SDR 1290 tail tidy adapted to the 801

[Tom]

Here the summarized pics of how an aftermarket SDR 1290 tail tidy can be adapted to the 801.

What I've done:
A baseplate is added, the powerdercoating is stripped, the mounting angle of the tail tidy (to mount it to the baseplate) is corrected, the outer contour of the tail tidy is modified, a mounting-block is added, the angle of the registration plate is corrected to about 45°, a new black coating is added.

 

[Tom]

 

[Tom]

A pic from todays daytrip...
From what I've just read in a KTM forum, it seems to be a common problem with the SDR 1290 Evotech tail tidy and also with the Chinese "version"; especially here in Germany with our huge registration plates and the (legal) possibility to ride the bikes with more than 200km/h over a longer period of time (what I sometimes indeed do); finally it seems to be a design/fabrication flaw...

 

[DKE]

Damn, the plate completely sheared off due to wind resistance? Surprised that you managed to find the plate afterwards, if it did

 

[Tom]

I don't think it's just the air/wind resistance; but also the vibrations at high rpms; and especially the very sharp radius of the bent at the license plate mounting plate; that is fabricated from aluminum.
Luckily it broke in a 30 km/h zone; and I noticed it as I drove over it; otherwise the license plate would have been gone.
Here another pic.

 

[Tom]

Today I checked the spare license plate mounting plate; it's from factory nearly cut at the bent; no wonder that it broke...

 

[DKE]

So they are intentionally introducing a point of failure?

 

[Tom]

Don't know why it should be done intentionally, but yes, at the bent the structure of the plate is heavily weakend from the manufacturing process, where the plate finally brakes.

 

[toast449]

So they are intentionally introducing a point of failure?

Stamping that line in usually prevents failure because it allows a sharper bend. If you ever put thick aluminum in a bending jig you will see all the stress lines and mini fractures appear on the far side from stretching. This is a way to alleviate that. But not a great idea on something that essentially has a sail attached to it. The vibrations will work harden the aluminum and it will eventually break.

I would just make the plate mount itself out of steel. Thinner, easier to bend and won't work harden the same way.

 

[Tom]

Now with a small additional bracket made from stainless steel...

 

[blue_monkey]

That looks really good Tom. An upgrade!

 

[Tom]

That looks really good Tom. An upgrade!

Thanks Ray