Like most of you with an air shock suspension I have found it a pain to get my stubby fingers around the valve in order to use the air pump. The following pictures will show what I did. Sorry these pictures are the finish product. I wish I would have done a step-by-step photos which may have made it easier for you to understand or to do yourself.
This did not take any mechanical skills. All very basic. The only thing I did was use a vice to straighten out the mounting bracket and bend it to the angle(s) that worked for me.
This picture shows the air valve now located on the bolt (1/2 inch bolt) that holds the front saddlebag bracket. The factory location is the torx bolt (#27 bolt) that attaches the saddlebag mount bar. This is the flat head torx bolt to the right of the shock under the chrome 4-point mounting bracket.
Now you can see the air valve bracket up close mounted to the saddlebag mounting bracket. Notice that the bracket is now flat after I flatten it in a vice. There was a plastic tie clip on the air lines that I remove (cut) and put another tie holding the air lines in place closer to the new mounting location. Make sure you do not crimp the air lines.
View from above looking down at the top of shock (black) and the air valve in front of it.
Now looking from the right side of the bike at the left side saddlebag. Air valve is at front of the arch opening of the saddlebag. Hard to see here.
Now looking from the rear of bike with saddlebag mounted and solo seat. The black valve cover (look hard, it's there) is mounted on the bracket (silver) pointing at a 1 0'clock position toward the solo seat.
I use to be able to attach the pump only if I open the saddlebag top and squeezed my fingers in there. It was not easy. My only other choice was to remove the entire saddlebag which really became a pain in the butt. Now I reach the valve, attach the air pump with the saddlebag closed. With the solo seat it is a piece of cake. With the rear seat mounted I can still attached the air pump MUCH easier than before. I have a 17 inch Mustang Solo seat with a 13.5 inch rear (pillion) Mustang seat. I believe that this will still work if you have the 15.5 inch rear seat. Not sure but I think it would work.
I hope this helps some of you that have to change seats and air pressure 2 or 3 times a week like I do when the wife wants to go along. It took about 1/2 hour of work and most of the time was bending the mounting bracket to the right angle (by taking the saddlebag off and on) until I got it where I wanted it.
Good luck if you want to try it.
This did not take any mechanical skills. All very basic. The only thing I did was use a vice to straighten out the mounting bracket and bend it to the angle(s) that worked for me.
This picture shows the air valve now located on the bolt (1/2 inch bolt) that holds the front saddlebag bracket. The factory location is the torx bolt (#27 bolt) that attaches the saddlebag mount bar. This is the flat head torx bolt to the right of the shock under the chrome 4-point mounting bracket.
Now you can see the air valve bracket up close mounted to the saddlebag mounting bracket. Notice that the bracket is now flat after I flatten it in a vice. There was a plastic tie clip on the air lines that I remove (cut) and put another tie holding the air lines in place closer to the new mounting location. Make sure you do not crimp the air lines.
View from above looking down at the top of shock (black) and the air valve in front of it.
Now looking from the right side of the bike at the left side saddlebag. Air valve is at front of the arch opening of the saddlebag. Hard to see here.
Now looking from the rear of bike with saddlebag mounted and solo seat. The black valve cover (look hard, it's there) is mounted on the bracket (silver) pointing at a 1 0'clock position toward the solo seat.
I use to be able to attach the pump only if I open the saddlebag top and squeezed my fingers in there. It was not easy. My only other choice was to remove the entire saddlebag which really became a pain in the butt. Now I reach the valve, attach the air pump with the saddlebag closed. With the solo seat it is a piece of cake. With the rear seat mounted I can still attached the air pump MUCH easier than before. I have a 17 inch Mustang Solo seat with a 13.5 inch rear (pillion) Mustang seat. I believe that this will still work if you have the 15.5 inch rear seat. Not sure but I think it would work.
I hope this helps some of you that have to change seats and air pressure 2 or 3 times a week like I do when the wife wants to go along. It took about 1/2 hour of work and most of the time was bending the mounting bracket to the right angle (by taking the saddlebag off and on) until I got it where I wanted it.
Good luck if you want to try it.