in relation with other things on a motorcycle. The engineers go to great lengths, believe it or not, to insure that everything is in harmony. That all the parts make up a whole. But being individuals and destined to tinker with stuff we must of course change thigs from how the engineers designed them.

When you take it upon yourself to change something, it generally affects something else. For example, yesterday I installed a luggage rack on my bike. To do that I had to remove one of the factory bungie hooks. I used that hook all the time when affixing my tail pack. The tailpacks elastic straps and hooks went on great a certain way. Easy peasy. Now, I have to figure out the best new way to attach the tail pack for the times I use it, like for the upcoming rally. Btw I will be using my soft saddle bags which went on a certain way pre luggage rack as well, so we will see how they are affected.

Another example there is a current thread from a forum member. He installed different bars on his bike which are lower and narrower I believe. Now that is causing an issue with mounting brackets for an aftermarket windshield designed to be mounted to wider bars.

The basic rider triangle is an unusual relationship. Bars to seat to pegs. Change one aspect and it affects the others. Putting on a taller seat unfolds the knees, but creates a longer reach to the bars forcing one to bend over further creating more lower back strain, or opt for handlebar set backs to return that part of the triangle to normal. Lower the pegs and it affects how the brake lever and shifter relate to the pegs, and may decrease ground clearance when cornering. Putting on safety bars or crash bars may protect the cases in case of a fall, but may also limit cornering clearance increasing the chance that you may need them. Putting on lower bars affects how the lever blades and switch buttons meet your hands, especially with the new pinned switch assys.

Narrower handlebars will affect how much you can see from your stock mirrors.

Mounting a gps on your bars may affect how well you see the gauges, or how easy it is to access the ignition switch.

Removing or shortening the fenders may earn you a wet stripe up the front or back the first time to ride in the rain

Install certain aftermarket exhausts on your bike and it may reduce clearance in certain right hand turn situations.

You might think I'm telling you to leave the bike how Honda made it, but I'm not. I certainly didn't. I think I have done over a dozen subtle changes to make it mine. Make your bike into whatever you want it to be, but realize that if you change something, it just might have unexpected consequences, and alter the relationship to something else, which means you might have to make additional changes. Just keep this in mind.