Hitch Install, GL1500

I would think so..hard to work behind them maybe possible but tough???

There is a way to lift the whole trunk assembly up w/o disconnection all the wires and cables look under rear wheel replacement or tire change threads. there is a video on it some place ..I'll look around too.

Also some hitches require you to cut away part of the rear fender..just so happens I have one that is cut away for sale if that's the case on your install and you wan to keep your rear fender intact..let me know $25 for my cut away fender..it's from a 97.

The bags are very easy to take off/on...don't let that bother you.

It can be done with the bags on but, it is much easier with the bags off. I did mine with the bags on. won't make that mistake again.

Thanks for the replies, planned on taking the bags off to do rear end maintenance, so looks like I get the hitch sooner than later...and do it all at once..

RB said:

I would think so..hard to work behind them maybe possible but tough???

There is a way to lift the whole trunk assembly up w/o disconnection all the wires and cables look under rear wheel replacement or tire change threads. there is a video on it some place ..I'll look around too.

Also some hitches require you to cut away part of the rear fender..just so happens I have one that is cut away for sale if that's the case on your install and you wan to keep your rear fender intact..let me know $25 for my cut away fender..it's from a 97.

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Been giving some thought on getting a hitch. Never heard about possibly having to cut the fender. Are there specific brands/model hitches to avoid having to cut the fender??
BTW,,,,, my bike is a '97 Aspy

I do not know about older years, but I never cut anything on mine. It fits out just under the factory plastic.
It really needs to be installed with the bags off because of the 'U' bolts that go over the bag frames. Keep in mind you might have to do some playing with clamp tightness. Maybe I got a cheap hitch or something, but if I snug everything too much it tweaks the frames just a bit and makes it tough to get the bag holes to line up (mounting bolts). I am going to line it up and drill new holes in the brackets this spring.
Also, the hitch has to come off to get the rear wheel off. Not a big deal, but adds about 15 minutes to each side of the equation.

Winger77 said:

Been giving some thought on getting a hitch. Never heard about possibly having to cut the fender. Are there specific brands/model hitches to avoid having to cut the fender??
BTW,,,,, my bike is a '97 Aspy

Click to expand...

Most, but not all the hitches I have seen for 1500's (including the one I had) were of the horizontal receiver variety and the receiver was just below the rear fender so no cutting was necessary... Later model bikes and hitches did incorporate vertical receivers but still did not require cutting of the rear fender...

Les

If you check my signature there are some plans for the hitch I made for my 1200 & is now on my 1500, nothing needs to be removed or cut . We have towed our trailers coast to coast & all over N America for about $20.00. :waving:

96aspencade said:

If you check my signature there are some plans for the hitch I made for my 1200 & is now on my 1500, nothing needs to be removed or cut . We have towed our trailers coast to coast & all over N America for about $20.00. :waving:

Click to expand...

Thanks, one thing I wished I had learned to do was weld....:?

Phone a friend :?:?
Unless you are pulling a really heavy trailer I'd be tempted to think some plates double bolted over the cuts & maybe some JB Weld thrown in would do the trick :waving:

I bought a used hitch with no instructions. No one told me to pull the bags so I just did it with the bags on. The U-Clamps went between the bag and frame with some reasonable force. I did not need to cut the fender and I also have the lower bag spoiler/air dam. No problems. Mine is a Markland platform hitch.

When it came time to do the tire change, I did the up and over method so hitch, spoiler, bags, etc. all stayed together.