Indestructibleman installs R1 taillight on gs500-looks great

[pantablo]

http://build.tripod.lycos.com/trellix/sitebuilder/f_edit_page.html


how did you do it Will? Give us a blow by blow.

[john]

Almost looks like a ZX6R tail light assy.  Loks great.

[The Buddha]

Hey Indestructible man...
The foam cushion on the top... you could cut that in 1/2 with a bread knife and have the tail light go closer into the tail and also see if you can make it sit in deeper... like push it in toward the front... I thought you might be able to bend the brackets and fabricate little L brackets that let it sink in more. They used to sell a kit for the R1 that did that...
Cool.
Srinath.

[indestructibleman]

well, if you recall, when i got the bike, the rear was like this:

except the turn signals were up under the tail section.

the R1 taillight bolts right in to A below.  I'd consider moving the bracket to make it sit deeper in, but i think it looks good where it is, and i don't want to impinge on under seat space.

this is how it fits with practically no modification.

i don't know what the stock taillight is like, but to get at the bulbs on the R1 taillight you go under the seat and pull them out from the front.

the sockets that the bulbs sit in plug into the taillight housing.

these sockets have two ears to let you twist them into place.  in order to make them clear B, i had to cut one ear off each.
for whatever reason, when i first installed the new taillight, it was tilted down slightly.  i folded up some thin cardboard to shim up the bottom.
the turn signals and license plate are hanging off of plastic pieces i cut out of an old kitty litter bucket.

cheers,
will

[jake42]

is your bike post 2001 or pre.

mine's a 96 and I'd like to do that.

Jake

[indestructibleman]

it's a '94

[kyzee]

Cool mod.    Did you get the taillight on ebay?

[jake42]

two things.

first.. duh, i just realized your profile says 94 gs after I asked you the year.

second.  what year R1 light did you buy. I located a couple 98-99's on ebay that look just like it.

Jake

[indestructibleman]

i got the taillight off ebay for $17.50 including shipping.
the seller said it was a 98-00 taillight.  i'm pretty sure any R1 taillight that looks the same will fit.
i'm very happy with it.

cheers,
will

[jake42]

good find,

i cna't find one for less than 25 bucks on there now.

Jake

[pantablo]

$25 isnt bad.

Keep in mind that for $65 you can get a new clear lens like this one:
98-99 R1



at -->clearalternatives.com<--

[jake42]

there's a clear one on eaby right now for about 35 i think.

Jake

[pantablo]

just so you guys know, the FZ1 taillight is the same unit.  I rode one today and noticed the taillight was the same.

[dyran]

I just got miine for $5 buck on ebay, hurray!