Triumphrat

Rich_Williams · 07-01-2006

Hi all,

I've been lurking here for a couple of months. I replaced my SV-650 with a new '06 S3. There's been a couple of threads lately about putting a hard top case on the S3, and about providing some sort of backrest for a passenger. I've done that, and the results are pretty good. Note that you need to replace the plastic piece on the rear under-side of the seat with the one designed to work with passenger grab rail. This has a notch cut in it to allow the grab rail to stick through.

First, I had an SW-MOTECH luggage rack left over from my SV-650. This is the small aluminum rack designed to hold a Givi topcase.

The rack is designed to fit many bikes with an adapter plate. I made an adapter plate. This plate is made from 3/16" steel plate. I cut and drilled the plate to fit onto the passenger grab rail mounting points, and have holes to match the SW-MOTECH rack.

I also made a small addition to the SW-MOTECH rack, by adding the small strip of aluminum to the bottom of the rack. Note the notch in the plate.

I also have a backrest. This was designed for a BMW 'S' model and sold from Pirate's Lair.

So here's the whole thing assembled and on the bike.

My wife has now ridden with the backrest and says that there's plenty of room on the back and she now doesn't need to have a death grip on me while we're riding.

I think that maybe I made the bracket a little too long; it sticks out past the back end of the seat by about an inch too much. If I were to make another bracket, I'd shorten it by that much.
I don't have a topcase, but I'm sure it would fit without a problem. Currently I'm getting by with a tank bag. But a lockable topcase seems mighty convenient.

Limey · 07-01-2006

I think I'm going to cry

cheapbastard · 07-01-2006

nice work Rich, just not my cuppa tea. :-D

ssregal39 · 07-01-2006

That looks really awesome. i really need to do something like this for my passenger.

Spendthrift · 07-01-2006

You must really love her to do that to your bike, but 10/10 for the job

Martin_R · 07-01-2006

Nice work, but I would never put such a thing on my bike outside the 4+ days two up tours.

You might also think carefully how much load you put on the single piece that all your assembled leverage/backrest/rack mounts to under the seat. So you will not end up like the RS guys who have mounted their rack without extra support brackets to a similar underseat crossmember:
www.t595.net/album/album.asp?img=32288

[ This message was edited by: Martin_R on 2006-07-01 15:16 ]

jackelmatador · 07-01-2006

Nicely done. I would only ride with that when absolutly needed but, nice effort. I am sure some users would love to buy the bracket just for those few times....

gstar · 07-01-2006

Just makes me glad I have taken the foot pegs off !! nice work though !!

Rich_Williams · 07-01-2006

One other note. This whole contraption comes off with four simple allen screws. So I only install when going two up. Most of the time, the rack assembly sits in my shop. I only install the backrest when going two up.

So for those that need/want a backrest, consider a set up like this. It comes off really easily for all the rest of your riding.

-Rich

BUCKET · 07-11-2006

Cheers to you Rich,great job.Lot of people go on about not doing that to their bike,i'm with you in that you can unbolt them when you are not using them,may as well have your passenger comfortable than whinging at every stop.
Bucket :hammer: