DIY Fender Eliminator - cheap

I'm too cheap to buy a fender eliminator, plus in Ontario I don't think a light for the license plate is necessary, so I decided to hack one today using some slotted angle steel that I had lying around.

This is what I used:
Crown Bolt 1-1/2 in. x 72 in. Plain Steel Slotted Angle-18250 at The Home Depot

BTW this metal is relatively thick, so there's no chance of it bending. I had to use some effort to cut it, even with the hacksaw.

After removing the monster stock fender and all it's plastic molded glory, I measured the distances and hacksawed the slotted angle so that the holes lined up approximately with the existing holes (the two holes closest to the front of the bike).

Attaching the angle to the bike, I had to drill one hole because the angle steel holes didn't line up exactly, but that was no problem. I didn't have thicker bolts handy and all the stores are closed today, so I had to use some lighter bolts with the intention of replacing them next week.

The license plate bolts lined up perfectly, but with very little room to spare on the sides.

BTW I noticed while reading here that some have had trouble with pulling the two rear bolts out when loosening the stock fender. After loosening them I used a needlenose pliers to pull them out, though I did try and fit a couple of fingers in to see if I could fish them out.

Here are some pics...

 

Nicely done.

 

I think that you do need to have a plate light here in Ontario. Looks good though.
Where are you located?

 

wish my license plate would fit between my mufflers like that. looks good

 

Zombie, I looked it up and you're right, it needs to be lit. I'm going to have to rig something up for that, maybe an led or I'll mess around with the stock light and try and get it to work.

Hoping the coppers won't see the pipes as "obstructions" to seeing the plate clearly...since it sits pretty far back.

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90h08_e.htm#BK116

 

i use a small led strip for mine. super easy fix and dirt cheap on ebay. if you go led, get the 3528 style they're smaller and closer together. that way it's more of an ambient light rather that a series of little spot lights.

 

Ok thanks darth, that should take care of it, nice how they can be trimmed down to size as well.

I had found a big led bar, but it was for car/truck plates and the thing was too bright - lol. I also saw some license plate bolts that had built-in lights which seemed pretty cool too, but don't seem to pump out a lot of light. A good idea though.

Without any lighting I notice that there is a bit of red glow from the taillights, but not really enough to consider the plate well lit. I've seen on other bikes how the taillight often has a clear area on the bottom of the light cover, specifically to light the plate, which is a good idea as well. Not sure what this all involves of course, and definitely is the last option to consider. It is super nice to have the plate where it is now though and I'll do anything to keep it there, it just looks 1000x better than with the massive beaver tail of the fender sitting on there.

 

here's what i did on my 5th gen.

i cut the og plate holder crap off, mounted the plate directly to the tail, and placed the led light up almost behind the tail light. that way you don't see the leds directly, but it still lights up the plate.



here's how it looks lit up

 

That looks great, not too bright, but bright enough to be considered "lit". Thanks!!

 

Looks great cmyk, it's positioned like the Competition Werkes kit. I doubt anyone really knows if a light is supposed to be there.