01. Here is where we left off with the rear of the bike setup: a rear fender extension, a set of Sinister stretched bags with lights, and license plate cover. At this point we needed to work on the tank and filler panels.01. Here is where we left off with the rear of the bike setup: a rear fender extension, a A few issues back we headed out to Phoenix to hang out with John Shope, owner of Sinister Industries, as he showed us just how easy it was to install a set of his new ABS bags and rear fender on a Road King. Once we were done with the backend of the bike, we knew we needed to work on stretching the tank and the side covers for a more custom look. Both of these parts are offered by Sinister and are made of heavy vacuum laid fiberglass that get epoxied to the stock bike parts and do not require any welding. The cool thing about these parts is that you don't need to be a welder to do this custom work. You will need to know a thing or two about epoxy and filler bondo and how it sets up but this could be done at home if you are a brave do-it-yourself kind of guy. If not, let your bodyshop/painter make the mess in his shop. For this part of the install, we needed to strip the bike down of a few parts and head over to Steel Vision Design (Shope's painter, also in Phoenix) to help with the bodywork and paint preparation. 02. Here are the two side covers and the gas tank extension. These pieces are made by a process called heavy vacuum laid fiberglass. This way every piece is the same size and fits perfect every time. The side covers are strong and rigid and once epoxied to the stock covers, they mount to the bike using the stock frame's rubber-plug-to-pin mounts. The gas tank extension is super-strong and thick at all points, and can be sanded and shaped to fit different bikes.02. Here are the two side covers and the gas tank extension. These pieces are made by a p 03. To get started, we removed the seat, saddlebags, and the stock side covers to get to the rear engine guards.03. To get started, we removed the seat, saddlebags, and the stock side covers to get to 04. John pulled out the Sawzall and cut the outer loop off of the rear engine guard. The lower bag support bar will stay connected to the frame but the loop will need to be removed so that the new filler panel has room.04. John pulled out the Sawzall and cut the outer loop off of the rear engine guard. The 05. Next, John worked on getting the gas tank ready by removing the dash and all the electrical plugs and gauges.05. Next, John worked on getting the gas tank ready by removing the dash and all the elec 06. We headed over to Steel Vision Design where they got started on lining up and fitting the Sinister side covers to the stock cover. The bags were placed back on the bike to ensure proper fitment and to check and see that all the parts line up.06. We headed over to Steel Vision Design where they got started on lining up and fitting 07. Here, the Sinister piece was marked where it would be trimmed a little from the front to clear the exhaust pipe. Once the two-pieces were epoxied together, all the edges were to be sanded and filled to look as one.07. Here, the Sinister piece was marked where it would be trimmed a little from the front 08. To ensure that the epoxy adheres to the Sinister piece, all the paint was removed from the covers and the gas tank.08. To ensure that the epoxy adheres to the Sinister piece, all the paint was removed fro 09. The underside of the gas tank was sandblasted to remove all the hard-to-get paint as the top and side was sanded with an orbital hand sander.09. The underside of the gas tank was sandblasted to remove all the hard-to-get paint as 10. The epoxy is quick-dry and sets up in about 10 minutes so the guys work fast to get the two pieces together.10. The epoxy is quick-dry and sets up in about 10 minutes so the guys work fast to get t 11. Once the Sinister panel was shaped and fitted to the stock cover, a few small setscrews were inserted to hold the two in place as the epoxy set up and dried.11. Once the Sinister panel was shaped and fitted to the stock cover, a few small setscre 12. As the epoxy was drying, the frame was covered in masking paper to ensure that none of the epoxy got on the bike as the fitment of the gas tank proceeded.12. As the epoxy was drying, the frame was covered in masking paper to ensure that none o 13. The gas tank was placed on the bike but not bolted down; this allowed the guys to move the tank and extension around to find just where to mark and fit the tank to the frame.13. The gas tank was placed on the bike but not bolted down; this allowed the guys to mov 1 | 2 | » | View Full Article By Ernie Lopez Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
