TOPIC:

Sometimes a small detail can ruin our lives.Due to some old and worn rubber grommets I lost a side panel of my Z650 running.Kawasaki grommets, even new, are soft and offer very little resistance as a side panel attachment.I have another BMW brand motorcycle that also has side panels and I decided to use those German grommets to replace the ones on my Kawasaki, the result is much better, the BMW grommets are stronger and more resistant with a thicker profile providing more strength and rigidity to the anchorage of the side covers.Also its price is somewhat lower.I attach photos of the old Kawasaki grommets and the new BMW grommets and their reference in BMW spare parts. 

Are you running with an airbox or pods/stacks. Without an air box there is a big void that will fill with wind pressure and can make side panels pop off.
The solution is to drill the panel prong and put an 'R' clip through which is bigger than the frame hole. 

My problem was some old and worn grommets, when I ride firts time my bike i get about 112MPH and the side panel decided to fly alone.

1/16" diameter jewel clip, top rear post on both sides clears the 650 tool tray.



Prevents "blow off" and is anti-theft device

 

kawaBCN wrote:

My problem was some old and worn grommets, when I ride firts time my bike i get about 112MPH and the side panel decided to fly alone.



 

Sorry you lost your side panel. There are plenty on ebay. Grommets too:



I WOULD NOT  drill a hole anywhere on the panel like this: 



I simply tied thin electrical wire on the pointy stub in such a way that it will never fly off. When I lost a side panel on my 1982 CB900F I did that to all my vintage bikes thereafter. (I have a lot of bikes).

DanMadBoy wrote:

I WOULD NOT  drill a hole anywhere on the panel like this: 


 

Enlighten us with why you think this is not an acceptable solution. 
Tried and tested method used by thousands of riders without issue. 

I've lost a few side covers, back in the old days you could just go to any Kawasaki dealer and buy a new one with factory paint for not much money not so easy now. I did this to my 76 LTD, try to match the paint/stripes on a one year only bike that's almost 50 years old.

For someone that owns a lot of bikes MadBoy doesn't seem to know much about all these bikes he (supposedly) owns.

When I first purchased my KZ back in 86 I was told that if I were ever to drag race it that I should definitely pin the side covers. As I recall I 'hot-pinned', (melted) the holes through instead of drilling them. I never lost one on the track or street. They're still pinned on today.(although I haven't made a pass in about 25 yrs). Anyway good luck.....

As my panels are "one offs" and the average thief is too stupid to know they won't fit anything else I have used the poppers at the bottom and they are bolted at the top (hopefully if someone is stupid enough to try and rip them off he will be laying underneath it when I come back)

 

The best method I have found to keep my side covers from becoming a pile of smashed plastic in the middle of the road is to drill a small hole in the front edge of side cover. Then insert a wire tie through the hole and wrap it around the frame tube. Have not lost a side cover since back in the '80's using this method.

 

DanMadBoy wrote:

kawaBCN wrote:

My problem was some old and worn grommets, when I ride firts time my bike i get about 112MPH and the side panel decided to fly alone.






 

Sorry you lost your side panel. There are plenty on ebay. Grommets too:

I WOULD NOT  drill a hole anywhere on the panel like this: 

I simply tied thin electrical wire on the pointy stub in such a way that it will never fly off. When I lost a side panel on my 1982 CB900F I did that to all my vintage bikes thereafter. (I have a lot of bikes).


 

Why not? Its on every bike I own and I have a lot of bikes.

 

Dan I have deleted your last post, there is no place for posts of this nature on KZR. Please obstain from future posts of this nature.