seamus

We installed the OEM lower fairings on my wife's 03 SV this morning. Actually, I made her do it and I assisted. How's the old saying go? "Nothing that is supposed to just bolt on ever does." Or something like that. No different here.

First off, the instructions suck a$$. For example, a bolt labelled 110.708.015-1 on the parts sheet is called (A) in the instructions. The picture of (A) is a fax of a copy of a picture in the instructions and isn't to scale. In fact, even the pics of the actual parts on the bike are tiny, fuzzy pics that are hard to make out.

But that's ok. I'm a man and men don't need instructions. The only reason I even looked at these is because I had to go to the bathroom right before we started the installation and I've read all the magazines in there.

Small issue with frame sliders. If you have a set, you'll have to replace them with a specific model number specified in the instructions. There is some mounting hardware that mounts in the spot where all normal frame sliders mount. I'm not a fan of bracket mounted frame sliders, but that's all that will fit and there's no option to change it since the holes are already formed in the plastic in a different spot.

All in all, it was fairly straightforward. The only big issue we ran into was the plastic "rivets" that hold the bottom of the L and R fairings together didn't fit. Fortunately, I had some spare Honda plastic rivets that worked and it's up, together and the wife is out in 45 degree weather for a "test ride".

Only took about an hour to mount and most of that was trying to decipher what bolt or nut was really needed due to the poor instructions.

Pros:
-Can still access everything to change the oil without removing the plastic.
-Look decent on the street. Perfect color matching.
-Fit it nice, even on both sides. Looks like it came from the factory.

Cons:
-Lots of extra bolts to undo if you're going to the track and need to access something in the engine area.
-Stuck with bracket mounted frame sliders due to mounting design. Bolts that mount frame sliders don't look very strong.
-Plastic looks good and that's it, not very thick. Won't take much of a slide to burn right through. Not a good thing to take to the track, stick to real race plastic like Sharkskinz or something.

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Richard Herald, The Gentle Giant

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SomeStrangeGuy

That's a handsome steed you have there Seamus, the lower panels look decent as well - are the silver buttons the sliders or mounts for sliders?

That is a major con that they make you use their holes, I mean it's cool they made a provision for that and stuff, and that you don't have to make your own holes and use them, but sometimes using your own holes is better - on a bike for a girl I mean, to allow for more adjustability.

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seamus

The buttons are covers used in place of the frame sliders. We have to order the sliders.

__________________
Ducit Amor Patriae

Richard Herald, The Gentle Giant

The nation that makes a great distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools.
--- Thucydides