VTX Headlight Mod

MagnaMan · February 25, 2006, 05:17:10 PM

I just installed a VTX headlight on my 3rd generation Magna. Cosmetically is looks good but I'm concerned about the cables behind the light. The VTX housing is bigger and pushes deeper into the forks.

The speedometer cable is pushed over a little but since it's on the fork it will never move while turning.

The throttle cables are another issue however. They contact the back of the VTX case and since they connect to the bike, they move when the handle bars turned. So they are going to rub on the back of the light.

Now that the throttle cables rub, either the light or the cables are going to wear. Since I commute on this bike it's going to see alot of turning and consequently rubbing.

Has anyone else experienced this? Did you re-route the throttle cables above or below the housing?

Gloveberg · February 25, 2006, 06:58:12 PM

I know that most people that have done the VTX complained about the same thing but if I recall they just let them rub anyway. You will have to watch how you re-route the throttle cables or they will bind and cause the throttle not to return properly. Now might be the time for new longer stainless steel cables

Greg Cothern · February 25, 2006, 08:27:11 PM

Some folks are making a small offset mount to push it forward a little. On my Super there mod needed it fits like a glove.

chrislarue · February 25, 2006, 11:59:00 PM

Jesse - where did you purchase the headlight?

MagnaMan · February 26, 2006, 04:06:33 AM

Chris, I just joined a VTX forum and submitted a post for wanting to buy a used headlight assembly for a 2002 VTX 1800C. A customizer had one he had taken off a bike. He gave me a much better price than buying it new. Even on-line OEM resellers the light assembly was going to cost around $250 to $280.

If you want one, I'll leave my post on the forum and let you know if anyone else contacts me. However if I can't work out something I like with the cables, I may be selling mine.

Greg and Jim, the more I look at it the more I think a bracket to move the light out is the best solution. That way I don't have to mess with custom cable lengths and re-routing. I'll try it like it is for awhile just to make sure that I like the look before I go through the trouble of making a bracket.

chrislarue · February 26, 2006, 09:29:40 AM

Jesse - That would be great (leaving the post up). Thanks! And, if you choose not to keep the light, you've got a customer - I already have the longer steel braided cables, so hopefully I will like the setup ok. Thanks, again!

Greg Cothern · February 26, 2006, 01:54:45 PM

I have the ONLY parts needed listed on the MOOT main site under the tips and tricks page, when I did it a couple years ago ordering parts from www.partsfish.com it only cost me like $210-225 if memory serves me correctly.

MagnaMan · February 26, 2006, 03:11:59 PM

Quote from: GregCothernI have the ONLY parts needed listed on the MOOT main site under the tips and tricks page, when I did it a couple years ago ordering parts from www.partsfish.com it only cost me like $210-225 if memory serves me correctly.

I used that list and quoted both partsfish (now powersports) and the other site listed in the instructions. That's where my $250 to $280 number came from. I got my used light for half that though, and since my bike isn't new I didn't have a problem with putting a used light on it. Plus I'd be a little frustrated if I had paid that much for a new assembly only find out that I still had to get longer cables or build some kind of bracket.

But that's just me. I've gotten a little tired of projects that keep getting more expensive and time consuming than originally planned. I think I used all my patience up on restoring a 1963 pickup from the frame up (including 3 months of sandblasting in the summer). he he.

MagnaMan · February 26, 2006, 03:16:16 PM

Quote from: chrislarueJesse - That would be great (leaving the post up). Thanks! And, if you choose not to keep the light, you've got a customer - I already have the longer steel braided cables, so hopefully I will like the setup ok. Thanks, again!

Will do, Chris. Or if you want to quote the parts new, let me know what you get but I'm pretty sure it was $250 and up.

I'm not sure longer throttle cables will solve the problem unless you have enough length to actually re-route them well above or below the light housing. If you can't do that then the longer cables my actually be put in more of a bind. I will try to take a picture for you some time when I can get my hands on a digital camera.

MagnaMan · February 26, 2006, 03:18:55 PM

Quote from: GlovebergNow might be the time for new longer stainless steel cables

Jimmy can you get them where you trim to fit? I was going to go with Dave Dodge because he has exact length bolt on replacements or he can do custom lengths for just a few dollars more. But in this case I don't know I could determine the proper lenth without running the cable first and then trimming, because it make take one or more attempts to find a good path.

Greg Cothern · February 26, 2006, 05:13:08 PM

Jesse have you tried to re-route the cables a little? Usually you can gain some extra length.
I agree on the if you can find it cheaper used LoL, I cant believe the prices have went up that much this quick.

MagnaMan · February 26, 2006, 05:35:35 PM

Greg, I think trying to re-route the existing ones is a good idea. If I can make it under the pointy part of the light then I think I'll be good. I'll check the service manual and see how I am supposed to disconnect the cables. I've never had to do that yet so I don't know how. I'll keep everyone posted.

Oh. And the prices I was quoting also included shipping. I just remember that I went on-line filled up my cart with the list from "tips and tricks" and then made a mental note of the price range so I could try to beat it with a used one. As a bonus, albeit minor, my used light even came with a working bulb.

MagnaMan · March 05, 2006, 04:10:22 PM

It looks like I may be using a bracket extender to move my VTX headlight out from the forks. I was contacted by someone off the VTX board. He wants to fabricate a custom headlight bracket for his VTX and needs a stock bracket so he can keep riding his bike.

Since I bought a complete used headlight assembly I had the bracket he needed and offered to give it to him if he would make my bracket extenders. He thinks it's a good deal for both of us, so I'll be sending him a sheet metal pattern with my VTX bracket and hopefully I'll be in business.

If it works well I'll keep the pattern for other Mootsters. I plan to make it cover the entire sides of the current bracket so it doesn't look like some bolt-on jury rig.

I'll keep you posted.

chrislarue · March 12, 2006, 05:20:57 PM

Any hits on the VTX headlight request?

Did your fabrication work?!?

MagnaMan · March 12, 2006, 06:38:47 PM

Nothing yet. I added another post to it saying that I needed another headlight so that it would show up as an updated post.

I was supposed to pull my bracket off this weekend but ended doing birthday things for my mother. I will pull it off next weekend and cut the template for sure.