How to convert the rear seat for additional carrying capacity

[RomKnight]

At the time I messed up with mine just to check how long it would take (it still takes too long : ) i've already read Greg's post.

I though about leaving it that way, but I dislike the pillion seat above the cabbage carrier...

 

[fredz43]

Awesome video Fredz... Just the kind of stuff all us XT1200Z geeks need to get us through until May. I think this is a great way to set the bike up, and I'll probably use this set up to incorporate a back rest for touring sessions.

I was thinking that I may leave mine like that also. I never ride with a pillion, now that my wife has given up riding. I have a Kaw tailpack that I left on my KLR all the time and it is very handy. I think it will fit perfectly in that spot with the rear seat removed.

Here is a pic of it on my KLR.

 

[ptfjjj]

Just saw an interesting tidbit on the touratech-usa.com website. They state that the grab handles must be removed for this configuration? and they offer a height adjustment device to allow the rear rack to sit just a little bit higher to accommodate the grab handles. I noticed in the service manual that the grab handles are removed during the process, so I wonder if it was resting on the grab handles in the video and if for it to fit secure to the lower bracket that the grab handles have to be left off? I guess that this would not be significant if you plan to leave it that way and only ride 1 up. I also noticed that Greg had removed the grab handles on the Wasp thread on ADVrider, but I was not sure if he attempted otherwise since it was just in passing while he had the bike up on the rack for other purposes.

 

[fredz43]

Let' me see if I understand your question.

I did find Touratech's stuff by doing a search for XT1200Z on their site. Found this: http://www.touratech-usa.com/Store/PN-046-0616/Luggage-Rack-Pillion-Seat-Yamaha-XT1200Z-Super-Tenere and this http://www.touratech-usa.com/Store/PN-046-0633/Height-Adjustment-for-Factory-Luggage-Rack-Yamaha-XT1200Z-Super-Tenere
but I don't understand the second one. As you can see in my video, you don't have to remove the grab rails to lower the rack for more capacity. They can be, but don't have to be. I guess I am missing something in their explanation.

Here is a pic of the rack lowered, rear seat off and grab bars in place.

 

[Chadx]

Thanks for that, Devin. I clicked that link, but didn't get a place to paste the hyperlink.

Thanks for the vid, fredz43!

For the embedded vid (or pics or link), this forum software works a bit different than other forums. You don't get a popup box when you go to insert things like images and links. It just inserts those tags directly into your post and you paste the URL between the start and end tags.

 

[HoebSTer]

Thanks for the video fred. Touratech just wants you to install a $300 rack on top of the Yamaha one to have more access points!!! Someone is smoking some good stuff there!!!

 

[ptfjjj]

fredz43, that second link is what I was referring to, and, yes, I think they did not do their homework before they posted that statement. It is nice to have the info straight from you along with your video with the hands on proof.

 

[Jakeboy]

If you're going crosswise with your duffle, I don't see any advantage to removing the seat (although perhaps other panniers might be more level with the top of the rack rather than the seat like the OEM panniers). The beauty of this arrangement is the ability to mount your duffle, tent, pad, chair, etc. "torpedo style", keep the bike relatively narrow, and keep the top of side boxes accessible. That's how I pack my V-Strom which has a rear seat level with the rear rack.

- Mark

I'm going with the Micatechs, so the duffle will end up laying over the tops of the cases, which is OK with side loaders. Losing the pillion pad and grab handles might get the duffle load a tad lower, which couldn't hurt. Going cross ways with the duffle gets the weight more forward which would help. I'm still debating whether or not to run a top case on long trips. I've always used one on my Strom, but may just use a top case on the S10 for local errand running or short, non-camping excursions and run the side cases for long trips only.

Decisions, decisions! I wish I had the bike so I could play around with different packing scenarios and combinations.

 

[toompine]

I was thinking that I may leave mine like that also. I never ride with a pillion, now that my wife has given up riding. I have a Kaw tailpack that I left on my KLR all the time and it is very handy. I think it will fit perfectly in that spot with the rear seat removed.

Here is a pic of it on my KLR.

Mark, can you clarify who makes that tailpack? Is that a kawasaki item?

Opps, that was a question for Fred :-[

 

[fredz43]

Yes, that is a Kawasaki item. You can find vendors on ebay that sell them. It was listed for the 07 and previous KLR's and I used it on my older KLR and it worked great on my 08 also. They had a newer model listed for the 08+ KLR's with a hard top. but this one always fit the bill for me, so I kept it. I think it will fit on the Super T just fine.