Flat, from pillion to tail

[Travex]

Perhaps my search skills are lacking, but with all the luggage rack permutations out there I've been unable find a tail rack that's made to be level with the factory platform under the pillion seat other than Happy Trails. This would be a low CG/low cost solution that would eliminate the expense and quality pitfalls of altrider's offerings while still creating a longitudinal and relatively flat contiguous surface within the confines of the grab handles that would be ideal for larger duffles and/or rotopax. I've got a large drybag in need of such a cradle and I won't be spending 400 for a poorly implemented flat surface that cracks to stow it on.

 

[Don in Lodi]

I believe the Altrider comes with spacers so you run without their cubby and the top plate mounts lower on just spacers. If it doesn't come with spacers you can make some or have them made.

 

[Travex]

Good thought, thanks for that. Ideally I'd prefer something that extends as well as offering width support as I don't want a lazy bag/load hanging over and eclipsing taillight visibility from any angle. In addition to having past quality and damage issues with an Altrider product I topically understand that they've had problems with the integrity of their rack, although my loads shouldn't exceed any normal spec.

 

[Don in Lodi]

The integrity thing is with too much mass hard mounted to it and beating the crap out of it. Unless you plan on packing a ton out at the end of the rack and not over the 'seat' area where it belongs, you should be fine. There's a guy out there that built his own one piece rack that ran from the drivers seat clear back as far as he could want it to.

 

[Travex]

Thanks again. I'm with you on proper use and ballast and will keep an eye out for that guy's one piece idea, but maybe diy is the way to go. Wouldn't be tough, but I'd farm it out to a friend as my shop's thinned down considerably.

Nonetheless, it seems to me there's precious few affordable aftermarket accessories to accomodate such an obvious stowage advantage.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Very few. Have fun.

 

[Travex]

Thanks, likewise.

 

[CutterBill]

I made my own luggage rack...

I already had the soft bags and tail bag from my previous V-Strom. But when I called Twisted Throttle about buying just the install kit for my Tenere... nope; they only sell the complete kit with bags. So I made my own rack. I also turned the mounts for the side bags right-side up so now the loaded bags will slip over the mount and stay there, instead of falling to the ground. Anyway, photos attached for inspiration.

Oh, the extra red light behind the tail bag is an extremely bright LED light that I bought from etrailer.com. $13. It's wired into the brake circuit only.

 

[Travex]

Nice thinking, Bill... Looks like a safe and secure setup and a smart use of space! From what I can see I could likely mount the main plate a tad lower as I use oem panniers and their mounts aren't a concern. Gotta love that space there. Thanks for the brain food!

 

[Travex]

Found my solution for a little over $100 in a Nomad rack. Very heavy gauge, sensible, powder coated, variable levels, American aluminum. Thanks to user "okiegtrider" for the inspiration from his post.

 

[sheikyerbooty]

Custom made toolbox/ rack. Made a cardboard model and had a local shop fab it out of 3mm ally. Fits my footpump, tyre levers, tool roll etc. Sits about 20mm higher than pillion seat.

Mark

 

[Don in Lodi]

All that's missing is a couple tie down points for the chit that's needing to be strapped down. Nicely done, I bet those would sell if they went into production.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I like how you guys are not trying to rely only on the three bolts that hold the original little luggage rack. There've been some which did rely on those three bolts and they don't have the fore-aft distance to spread the load, resulting in cracks of either the structure or the rack. That's why the original load limit on the rack is so small.

This is basically a diving board:

 

[Travex]

Custom made toolbox/ rack. Made a cardboard model and had a local shop fab it out of 3mm ally. Fits my footpump, tyre levers, tool roll etc. Sits about 20mm higher than pillion seat.

Nice job, sheikyerbooty. Looks hard as a rock.

Mark

I like how you guys are not trying to rely only on the three bolts that hold the original little luggage rack. There've been some which did rely on those three bolts and they don't have the fore-aft distance to spread the load, resulting in cracks of either the structure or the rack. That's why the original load limit on the rack is so small.

This is basically a diving board:

Diving board indeed. Good call.

 

[sheikyerbooty]

thanks guys

Don...yep i've got some cabinet handles to go on but looking for stronger lashing point solution.

CW...removed 2 piece factory plastic rack assy and used 8mm threaded SS rod directly into 4 subframe fixing points. forward mounts were tight but doable

beats the plastic battery drill case i was using before!

 

[okiegtrider]

Found my solution for a little over $100 in a Nomad rack. Very heavy gauge, sensible, powder coated, variable levels, American aluminum. Thanks to user "okiegtrider" for the inspiration from his post.

Glad you like it. I learned of it from someone else on the board in that thread about cracking Altrider rear racks.

 

[pdksh]

I picked up an aluminum rack that replaces the passenger seat, was unpleasantly surprised it wasn't the same hight as the factory tail section. Not overly useful having a stepped rear section to tie stuff down too.

 

[Don in Lodi]

I haven't tried it, but doesn't the top portion separate from the lower allowing it to be put together without the lower? I do know there are problems with the thred lock on those bolts holding the two parts together. You could order the tail rack from Bumot, very stout.

 

[robp]

This video shows how to remove and lower the raised upper section of the rear rack to enable a flat surface over the pillion and rack sections.

 

[pdksh]

Thank You!

Much better solution!

This video shows how to remove and lower the raised upper section of the rear rack to enable a flat surface over the pillion and rack sections.