WGREGT

We are making samples this Tuesday, confirmed. He is handling everything: the AL blocks, the anodizing, and the cutting. It's a lot simpler this way. He's a solid 45-50 miles from me, one way, in LA traffic, so me buying AL stock, cutting it, and driving 90-100 miles total to drop off my own pre-cut and bought AL every week or so (or whatever our schedule turns out to be), was a lot to do on top of everything else in my week. My plans of then taking all of them to anodizing near me afterwards was another potential loss of time, as we'd have to wait another 3-5 days for that, then another trip to get them (though closer.) Now it seems when I pick them up my next stop should be the post office if all works well. I have paid him out of pocket for the early round of samples, so when they are done I'll post photos and we'll collectively take a look. PS I have spoken to him about the 5th gen mounts, and the changes for them. As I see it, they are: -the 5th gen mounting holes are 50mm apart. The 6th gen ones are 40 mm apart. -the 5th gen base is not flat. It has a small raised "ring" around each mount hole. I *think* this is because of the phillips head screw you 5th gen owners have that sits right in the center of the mounting bolts. I *think* these rings are equal in height to that phillips screw head, thus the rings allow the base to sit flat. THIS SOUND RIGHT TO YOU 5TH GEN OWNERS? I HAVE NOT SEEN ONE IN PERSON, SO PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I HAVE ANY OF THAT WRONG. -we are not opposed to a 5th gen version at all, and I'm confident the guy doing all the re-designing and machining can handle the 5th gen changes no sweat. Of course, making a 5th gen version all depends on the demand for them. If demand is low, of course the price will reflect that. More when I know it. PSS I am also sourcing pre-drilled bolts this week as well to avoid me (or you) the trouble of drilling thru hardened bolts.

Just looked back thru this thread to see the date when I got the CAD drawings from Darth: post #230, 28 OCT 2014. Looks like I may come close to a full year on this, assuming I get in-hand finished pieces by the end of this month...ahhhh..it feels like it was only yesterday...

(Images deleted per request. PM me for details if necessary.)

I'll post up some fotos of the drawings in a sec...

Wow. We are moving fast. Since my last posting above, we have: -made 3 rounds of CAD drawings with improvements each time -sourced and bought 4 different kids of bolts/nuts, none of which have the conical shape on the bottom -added the 3 "bumps" on the top of the base in the same size/position as seem on the GSXR OEM base. This will help it lock into the steps. -drilled the mount hole clear thru to allow for the OEM belleville washers to be used, which allow it to hold tension on the mirror -inset the jam nut and washers into the base, thus allowing it to be hidden from view -kept the wire exit hole as before, within the base footprint, to allow the drill hole to be hidden by the base when installed I just spoke to he machinist/designer, and I think his plan is to start cutting samples monday am. More when I know it.

OK. Here's where I am on this project. After MUCH time waiting and discussion, the place that was initially going to cut these for me has dropped out. Why? Too many other projects on their plate. I patiently waited, hoping it would be resolved, but it's not gonna happen. Just today, I handed the project off to ANOTHER person/shop. We met for a good 2 hours on it, and it comes at a good time: due to concerns from those who have these already, I'm doing a slight/better redesign. Here's the changes: -Taking cues for the OEM Suzuki GSXR mirrors, we both thought machining the 3 small "bumps" on the new base where it contacts the mirror would be a good thing. These detents help to keep the mirror tight to the base and in one position, yet still allow it to be folded in by harder pressure if needed. -But, since the other half of that idea that Suzuki used in their mirrors involves the belleville washers (qty. 4) as well as a flat washer, we thought we'd incorporate those as well. But....where to do that? Where would you put the washers in the current design? The only way is to change the capured threaded hole (where the bolt goes) to a complete thru hole, and put the washers on the bottom, and use a bolt UPWARDS from the bottom of the base to hold those washers, as well as the mirror arm, and put a small nut (and maybe washer) on the other end, under the removable black plastic cap/cover on the mirror. -This bolt COULD be the threaded rod we talked about ealier with the pre-cut slot running the entire length of the rod. I have to go check @ the hardware store this weekend. The slot still needs to be wide enough to pass the wire out of the side of the rod and to come out of the existing hole in the base as before. -We'd liike for the 5 washers, as well as the bolt head, to be hidden/inset within the base so you could not see any of it from the outside, of course. So, since we have to take material away in order to inset these washers and bolt head, that weakens the base. So the plan is to add some back by building up the base a bit more, yet still keeping the same footprint. I'd especially like to know those of you who had the original base and had it split on you (N8sVFR?)...where did it split? Do you have fotos of the pieces? So, that's where I am now. I know that some of you will be a bit dejected to hear that these are not ready to go, and all I can say is: Sorry about that. I am still actively working on it. I hope to have new drawings within the week, and I'll post some screen grabs here when I get them. If you guys have thoughts/suggestion/issues/problems that popped up as you were reading this, let me know. You may think of something we have not (though my new machinist's resume does boast of making designing small rotational multi-directional units that are used on the solar panels on satellites that are right above your head right now.) Love to hear your thoughts. Lastly, I'll add this for those of you who don't know me and that I had not had the pleasure of riding with yet: My personal slogan is “My strength lies solely in my tenacity." I will get this done, rest assured. The timetable has been out of my hands for a bit, but I don't quit on stuff. Thanks for listening and understanding. I'll post more when I know it.

You Euros almost got it made with your long vacations. Then I remember the taxes, and I feel better.

A whole week? That's a hell of a holiday!

You doing the clear clutch window thing too?

You find out where these washers were placed originally in the GSXR mirrors?

How about window tinting, like limo-dark? Does that stuff stick to windscreens?

Don't get me wrong: I'm impressed with everything about it. Don't mistake that I'm not a fan of what they have seemed to do at an attractive price point. I am. I remain not a fan of the way they handle email correspondance for a company that purports otherwise. Like you said: 9 out of 10. Is the screen they sent you differently shaped from the one you had on it? You had...the OEM one? Is their's a direct copy of the OEM? If so, wonder why there is such a difference in how the wind hits you now with the new one. Or maybe your original one had the same issue?

Retard park? So... how well do you speak Chinese? I don't. Here's the difference: I don't claim to either.

I took two laps around Retard Park with them thru clearly written emails. They failed both times. The fault is not mine. Remember, I didn't assume they could understand English: they made that fact known on their website.

I wrote and asked them prices on left and right fairing side panels for my RWB 07. They wrote back and asked me "What parts do you need? Please send a photo." I wrote back and repeated "The left and right side panels/fairings, like I said before." They wrote back and said "How about a whole kit? They are only $399." UGH. Forget it. THIS is precisely why I hate doing business with Chinese companies: LOST IN TRANSLATION. I would much rather you just say on your site "We do not understand English." It would save everyone the trouble of assuming you do, esp. when you say you do, and I could just find another company to send my money to instead. AUCTMARTS: if you are indeed reading this, HIRE SOMEONE TO ANSWER YOUR EMAIL WHO HAS A COMMAND OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND CAN SPEAK/READ/WRITE IT FLUENTLY. It is now costing you money!

Bodie is well-worth the stop, but getting there is surely not bike-friendly. The last 13 miles is all rutted dirt road. I have a side hobby of ghost towns and abandoned places, and it's one of the best on the West coast. I stayed in Bridgeport overnight at the Bodie Hotel (it was moved to Bridgeport when Bodie thinned out). It was.....not good.

That's why I was wondering if they would talk to you about tips for installing it.

OK, now I have to ask since I've seen it a few times. Injection vs. compression? Talk amongst yourselves (and let me listen in over your shoulder.)

THAT is why you have 2748 posts. Nicely done!

I just went and looked at my 07 RWB. Don't all 6th gens come with clear lenses and taillights? Maybe that's an 07 thing? Not sure...bought mine used. The PO may have swapped them out? Most of what I read on other forums about the tank cover says the same thing: Junk. Not designed well. I have yet to see fotos of one installed on ANY bike. That's why I was curious to hear what they said about installing it. In my mind, even if it had not cracked/split, I cannot figure out how in the world that thing would have successfully gone on the tank.

I go to Yosemite every year, but I go to ski. Never been there yet on a bike, or during the tourist season. I always go with little/no notice and there's never a crowd anytime past mid-October. Not sure I'd have the patience for tourist season there. PS How in the world did that lock snap like that? Did you pry up on it or something? They replace the case for you?

Did you ask them for install tips for the tank cover? Sounds like you changed your mind on it. They do refunds for stuff like that?

I've used wd-40 on grommets like those before. Helps with sliding them in. I know you asked them to paint the insides of the fairing, but now that I see it I can't remember why you asked for that. You gonna complete the job yourself before you put them on?

So far, even with my cynicism, it appears that the Chinese have beaten us yet again. It looks great. And for you to be able to customize the paint? How hard was that? Did you tell them "I want a 6 inch wide stripe of black paint at the rear, with a centered red stripe of 2 inches wide in Honda Red on top of that"? Somehow it seems in my mind to be more difficult than that though, with many emails back and forth for clarity? I good bit of your potential problem (or maybe I'm imagining this in my head how it would go) seems to be the translation back & forth. I always wonder why Chinese companies like this wouldn't just hire someone who speaks perfect normal English to make this part a lot quicker and handle the orders for them. I'd go with an American who speaks Mandarin, rather than a Chinese person who learned Eng-rish over there, in my mind.

How was it shipped? You got a lot of schtuff for $400. That tank cover is just a plastic cover that bolts over your existing tank, huh? Never heard of/seen those before. Interesting. If you ONLY wanted a few pieces (say side panels) and only OEM colors (no "special paint" like you got), do they sell them separately like that? You went thru Ebay...right? Or was it a website with options?