SWMotech Racks - open discussion of issues

[colorider]

go back to SWMotech and get some solutions for us.

You may have to first convince them there are PROBLEMS before they offer any SOLUTIONS!

I'd venture a guess that most any aftermarket rack is not exactly the same width front to back on most bikes.

BTW, I did look closer at mine and they are in fact splayed. Not a big deal, IMHO - but I can understand where it may bother some people.

Good luck!

Rod

 

[jajpko]

You may have to first convince them there are PROBLEMS before they offer any SOLUTIONS!

I'd venture a guess that most any aftermarket rack is not exactly the same width front to back on most bikes.

BTW, I did look closer at mine and they are in fact splayed. Not a big deal, IMHO - but I can understand where it may bother some people.

Good luck!

Rod

As you say, IYHO, it is not a problem. But with some of us it is. That could be, because we still expect quality workmanship.
I expect to get what I am paying for.
The country, IMHO, is going to crap because of people accepting junk. They accept the poor quality from China, not only in hard products but in pet food that poison our pets. You know, just plain junk.

It will not be hard to prove it is a problem, but it will be hard to have the right people step up to the plate and accept it for what it is..

 

[colorider]

As you say, IYHO, it is not a problem. But with some of us it is. That could be, because we still expect quality workmanship.
I expect to get what I am paying for.
The country, IMHO, is going to crap because of people accepting junk. They accept the poor quality from China, not only in hard products but in pet food that poison our pets. You know, just plain junk.

It will not be hard to prove it is a problem, but it will be hard to have the right people step up to the plate and accept it for what it is..

My point was that being splayed may not be considered a problem and may very well be by design. It has nothing to do with China or pet food.

 

[Jakeboy]

I've owned 3 sets of Givi racks, one set of Caribou's and a set of Happy Trails on previous bikes and haven't had this before.

The ST is a brand new bike here, so maybe it's an issue of subtle differences between the US and Canadian model bikes, and the Euro version that SW Motech used to design and fit the racks to initially. Sue at Micatech is aware of this possibility.

Just have to wait and see, I guess.

 

[jajpko]

My point was that being splayed may not be considered a problem and may very well be by design. It has nothing to do with China or pet food.

If it was by design, the designer needs to be fired..

I'm not talking about the front to rear difference, although I believe that is wrong.
what I'm talking about is the right side rack not sitting plum to the bike.. That cannot be a design.

Maybe if you went back and looked at the pics that were posted you may see what I'm talking about.
If not I will post pics tomorrow of mine.
I am happy to see it is not just me, and we may have a chance to have it corrected.

 

[rem]

I'm not seeing it on my setup. Maybe it's there, but it's not jumping out at me. I'll have another look in better light tomorrow. I currently have the panniers off, so hard to tell. R

 

[fredz43]

You may have to first convince them there are PROBLEMS before they offer any SOLUTIONS!

I'd venture a guess that most any aftermarket rack is not exactly the same width front to back on most bikes.

BTW, I did look closer at mine and they are in fact splayed. Not a big deal, IMHO - but I can understand where it may bother some people.

Good luck!

Rod

Rod, are yours splayed front to back or top to bottom? Seems we are talking two kinds of splaying here. I agree that front to back is following the lines of the subframe. Top to bottom splayed, however, as seen on some right side bags seems to be a bit abnormal and out of kilter. So far, the Trax bags on SW-M racks seem ok top to bottom, but some others have problems.

 

[jajpko]

I'm not seeing it on my setup. Maybe it's there, but it's not jumping out at me. I'll have another look in better light tomorrow. I currently have the panniers off, so hard to tell. R

Rem, find a level spot and put the bike on the center stand. Use a level in the vertical or plum position and check each rack.
I'm betting the bubble on the level for the left rack will be in the view glass, and the right side will not be. That is the best way to tell how much the rack is out.

I will do mine again in the morning, but at first glance it was more than 1/2 inch, and I think it is really more. In the morning we get exact.

 

[rem]

I'll have a look at crack o dawn. My eyes are more better then. I'm feeling really old tonight. Turned 65 today. Sumbich. Oh well, I have a new motorsickel and I can still ride like the wind ... uh, breeze .... uh, well, I guess a baby's breath. Strong like bull ... very small bull, but you get my drift.


Where was I? Oh right ... in the morning. R

 

[colorider]

Jim,
It looks we were talking about two different planes on the splaying. Mine are splayed front to rear and I simply figure this is (or can be) normal depending on the bike's shape and what components the rack must clear. I agree that top to bottom splaying would not be normal, especially if only on one side. Like Rem, I'll need to go out and re-check mine today and see if one or both are off and it so, how much.

Rod

 

[colorider]

I'm feeling really old tonight. Turned 65 today. Sumbich. Oh well, I have a new motorsickel and I can still ride like the wind ... uh, breeze .... uh, well, I guess a baby's breath. Strong like bull ... very small bull, but you get my drift.


Where was I? Oh right ... in the morning. R

Happy b-day a day late ole Buddy! I have one coming up in less than 3 weeks as well!!!

 

[colorider]

Rem, find a level spot and put the bike on the center stand. Use a level in the vertical or plum position and check each rack.
I'm betting the bubble on the level for the left rack will be in the view glass, and the right side will not be. That is the best way to tell how much the rack is out.

I will do mine again in the morning, but at first glance it was more than 1/2 inch, and I think it is really more. In the morning we get exact.

To follow-up on my earlier post (now that I am on my second cup of coffee), I just went out and checked mine again while on the center stand. With the bags on, it looks pretty normal - or as normal as it could with two different size bags installed but when you remove the bags and check with a level, they are off. The left just slightly - less than a half-bubble, but the right is off a full bubble (about 1/2").

I don't see how a person can do the install "wrong" in a way that this tilt could be caused (or avoided), and yet all the components seemed to align properly when I did the installation. Odd that whatever jigs/fixtures that SWM uses in the fab process would allow the kind of variance that we appear to have between the different owners here.

 

[rem]

Okay, I walked out to the garage just now, braving 36 degree temperatures, two wolves and a bear ..... good thing I had my Leatherperson with me .... anyway, didn't need the level. The panniers were off and I could see that the racks were canted to the left just a little. They appeared to be precisely parallel, but just leaning slightly left ... left one away from the bike, and right one into the bike. I don't think this is noticeable with the panniers on, or I would have picked up on it before.


Keep in mind that there might be a reason for this. Don't know what it would be, but there might be. Anyway, that's it from the frozen north.


Thanks for the birthday wish, Rod. REMember, you're only as old as you are. Codger out. R

 

[jajpko]

Okay, I walked out to the garage just now, braving 36 degree temperatures, two wolves and a bear ..... good thing I had my Leatherperson with me .... anyway, didn't need the level. The panniers were off and I could see that the racks were canted to the left just a little. They appeared to be precisely parallel, but just leaning slightly left ... left one away from the bike, and right one into the bike. I don't think this is noticeable with the panniers on, or I would have picked up on it before.


Keep in mind that there might be a reason for this. Don't know what it would be, but there might be. Anyway, that's it from the frozen north.

Thanks for the birthday wish, Rod. REMember, you're only as old as you are. Codger out. R

Thanks Rem, Actually I picked up on yours from the pics you posted. At least I think it was you.. When you put the cases on and look at the bike from the rear, it looks like the right case is tilted in at the top.
As I said, I am getting old and it may have been someone else who posted the pics of their bike.

 

[rem]

Don't talk to me about getting old. I gained an entire year yesterday. I posted some pics but don't even remember which thread they are in. Jeeze. Hope I can find my way home today. R

 

[twistedthrottle]

Sorry to be late to the party guys.....

Before you get worked up into a lather let me pass this along to SW-MOTECH directly.

Kev

 

[colorider]

Sorry to be late to the party guys.....

Before you get worked uop into alather let me pass this along to SW-MOTECH directly.

Kev

Thanks for jumping in Kev!!!

Rod

 

[bloke]

the more i look at some of the after market offerings the happier i am i bought the stock bags when i bought mine ;D

 

[Thunderpig]

Don't talk to me about getting old. I gained an entire year yesterday. I posted some pics but don't even remember which thread they are in. Jeeze. Hope I can find my way home today. R

We have the same B'day. Happy Birthday to you!

 

[jajpko]

Thanks for helping Kev..