78E Tail Light Question

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  • jfmerk
    Truly XSive
    • Jul 2004
    • 120
    • Woodbury, MN

    #1

    78E Tail Light Question

    The 78 Standard I'm restoring was originally set up with the Yamaha fairing and hard side bags. Therefore the tail lights are mounted on the bar.
    I am restoring this as the plain standard, no fairing or side bags. So apparently the bar is removed, the tail lights are mounted into the sockets under the seat and the license is mounted on the bracket and thats it.
    It just seems to be kind of a big void with alot of wires showing.

    I assume thats just the way it is ???

    [IMG][/IMG]

    '78 XS1100E
    '83 XVZ12
  • bikerphil
    Master of XSology
    • Jan 2008
    • 8635
    • South Flori-DUH

    #2
    My 79 Standard looked just like that, with that void. I cut a piece out of a plastic mud flap to proper size and shoved it in there, looks fine.
    2H7 (79) owned since '89
    3H3 owned since '06

    "If it ain't broke, modify it"

    Comment

    • mstic2000
      XSive Maximus
      • Aug 2008
      • 574
      • Saginaw, Mi

      #3
      After reading your post I just had to go out and look at mine. Shonuff same thing. I never noticed that before. LOL So, I just couldn't let this one slip by. I fashioned a couple 1" brackets and moved the plate up right to the bottom of the tail light and vola! No more ugly wires. Good lookin out.
      Last edited by mstic2000; 06-22-2009, 08:32 AM.
      My 1978 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/mstic2000/xs.jpg

      Comment

      • mstic2000
        XSive Maximus
        • Aug 2008
        • 574
        • Saginaw, Mi

        #4
        I wonder if this design flaw would be considered a wardrobe malfunction?
        My 1978 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/mstic2000/xs.jpg

        Comment

        • DiverRay
          Moderator
          • Nov 2004
          • 7605
          • Star, IDAHO

          #5
          I wonder if this design flaw would be considered a wardrobe malfunction?
          Probably not, as it's on the wrong part of the anatomy!
          Ray Matteis
          KE6NHG
          XS1100 E '78 (winter project)
          XS1100 SF Bob Jones worked on it!

          Comment

          • ppv
            XSive
            • Dec 2006
            • 87
            • lompoc ca

            #6
            plate

            I drilled the plate and moved it up closer to tail light
            Pete J

            Comment

            • mstic2000
              XSive Maximus
              • Aug 2008
              • 574
              • Saginaw, Mi

              #7
              Originally posted by ppv
              I drilled the plate and moved it up closer to tail light
              Great idea! From what I can remember the plate can't be altered in anyway, i.e. drilled holes, here in Michigan. Hence the brackets.
              Last edited by mstic2000; 06-23-2009, 03:33 AM.
              My 1978 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/mstic2000/xs.jpg

              Comment

              • 03mach1
                Truly XSive
                • May 2008
                • 114
                • Cuba, NY

                #8
                Take 2 pieces of flat aluminum, one for each side, drill the mounting holes for the license plate into it and then align it to the bottom of the light, and drill the mounting holes into the 2 pieces of the bracket. Therefore, not modifying the plate and moving it up.



                On mine, the wires were mostly up inside/behind the taillight, so it doesn't show.
                Dave
                1978 XS1100E

                Comment

                • ppv
                  XSive
                  • Dec 2006
                  • 87
                  • lompoc ca

                  #9
                  plate

                  Good thinking 03. Ive never had a problem with the drilled holes. But Ive never been pulled over on my bike yet. nock on wood
                  Pete J

                  Comment

                  • mstic2000
                    XSive Maximus
                    • Aug 2008
                    • 574
                    • Saginaw, Mi

                    #10
                    That's basically what I did and works fine.
                    My 1978 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/mstic2000/xs.jpg

                    Comment

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