recessed tail light

[G Beale]

Note the word "recessed" not "flush" ? Been done before I know I just wanted to show you folks how I did mine as it's a little bit different to the others I've seen so far.
I actually like the standard seat unit fitted to the TRX, it's neat, as minimal as it can be yet will still accommodate a pillion if required & has decent storage space too. That said, the rear light looks like an after thought robbed from another model to me !
I wanted mine to look more at home without looking like I'd messed with it so here's what I did.
Bodywork off, light off, I cut out the piece of plastic that the light unit mounts to trying to follow the lines of the rear lense as much as possible to leave this shaped hole. I used a combination of stanley knife & hacksaw blade to do this bit.



Still not enough room for the light to go back enough & sit comfortably (look right) so I errrrmm... . modified my rear subframe tubes slightly using my favourite bashing stick. This is the bit some might not like but it's not seen after and without doing it those tubes push the light unit too far down as it goes in which makes it look a bit out of line.



I also used an angle grinder to shave a few mm from the light unit itself where it touched the tubes as there is only so much room you can gain from bashing them.



Once happy there was enough room for the light to sit where I wanted it I re-positioned the modified piece of plastic that was cut off then drilled & riveted it on using washers behind the rivets so they don't pull through the plastic.



All that was left then was to prime & paint my frame & bolt everything back on.







The end result still looks like a TRX light unit, just not so "in yer face" so to speak.



Could have got it to go in further by riveting the plastic mounting piece on the other side but I didn't want it to look like I had messed with it.



Some might think it's not worth the effort but I'm well happy with the result and I don't cringe every time I look at my rear end now.
Sorry some of my pictures are a bit fuzzy, I'm not allowed to use the GOOD camera for messing.

[idl1975]

You're not to know, but pictures of your little rear end and favourite bashing stick are supposed to go in the well dodgy "Fantasy Shag" thread, where they can be pored over by female members (no pun intended).

[G Beale]

Now that you do NOT want to see !

[slow codger]

Still a lot of unwanted plastic on there !! recessed mine without resorting to beating the crap out of the frame, so not as far back as yours.

Dave E

[brockzila]

mine is flush. i did not have to do any thing to my frame to get it back. i had to cut a whole lot out and make up a plate to hold the light in its new home.
i think not putting it back all the way is a good move. the taper on the light means you get a 1cm gap all the way around the light.

[G Beale]

I was trying to avoid having gaps around it which is what I got before I put the flats in the frame tubes & as you say brockzila, the further back it goes the bigger the gaps get.
Not sure about the unwanted plastic yet. I've trimmed it a bit & will probably trim it some more, just a bit worried about taking too much off making it look hacked.

[Kevtrx849]

That said, the rear light looks like an after thought robbed from another model to me !

You got that right. It's identical to the tail light from an RZ500 (RD500LC) circa 1984. Undoubtedly other models as well.
Nice work btw

[Wombat]

I think a few early FZRs had the same light as well.

I'm thinking of doing the same thing with an early model R1 tail light.
My method though would be this way:

Buy a pair of Sharknose LED tailights (available from AuSFR site). These come with 20 red hi density LEDs plus 3 white LEDs for the number plate illumination.
Pull them apart and insert into the R1 lens with a silver or chrome painted perspex backing plate for reflection. Been meaning to do this for quite a while

[G Beale]

Seen some R1 tail lights fitted badly. I like that. /\ Still looks factory and is more subtle than the house brick TRX unit.

[trixynut]

Nice work: we like a good "how-to..."