SWMotech Racks - open discussion of issues

[SpeedStar]

As I posted in my Micatech thread, I pointed out that I was a little disappointed in the fit of the SWMotech racks.

The bags are great but I feel that the fit of the racks could have been better. They really sit wide, more than I feel they need to.

Mine are 39.5" wide at the front and 37.875" at the rear. With one bag tilted out more than the other side.

I just wonder if input back to SWMotech might be worthwhile feedback for them to be able to make adjustments going forward to improve the product.
I will take measurements with my recommendations for what amount can be changed and wonder if others might want to chime in here as well?

I did speak to Sue at Micatech and she was aware that there could be an issue. She is open to hearing from us with our concerns and passing that on to Twisted Throttle and SWMotech.

It might even be worthwhile for them to offer two versions, one asymmetrical and one symmetrical. I know this is not ideal for inventory but might open the possibility for more market share.

What do you guys think?

 

[jajpko]

I finished putting on mine on Sun. The whole thing was a mess that could have been better with good instructions. jmho..
After I got them on I notice the right rack was splayed out on the bottom but at least 1/2inch.

And as others have said, the racks splay at the front and I am not sure that is necessary. I will need to put the bags on and check to see if the right is splayed at the bottom.
If it is, out comes the torch and some fancy bending. Also new powder coating. That will not make me happy..

Let me also say, I expect after market parts to fit. I'm a little anal that way. Some may say screw it, not me.

 

[fredz43]

Last week I installed 3 sets of SW-M racks and 2 sets of their crash bars and I thought that the instructions were clear, with detailed pics, even for this old guy and they went on easily for me. I especially liked how the luggage rack tabs mounted and thought the fit of two bolts on the passenger peg brackets was well thought out, even using an existing threaded hole in the bracket to mount the tab.

Maybe I appreciated the SW-M instructions, etc because I have set up many, many Yamahas and their bike setup instructions generally suck.

 

[Gat]

After I got them on I notice the right rack was splayed out on the bottom but at least 1/2inch.

I have the same issue as Jim. The right side rack/ bag is tilted at an angle (see picture below). For now I have used a few washer to space out the upper mounting bobbins but I would prefer that the rack be correct. I may try bending the tubes but I am worried about cracked tubes/ cracked welds and split paint if I do so.

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mat

 

[jajpko]

That's it, the same as me. Also Rem posted a pick of his(I think it was Rem) and his right side was splayed at the bottom.
There is no excuse for this, as SW=Motech should have had a bike to use for guidance.

 

[colorider]

Last week I installed 3 sets of SW-M racks and 2 sets of their crash bars and I thought that the instructions were clear, with detailed pics, even for this old guy and they went on easily for me. I especially liked how the luggage rack tabs mounted and thought the fit of two bolts on the passenger peg brackets was well thought out, even using an existing threaded hole in the bracket to mount the tab.

Maybe I appreciated the SW-M instructions, etc because I have set up many, many Yamahas and their bike setup instructions generally suck.

I'm with Fred - no issues at all. Went on smooth, just as I expected from SW-Motech, having owned them before.

 

[roy]

hmm all this sounds all to familar to me. I had Jesse's on both my V-Strom's (650 and 1000) both fit like crap!! Jesse was NO help at all. Said right then I'd never buy aftermarket stuff again. Well fast forward to April 2011, bought a DR650, everyone said go Happy Trails. So I did, rack fit was aweful!! left side bag was higher in the rear than the right side. I went back and forth with HT for about a week. Finally said sell me another set of racks and if this solves the problem I will send you back the original ones and give me a credit. They did, same crappy fit and I mean identical problem. I slapped that crap on there and to this day I am living with it, all $700 bucks of it. :

So when it came time to buy for the Yamaha I bought OEM. Even thoguh everyone said the locks are junk the bags are plastic and cheap feeling. But you know what,,,they friggin fit on the bike and for the most part are the same on each side. Yes the locks are a pain lubed or not they still feel cheap. The whole bag feels cheap. The racks fit like a glove and if not for yamaha using stupid useless tamper proof screws on the racks the install would have been a 30 minute job.

So there you have it my painful stories, oh I almost left out Givi, had those on a Bandit 1250 and one V-strom, fit was good, product quality was good but decided against them on the S10 due to the width of the Trekker's.

 

[jajpko]

I'm with Fred - no issues at all. Went on smooth, just as I expected from SW-Motech, having owned them before.

Rod, are you using Micatech bags, and if you are, are the racks even(not splayed)?

 

[fredz43]

Here is a pic of the rear of mine with SW-Motech racks and Trax bags. I don't notice any splaying of the right side bags like we see on the Micatecs. Could it be a difference in either the bags or adapters for your bags?

 

[colorider]

Rod, are you using Micatech bags, and if you are, are the racks even(not splayed)?

No, I'm using the Givi Trekkers. If they are splayed (and I have no idea if they are), it is obviously not enough to catch the eye unless you make a point to LOOK for it (like so many things that tend to bother MC riders).

 

[jajpko]

Here is a pic of the rear of mine with SW-Motech racks and Trax bags. I don't notice any splaying of the right side bags like we see on the Micatecs. Could it be a difference in either the bags or adapters for your bags?

Fred, I think that could be the problem. Anyway mine are out at the bottom and will post a pick of just the racks.
At this point it really does not make much of a difference. I doubt that Micatech or SW-Motech will make it right.

 

[Gat]

Mine is definitely the rack. I put a level on the rack (the bike was on the centre stand, sitting level) and the left side had a slight taper in at the bottom (not noticeable) but the right side is tapered out at the bottom (quite a bit).

 

[switchback]

Only issue with the setup is that the 8X16MM bolts that are threaded in to the foot peg are too short to use with the provided washers. I had one set of threads start to strip with very light tightening, so I replaced the bolts with a 8X25mm bolt that extends through the mount. I would suggest at least an 8X20mm. My racks look alright, if they are off at all they are not noticeable.

 

[fredz43]

Here is another bike that we installed SW-M racks and bags on, this one with 37L bags on both sides. There may be the slightest bit of splaying on the right bag, it is hard to tell, but it does look like the rack is vertical.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Must admit I didn't notice it until I saw this thread. Now I see it. My wife spent 300 miles following me yesterday and the only comment I heard was it didn't look lopsided with the same size case on both sides. I see it, but not going to worry about that. I'm more annoyed that they are totally unsecure. I ordered the screw kit from Caribou. Still not fully secure, but much more difficult to remove than the 30 second removal of the quick lock.

screw kit
http://cariboucases.com/store/?name=Catalog&mode=i&item=000366

 

[fredz43]

It would be interesting to see what the measurement is between the right bag and rack at the top and between the rack and bag at the bottom. Could be my eye, but it seems that the rack is more perpendicular than the bag.

 

[Jakeboy]

I wrote a rather detailed e-mail to Micatech regarding the SW Motech racks, complete with pictures. PM me with your e-mail addresses if you would like a copy of it.

Sue (at Micatech), called me back today, and left a message that they were going to look into it. I inspected their side cases and they looked real good dimensionally. Very high quality of build.

The problem is either with SW Motech's racks (quality), or we're getting some kind of variance between the bikes (not very likely, IMO).

I don't know if SW Motech is going to give Sue much of a response, but she's promised to try and find out what's going on.

 

[jajpko]

I wrote a rather detailed e-mail to Micatech regarding the SW Motech racks, complete with pictures. PM me with your e-mail addresses if you would like a copy of it.

Sue (at Micatech), called me back today, and left a message that they were going to look into it. I inspected their side cases and they looked real good dimensionally. Very high quality of build.

The problem is either with SW Motech's racks (quality), or we're getting some kind of variance between the bikes (not very likely, IMO).

I don't know if SW Motech is going to give Sue much of a response, but she's promised to try and find out what's going on.

Thanks for doing that.. I hope Sue can do something.
I don't think it is the bike, but that can be checked.
I'm sure it is the racks and will spend more time checking them out and taking pics in the morning.

 

[SpeedStar]

I talked to Sue this morning first thing and with the input of owners here, maybe she has some leverage to go back to SWMotech and get some solutions for us.

 

[Jakeboy]

Thanks for doing that.. I hope Sue can do something.
I don't think it is the bike, but that can be checked.
I'm sure it is the racks and will spend more time checking them out and taking pics in the morning.

I think Sue will do what she can. She said she worked on it over the weekend after getting the pics on Fri.

It'd help if other guys that have these racks would check alignment. If they're off, other brands of cases should show some of the things we've seen.