Moriwaki headlight bracket.

Thread starter
i agree about the internet thing, but the problem is there's no real video resources on the net about specifically how to do this thing. I would need to sit down and watch somebody do it, preferably repeatedly, before attempting it myself. there's probably a video about taking apart the forks on some other bike somewhere, but nothing specifically about lifting the top bridge on the CB1100. then of course you guys have probably seen my other thread about having basically no tools. it's a really sticky situation. times like these, i sometimes figure it's better to give up than to f*** something up that I can't afford to fix.

That said, the idea about bolt-cutting the steel rods and and just sliding the thing out is almost crazy enough to work. it's extra money to replace the bracket, but I wouldn't have to do that right away. maybe in a couple of years. it is a waste of money, but it might be the only thing my limited skill set can tackle. i'm going to give it some serious thought, and take a look at Pekings description of what to do with the top bridge to make triple sure I actually have the necessary tools for that.

edit: nope, i didn't have to read very far into that. I definitely don't have anything that can deal with a 30mm nut, and i certainly don't have a torque wrench, or even a rubber mallet. So, by the time i buy 4-5 tools just for this job, i've paid a mechanic. I'm going to keep thinking about what to do, but i don't think lifting the top bridge is going to be within my grasp.
 
Better to be cautious than to do damage or potential harm.

Generally, I don't endorse mayhem like this. But there is another reason to do so. All the wiring from the main harness, gauges and switches and turn signals passes through the headlight, which must be removed to take off the headlight bracket .

To remove an intact headlight bracket, you would have to take the headlight chrome rim assembly off (you have to do that to unplug/plug in turn signals anyway). Additionally, you would have to unplug all of the connectors within the headlight, run them out the back of the headlight, remove the bracket, and then run them back in and reconnect them. By cutting the bracket in those 4 places, you avoid having to remove the headlight shell and all the wiring, but destroy the bracket.

Here's what we're up against, viewed from the back of the left side, should you chose to cut it. Both sides have the same access.

Look it over carefully, as it was probably a lot more than you expected, and likely not worth the headache.

 
If you have no tools, no skills and most importantly no money- well unfortunately that you should just ride your bike as is.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Thread starter
Sometimes there are creative ways to do things, sometimes there aren't. That's what we're here to suss out. If i led my life limited by the tools at my disposal i wouldn't have half of what I have today.
 
misterprofessionality_imp said:
Sometimes there are creative ways to do things, sometimes there aren't. That's what we're here to suss out. If i led my life limited by the tools at my disposal i wouldn't have half of what I have today.
Click to expand...
Would you mind sharing what headlight brackets you are going to use. I know a lot of them require sliding the top bridge off completely.
 
Thread starter
pekingduck_imp said:
misterprofessionality_imp said:
Sometimes there are creative ways to do things, sometimes there aren't. That's what we're here to suss out. If i led my life limited by the tools at my disposal i wouldn't have half of what I have today.
Click to expand...
Would you mind sharing what headlight brackets you are going to use. I know a lot of them require sliding the top bridge off completely.
Click to expand...
obviously this is only if I can manage to remove the existing bracket, but the plan was to go with this one:

https://www.samurider.com/?p=20073

it opens up and clamps around the forks, so you don't need to do anything with the top bridge.
 
misterprofessionality_imp said:
pekingduck_imp said:
misterprofessionality_imp said:
Sometimes there are creative ways to do things, sometimes there aren't. That's what we're here to suss out. If i led my life limited by the tools at my disposal i wouldn't have half of what I have today.
Click to expand...
Would you mind sharing what headlight brackets you are going to use. I know a lot of them require sliding the top bridge off completely.
Click to expand...
obviously this is only if I can manage to remove the existing bracket, but the plan was to go with this one:

https://www.samurider.com/?p=20073

it opens up and clamps around the forks, so you don't need to do anything with the top bridge.
Click to expand...
obviously this is only if I can manage to remove the existing bracket, but the plan was to go with this one:

https://www.samurider.com/?p=20073

it opens up and clamps around the forks, so you don't need to do anything with the top bridge.
Well, they look nice, but unfortunately you have to completely remove the top clamp to install them. If you try to open them up they'll snap before you spread them even 1/2". Anything cast aluminum or billet aluminum WILL NOT bend. There are some that are 2-piece around the fork tube or that hinge, but not this one.
 
Thread starter
PowerDubs_imp said:
No, that slides down the fork leg. It is not hinged.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
you dont' say? it looks like there's a clear seam where the bolt clasps it together, meaning it would bend out like a metal ties. you're saying it doesn't bend far enough to get around the fork?

if that's the case, then this whole idea is completely bust. i'm going to have to find some other way to relocate the signals.
 
Thread starter
ah, but quality and look aside those kind of defeat the purpose, because they don't offer me any turn signal relocation. I'm going to keep shopping though, thanks for the suggestions.
 
If you are cutting out the stock part- you can still install the pieces you linked above without removing the tree.

You just need to slide the fork tubes down a few inches, slide on the mounts, slide the forks back up.
 
Thread starter
well, if i'm honest, i'm starting to re-evaluate the whole thing. it's getting circular.

i started wanting to change my signals, only to find that the signal stays attached to the headlight bracket are really uncooperative for that purpose. they seem to be purpose built to *only* fit the OEM signals and that's it. i didn't want to make any permanent alterations to the bike (like drilling or cutting anything) so i thought, "i'll just remove the headlight bracket and relocate the signals!"

Now here I am considering cutting/ripping out the headlight bracket so that I can replace it, which is exactly the thing that I didn't want to do. So, near as I can tell, I've got three options here:

1) somehow permanently damage the turn signal stays/headlight bracket to get what I want out of them

2) spend 10x the money on a mechanic and new parts to get it all done without any permanent damage.

3) give up and never change my signals.

#2 is impossible. i simply won't slow down progress on paying off my house for any bike. #3 just bothers me. #1 is going to require some extremely careful planning, or else it will just loop back onto #2, because i'll need a mechanic and new parts to fix the damage i caused.

either way, I think we're done with the headlight bracket thread. i'm seeing now that changing it out is going to be counterproductive. If I come up with a new plan to relocate the front signals i'll run it down on the other thread.
 
Glad to hear: i'm seeing now that changing it out is going to be counterproductive
AMEN
 
Since we are looping all your thoughts, I read this- " i simply won't slow down progress on paying off my house for any bike." and almost want to morph into an investing thread.

Ex- what is your mortgage interest rate? 4? 5?

Paying down that loan early VS the return from say a Vanguard S&P 500 fund, well the math is clear.

Especially given taxes on your mortgage interest...
 
Thread starter
lol, let's not morph into an investment fund, but i'll just say this:

Paying off your house early is the way to go when you don't get a significant tax break, and the house is sufficiently cheap. for example, we purchased way below our means ( or at least what others would consider to be below our means), and so we can feasibly blow the mortgage down in less than 5 years. this results in paying almost no interest (compared to the hundreds of thousands that some people pay). We can then carry on investing in our retirement -- and this is very important -- without risking the roof over our head.

basically, we made a decision to absolutely secure the roof over our heads while we'll young, so that we can look forward to our future and plans without ever having our shelter at risk, unlike most others who go their whole lives with their domicile at risk. i'm not going to live that way, and i've just drawn a hard line that says i'm not going to go into debt in order to invest and build a future.
 
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