Pannier Rack Mounting Points

[Tony Smith]

After the interest yesterday - here are the industrial lid latches fitted by my GSA's previous owner to the expedition boxes.

given what Hepco & Becker charge for significantly less robust latches, I fully approve:-)

[mrclubike]

Interesting MrClubike. So how did you mount them?
The ones I have are quite a bit smaller so I have some leeway  in placement as far as avoiding the seat.

Here is how I did it
But I would go more towards how the Hepco Beckers are done

[BPT]

Thanks for the ideas. I like the ingenuity of both but I'm not sure how easy they'll be to replicate.   I do like the idea of being able to easily remove them.
This does give me a couple of new ideas.

[mrclubike]

Here is another system for inspiration

[BPT]

Reviving this thread. Because of the sidecar, I was trying to fit the left side mount and it was giving me trouble.  I'm guessing the PO must have wrecked and bent them.  I fitted the right side and they go on with little trouble.  So it looks like I'll have to do some bending to make the other one fit.

Thanks to all who posted tips and pics here, it did help.  And I'm not sure if this post was during the time of some technical troubles, but I see replies here that I didn't see the first time around.

Justin - I've probably got the mount thing figured out but maybe I'll make it south someday and we can look at other stuff.

MrClu - on the last photo you posted, how do those connect at the top?  If I go the ammo box route, one idea in my head was similar to the hangers at the bottom, but I wasn't sure about the top.  Maybe a knob inside the box that threads onto a bolt on the mount?  Or a piece with a tab that you can turn and hook the top rail of the mount?  Both of those would make them easily removable.    I'm on my phone but just can't see clearly if it's there.

    Thanks again for the help and tips.

[mrclubike]

The rod goes thru tubes mounted at the top of he rack like in the other picture

[mrclubike]

This is what I have now
Not your average R65 when it comes to storage capacity

I do a lot of long distance trips and I am glad to be rid of the Krauser bags   

[mrclubike]

side view

[mrclubike]

Rear rack

[BPT]

Damn, that's a helluva set-up you've got there. You've probably got as much capacity as my sidecar.  So what are those boxes from? Or did you fabricate them somehow (sorry if you've already told us this...)?

Now that I look at the pic of the silver box again, I completely understand the attachment now.    Sorry, but I'm using my phone, it's not easy to get everything clearly.

And pardon me for being forward but Nice Rack.  Did you fabricate the rear one yourself?  That'd be be nice if I ever go to a solo seat.

      Thanks again for all the pics, they're super helpful.

[mrclubike]

Yes I made the rear rack
The Boxes are happy trails Brand
Model 9 inch Teton in Black

[nhmaf]

IT *looks* like you have the proper mounts - but maybe they have been bent by a PO?   I have the chrome mounts (without rear luggage rack) that appear very similar to yours on my R65LS without any modifications.

It is only the rack mounts with the integrated rear rack or with the bolt on "swivel" rack (these were Reynolds, I believe) that will run afoul of the longer tailpiece of the LS model - and essentially renders it useless or one ends up performing major surgery...

If yours isn't lining up properly, especially on the right side, maybe your rear shock top bolt isn't the in the correct hole at the top of the subframe - I've seen that problem before on some bikes, too!

MrClubike's panniers setup looks like it is perfectly ready for a rounder the world tour!

[BPT]

It's the left side that won't line up. And that's the only side I'd tried when I originally posted. Recently I decided to try the right side and it fit perfectly.  Since it's the two "legs" that don't line up with their holes, that's what gave me the idea that side might have gotten bent. The main rectangular (parallelogram?) Part of the frame looks straight and flat.

I'd like to think I'd have noticed if the shock bolts weren't right but anything is possible.  But I was staring down at both of them and seems like I would have seen if they were staggered.  I will check it though.

Since I have gotten the right side on, I'm sure I have the correct ones now.  Just need to figure out why the left one is out of spec now.

[Burt]

A really interesting and informative topic. 

I plan to build up a similar set of panniers and racks for a K75 as an outback tourer.  I'll scratch build everything and the hardest part is to design a suitably strong pannier rack.  In the past I have broken many a R65 pannier rack, with various mods to strengthen them as have others down here.  Dirt roads, pot holes and overloaded motorbikes don't really go well together. 

MrC, just a couple of questions.  Is your back rest just a lump of foam or a small container with a pad on the end?   I guess it would be removable to open the seat as well?
Also do you have any internal storage for fluids, namely water or fuel? 

Cheers, Burt. 

[mrclubike]

A really interesting and informative topic. 

I plan to build up a similar set of panniers and racks for a K75 as an outback tourer.  I'll scratch build everything and the hardest part is to design a suitably strong pannier rack.  In the past I have broken many a R65 pannier rack, with various mods to strengthen them as have others down here.  Dirt roads, pot holes and overloaded motorbikes don't really go well together. 

MrC, just a couple of questions.  Is your back rest just a lump of foam or a small container with a pad on the end?   I guess it would be removable to open the seat as well?
Also do you have any internal storage for fluids, namely water or fuel? 

Cheers, Burt. 

Hello Bert
The back rest is made of layers of dense foam
I just got a bunch of Kneeling pads and kept gluing them together until I got the right thickness and added a soft foam layer
It is Velcroed  to the box for easy removal to get the seat open

I don't have any water  or fuel storage
Here in the eastern US we have plenty of gas station (Compared to AUS) around so it is not really needed
But I do have to pay attention to my fuel out in the countryside where fuel is a little less available 

Our camping is done in state park and RV parks so we have plenty of water