After installing my detachable backrest on my RKC, I couldn't open my bags all the way and have them stay open because of this decorative V piece that mounts to the clamp on the side.
It sticks out 1/2 inch and that was all it took to keep my bags from staying open without holding them. So after looking at my passenger boards and how plain the backplate was I thought of this idea. The V plates are screwed on to the backrest clamps.
Remove rubber nubs with small screwdriver and remove entire footboard with bracket attached(makes it easy to hold onto)



With some careful measruring and using painters tape(easy removal) find the center up and down and side to side. <---- marks center. Using V plate with screws removed trace an outline of the V and then measure to get hole offsets and using a punch mark where you'll drill your holes. Using a 7/64 drill holes. I used a smaller bit for a pilot.




Holes drilled, and screws installed(inside view)




V plate installed.....




Finished product!



Hope someone can use this. I like the look and it cost me $0.

 

I like it, now if I only had some medallions like that......

 

I like it too. That "V" looks darngood on the floorboard and I haven't gotten that rack because the "V" just doesn't look so good there (to me anyway).

Any ideas yet on covering the little holes in the rack? Maybe just move some other stuff around and end up making it all look better. Perhaps one of those medallions like bigheadted says would work there.

 

The holes are so small, I will just wait and see what I can come up with. Maybe a sticker trimmed to fit the area. Not too worried yet. Something will come along..... Wife loves the backrest though, the pad is 3-4 times bigger than the one I had on my Deluxe.

 

Check to see if you can just buy them seperately since they are not permanently attached. They can't cost that much, but it is a H-D part so who knows............. I kinda like them and may put them a few other places.

 

You can not just buy the "V", but you can just buy the brackets. They are $46 each. The part number is 53046-00. Thanx for posting this thread. They look really good, infact I like them better than the covers! I ordered a set, and I will just keep the brackets as spares incase I ever need a replacement.

Nice Job and thanx for the link!

 

They look GREAT!

 

Looks good JohnnyD, nice job!!!

 

Very nice mod!

I used to have the same backrest. Ended up with dents on the top of my bags from those little buggers.

 

That's exactly what happened the first time I opened them, a small dimple that I'm sure will be a dent followed by a hole eventually. Thanks for all the encouragement and I hope someone can use it.