Awkward layout of bolts / screws

[zvisus]

Does anyone else find the placement of fastners on the Kat to be awkward? I have a 94 Kat 600, and some things are just impossible to get at easily.

I tried removing the fairing over the front wheel, and didn't manage to do it. I don't think it's possible without taking the whole wheel off because the wheel blocks access to the nuts inside the fairing holding the plastic to the metal plate between the forks.

Some fastners are blocked by the dual exhausts, especially around the rear wheel. I think there's a piece of rear fairing on one side that I can't remove at all, without taking the stock exhaust off.

What gives? How come some pieces are so difficult to remove?

[katanawarrior]

You are correct on the front fender.

The rest, it all comes loose easily. Once you pull it once, you'll know from then on how to do it. Over the course of two paintjobs my kat endured and 1 wreck, I could pull the plastics off and put them back on in less then 20 mins.

[steves]

It's easiest for me to just take the wheel off when I need to remove the fender.

[NicCOConnor]

I had to remove my front wheel when I wanted to get the front fender off as well...took me a while to figure that out

Nic

[Kfreak]

Well, me being a dumass, I just replaced my fork seals and went to put the fender on and guess what. I had to pull the wheel off. Once you do something stupid, you will not do it again. Wheel off, fender off. Fender on, wheel on.

[CuttinCorners]

On my 06 Kat 600 I can remove my front fender w/o removing the wheel...????

[steves]

The pre98, with the stock tires I have removed the fender without taking the wheel off. This does not work with a 120 tire on the front.

I've never tried on a 98+

[Maxxrox]

I have a 94 Kat 600

Pre-Kat.

On my 06 Kat 600

Post-Kat.

There were some pretty substantial changes to the fairings for the '98+ Kats, both in aesthetic design and physical engineering.

Some like the angles of the pre, I'm a fan of the more aerodynamic and organic look *grin*

Back on topic, I've not personally experienced problems reaching fasteners on my bike, but I've seen annoying-to-reach fairing bolts on other motorcycles. Seems to me that'd be an important engineering focus, eh? As often as I strip off my bike's fairings, my my buddies joke about getting a stopwatch and timing me *grin*


--B