ST1300 Dash Shelves

[NewsMag]

I believe there are three competing vendors selling dashboard shelves for the ST1300. There is one made by LD Rider Bill McAvan at BLM Accessories. By all accounts a fine product. http://www.blm-accessories.com/acc_list.php?category=9 This shelf is made from aluminum.

There is also the Buck shelf, made from steel, which is also sold by CST. It blocks the lowest windshield setting for the electric adjustment. I don't believe the shield hits the shelf, but the mounting brackets physically stop the adjuster. If you don't have the electric window, the Buck shelf will not fit at all.

I went with the third alternative, an aluminum shelf of different design. You can't magnetically mount the XM antenna, but I bought a little Roady bracket for that. The shelf is made by Ron Smith, who does not have a website, but is generally responsive via email.

You can see a close-up of my install in the attached file.

Additional information:
I got the shelf in the picture from Ron Smith directly. He did not have a web page or a distributor at the time, and I don't think he does now. I snail mailed him a check after corresponding via email. He charged me $75 for the shelf and $10 for S&H, $85 total. The shelf is aluminum, comes with two (steel not black) bolts to replace those at the top of the dash, and requires NO mods or cutting of plastic.

*** UPDATE *** May, 2005 ***
I'm sorry to report that Ron Smith passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 27, 2005. I don't believe there are any plans to continue production of this design.
*** end UPDATE ***

I'm quite happy with the shelf, but at 6' even with the seat on the middle position, I can't see the turn signal indicators without ducking.

Excellent install instructions from CrazyKZ are at:
http://www.hard-core-ware.com/howtos/index.php?page=shelf

Hope this info is helpful!

Steve Kelley - STOC #77
Mountain Green, Utah

[dond]

FWIW, the BLM I have is SS (it's not SS, my error).
I STuck a steel washer to the dash with 3m tape and the XM ant STicks juST fine to the washer.

Very rarely drops the signal on top of the shelf.

[crazykz]

Thanks for the plug Steve. ;)

I hope someone finds it useful. It took me longer to write it up than it did to install but it seems to be that way with all my projects.

Curt

[nyener]

crazykz,
Your installation instructions were some of the best I've ever read anywhere. I appreciate all the time you had to have spent writing them up. I've ordered the BLM shelf though because Bill @ BLM assured me that the directional indicator lights on the dash were visible. I hope that the installation is somewhat easier than you experienced.

[ligito]

I mounted a single Yellow LED, on the top right edge of the instrument cowl, with diodes from each turn signal circuit.

You only need one indicator to remind you that either one is on.

This one, small addition will give you the flexibility of using whichever dash shelf you wish.