A funny thing happened on the way to Albuquerque

So I'm riding to Albuquerque from up north to visit an old friend. As soon as I get on the freeway I notice that it is windy. Really. Really. Really windy. Like windier than it should be. But I have to get there so I keep on trucking, being tossed around on the road and generally having a hard time of not being lifted bodily off the saddle. All of the sudden I feel something on my leg and have just enough time to look down and see my right side cover fly off. Not like fall off, but, like a kite, FLY off.
So I'm thinking oh great, now I have to go look for my side cover.
Never found the side cover but kept on trucking. Then I reach up, for some unknown reason, and touch the little plastic nut around the ignition. I must have touched it because it looked cracked because when I touched it it fell apart and into pieces. Awesome.
So I keep on trucking only to have it suddenly sputter and run out of gas. I get it to reserve and restart the engine and continue on my way. (I made it to a gas station)
An hour and a half later (it's only 40 miles) I made it to Albuquerque. I was not in a good mood to meet my friend.
So... now I get to buy more things!
Just thought I would share

Oh And sidecovers are like 30 bucks minimum. I don't want to spend money on something I already had.

Sorry for the lack of info, and for responding twice to my own post, but the bike is a '78 kz650d sr. Just incase anyone has a line on a good sidecover

Sorry to hear about the blow-off. That must have been some wind. Bummer.

No-can-help with a replacement but you may want to consider getting a set of new grommets to hold down new cover... about $1.92 each. :whistle: Try here:

Link: Z1

Best of success!

New grommets and I drill a small hole in the sidecover nub and insert a small cotter pin. Then I wire the side covers to each other with the wire going through the bike. I leave enough so I can get the side covers out of the way if needed. Has saved me a couple sidecovers after losing 2 and destroying one that blew off. New grommets make a big difference too!

Those of you that have lost sidecovers, do you still have the stock airbox or pods?

Pods, why would that matter though? more room for air to get behind the cover?

Locozuna, cool idea.

Do you have any pictures of the how you wired your covers. Sounds like a good winter upgrade. Thanks.

N0NB wrote:

Those of you that have lost sidecovers, do you still have the stock airbox or pods?

I've lost them with the airbox in place and with pods.

...and with new grommets installed.

Ask and ye shall receive....


I use insulated solid core wire just incase it should touch something it shouldn't but I know people that use picture hanging wire too.

Hope it saves you some $$ like it has me!

Oh yeah get the real long THIN dia. cotter pin. And drill hole JUST large enough to insert it.

I have lost sidecovers both with pods and with airbox but none after wiring them. And never broke a tab either. I do think I had them fly off more with pods than with box.