[fujums]

I recall someone else here having a similar problem and mine went down pretty much the same way. Wife and I hit a dip at 35-40 mph, bike bottoms out and the tire rips down the (Kawi ZX6R) integrated taillight. Immediate buzzing sound as tire is rubbing on what's left of the taillight and I pull over. Not sure if something was loose or not before all this and it's too dark to see much tonight. Since we've bottomed out several times before without issue, I'll assume for now that the light was loose before the bounce. Didnt see any tire damage, but its dark. I'll check everything out tomorrow and see what I can find out.

For the record, I'm PCS lowered 2.5", running the stock 210 and we are (unfortunately) pushing 450 lbs combined. I sure as **** hope it isn't the shock or something.

 

[kraaazymike]

I do remember that happening to someone else. Huge bummer though! Did you have your license plate below the light too? Just curious of your setup when it happened

 

[fujums]

No, license plate is axle mounted. I want to say that the other poster still had the plate hanging from the taillight. My integrated light was way the **** up there with no plate to catch.

 

[snowman68]

Did you still have it in the factory plastic or flush mounted with the end of the fender?

 

[fujums]

No factory plastic, with the end of the light flush with the end of the fender.

 

[toby]

The other guys plate was hanging below the stock light if I recall. Yours might have come lose. But you are pushing the load limit at 450 lbs and lowered any will make it even more of a risk. But I'm not so sure the tire could catch the end of the fender and tail light bottoming out with a stock 210 tire? I packed my saddlebags and strapped a duffel bag to the back bar and put the wife on the back total maybe 425 lbs and rode to Frisco and back. Stock everything except the preload was set to #1 because it was too stiff for solo riding and we bottomed out a few times but the tire only rubbed up near the highest point of the fender and where the duckbill and tail light mounts to the fender. Don't think the 210 is big enough to reach the back of the fender. Had the wife on the back with only saddlebags packed estimate less than 400 lbs with lowered 2.25 and 240 rear tire and preload set at #7 bottomed out several times, twice at 65+ and no signs of the tire hitting the tail light. I cut the duck bill off just under the light and have a side mount plate.

 

[Skwerlee]

Yeah something similar happened to Immortal13 but like someone mentioned his plate is what got caught on the tire.

http://www.yamahastarstryker.com/index.php/topic,2699.0.html

 

[fujums]

Well, just took everything apart and nothing was loose before I got to it. So it looks like a case of the fender feeding the light to the tire (i.e. chubby riders plus soft shock setting). For the record, don't know where my shock is set. Asked a shop to soften it right after getting the bike when it was in for something else and I never made sure they did it. It felt softer and I left it at that, so I guess I'll be checking that next to see if it can be tightened up.

Bought the wife a Butty Buddy recently which goes on over the stock two up seat and that had her all the way back which can't help either. All in all, the tire is fine, the light is shot and I found some wire rubbing that was going to be a problem soon anyways, so I guess it's good news that I caught it now. I was planning on moving up to the 240 eventually and leaving the PCS at 2.25". With all this, I'm not sure how the **** that would be possible.

 

[Skwerlee]

Well, just took everything apart and nothing was loose before I got to it. So it looks like a case of the fender feeding the light to the tire (i.e. chubby riders plus soft shock setting). For the record, don't know where my shock is set. Asked a shop to soften it right after getting the bike when it was in for something else and I never made sure they did it. It felt softer and I left it at that, so I guess I'll be checking that next to see if it can be tightened up.

Bought the wife a Butty Buddy recently which goes on over the stock two up seat and that had her all the way back which can't help either. All in all, the tire is fine, the light is shot and I found some wire rubbing that was going to be a problem soon anyways, so I guess it's good news that I caught it now. I was planning on moving up to the 240 eventually and leaving the PCS at 2.25". With all this, I'm not sure how the **** that would be possible.

Sorry for the bad luck Fujums. I have a brand new Kawi light sitting in my garage. It was a replacement for my original defective Kawi light. I never used it as i decided to go with the Custom LED option. PM me if you're interested.

 

[toby]

Well, just took everything apart and nothing was loose before I got to it. So it looks like a case of the fender feeding the light to the tire (i.e. chubby riders plus soft shock setting). For the record, don't know where my shock is set. Asked a shop to soften it right after getting the bike when it was in for something else and I never made sure they did it. It felt softer and I left it at that, so I guess I'll be checking that next to see if it can be tightened up.

Bought the wife a Butty Buddy recently which goes on over the stock two up seat and that had her all the way back which can't help either. All in all, the tire is fine, the light is shot and I found some wire rubbing that was going to be a problem soon anyways, so I guess it's good news that I caught it now. I was planning on moving up to the 240 eventually and leaving the PCS at 2.25". With all this, I'm not sure how the **** that would be possible.

If you put a 240 on you will need the PCS progressive spring and set your preload to at lest #7 and maybe even set your links at the 1" slot if you are going 2 up and max load limit. If you don't I guaranty you will gouge chunks out of your tire with the rub indicators that are pointed under your fender.

 

[dreadly]

I personally don't think the lowering kit was made for two up riding.

 

[SmokenJoe]

Some good info;

 

[megabuddys]

my wife and I weigh combined probably 390 ish, done LOTS of riding with bumps to pucker your butthole up. I have the 2.5 lowering links and STIFFENED the spring set up. Only carnage is some rubbed wiring from not tying it up good enough. Its how you guys are mounting these dang lights. More attention is needed on doing some of these mods properly. I hate seeing threads on how this stuff is happening. Its not the bikes fault....

Hope you get your stuff repaired and corrected.

 

[immortal13]

Yeah, that was me, and I am NOT sure what exactly caught the tire. I was running the 240 with 2.25" drop and the Kawi light flush mounted with plate just below. The taillight bracket darn near cut through the tire at 80 mph. Could've been disastrous. I tried warning you guys about the bottoming out issue. I went with the L&M led kit and no more probs.

 

[immortal13]

Oh and me and my daughter combined probably less than 300 lbs. I'm 175 and shes probably 120 or so.