...cowl fits nicely after minor pan mods.

Blue...do tell ur secret. I have a connie as well and hate seeing my cowl sitting in the garage.

Are you any good at visualizing curves and such?I'm not tryin to be funny here.Seriously...it's only about visualizing the stock pillion,then shaping the rear and mid(at the hump) seat foam.The one tricky part is at the sides there where you see the points of the cowl coming down there.You HAVE to shave off some foam there so the cowl will mold smoothly with the "stock" configuration.The connie seat is too wide right there for one thing.Also,the rear pillion needs to be re-shaped into something nearing the stock rear shape.If you have your other stock seat,remove that vinyl.Then remove your connie vinyl.Compare both...leaving the front pilot area alone on the connie.Start shaping from just before the connie "hump"..that part that butts up against the cowl radius.Get that shaved down and shaped to the cowl deal.You'll need to have a good turkey carving electric knife.Go slow...take a little off at a time and position your cowl on there,like it would be stock(several times if you need to)(just slide that cowl down where it would be on the seat,don't reattach anything).Keep going slowly,shaving down.Be VERY careful about shaving off too much trying to hurry.Take yer time...get it correct...you can if you're patient and go easy on the cutting.After you cut...your final shape...I used a "rasp" type file...something that has a rounded surface on one side,and flat on the other...with kinda large teeth.I "sanded" down the "sharp edges" to smooth the foam out.If you don't you're gonna be disappointed when you reinstall your vinyl.The cut lines WILL show up(any "hard edges").It won't look good.If you want,you CAN....cut the connie rear pillion OFF the back.Cut straight down(after you've gotten the front and hump shaped).Now,cut your stock pillion at the same place.Tape to hold temporarily.Reinstall vinyl...restaple.You're done.It will look professional IF you take your time and go easy on how much you cut off at a time.The sanding is VERY important.Make sure the seat foam is SMOOTH.Pull the connie vinyl into place,tighten good and begin stapling at the nose,then work your way back.You don't need to go crazy stapling.You won't need near as many as the factory puts in there.Just make sure you're tightening and keeping the vinyl snug evenly.You MUST hold this stapler against the seat pan FIRMLY when stapling.It can't move(the seat pan)Hold it tightly against the floor or your leg or whatever to keep it from wanting to "push away" from you as you staple...resting it on the floor works very well.DO NOT STAPLE anywhere NEAR the seat pan edge using these staples.Give yourself at least an inch "up" into the pan.Pull the vinyl tight,under the edge there,set your gun,push the gun "away" from you (it will stretch the vinyl with it)then hold firmly pushing down as you staple.

Secure the front edge of the vinyl seat cover FIRST...I used three staples across the front under the pan there.Then worked my way back....SLOWLY.I used the connie vinyl because it does look cool...but also,it's got a "preshape" to it,which really helps to keep the seat snug.This foam will not work the same if the vinyl is loose fitting on there.

Good Luck....you'll get it okay.May have to work at it a bit,but she'll come out fine if ya go easy with it.Just don't cut off too much at a time!!!!

IF you're gonna keep the connie pillion,and shape it to match the stock deal....you have to be aware that if it's too thick at the rear there,the cowl will NOT fit "close" to the tail piece.There will be a gap...so shave that rear part down pretty good.I have a few tips on "lowering" that cowl as well(so it has a minimal gap right there at the back)....if ya want...I'll share em.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 7/13/2011 @ 4:33 PM *

loli see your collection if sprockets in the background, blue!

LOL!Yeppers....tried almost everything!I'm again right where I started...stock!!!Sheesh.

You know...today...I went for a cruise.Basically kept er at 60,65 in 6th.That's around 3500 rpms.My fuel mileage was 41.0 mpg...average.I think that's pretty good.Course,it doesn't stay there IF I get with it some...but still....it CAN be repeated.That's the highest I've ever gotten.This bike is just GREAT...I love mine.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 7/14/2011 @ 9:57 PM *

Connie seat with cowl

I still have the stock seat with the cowl mounted to it.Can't use it right now due to the rack for the Givi case but,alas it's still there!!!!54,540 miles so far

Gonna catch ya one o' these days Ninja...BTW...how bout some more great vids my man!Surely you have some?

To tell ya the truth this summer isn't going so well for riding.The back side of Chief Joesph is all tar snakes,Shell canyon has a few issues and I've been workin' my arse off.I'm lucky to get what I can rite now.

Tar Snakes..... OMFG I hate them.

Ninjamaster...I do believe we have the SAME roadcrew ruining our sweet roads!Went to the Kookanusa...ONE of my favorite rides....geez.....in almost every nice corner,right where you line er up to rail on through....TARSNAKES.Not just short little ones either.Those LOOONG 15 footers(or more).On BOTH sides of the driving lane.So ya gotta TRY to pick either an extreme inside line(where the gravel sits patiently for the un-initiated),or chance blastin down the middle...which is normally got cross snakes on it(the double yellow is definitely OUT for carving).Keeps ya on yer toes...at least that's ONE good thing if there is one with......TARSNAKES

* Last updated by: blue07 on 7/19/2011 @ 2:35 PM *

Tar Snakes..... OMFG I hate them.

Been about 90 here and the tar snakes are just like marsh-mellow laying on the road.

I'm beginnin to wonder....who's been watching us where we ride?You don't suppose SOMEHOW.....the Govt is tryin to ruin our favorite pastime do ya?I mean....sheesh,those measley "cracks" in the road aint shi&.Ride over those leaned in all day long.But them snakes.They WILL definitely make ya ease up just a tad.Even with 'depends' on board.I gotta say..they do seem to be on the fastest and nicest sweeps all over this state .

Blue, I'm pretty new to the forum, but a longtime rider/driver of anything fast. I appreciate when someone gives detailed descriptions of mods, and displays humility while doing same.

I've read several of your theads, because I searched on many of the same mods that you've sought out yourself. My 14 has 130 miles on it, only owned it a few days. While I'm waiting for the temps to drop below 117 in the shade here in TX, I'm accumulating my parts. The Genmar and Heli risers are here, and my Connie seat should be here within a day or two. Like you, I want my cowl to fit w/the Connie seat, so your detailed description of making that work was helpful.

BTW, I haven't heard anyone mention the amount of additional height (under the driver) in the standard Connie seat, but assume that it's taller than the ZX.. Can you approximate by how much? I need the legroom..6'2", and a creaky 57 yrs old. I transfered my dropped and forward-positioned peg set up that a machinist had made for my ZZR1200 to the 14 last night, very nice. Anxious to get the risers and seat combo working with the pegs.

I don't mean to hijack your thread, but, in terms of the bolts you used for the stacked Heli/Genmar setup..

You mentioned using a 3 inch allen bolt, but, could you be more specific? Where did you source them? It appears that having the right length of unthreaded shoulder is as important as the overall length, and proper grade is important as well. Assuming you sourced from an automotive fastener supplier?

Thanks in advance.

* Last updated by: progrocker on 8/11/2011 @ 8:04 AM *

You need four of these...3 and 1/2 inches long from top of bolt to bottom.I got mine at ACE Hardware.I don't know what thread pitch they are...just take one of your other ones in there and match it up.These are the black ones(duh)...I couldn't find anything in silver...these will be long enough for your Heli/Genmar combo.If you're keeping your stock clip-ons,you 'may' have to turn the brake perch a bit to get your reservoir to clear the windscreen.Then you can bend gently the reservoir bracket so it looks 'professional'....vertical that is when your bars are straight.The throttle cables may also need to be turned just a tad as well.You'll see what I mean(when you turn the bars full left).The windscreen bolt(right side,furthest up) will most likely contact the throttle cables OR the reservoir cap...no biggie...just tweak the res and cables a bit.Maybe back the bolt out slightly...OR,just cut it down a sixteenth or so.

The Connie seat will raise you approx one inch.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 8/11/2011 @ 9:20 AM *

Thanks buddy!