SWMotech Racks - open discussion of issues

[rem]

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

Right back at you, oh Pig of Thunder. Racked up another one. Still kicking. Hope you had a good one. R

 

[jajpko]

Here is where I'm at with the racks.
I played with these most of the day and came up with some numbers and pics.
What I ended up with is, the right bottom foot peg is spaced into the bike using 1/2" spacer.
The top front of the right rack is spaced 1 1/8".
The top rear right rack is spaced 2 1/8".

The bottom left foot peg is spaced 1/4".
The top left front is spaced 1"
The top left rear is spaced 1 1/4:

This is the best I could get the racks. One item that messes up the works is the rear brace. It needs to be longer. If it was the splay would be taken out on the left side. and that would help the right side as well, as they are tied together.

Some of you may notice that I am not using the passenger hand grips. I did use the spacers from them and set the racks up as shown by the directions.

So now I will try to upload some pics to show you what the racks look like now. The left still needs some tweaking but as I said the rear brace will need to be worked on.

 

[terryth]

Sw-motech offers these for lockable security. Been using a pair for about 4 years now on a SV1000S and they fit on the Tenere also just fine

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/5409/77/

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

 

[martinh]

just got my racks on the bike tonight and they fit fine. I will take pictures tomorrow but I mounted Trax cases and looks okay to me. The instruction said to remove the original license plate bracket and replace it with theirs. I was reading that when people did that they had to drill new holes. I ended up putting the original plate bracket back on so I can mount the license plate to it. The racks fit fine with the bracket and I have the rear reflectors on the back of the bike still.

 

[Bigbore4]

WOW!

I bolted all my shat on this past weekend. I am not a dealer nor do I work for one. Former professional mechanic (long gray beard) and 30 plus years working in a service and support environment. No issues whatsoever.

Bought my shat from Twisted Throttle. SW Motech racks and crash bars. Instructions, no worries, fit, great. I had to 'flex' the left side crash bar just a tad to get one bolt in but it was accomplished with no helper and no special tools. I am a very experienced rider and have installed untold aftermarket goodies in my over 30 years of riding. I had no gripes with the SW Motech stuff, in fact I commented to a friend at happy hour tonight how well I thought they did. I did not have to tweak, drill, grind, mod anything from SW Motech.

I also ordered the Twisted Throttle flavor of Pelican Storm cases and the TT mounts. A bit putsy drilling and assembling, but saved some serious bux over other suppliers of similar.

So mark me down in the very satisfied dept. And no I do not work for or rep Twisted Throttle. In fact, they let me down this weekend. I finally made my mind up to go with a SWM skid plate and put in an order this past weekend. All of you other buggers (Canadians no doot, you got yir bikes first) had cleaned em oot!

By the way,
I aint got time for pics so don't ask, prepping for a big ride end of Aug. I will take the camera with me on the ride, I will post pics when I get back. I sure would like to have a SWM skid plate before I leave if someone has one they have not installed yet and can wait? MN to Richmond to The Dragon to Indy to Bonneville and then home through every freaking mountain pass I can find. I am looking at close to 7K miles.

 

[twistedthrottle]

Hi Guys.

This is being discussed locally and across the pond right now. We are looking into it and trying to figure out what to do next. Currently our chief designer is in Tennessee building a Super Ten Demo bike (more to follow on that). He is going to have a good hard look at the bike and see what he can glean from it there.

I myself have taken some time to look at the issue from a removed position with years of amateur mechanical bugeling and come up with some ideas. I have identified 2 possible points that could affect the relative position of the racks and more importantly, the quick-lock mounting points.

Download a larger version of this image by clicking here​

[list type=decimal]
[*]Part# 14 - I have seen in some cases that if you flip this part 180° it solves position issues. This has solved more than one rack fitting issue. The truth is that there really is a top and a bottom on this part. Tested by ColoRider - Does not solve anything.
[*]Part# 9(x2) - Be certain that you mount this quick-release tab to the BACKSIDE of the passenger perch. Will only mount one way - not the solution[/list]

These small things can potentially make a big difference. Check point 2 first. This item is critical and you can tell right away if this is on the front or the back side of the passenger perch. Can you guys check these things and post the results for me. I am especially interested in the results of point 1.

Kev
[/list]

 

[colorider]

• • Part# 9(x2) - Be certain that you mount this quick-release tab to the BACKSIDE of the passenger perch.

  
  These small things can potentially make a big difference. Check point 2 first. This item is critical and you can tell right away if this is on the front or the back side of the passenger perch. Can you guys check these things and post the results for me. I am especially interested in the results of point 1.
  
  Kev

  Hmm, I do not think it is possible to mount on the front side since it is picking up a threaded hole on the backside of the peg.
  
  :question:

 

[twistedthrottle]

PS - I just posted that last bit of info and checked my email. I just got an email from the owner of SW-MOTECH. They have arranged for an S10 to be in their development studio next week. He was wanted to be certain that ever that this was important to him. We will have some answers soon.

Kev

PPS - Point 2 is nearly impossible to do. I just wanted to be sure.

 

[twistedthrottle]

• 
  Hmm, I do not think it is possible to mount on the front side since it is picking up a threaded hole on the backside of the peg.
  
  :question:

• 
  
  Beat me to the punch Rod.... I need to get up earlier.

 

[rem]

I just had a look, and did a quick measurement .... part 14 appears to be totally symmetrical. I don't understand how flipping this part would make any appreciable difference. Do I have my wires crossed here ?? Thanks. R

 

[colorider]

• Beat me to the punch Rod.... I need to get up earlier.

No problem!!! I'm going to go out now and try changing the plate on the rear fender to see if it makes any difference on my setup.

Rod

 

[colorider]

I just had a look, and did a quick measurement .... part 14 appears to be totally symmetrical. I don't understand how flipping this part would make any appreciable difference. Do I have my wires crossed here ?? Thanks. R

I was thinking the same thing, but was going to try flipping it anyway.

 

[rem]

Worth a shot, Rod. If there truly is a top and bottom to this part, that should have been made abundantly clear in the instructions. I don't recall that, but then at my age, I don't recall a lot. When you take it off, please see if you can determine a difference re: top and bottom positioning. Thanks. R

 

[Gat]

• Part# 14 - I have seen in some cases that if you flip this part 180° it solves position issues. This has solved more than one rack fitting issue. The truth is that there really is a top and a bottom on this part.

I am especially interested in the results of point 1.

Kev

Thanks Kev! I will try flipping #14 tonight as well. I'll let you know what happens.

Thanks,
Mat

 

[twistedthrottle]

Worth a shot, Rod. If there truly is a top and bottom to this part, that should have been made abundantly clear in the instructions. I don't recall that, but then at my age, I don't recall a lot. When you take it off, please see if you can determine a difference re: top and bottom positioning. Thanks. R

It is not called out in the instructions and I think they are planning to improve this in future designs/ instructions. Also, let it be known I am going on a hunch here. I have seen this with several other SW-MOTECH side carriers for different bikes.

 

[jajpko]

It is not called out in the instructions and I think they are planning to improve this in future designs/ instructions. Also, let it be known I am going on a hunch here. I have seen this with several other SW-MOTECH side carriers for different bikes.

Kev, could you do me a favor and ask the SW-Motech people if they could look at the spacers on the top of the racks.l
Also for those of use that wish to use the racks without the grab handles, to include spacers for that option.

I do believe the rear brace in not long enough. I now have mine bolted up with plate on, and the brace needs to be longer on the left side. Imho..
Thanks

 

[twistedthrottle]

I will pass along your suggestions. I also sent this thread to them as well so they may be reading over my shoulder as well.

Kev

 

[colorider]

Worth a shot, Rod. If there truly is a top and bottom to this part, that should have been made abundantly clear in the instructions. I don't recall that, but then at my age, I don't recall a lot. When you take it off, please see if you can determine a difference re: top and bottom positioning. Thanks. R

Okay - went out and pulled the plate and could not see any noticeable difference - length, bend angle, nada. Flipped it anyway and reattached everything. No change whatsoever.

 

[rem]

10-4, thanks for the effort. Well, I'm off to Mayo/Keno for a quickie overnighter. I expect you boys to have this all sorted out by the time I get back tomorrow night. Don't make me have to come down there, or worse, Vinny and Guido. They aren't nearly as easy to get along with as I am, and according to my wife, I'm not very ..... let's not go there. Drive safe. Back soon. R

 

[twistedthrottle]

Okay - went out and pulled the plate and could not see any noticeable difference - length, bend angle, nada. Flipped it anyway and reattached everything. No change whatsoever.

Thanks for trying this Rod.

Sorry for sending you on a wild goose chase there. The rest of the S10 guys do appreciate it though.

Kev