Do any of you use your luggage rack if you have them?

2398 Views 39 Replies 35 Participants Last post by JKWING, Aug 14, 2009

bbach

Discussion Starter · Aug 11, 2009

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Making a firm decision to keep my wing and possibly buy a sport bike as a second bike down the road a ways, I've decided to make mine look a little better. I've got some chrome wheels. Time to put those on along with new rubber. I've been looking at my back rest and maybe I'll switch over to the Utopia for a cleaner look. Then some lights might be nice.
However, I don't like the look of the chrome luggage rack. The back end looks so much cleaner without it. Replacing that would require a whole new trunk lid though because of the darn holes put in there to mount the rack. This makes me wonder if any of you really like your luggage rack or if you could easily get along without it. Any input would be appreciated.

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Geezerglider

· #2 · Aug 11, 2009

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I guess that depends on whether you need to take an extra luggage bag. When my wife and I make overnighters or longer, we need more luggage space and carry a bag on it. Otherwise, no.

bamadave

· #3 · Aug 11, 2009

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Good subject thread question Bob.

Never thought about it till nowbut if I could not get everything in the saddlebags and trunk, would I try and strap something on the luggage rack and possible scratch thepaint with the bungee ties, especially on a bikeas nice asyours. Not to mention, will the cargo stay put.

The luggage rack does look good (chrome) on there but I also sawa triked wing without it and it looked good.

The holes already there sort of makes us leave the rack on.

OnaWingAndaPrayer

· #4 · Aug 11, 2009

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If the 1800 follows true to its older siblings , you cant put a lot on there anyhow . If you put much weight on ,your subject to craking the lid .

If you wanted to remove yours I would suggest going to Fastenal , Home | Fastenaland look around . You should be able to find a nice S/S bolt which could seal off the holes in your lid . Possibly this Elevator bolt in S/S Products | Fastenal

bbach

Discussion Starter · #5 · Aug 11, 2009

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bamadave wrote:

Good subject thread question Bob.

Never thought about it till nowbut if I could not get everything in the saddlebags and trunk, would I try and strap something on the luggage rack and possible scratch thepaint with the bungee ties, especially on a bikeas nice asyours. Not to mention, will the cargo stay put.

The luggage rack does look good (chrome) on there but I also sawa triked wing without it and it looked good.

The holes already there sort of makes us leave the rack on.

Yea those dang holes. I like the clean look of the rear without the rack, but it's going to take some expense to get rid of it. I'm just wondering if I'd regret it. I suppose a guy could get a different trunk lid and keep the old one in case of regrets.

Hanko

· #6 · Aug 11, 2009

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Yes I use the luggage rack when we go on trips longer than just a couple of days.

I bought the Kuryakyn Rack and the Bag that goes on it. It stays put quite well. I usually use it for light stuff like rain gear, extra warm liners, bathroom stuff, etc.

It is quite water resistant by itself. I didn't even notice there was a pocket just below the handle that had a waterproof cover inside it for almost 2 years!! :doh:

If you use the rack make sure you put some tubing inside the seals of the trunk lid to help prevent the lid from rubbing hard on the trunk. 1800 Trunk Lid Fix

It has come in handy quite a few times.

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Dan Kelly

· #7 · Aug 11, 2009

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Consider this option Bob.

http://www.dixonymachine.com/Pakit%20Rak%20GL1800.htm

Or this company. Scrowl down near the bottom of page.

http://www.mototourinc.com/mototourinc_files/rear_end_acc_gl18.htm

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cldryder

· #8 · Aug 11, 2009

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I keep a waterproof duffel on the rack for trips. It's empty when we leave in the morning and we use for misc stuff we need to stash someplace during the day.

we don't load it heavily because weight is so high up and aforementioned impact on the lid.

ldsgeek

· #9 · Aug 11, 2009

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I leave tthe trunk for my 1982 Interstate home all the time. I use the bike for service calls and bungie cord my toolbox to the rack the trunk sits on (they pay me .40 a mile when I use my own "car"

)

DeDubya

· #10 · Aug 11, 2009

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I've used mine once, but kept the contents as light as I could. My Kury bag fastens securely to itso I don't worry about loosing it.

I like the rack but sometimes I have mixed feelings about the looks. If I didn't have a spoiler, I would not have the rack. That's really ugly to me. No more than I use it I coulddo without it except for the times I'm gone with the wife for more than a day or two. When I used it, I needed it, so I was glad to have it. But, I think that if my lid should ever crack, I'd buy a new lid and not reinstall the rack. I'd go with Dan Kelly's option. I reallylike that set up.

DeDub

mikef

· #11 · Aug 11, 2009

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I use mine every time I travel, for my leather clothes bag. Not much weight and opens up a bunch of storage.

AZgl1800

· #12 · Aug 11, 2009

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Bob,

I used mine a couple of times for "luggage". My son and I were out touring and he had his sleeping bags in a duffel sitting on his gas tank:KLR1300, he had his nephew as pillion.

That made his riding very uncomfortable, and I offered to just put that bag on my trunk rack. Well, we rode on some gravel roads and did some bumping around and that "little" duffel bag broke all the mounting holes. Didn't go through, and I never got around to fixing it. Just stuck some huge washers on top and bottom and let it got at that.

I'm not much for chrome and I don't think I will put a luggage rack on the next bike.

fenry

· #13 · Aug 11, 2009

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I carry a waterproof lightweight bag on it, usually for the camera and maybe a couple of bottles of green tea & trail mix but only when I'm on the road.

In town riding, that's where the latte machine goes...

clarkjh

· #14 · Aug 11, 2009

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My wife and I carry the tent on the rack. The poles are too long to fit in the trunk or bags.

James

cntryboy1289

· #15 · Aug 11, 2009

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I use mine all the time around town as well as use it for a bag when traveling, don't know how I would get along without mine, but then again, it's my only mode of transportation.

I have never scratched my deck lid with a bungi, but you can always use plastic coated ones to solve that problem.

alablanca[whitewing]

· #16 · Aug 11, 2009

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I use my bike every day, when i need to haul something to large for the trunk and bags, I bunge it on my rack. I powder coated my rack black. Looks good on my white wing and I don't have to worry about scratches and dings.

Foodman

· #17 · Aug 11, 2009

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I've used mine once in a year and 1/2 and didn't really need it then.. My vote is no rack because it's a pain in the way when you wash or wax, and I think it takes away from the lines of the bike.. Mine came on the bike but I sure wouldn't buy one..............

BustedKnuckle

· #18 · Aug 12, 2009

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Foodman wrote:

I've used mine once in a year and 1/2 and didn't really need it then.. My vote is no rack because it's a pain in the way when you wash or wax, and I think it takes away from the lines of the bike.. Mine came on the bike but I sure wouldn't buy one..............

Ditto. We used ours on one trip with a strap on bag. I wasn't comfortable with the weight of the bag itself on there, let alone any extra stuff.

I have to clean around it every time whether I use it or not.

No rack for me next time.

clarkjh

· #19 · Aug 12, 2009

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BustedKnuckle wrote:

Foodman wrote:

I've used mine once in a year and 1/2 and didn't really need it then.. My vote is no rack because it's a pain in the way when you wash or wax, and I think it takes away from the lines of the bike.. Mine came on the bike but I sure wouldn't buy one..............

Click to expand...

Ditto. We used ours on one trip with a strap on bag. I wasn't comfortable with the weight of the bag itself on there, let alone any extra stuff.

I have to clean around it every time whether I use it or not.

No rack for me next time.

wash and wax? whats that?:cheeky1:

MDKramer

· #20 · Aug 12, 2009

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Luggage rack? What's that for?

:cheeky1::cheeky1::cheeky1:

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