Found out Hepco Becker has designed a new "Lock It" pannier rack for the Super Tenere.
I ordered a HB / Pelican box set-up from Caribou. Those silly Germans forgot to thread the support brace. Roger at Caribou asked me what version of the rack I had. I guess the response "I don't know, you sold it to me" wasn't what he needed. Turns out I have the "Old" and now obsolete rack, and Roger had to machine the part for me in his shop. I was told new parts and racks are 4 weeks out. I'm still waiting for UPS to drop off the support brace (should be soon).
After some research on the German Hepco Becker website, I came across the instructions for the "New and improved" Lock It rack. It is designed to clear most aftermarket pipes. After looking at the old rack, and the new rack, HB clearly had to redesign the pannier rack to work with aftermarket mufflers. If I didn't get a weird part, and if Roger didn't comment, I wouldn't have know the difference. Do I wish I had received the newer rack? Kinda. Do I plan to get an aftermarket pipe system? Not yet, but it would be nice to have that option in the future. For what it matters, the old rack design looks much sturdier than the new design.
