[Dennis in NH]

Hi,

First post here -- been lurking since May this year. I finally pulled the trigger and got a 2018 Gold Wing (non-tour). It came with what looks like the Honda OEM passenger backrest.

The first thing I want is the shad sh50 topcase installed. I got this: https://www.shadusa.com/products/goldwing-f6b-18-top-mount.

I'm looking to install that rack -- but first I need to remove the passenger backrest. In order to do that, I need to remove that rear cowling so I can get at the 4x12mm hex bolts that hold it on.

I removed the seat, the two horizontal plastic covers (held on only by two clips each), the bolt underneath each plastic covers, and the two black/plastic pushpins at the front of the cowl. I can pry the cowl up but it won't come off and looks to be held in place in the back. Anyone know how to get that off?

Thanks,
Dennis

 

[Pigeon Roost]

I am not sure what you are calling rear cowling, but best advice is to go to purchase Fred Harmon's video series and he will show you the way step by step by step; and he is extremely fair with his price.

prs

 

[Dennis in NH]

I am not sure what you are calling rear cowling, but best advice is to go to purchase Fred Harmon's video series and he will show you the way step by step by step; and he is extremely fair with his price.

prs

This is what I'm referring to: https://photos.app.goo.gl/piWajARw1AaUU8zV6. It needs to be removed in order to remove the passenger seatback.

Apparently, the in last post here: https://gl1800riders.com/forums/193-2018-goldwing-board/409497-rear-carrier.html , they were successful in getting it off. Unfortunately all the pdf links in that post and dead.

I'll go look around for the Fred Harmon videos; but something I wonder is if those videos are geared toward the Gold Wing Tour and not the Gold Wing non-tour (which is what I have).

Thanks
Dennis

 

[CarpeDiem]

Here: http://cdn.powersports.honda.com/documentum/MW01/08L73-MKC-A10ZA.pdf


Just do the first few steps...

 

[Dennis in NH]

Here: http://cdn.powersports.honda.com/documentum/MW01/08L73-MKC-A10ZA.pdf


Just do the first few steps...

Thank you very much. I did all the way to step 8 already but step 9 is not as easy as they make it out to be in the instructions. The “center rear top” doesn’t just come off. It’s hooked or clipped somehow in the back. The link I mention above talks about using a long screwdriver to somehow coax the white clips out. But I don’t know which way he put the screwdriver to reach the clips.

I’m betting after the first time the center rear top (I called it “rear tail cowl” above) is removed, it will be easier to remove.

Thanks again,
Dennis

 

[murf]

This is what I'm referring to: https://photos.app.goo.gl/piWajARw1AaUU8zV6. It needs to be removed in order to remove the passenger seatback.

Apparently, the in last post here: https://gl1800riders.com/forums/193-2018-goldwing-board/409497-rear-carrier.html , they were successful in getting it off. Unfortunately all the pdf links in that post and dead.

I'll go look around for the Fred Harmon videos; but something I wonder is if those videos are geared toward the Gold Wing Tour and not the Gold Wing non-tour (which is what I have).

Thanks
Dennis

The piece you are referring to is called the "Center Rear Top Cover." Here are the instructions for removing it. It does not come off easy.

http://cdn.powersports.honda.com/documentum/MW01/08R70-MKC-A10.pdf

:doorag:

 

[Hoopdc]

Here: http://cdn.powersports.honda.com/documentum/MW01/08L73-MKC-A10ZA.pdf


Just do the first few steps...

Good answer !!! That's what Dennis in NH was looking for. NOT a link ( Fred's videos ) ( nothing against Fred ) to tell him to spend more $$$ just to get the thing off.

 

[murf]

Attached is a photo showing the two white plastic tabs that are making it hard to remove the center rear top cover.

:doorag:

 

[Dennis in NH]

Thanks Murf. I think the key phase I was looking for was “by pulling firmly back and up”. I will give this a try soon.

Dennis

 

[CarpeDiem]

BTW check this video on you tube (from Max's @ traxxion): https://youtu.be/3htHX7RFlx8?t=183
where Max is installing that plastic part so you can infer the process to remove it

 

[NWPA Tim]

I have a Tour with Traxxion's trunk quick removal kit and switch back and fouth between trunk and bagger. Removing the cover is the easiest part; seat off, two plastic rivets at the front on either side, pull up & back. The rivets and 4 angled pins/grommets are all that hold it on.

 

[Dennis in NH]

BTW check this video on you tube (from Max's @ traxxion): https://youtu.be/3htHX7RFlx8?t=183
where Max is installing that plastic part so you can infer the process to remove it

That helped ; I was able to see the rectangular holes where the white tabs insert.

Well I got the center rear top off :grin2:.

I basically removed everything I did before and then placed my hand under the center rear top (left side) and pushed up and back while I pulled up and back with my other hand by grabbing/holding the back side of the center rear top. I then then repeated the same thing on the center rear top right side and wiggled both hands side to side and then up and back (quite firmly) and eventually, the center rear top "popped" off.

My intent of using both hands was to avoid stressing the plastic in one place to avoid distorting/bending it and trying to focus the force on the backside of the center rear top where the tabs insert into the rectangular holes. I took more pictures here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/piWajARw1AaUU8zV6

Note that white tabs flex so the wiggling and pulling up/back makes them flex enough to let go.

Re-installation involved laying the center rear top on the bike, aligning the 4 plastic parts that insert into holes and then pressing firmly from the back (allowing the white tabs to go into the rectangular holes and snap into place). The helpful video mentioned above shows this well.

With that center rear top off, I removed my passenger backrest and cleaned all the dirt with a damp micro-fiber towel.

Another positive is that this is the third time I had that seat off and now I can get it on/off easily.

I'm going to take a break, go for a ride, etc. and later look into installing my shad rack. The topcase is supposed to arrive tomorrow so I'll be goofing around with that soon.

Thanks again all for the help!

Dennis

 

[Dennis in NH]

I have a Tour with Traxxion's trunk quick removal kit and switch back and fouth between trunk and bagger. Removing the cover is the easiest part; seat off, two plastic rivets at the front on either side, pull up & back. The rivets and 4 angled pins/grommets are all that hold it on.

I saw that in the video. It's awesome to be able to go from a tourer to a bagger.

When I had my 2010 FJR1300, I had a Givi case and it was easy to swap it off/on and/or remove the whole rack and go stack quite easily. I also liked how you could easily remove the sidebags. You can't do that with the gold wing unfortunately.

 

[Dennis in NH]

Hm… I thought I posted already but it didn’t show up — but here’s my post again.

I was able to get this center rear top removed :grin2:

The “trick” is to pull up and back. I did this by putting one hand underneath the center rear top plastic (on the left side) and then grabbing/pulling it from the back at the same time. I then repeated this on the right and kept wiggling left and right and then up and back. Eventually, the center rear top “popped” off. The point of using two hands like this was to avoid putting too much stress on one spot and avoid bending the plastic.

I added more pictures to https://photos.app.goo.gl/piWajARw1AaUU8zV6 in case others want to see more detailed photos of the white tabs that make this more difficult than it has to be.

But once you know how to do it, it deosn’t seem that difficult anymore. I did not need to use a long screwdriver; the wiggling was apparently enough to get the white tabs to let go. The Max video above did a good job showing how to re-install it — just lay it on the bike, let the 4 plastic protrusions line up with the holes on the bike and push from the back and it will “snap” into place.

I went for a 2 hour ride without the passenger backrest and the bike “feels” faster :laugh:. It could be better aerodynamics.

I will mount the shad rack very soon — that requires drilling the plastic covers.

Thanks again for all the help folks!

Dennis