Replacing my Front cowl

[HayaVegas]

Dealership allowed me a warranty covered full front fairing replacement due to a stress crack.

It has arrived, and if I want it on before 2 weeks from now, - I could go pick it up and put it on by myself. Or I could wait the 2 weeks and the dealer would do all the dirty work.

Now, I did this sort of thing a few times with the zx11, and it was a pain for sure, but I could figure out how to do it by just undo-ing what was hooked up, and it worked out. - I had a bit of trouble with the ram-air scoops, and that was the toughest part.

Well, with the busa, I am more nervous that since I NEVER have delved into it like that before, - I could get in over my head. I have to re-use the current Mounting brackets and stuff for the headlight...etc...because the new cowl comes plastic only. The busa bodywork is slick is harder to remove than the zx11 was, because it seems like its got some more interaction with other pieces in places you dont easily notice if you are a rookie with the bike. (like me)

QUESTION:::;;;

Is there anything I should know before I go for it? Are all peices re-usable or is there something likely to break if I dont know about it? Should I do it? Or do you think its worth letting the dealer do it.?

Appreciate any tips of hidden things I wouldnt know if taking apart the front cowl.

One good thing is it will allow me to replace the headlight bulbs with brighter ones. or HID.

[BigBSBusa]

Shouldn't be a problem. Nothing tricky about it. All pieces should be easily removable from one and put on the other. If you are really careful it may take an hour to complete.

[shenoyp]

Its pretty easy... just take your time, and be gentel!! ...having a another person along with you to help you out.. would be handy

[nitrousjunkie]

Yeah, scratching the front fender, lay a towell on it while youre working!

[him]

what i found the hardest part was getting those damn holes on the mirror to line up correctly

[HayaVegas]

Well, I did it. It was "relatively" easy, - easy now that I have done it...but it took some thinking and a very slow deliberate approach the first time.

I must admit that it is a bit nerve-wracking hearing little bits of plastic creak and click while trying to pull it off and put it on.

Check out this crap though:

I removed the front cowl last night so that this morning I could pick up the new one from the dealer and just transfer the headlight and stuff over to it when I got home.

I go to the dealer who specifically told me to just pick it up and put it on myself because they couldnt do it for 2 weeks....- so I show up and they bring out the wrong color. Black/silver instead of RED/Black.

Im standing there thinking, great now I have to put my front cowl back on and its all for nothing because I still gotta come back to the dealer and have them do it...because the service manager said that the guy who told me to do it myself was wrong.

This was a warranty replacement, and they need to do the work there at the shop, and take my old one. So needless to say, I was pretty pissed since that dealership is a long way from where I live.

Good news is, I put the thing back on, and now I know how to do it and it seems a lot easier now. But it still is awkward sliding it onto the ram air intakes without hearing a lot of plastic protesting.

[BigBSBusa]

Removing the plastics is not the most comfortable thing to do your baby until you've done it a few times. Soon you'll be able to do it like you can undo your woman's bra strap with one hand!

[nitrousjunkie]

Removing the plastics is not the most comfortable thing to do your baby until you've done it a few times.  Soon you'll be able to do it like you can undo your woman's bra strap with one hand!  

Yep, hes right! I can do it with 2 fingers! LOL!