Sissy bar question

08mastiff

Active Member
I have an 08 Mastiff that came with the full sissy bar / pillion pad set up. The only time the sissy bar is on is when I am riding a passenger, otherwise it is off. Does anyone know where I can get the covers for the strut holes. More importantly there is a bushing / spacer that is seated in the strut that receives the sissy bar end and stiffens up the sissy bar as you tighten down on the bolts. As many of you know the end of the sissy bar is tapered and this bushing / spacer receives the end of the sissy bar firmly in the strut hole. When I went to put on my sissy bar the other day I noticed they were gone. Must have popped out while hitting bumps at high speeds. I need this piece as well, one for each side. No matter how much you tighten on the sissy bar bolts there is front to back play without this spacer. Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated.

John
 

PurpleDog

Well-Known Member
Interesting that I've never heard of or seen this bushing / spacer you mention. I know that neither my K9 or Coyote has one, just the sissy bar that slides into the struts/receiver.
 

nine lives

Active Member
On my 06 the hole in the strut is counter bored, top side to accept the sissy bar, bottom to accept the bolt to attach the sissy bar. The spacer your refering to, at least on mine, is the strut material it's self that makes up this "bushing" As I said, the hole on top and bottom is counter bored with the material left in the center to act as a bushing.
 

BWG56

Guru
What your talking about is the new designed sissybar mounting. It uses a tappered bushing on the end of the sissy bar so it expands when you tighten the bolt to take up for tolerances on the sissy bar. They just slip in and out. The plug your refering to should have been given to you by the dealer if you bought it new.
The only thing to do now is to wait and see if parts will be the new business for BD and then get them. I cut the tapper off and used SS socket head bolts so it won't bust my strut again.

http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/s...8-syssy-bar-k9.html?highlight=18+SYSSY+BAR+K9
 

08mastiff

Active Member
What your talking about is the new designed sissybar mounting. It uses a tappered bushing on the end of the sissy bar so it expands when you tighten the bolt to take up for tolerances on the sissy bar. They just slip in and out. The plug your refering to should have been given to you by the dealer if you bought it new.
The only thing to do now is to wait and see if parts will be the new business for BD and then get them. I cut the tapper off and used SS socket head bolts so it won't bust my strut again.

http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/s...8-syssy-bar-k9.html?highlight=18+SYSSY+BAR+K9
Ker you hit the nail on the head.....that's exactly what I am talking about. I never thought to remove that tapered bushing from the strut when not using the sissy bar. Didn't think it would pop out like it did. If anyone has any suggestions how to get them please let me know.....not sure what to do. Maybe gonna have to try and rig something up. And just some further info for you I bought it used and the bar was on the scoot. Previous owner never took it off.....Thank again guys! :up:
 

Chirishman

Member
I was browsing through the galleries one night and saw a members bike that had these really cool spike plugs for the stut holes when the sissy bar was not on..He had a comment attached with the photo mentioning them..I have CRS (cant remember shit) otherwise Id give you his member name to look it up.
 

BWG56

Guru
Ker you hit the nail on the head.....that's exactly what I am talking about. I never thought to remove that tapered bushing from the strut when not using the sissy bar. Didn't think it would pop out like it did. If anyone has any suggestions how to get them please let me know.....not sure what to do. Maybe gonna have to try and rig something up. And just some further info for you I bought it used and the bar was on the scoot. Previous owner never took it off.....Thank again guys! :up:
you could have someone or do it yourself cut .75 or 3/4" off both ends and chamfer the edge and use it without the tappered bushings. If you do, then you should use stainless steel bolts. I did this to mine and it works just fine, make sure the diameter of the bar will fit the hole in the strut first. If you do use the tappered bushings, make sure you don't put the slot in it at the thinest part of the strut. I'll measure and see if I can locate them tomorrow. They look like they are standard tappered bushings.
 

Chopperman

Member
Just leave your sissy bar on! I have a luggage rack, and a role bag on all the time. I guess I'm not to worried about the looks of the bike. It's sexy either way!
 

BWG56

Guru
I just talked to Blackdogmotorcycle in Wormlysburg, Pa. and they have the inserts to fill the holes in the struts, chrome and polished, these are the plugs for the holes not the tapered bushings for the sissybar.
Give Mike a call 717-975-2600
 

08mastiff

Active Member
I just talked to Blackdogmotorcycle in Wormlysburg, Pa. and they have the inserts to fill the holes in the struts, chrome and polished, these are the plugs for the holes not the tapered bushings for the sissybar.
Give Mike a call 717-975-2600
Big Time thanks on that. That will eliminate half of my problems!!!:2thumbs:
 

BWG56

Guru
Big Time thanks on that. That will eliminate half of my problems!!!:2thumbs:
Send me a PM or an e-mail with your e-mail address and I can give you a drawing of the tapered bushing you need. If you know any machine shops around you, they can make you 2.
 

BFB

Bad dog, no bisquit
Did Mike at Blackdog give any hint as to what he was going to do now that BigDog is out?
 

BFB

Bad dog, no bisquit
Cool. I plan on stopping in on my way over to the Stugis Roadshow Saturday
 
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