Internet crapped out on me, sorry for any undue suspense. I went out yesterday and pulled the battery, which I've done before, but made it a point to pay attention this time. And... there was no mounting hardware. So, I put the edge of a screwdriver under the lip of this thing and gently pried it up, while waiting for the explosion or spontaneous time travel.
Note: I made sure to turn away and keep my mouth slightly open. This guy in Afghanistan told me that if you kept your mouth open during an IED hit it would keep the overpressure from blowing out your eyeballs. Better safe than sorry. Anyway, the thing ended up held on with chrome colored foam tape! WTF? The back end was closed up with a piece of plexiglass and it was just stuck to the front of the battery box. This is it:

So, I was kind of hoping for the stash box, but no such luck. It DOES look like a chrome hubcap. I am completely baffled at this point. Someone put this thing on for asthetics, I guess? I dunno, but still looking for an answer as to WHY it was there.
raydawg wrote on 11/13/12 at 16:12:41:NOooooooooooooo...........
Don't hit it or damage it. You have a "demo" bike, one that was especially made for the motorcycle shows, and was used to showcase the bike. Some were not chrome, but as you can see in the pix your smatter came as a chromed one. Very nice, lotta history.
Are you being serious? Why would they put on a piece of plastic chrome that doesn't do anything but make it harder to get to the carb.
On another note: I have a very shiny battery box mod for sale. MAKE AN OFFER!