SW-Motech racks

[fredz43]

Has anybody else installed these yet? If so, what did you do for the license plate bracket? You have to remove the OEM bracket to install the SW-M cross piece that goes from one rack to the other. At first I thought I would just drill two new holes in the fender to line up with the license plate holes, but then you would have to replace the SW-M provided hex head bolts with something like flat heads. Another choice is to remount the OEM bracket lower, again by drilling two new holes. There probably are other choices, but since lots of guys have gotten these racks, I thought I would see what others did before I make any rash moves.

 

[martinh]

Is it me or does those blinkers look huge?

good to know about the brackets I plan on getting the same ones.

 

[ST-venture]

I plan on installing my racks tomorrow. I would be interested in what other find as well.

 

[phplemel]

I just drilled two new holes in my lic plate & used same bolts to install lic plate & bracket

 

[fredz43]

I just drilled two new holes in my lic plate & used same bolts to install lic plate & bracket

That would work. Thanks.

 

[Jeff]

I get my SW-Motech racks tomorrow and I was planing on installing them tomorrow night so this is a good heads up for me. So Thx guys!!

;D

 

[rem]

I just drilled two new holes in my lic plate & used same bolts to install lic plate & bracket

Worked for me. Very tidy. R

 

[rem]

Regarding the rack installation, I went through the instructions and put all the little pieces together first. Bolts, nuts, parts that were associated with a particular spot. Taped the ends if no nut to keep the washers on, or to keep the bolt in the part. Labeled them all ... LF, LR, RF, RR etc/ After doing that, assembly went very quickly. It's easy to mix them up so get them all sorted out first and it goes good.

Leave the brackets loose until you have all four points attached, then snug 'er down. R

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Right now I have my temp tag hanging on with some zip ties. But I like the idea of drilling new holes in the plate.

 

[fredz43]

After thinking about this for a bit, the answer was simple. Behind the plate and behind the bracket, the fender has two channels where the holes are drilled for the OEM bracket. All you have to do is remove the OEM bracket, hold your plate up to the channeled area of the fender and drill two corresponding holes outboard of the original holes, located where the two holes are already in your plate. Very simple and you never have to worry about drilling holes in your license plates in the future or possibly getting into trouble for defacing your plate. Don't know why I didn't think of that the first time, but that is how mine is now.

 

[colorider]

After thinking about this for a bit, the answer was simple. Behind the plate and behind the bracket, the fender has two channels where the holes are drilled for the OEM bracket. All you have to do is remove the OEM bracket, hold your plate up to the channeled area of the fender and drill two corresponding holes outboard of the original holes, located where the two holes are already in your plate. Very simple and you never have to worry about drilling holes in your license plates in the future or possibly getting into trouble for defacing your plate. Don't know why I didn't think of that the first time, but that is how mine is now.

This is exactly how I did mine (but then Randy told me first how he did his).............

There are advantages to waiting a day or two and see how others do it!!!

One thing I noted is that Randy had a slight interference between the reflectors on the license bracket and the SW-Motec rack and had to bend them slightly. Mine fit just fine, so not sure what the difference was.
Might have to do a side-by-side comparison.

 

[fredz43]

So, Rod, you still have the reflector bracket on? I removed that and just use the SW-M bracket.

 

[rem]

My OEM bracket is toast. You can always add reflectors or reflective tape if desirable. Up here, if it's dark, it's probably too cold to ride anyway. R

 

[SpeedStar]

Fred, that was exactly how I did mine so I would not have to drill my plate or plate frame. I also put four washers between the outer surface of the Motech bar and the back of the plate to keep it off of the brace and sit even. Looks very clean.

 

[3putt]

I just mounted my racks. I installed the original license plate holder with side reflectors on top of the SW-Motech bar. The bolts are just long enough to catch the lock portion of the nuts. So I have OEM reflectors and license plate mount.

I did drop a security washer that holds the quick disconnect bolt in the rack when you remove the rack. I guess I dropped it, anyway only had 7. When ever I drop something in my garage with the rubber pads to walk on spread around, seems the part just disappears! Need a 12 year old with good eyesight, he would find a lot of stuff!

P.S. I didn't realize that you had to order mounting kit in addition to the panniers and rack, so I have a rack and panniers, but they just look at each other from across the garage.

 

[fredz43]

I guess by "mounting kit" you mean the adapters for whichever bags you are going to use?

 

[Jeff]

I just mounted my racks. I installed the original license plate holder with side reflectors on top of the SW-Motech bar. The bolts are just long enough to catch the lock portion of the nuts. So I have OEM reflectors and license plate mount.

I did drop a security washer that holds the quick disconnect bolt in the rack when you remove the rack. I guess I dropped it, anyway only had 7. When ever I drop something in my garage with the rubber pads to walk on spread around, seems the part just disappears! Need a 12 year old with good eyesight, he would find a lot of stuff!

P.S. I didn't realize that you had to order mounting kit in addition to the panniers and rack, so I have a rack and panniers, but they just look at each other from across the garage.

I mounted my racks just like you. I used the same bolts that are part of the license plate frame. I plan on replacing the bolts with some longer ones but I'll have cut the old ones out as they are welded in.

 

[colorider]

So, Rod, you still have the reflector bracket on? I removed that and just use the SW-M bracket.

Yep - I have it installed. Looks fine.

 

[Kidder]

I am disappointed by how asymmetrical those racks are.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Anyone thought of how to secure the rack to the bike? I used the big black springy connectors. Even with my cases connected it would take me less than 60 seconds to walk off with the case and the rack. Not exactly secure.