Side Covers

[COOL TOM]

With all the talk about people having a side cover blow off, why can't you run a cable like they use on hood pins on race cars from one side cover to the other under the seat? You could make it permanent from one to the other and lay one on the frame if you need to take off only one, or take them both off at the same time.
You can get stainless cable with plastic coating. Or get hood pins and cable at auto parts stores.
This way you won't loose one of these hard to find valuable parts.
This is why us XJ riders like our bikes, the side covers are bolted on. I am going to use this cable hookup on my 80SG so that I don't loose my covers. Or I might figure out a way to bolt on the side covers.

[mro]

If the top side cover brackets are not bent outa shape and rubbers are good, the covers stay on good unless tap gets broken.


mro

[TADracer]

I have never had a cover come off or even get loose.

On a special (and maybe a standard too) with the seat on it is easy to just hang the cover on the hooks and snap it on BUT, it is hard to see if the cover is fully seated on the hooks. If not seated on the hooks the top of the cover can come off and then bye bye. Left side cover is key locked and that is OK. Right side cover pushes into a rubber gromet in the frame. Check your grommet to make sure it is viable. If the grommet is dry rotted then you are a prime candidate for a lost cover.

[cdpruden]

I just destroyed my right-hand one -- it had a crack at the bottom pin, for as long as I've had the bike, but it had been drilled and hadn't gotten any worse.

I wound up cramming a few more things under there (air shock filler valve and connector for electric vest), and it must have been enough to push the top catches off. Took it out for a spin, wind caught it, and ripped it right off, leaving the pin still in the hole.

[Hammerhead1st]

I'm going to pick up some diamond plate aluminum to fill the space on both sides of my standard. Some minor bending and cutting, and it should fit and look pretty nice.