Driving Lights on an F650GS, Page 3

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Now it was time to mock up some parts from cardboard. This is pretty easy, really. You just imagine the shape and cut and bend cardboard. Before long I had some brackets worked out...

That fit in the real world, not just in the land of theory.

And I got the screw holes located, too. It was time to mount this thing and get some on-bike measurements.

You'll notice that I had left a lot of material at the front of the bracket at this point. This was so that I could work out the ideal position for the rod, checking for interference with steering and suspension.

I had given myself plenty of space, but didn't need that much. It turns out that I only needed to carry the mounting point forward a little way to get clearance.

And before too long, I had a nifty template for this portion of the mounting bracket. You'll note that I set it up so that the bar would kind of stay in place even if not attached, just because it would have to lift up to pull out of the slots it will sit in. That helps in several ways, beginning with early assembly, and finishing with giving me confidence that my lights aren't held on only by my welding skills.

The second one was even easier than the first, since all I had to do was copy the first one in mirror image. And here they are, all ready to take down to the metal shop. OK, it's really just a few tools scattered in the unfinished area of my basement, but it's a shop to me.

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