Where's my cowl?

saxnbass · February 3rd, 2012, 08:11 PM

So I went for a ride with @Mr.E this evening. All went well, we had a good time. Until I get home. I dismount the bike and head towards my door when all of a sudden something odd hit me. Something didn't look right. I looked down at the bike and I saw a lack of a cowl that was supposed to be there. Odd thing is this, that mounting bracket was still attached. So now all that is left of my cowl is this:

Yes, the cowl came off the mounting bracket and out of the rubber plug on the back bracket and flew off my bike somewhere during the ride. And it was one of those $100 Kawasaki OEM cowl. Really Kawi? WTF gives? I guess I'll replace it with one of the cheaper ones off of E-Bay.

redline0889 · February 3rd, 2012, 08:37 PM

I got the cheaper one off ebay and everything is great on it accept the rubber bump stops are way to big on it and make the gap between the cowl and the bike HUGE! Going to be doing some trimming on mine to get it to sit right but other than that the color matches perfectly and the quality seems really good!

EthioKnight · February 3rd, 2012, 09:25 PM

dude, I'd be pissed if I were you. I'll be picking mine up at the post office tomorrow (OEM cowl), do you have any advice/tips to prevent the same thing from happening to me too?

saxnbass · February 3rd, 2012, 09:31 PM

All the nuts and grommets that hold the pieces of the cowl together, super glue them into place. There is not reason to disassemble the pieces of the cowl once they are put together anyways. Just make sure to let it dry before putting the cowl on the bike; you don't want to glue the cowl to the bike.

00NissanNinja · February 3rd, 2012, 09:34 PM

Happened to a few members in the past. Some of them zip tied the back of the cowl to the bracket that it attaches to in the "trunk". I lost mine last year, seems it didn't latch on good enough.

sixer · February 3rd, 2012, 09:36 PM

I just used a cargo net over on my gappy OEM cowl..
Posted via Mobile Device

massacremasses · February 3rd, 2012, 09:44 PM

good to know. I should be getting a used OEM one in the mail soon

Mr.E · February 4th, 2012, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EthioKnight

dude, I'd be pissed if I were you. I'll be picking mine up at the post office tomorrow (OEM cowl), do you have any advice/tips to prevent the same thing from happening to me too?

Along with locktighting the screw like Saxnbass said, I would recommend if there is a gap, to make it as flush as possible. Sax had a rubber thing missing, letting air travel through hat portion more, and wobbling the cowl and eventually taking it away. Which sucks lol.

I bent the metal bracket in my cowl (that only piece that Sax hasleft, (I would bend it before locktight/glueing the screws, so you dont have to bend it while on the cowl.). I also replaced the larger front rubber things, for the smaller ones on the original rearseat. There is a thread roaming around here about such thing. Perhaps ill even make a quick diy vid to give people an idea of what im talking about, sometime next week.

EthioKnight · February 4th, 2012, 03:23 PM

Ok...I just got done installing mine, didn't have any superglue/adhesive on hand, so I just followed the instructions and bolted everything as is. Does it look ok to your guys?
There isn't much of a gap to speak of on either side, but on the left where the helmet holder slot is (I think) there is some gap. I'm definitely going to follow some of the advice posted above though.

Mr.E · February 4th, 2012, 03:45 PM

Wow that actually sits very flush lol. Im sure you'll be fine. Just be careful if you lose any of those rubber round things. Also, be careful and always double check that rubber ring that the back of the cowl goes into. I lost mine about two weeks ago. Its no need for worry, its just the back of the cowl is a little loose. But nothing like what happened to eric would happen to you. Mine has stayed on lol.

kevheads · February 4th, 2012, 07:00 PM

Alex,
is there a reason why you put the ZX-2R decal on up side down on the right side of the bike?

massacremasses · February 4th, 2012, 07:04 PM

LOL

EthioKnight · February 4th, 2012, 07:20 PM

LOL @ Kevin, you got eagle eyes bro. I was applying the decals standing from one side (the left) and I messed up, I only realized my mistake two days later after my little sister pointed it out to me.
...just one of the signs of encroaching age/senility....

dtyndall · February 6th, 2012, 05:58 AM

Yeah man, same thing happened to me about 2 years ago. I was on the Florida Turnpike doing about 70 and felt it coming undone. Went to grab it up but it was too late; I saw the thing fly off my back end and hit the road.

I had dropped $115 because they were brand new, and driven about 50 miles each way in the heat of the summer to buy the thing. Needless to say I haven't bought another cowl since.

Nemesis · February 6th, 2012, 08:24 AM

Velcro my friend...velcro.

Little_Ghost · February 7th, 2012, 05:55 PM

Glad I read this so I can beware when I put mine on!

Liquidtoon · February 15th, 2012, 02:16 PM

Same thing happened to mine after about 3 months of having it, vibration caused the bolts to come loose. round 2; I put red locktight on them and have checked them a few times, seems to be holding well.

TnNinjaGirl · February 15th, 2012, 02:25 PM

Knock on wood... my cowl hasn't come off yet. However, I did lose my stock seat. It came off during travel somewhere, I never found it.

February 3rd, 2012, 08:11 PM	#1
saxnbass ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Eric Location: Nashville, TN Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 CBR600rr Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 1	Where's my cowl? So I went for a ride with @Mr.E this evening. All went well, we had a good time. Until I get home. I dismount the bike and head towards my door when all of a sudden something odd hit me. Something didn't look right. I looked down at the bike and I saw a lack of a cowl that was supposed to be there. Odd thing is this, that mounting bracket was still attached. So now all that is left of my cowl is this: Yes, the cowl came off the mounting bracket and out of the rubber plug on the back bracket and flew off my bike somewhere during the ride. And it was one of those $100 Kawasaki OEM cowl. Really Kawi? WTF gives? I guess I'll replace it with one of the cheaper ones off of E-Bay.

February 3rd, 2012, 09:34 PM	#5
00NissanNinja I hate driving... Name: S Location: SW Ohio Join Date: Jul 2010 Motorcycle(s): 13 Triumph Street Triple R, 09 Ninja 250r (Sold 4/20/12) Posts: A lot.	Happened to a few members in the past. Some of them zip tied the back of the cowl to the bracket that it attaches to in the "trunk". I lost mine last year, seems it didn't latch on good enough. __________________________________________________ 09 ninja 2fiddy SE Driving slow things fast

February 3rd, 2012, 09:44 PM	#7
massacremasses Avid Kitteh Poster Name: Justin Location: Norcal Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2006 Yamaha TTR 50 SUCK IT Posts: A lot.	good to know. I should be getting a used OEM one in the mail soon __________________________________________________ I powdercoat stuff Help me pay for my addiction I say funny stuff. http://twitter.com/JustinPWNSyou sometimes... I write like a 12 year old too, http://justinpwnsyou.wordpress.com/

February 4th, 2012, 03:45 PM	#10
Mr.E That rider dude. Name: Eric Location: Orlando, Fl. Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 White Ninja 250 SE. Posts: A lot.	Wow that actually sits very flush lol. Im sure you'll be fine. Just be careful if you lose any of those rubber round things. Also, be careful and always double check that rubber ring that the back of the cowl goes into. I lost mine about two weeks ago. Its no need for worry, its just the back of the cowl is a little loose. But nothing like what happened to eric would happen to you. Mine has stayed on lol. __________________________________________________ Mods: flushmount Led front binkers, diode mod, pazzo levers, clear tank pad, racing replica grips, bike monkeys integrated tal light, zx-2r vinyls, rearsets, red bar ends, and more red accented stuff.

February 4th, 2012, 07:04 PM	#12
massacremasses Avid Kitteh Poster Name: Justin Location: Norcal Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2006 Yamaha TTR 50 SUCK IT Posts: A lot.	LOL __________________________________________________ I powdercoat stuff Help me pay for my addiction I say funny stuff. http://twitter.com/JustinPWNSyou sometimes... I write like a 12 year old too, http://justinpwnsyou.wordpress.com/

February 3rd, 2012, 08:37 PM	#2
redline0889 ninjette.org member Name: Jesse Location: West Des Moines, Iowa Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250R Posts: 47	I got the cheaper one off ebay and everything is great on it accept the rubber bump stops are way to big on it and make the gap between the cowl and the bike HUGE! Going to be doing some trimming on mine to get it to sit right but other than that the color matches perfectly and the quality seems really good!

February 3rd, 2012, 09:25 PM	#3
EthioKnight Super Noob Name: Alex Location: Mobile, AL Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): '09 Kawasaki Ninja 250R, '84 Honda Spree 50cc Posts: A lot.	dude, I'd be pissed if I were you. I'll be picking mine up at the post office tomorrow (OEM cowl), do you have any advice/tips to prevent the same thing from happening to me too?

February 3rd, 2012, 09:31 PM	#4
saxnbass ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Eric Location: Nashville, TN Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 CBR600rr Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 1	All the nuts and grommets that hold the pieces of the cowl together, super glue them into place. There is not reason to disassemble the pieces of the cowl once they are put together anyways. Just make sure to let it dry before putting the cowl on the bike; you don't want to glue the cowl to the bike.

February 3rd, 2012, 09:36 PM	#6
sixer no joy Name: Six Location: Cali Join Date: Nov 2009 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 2006 636 Posts: 408	I just used a cargo net over on my gappy OEM cowl.. Posted via Mobile Device

February 4th, 2012, 07:00 PM	#11
kevheads ninjette.org guru Name: Kevin Location: central Illinois Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Green 250R Posts: 346	Alex, is there a reason why you put the ZX-2R decal on up side down on the right side of the bike?

February 4th, 2012, 07:20 PM	#13
EthioKnight Super Noob Name: Alex Location: Mobile, AL Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): '09 Kawasaki Ninja 250R, '84 Honda Spree 50cc Posts: A lot.	LOL @ Kevin, you got eagle eyes bro. I was applying the decals standing from one side (the left) and I messed up, I only realized my mistake two days later after my little sister pointed it out to me. ...just one of the signs of encroaching age/senility....

February 6th, 2012, 05:58 AM	#14
dtyndall 2 Years Strong Name: Devin Location: Orlando Join Date: Mar 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 1000, 2008 Ninja 250R, 2007 Honda CRF 150F Posts: 30	Yeah man, same thing happened to me about 2 years ago. I was on the Florida Turnpike doing about 70 and felt it coming undone. Went to grab it up but it was too late; I saw the thing fly off my back end and hit the road. I had dropped $115 because they were brand new, and driven about 50 miles each way in the heat of the summer to buy the thing. Needless to say I haven't bought another cowl since. __________________________________________________ http://www.fuelly.com/smallsig-us/66525.png

February 6th, 2012, 08:24 AM	#15
Nemesis CVMA #74 WSMC #750 Name: Nemesis Location: On the track Join Date: Oct 2009 Motorcycle(s): All of them Posts: A lot.	Velcro my friend...velcro. __________________________________________________

February 7th, 2012, 05:55 PM	#16
Little_Ghost ninjette.org member Name: Mo Location: Edmonds, WA Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 SE Green/Black/White Ninja 250R Posts: 129	Glad I read this so I can beware when I put mine on! __________________________________________________

February 15th, 2012, 02:16 PM	#17
Liquidtoon ninjette.org member Name: Josh Location: Sacramento, Ca Join Date: Jul 2010 Motorcycle(s): 09 Ninja 250r Posts: 215	Same thing happened to mine after about 3 months of having it, vibration caused the bolts to come loose. round 2; I put red locktight on them and have checked them a few times, seems to be holding well.

February 15th, 2012, 02:25 PM	#18
TnNinjaGirl Ms. Personality Name: CB Location: Murvill, TN Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): Depends on the week you ask Posts: A lot.	Knock on wood... my cowl hasn't come off yet. However, I did lose my stock seat. It came off during travel somewhere, I never found it.

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