Aqua boards

[M2102]

Last September we had our 1800 wing triked with a RS kit. Had the options we wanted installed. This morning my wife asked if wished I had the aqua boards installed when we did conversion. Can they be installed after the kit install or is it to late to put a set on?

[Lucky]

Probably a little pricey,but it can be done.

[G.W. Viper]

It can be done...worth every penny IMO.

[Gold Rush]

Last September we had our 1800 wing triked with a RS kit. Had the options we wanted installed. This morning my wife asked if wished I had the aqua boards installed when we did conversion. Can they be installed after the kit install or is it to late to put a set on?

Howdy Mike. Take a look at Roadsmith's site http://www.trikeshop.com/trikes/hts1800/. Under the download tab you will find the install instructions for the Wing Guards (that is what they call their running boards). In the price list it looks like the kit is $999 and another $495 for paint. Don't know what packing and shipping might be. They are held on by a clamp on the front engine guard, a bracket that bolts to where the centerstand once bolted, and three bolts connecting them to the trike body.

If you ride in an area prone to getting paint chips you might consider having the Wing Guards shipped without paint and have them covered with Line-X. I just had mine done because they were getting chipped up real bad. Here's a picture.... As you can see; I also had the front of the fenders done.

[GoldWingrGreg]

Just an FYI ... some designs make pulling the lower front center-cowl labor intensive. The lower front center cowl gets removed every 12k for a clutch fluid change, and every 24k to inspect the evaporator emission control system, and to replace the anti-freeze.

[07BlueCSC]

As GOLDRUSH said, The LINE-X will hold up a lot better than paint.

I think I paid around $100 for Line-X a couple years ago.

Mine was done in DARK BLUE.

[trike lady]

Yes, it can be done and your trike will look finished.

[Gold Rush]

Just an FYI ... some designs make pulling the lower front center-cowl labor intensive.

Roadsmith got it right Greg.... They hang the Wing Guards front from the engine guards so removing that front lower cowl is not impaired.... It's a very strong mount as well...

[mhgoldwing]

Howdy Mike. Take a look at Roadsmith's site http://www.trikeshop.com/trikes/hts1800/. Under the download tab you will find the install instructions for the Wing Guards (that is what they call their running boards). In the price list it looks like the kit is $999 and another $495 for paint. Don't know what packing and shipping might be. They are held on by a clamp on the front engine guard, a bracket that bolts to where the centerstand once bolted, and three bolts connecting them to the trike body.

If you ride in an area prone to getting paint chips you might consider having the Wing Guards shipped without paint and have them covered with Line-X. I just had mine done because they were getting chipped up real bad. Here's a picture.... As you can see; I also had the front of the fenders done.

What he said. I have them on my RS and wouldn't be without them. I have the HT1800 kit, not the HTS1800 like this one, so I have to loosen my boards to get to the Allen screw on the front cowl. No big deal though. Besides looking good, they keep a lot of air, water and debris thrown up from the front tire off those big rear fenders and the co-rider.

[GoldWingrGreg]

Roadsmith got it right Greg.... They hang the Wing Guards front from the engine guards so removing that front lower cowl is not impaired.... It's a very strong mount as well...

Cool ... does theirs have a cross brace that impairs the removal of the coolant reservoir ???

[Papa Zook]

Cool ... does theirs have a cross brace that impairs the removal of the coolant reservoir ???

No Greg. It uses two thick walled 3/4" od round steel tubes, one for each side that has a flat bracket welded to it that bolts to and supports each running board in the center of each one and bolts to the center stand bolt holes (center stand is removed).

As goldrush said, the boards are also bolted to the front engine guards via stainless u-bolts on the front and to the rear fenders and fender support frame on the rear. They are super sturdy and very well made and include a thick, textured black plastic insert that covers the entire upper length of the running boards to prevent damage and scuffing of the paint by contact from stepping on them.

Roadsmith also offers a die cut paint protection kit specifically for each of their conversions that uses the 3M protective film. One set for the running boards and one set for the rear fenders.

[GoldWingrGreg]

Then those are the ones I'd want.

[M2102]

Wow thanks for all the replys. I was told once they couldn't be added on. It does give me more to think about. If I did go that route I would just get it unpainted and have it done locally or linex . One other question. With the guards do you have more room for your feet? Ok 2 questions. Are the added on later weight bearing?

[Papa Zook]

Wow thanks for all the replys. I was told once they couldn't be added on. It does give me more to think about. If I did go that route I would just get it unpainted and have it done locally or linex . One other question. With the guards do you have more room for your feet? Ok 2 questions. Are the added on later weight bearing?

Yes you have a LOT more room for your feet, in fact some folks remove the foot pegs all together. And yes the are weight bearing whether added at the original install or afterward.

[GoldWingrGreg]

If I did go that route I would just get it unpainted and have it done locally or linex .

You might consider having your boards ordered and installed by your local trike shop. Most running boards need to be fitted. Your local trike shop can give you advised on weather to have them come painted, or have the trike shop's painter paint them. Painters that have experience trying to match Honda's OEM paint, will usually say that the reds, yellow, and oranges are hardest to match. Thus, the local well known painter here, will use nothing but US Paint on those colors. Since US Paint is not cheap, and you'll probably have to buy a quart (I believe a quart is more then $450) when less then a pint is needed, if cost is a factor, you'll probably find it cheapest to have your running boards painted by RS. That way you are not be paying for a bunch of paint that you will not be using.

http://www.uspaint.com/markets/motorcycles.html

Not sure about Linex, but such products can probably be added at a later point.

[Gold Rush]

Mike, here's MHO for with it's worth....

Yes you could have the Wing Guards delivered unpainted and have them painted locally but matching the Illusion Red paint in near impossible. The link Greg posted will get you to what Honda uses but I suspect your bike paint has faded slightly so a perfect match might not be possible. How close did they get the paint for your conversion?

If you went with Line-X they can sort of color match but it will not be very close. I've seen a red one done and it looked nice but not perfect. The Illusion Red paint itself is REALLY expensive and then you still have to find a good painter. Doing Premium Black Line-X would give you some contrast and really look sharp. The cost would be way less than painting. If I had done only the Wing Guards it would have been $150.

As Zook said you would have tons of extra foot room. I built a set of brackets that let me flip my rider pegs up vertically so I have even more room than most. I can not use the OEM rider peg position for very long at all...

BTW, If you can recognize a wrench and screwdriver and can read Roadsmith's installation instructions I bet you can install them yourself. I totally did my own conversion. It was not extremely difficult at all.. Zero custom fitting required.

[Burnerboy]

Very interesting info here -- thank you folks

Ronnie

[M2102]

The trunk on mine is a bit more faded than the rest of my trike. The cost of my paint color,illusion red, has come down in price. The kit is very close to rest of it. Should I go that way I would get them primed and do black line x and follow it into the fenders. For you all that used line x and installed the boards yourself, did you coat them before you installed? Have a feeling this is a silly question.

[Gold Rush]

The trunk on mine is a bit more faded than the rest of my trike. The cost of my paint color,illusion red, has come down in price. The kit is very close to rest of it. Should I go that way I would get them primed and do black line x and follow it into the fenders. For you all that used line x and installed the boards yourself, did you coat them before you installed? Have a feeling this is a silly question.

I just had mine done a couple weeks ago so YES they do need to be off the trike for coating. Doesn't take very long to do but in your case that's probably a non issue. I've tried a few different methods to prevent rock chips. This Line-X looks like the most positive. It protects well and cleans up easy...

If you do the front of the fenders like I did you'll probably need to trim the side covers trailing edges so they do not rub on the fenders. Again, not a big deal and easy to do...

Also, make sure the Line-X folks do not cover the very back that would mate up with the fenders. It's OK to go ahead and do the fenders themselves but doing both will make it difficult to get the holes to line up again.

[Burnerboy]

Very interesting info here -- thank you folks

Ronnie

Me again, here, I'm new to triking this season, and have to admit that my new trike is actually the first and only trike I have actually ever ridden, BUT I did get the running boards at the same time as the install, and I really have to say that it looks, feels, keeps wind off my legs, as it supposed to do... I'M VERY GLAD THAT I DID GET IT INSTALLED.. LIKE I SAID ABOVE THIS IS MY FIRST AND ONLY BUT I'M VERY GLAD THAT I DID GET THE BOARDS..

Ronnie