Altrider Luggage Rack with Jesse Bags

[maddog5150]

I got a delivery today!! ::018:: (thanks Jaxon!!)

Altrider luggage rack in black

Here it is in the low position with no passenger seat. I have to say with the bags mounted as I have them, this rack barely fits in between there. In the low position the right side has maybe 1/8 or a 1/16 clearance. The left side is actually touching the bag, just barely.

Here it is in the high position with no passenger seat

And here it is high position with the passenger seat

Here is a closeup of the left side

The clearance issue is even more pronounced in the high position as the lids of the bags are a little closer together at the top than the actual sides of the bags. I could just drop in one or maybe 2 washers and it would all be fine, but I really want to keep my nice tight bag set up. I think I am actually going to bend the "wings" of the rack down a bit more. It really does not need much, just a tad to give me a little space there. Now the only thing is how to bend it? This is a pretty stout rack here. I do not want the middle rack area to bend at all, I just want to bend each side angle piece down a bit more. Any suggestions?

I do have to say that I love the rack, it really is a thing of beauty. Its gonna be a nice platform for hauling some serious gear and will soon also have a backrest for the MRS mounted up!

 

[ThatsLife]

That rack looks great, man! As far bending it goes be careful because aluminum can crack when bent. At least in my experience it's not like steel which is more malleable. Someone may be able to chime in with some educated suggestions though.

BTW, black Jesse bags were ordered yesterday. Thanks again for the pics!

 

[Yamaguy55]

I've carefully bent sheet aluminum with padded jaws in a vice, and also with parallel jaw, no teeth vice grips, also with pads. The Vice grips I'm referring to are designed to be used with sheet metal, not the common variety. I just so happen to have a set. I double up cardboard like that used on notebook backings, it works great and you're not tempted to keep it around. The reason I mention that is any soft material eventually becomes embedded with abrasive stuff, and will then scratch. If you use something you toss, you will be using fresh, hopefully non contaminated cardboard each time.
Take it easy and bend only as much as you have to, I think you will be successful.

 

[stevepsd]

Maddog,

What is the overall width of those bags mounted?

 

[maddog5150]

Maddog,

What is the overall width of those bags mounted?

35.5" across the back of the bags. This is with the rear passenger grab rails removed, and shorter bolts installed.

 

[maddog5150]

After thinking this over for another day, now I think I may just throw 1 washer on each side at the rear to make the extra room instead of bending the rack. I was hung up on keeping the bags really tight, but in the end if is 1/4" wider............ so what? ::021::

And for the record, anyone installing these with the jesse bags that still has the grab rails on, I am sure that there would be plenty of extra space for the rack to fit.

 

[Tremor38]

After thinking this over for another day, now I think I may just throw 1 washer on each side at the rear to make the extra room instead of bending the rack. I was hung up on keeping the bags really tight, but in the end if is 1/4" wider............ so what? ::021::

And for the record, anyone installing these with the jesse bags that still has the grab rails on, I am sure that there would be plenty of extra space for the rack to fit.

Thanks for all of the info. That's a good-looking setup.

I have some pretty snug-fitting cases coming in and have had the Alt Rider rack on my shortlist for quite awhile. Can I bother you to get a width measurement at the widest point of the rack?

Thanks ::001::

 

[maddog5150]

Thanks for all of the info. That's a good-looking setup.

I have some pretty snug-fitting cases coming in and have had the Alt Rider rack on my shortlist for quite awhile. Can I bother you to get a width measurement at the widest poin to the rack?

Thanks ::001::

No prob Tremor

The rack is 15.5" at the widest point. The widest point is towards the rear seat and it is wider on the bottom due to the "wings" that are bent down. Note that the rack is upside down in the pic....

 

[Tremor38]

Thanks for the measurement! The panniers I ordered still clear the handles, but that's accomplished with indentations in the lids, so I figure it's best to measure between them before ordering the Altrider rack.

Even so, I really like that rack and may go as far as to beg my way into a local metal-working shop to make 'adjustments' if need be. O0

 

[dcstrom]

Thanks for the measurement! The panniers I ordered still clear the handles, but that's accomplished with indentations in the lids, so I figure it's best to measure between them before ordering the Altrider rack.

Even so, I really like that rack and may go as far as to beg my way into a local metal-working shop to make 'adjustments' if need be. O0

Would that be the Diapson, by any chance? The ones on Davide Biga's bike?

 

[Tremor38]

Re: Re: Altrider Luggage Rack with Jesse Bags

Would that be the Diapson, by any chance? The ones on Davide Biga's bike?

Yessir. This is the one area where I'll over indulge, because I have such a bleeping hang-up concerning side cases! O0

Got the go ahead from the 'better half' to withdraw from the yen reserve. 8) I'm gonna 'owe' her for awhile.