vex, I am sort of at a stand-still with my box project at this time and as you defined, it is the connection to the upper shock mount. I will feel much better if I take it to my service department being on the 2012 the inner saddle cannot be removed to see the shock mounts, That is the difference I attempted to explain to htcneil2 plus a couple install areas. The steel bottom plate shows to be mounted using spacers and they do not show how to attach them. Further, the two bolts under the black rubber cap if removed, will any of that back-end drop out of set-up and create difficulty there also? In other words vex, the whole set-up diagram and parts procedure are terrible. Another problem taking it to service will create...if they mount the rods and the plate is not yet installed, possible the rods should not be tightened yet until other part are in place to tighten all at once. I couldn't get in there to tighten those upper shock bolts. Appreciate the input on all this and hope will hear from GIVI.