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The people over at Cox Racing may or may not like me too much for doing this but I wanted to review the bracket that I just bought from them.
I ordered this bracket about three weeks ago, A couple of things miffed me just a little from the start:
They advertised the kit for sale before they had them in stock so it took three weeks to get,
And shipping was about double what it should have been - Hey, I don't mind paying shipping but I don't think it should be a profit center for them.
On to the review.
I got the kit with two bullet lights and this is a complete kit with all the hardware you need.
The instructions are a little hard to read after the third beer cuzz the type is small and there are no pix.
Who needs instructions right? I mean it's four bolts for chrise-sake.
Wrong - the instructions will save you time and agony, this little project is tricky - the damn thing goes together like a puzzle!
Here's what you get in the kit:
Cox did a good job on the instructions, The first thing they tell you to do is take the signals off the bike and and remove the rubber spacer to fit into the bracket.
The spacer fits into the bracket like a grommet - Are you freakin kiddin me!!! it's real hard plasticky rubber material that doesn't want to be forced anywhere.
I wasn't sure I was going to get these thing into place - I tried soaking them in hot water but that didn't work at all,
then I got some needle nose and started squeezing and forcing and squeezing and forcing when
I started having visions of a pair of needle-nose pliers buried about three inches into my thigh
OK, mount the part in a vise... I finally got them fitted with a lot cursing and three more beers - I might have resorted to an air chisel - it's all a little unclear.
The only thing the instructions don't go into detail about is the wiring for the bullet lights. The wiring on the bike is a black and yellow wire with a special connector for a large spade.
I just smashed the ends of the bullet lights and connect the red from each light to the yellow on the bike and of course blacks to black.
It's sort of a hokey way to do it but it was positive enough. The connections are now going to be stuffed up inside the bodywork so they have to be insulated -
The Cox kit did not include any shrink tube for this job - it would have been a nice addition to really make the kit complete and the installation clean.
Be sure you get the connections insulated well before you start the assembly
The rest of the instructions are clear and straightforward but the final assembly is tricky. There's very little room up under the undertail panel
for the bulky wiring and connectors and you want to be sure to stay clear of the voltage regulator because I'm sure it gets quite warm.
Holding it all in place with the spacers and bolts and undertail panel all wanting to fall in your lap is is fun - but you'll get it done
All in all I like the kit quite a bit and the finished look is very clean. I like the position of the turn signals that are tucked in close
(note: I did adjust the bend of the turn signal mounts so the signals were horizontal) and the position of the plate tucked back under the tail a bit.
I also like the anodizing rather than powdercoat. If I could critisize anything it would be that the stamping, forming, or cutting looks a little like someone did it by hand
- it's a bit rough in areas but once it's all mounted on the bike none of that is noticable.
Since Cox seems to be unable to post a decent pic for us
in just a moment I'll post some before and after shots of the whole bike so you can see the transformation.
I like the Cox kit and I'd recommend it to anyone who needs a tidy installation but has picky LEOs in their area. The price is good and the kit is complete.
I ordered this bracket about three weeks ago, A couple of things miffed me just a little from the start:
They advertised the kit for sale before they had them in stock so it took three weeks to get,
And shipping was about double what it should have been - Hey, I don't mind paying shipping but I don't think it should be a profit center for them.
On to the review.
I got the kit with two bullet lights and this is a complete kit with all the hardware you need.
The instructions are a little hard to read after the third beer cuzz the type is small and there are no pix.
Who needs instructions right? I mean it's four bolts for chrise-sake.
Wrong - the instructions will save you time and agony, this little project is tricky - the damn thing goes together like a puzzle!
Here's what you get in the kit:
Cox did a good job on the instructions, The first thing they tell you to do is take the signals off the bike and and remove the rubber spacer to fit into the bracket.
The spacer fits into the bracket like a grommet - Are you freakin kiddin me!!! it's real hard plasticky rubber material that doesn't want to be forced anywhere.
I wasn't sure I was going to get these thing into place - I tried soaking them in hot water but that didn't work at all,
then I got some needle nose and started squeezing and forcing and squeezing and forcing when
I started having visions of a pair of needle-nose pliers buried about three inches into my thigh
OK, mount the part in a vise... I finally got them fitted with a lot cursing and three more beers - I might have resorted to an air chisel - it's all a little unclear.
The only thing the instructions don't go into detail about is the wiring for the bullet lights. The wiring on the bike is a black and yellow wire with a special connector for a large spade.
I just smashed the ends of the bullet lights and connect the red from each light to the yellow on the bike and of course blacks to black.
It's sort of a hokey way to do it but it was positive enough. The connections are now going to be stuffed up inside the bodywork so they have to be insulated -
The Cox kit did not include any shrink tube for this job - it would have been a nice addition to really make the kit complete and the installation clean.
Be sure you get the connections insulated well before you start the assembly
The rest of the instructions are clear and straightforward but the final assembly is tricky. There's very little room up under the undertail panel
for the bulky wiring and connectors and you want to be sure to stay clear of the voltage regulator because I'm sure it gets quite warm.
Holding it all in place with the spacers and bolts and undertail panel all wanting to fall in your lap is is fun - but you'll get it done
All in all I like the kit quite a bit and the finished look is very clean. I like the position of the turn signals that are tucked in close
(note: I did adjust the bend of the turn signal mounts so the signals were horizontal) and the position of the plate tucked back under the tail a bit.
I also like the anodizing rather than powdercoat. If I could critisize anything it would be that the stamping, forming, or cutting looks a little like someone did it by hand
- it's a bit rough in areas but once it's all mounted on the bike none of that is noticable.
Since Cox seems to be unable to post a decent pic for us
I like the Cox kit and I'd recommend it to anyone who needs a tidy installation but has picky LEOs in their area. The price is good and the kit is complete.
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