TOPIC:

I'm working on a 1980 B model touring and want to convert it to an A model. (I just can't ride around on a triple bagger) I've managed to pick up a rear tail piece for the A model but it seems that the brackets on the back of the 2 upper rails are not in the right place to bolt on the tail piece. I'm waiting for a tail light mount bracket coming from E bay. I could really use a pic of the top of the frame with maybe some dimensions. Can someone help me with this please. Thanks in advance for your help.

I can get you a photo of the rear sub frame of an A model tomorrow.
I did a similar conversion a few years ago with a B2 because I wanted the larger Euro style tank. And to keep your project going you will need the A model front fender, seat , rear fender and probably lower handle bars.
And once the fairing is off , you will need all the headlight fittings, turn signals etc.
The difficulty with the headlight parts is well discussed on this site.
Hope this helps you to get started

Thanks for offering up the help here.
I've picked up the headlight complete, an A model seat, a tail section, tail light bracket and a tail light. I'm a welder by trade and have tig equipment at home, so it shouldn't be that difficult for me.
I've looked at the xls spreadsheet for "parts" on this site but really don't have a complete picture of what's back there. I think that there's suppose to be a storage compartment in the tail section but not sure.
I'm also wondering about the crossbar between the 2 upper tubes that the tail section mounts to. It looks like it might be wider on the B model than the A model. How did you work around that? (trying to get all my questions out here and keep this post down to a minimum)

Hi Kawboy,

I have done this conversion and managed to keep the bike so I can swap both ways.

I got my measurements by bolting on the rear fender to the back of the plate that crosses the seat rails. Then offer the rear tail light and licence plate bracket to the rear fender to work out where the new mounts have to go on the top of the rails. then offer up the A2 seat (mounts to same points) and rear tail piece to see how tall the rear bracket mounts need to be.

I wanted to be able to use either arrangement so I had to flare out the metal on the sides of the rear light bracket to go over the B2 rear seat/luggage mounting point.

I also had to leave some of the rubber bumpers off the underside of the A2 seat because the B2 front seat mounts occupy the same space.

I have some photos on photobucket

s1195.photobucket.com/user/zed_thirteen/...to%20A2%20Conversion

s1195.photobucket.com/user/zed_thirteen/...%20B2%20seat%20rails

Hope they help
Regards
David (UK)

Thanks Zed_Thirteen!! Makes sense. I wait till I have the tail light bracket coming from Fleebay and see where it leads me.