Triumphrat

zaqtronic · 11-06-2006

Recently got a luggage rack made - so I can attach a top box when I go for rides, instead of strapping and unstrapping stuff to the seat. The box also has a brake light at the back, which I want to connect at some stage.

I put some saddlebags on too

I went to a nice long test ride to National Park to test things out. I'm very happy with the box and rack - big time riding range extender for me.

It's taken a while to get the bags to an acceptable position. I'm going to try and get them a little lower and pushed back a bit. I'm still thinking of a nice and preferably invisible design for a frame for the bags. They do have quite a rigid back, and are filled with towels and bike cover (!!) Just as space fillers for testing purposes.

The bags are very tightly mounted in two spots. But the third spot is a bit loose, and made the ride a little more interesting than it should have been around tight corners.

All the darn car drivers seemed to have gone mad on this ride. They are pretty abysmal at the best of times, but maybe the phase of the moon affected them adversely or something - they were all over the place

Here are a few pics, and there's a short writeup on my blog.

I have to say, I am thoroughly enjoying this bike - just can't ride it enough! :-D

Slightly strange occurence on the motorway coming home in the evening. There was a Harley (I think) in the service lane, with a helmet on the ground. I couldn't see a rider. I stopped and walked back to investigate. Another motorcyclist stopped too. The rider was sitting in a ditch on the side. Couldn't really see him as he was dressed in black, and it was dark. Anyway, he seemed a bit irritated that we stopped, said he was fine and then turned and walked off to lie down just above the ditch. Dunno what was up with that - maybe he was just tired. Though, I can think of better places to have a nap...

Near National Park - I'm not actually riding off road here. This is just a short access track to a stream, but I like the pic!

Rest stop at Lake Taupo

Geothermal station just after Taupo - all the really big fancy pipes were just after the hill, but I did not want to stop again. Heaps of luggage spage.

Cheers all - ride safely!

[ This message was edited by: zaqtronic on 2006-11-06 03:06 ]

black-bonnie · 11-06-2006

Great photos. Must have been fun.

I have the H and B hard bags. Just added a huge 48 litter back on back because I too get tired of strapping stuff to the seat. Makes traveling a pain. Now the rear bag makes it easy.

All I could say is don't go over the weight limit posted on the rear bag. Mine is about 10 lbs in limit so I only put cloths in there. Great place to leave the helmet too after a ride.

Cheers

walt · 11-06-2006

I've been considering adding a luggage rack to my bike, but I'm a little concerned (alright, very concerned) about exceeding the weight limit on my rear tire. So far I've got a bag I attach to the sissy bar but the bag sits on the passenger seat. I'm afraid if I use the luggage rack and carry a passenger that I could exceed the weight limit of the rear tire.
What's the best answer to this, since I don't have a scale? So far I've just estimated total weight and divided it by 2. But stuff over the rear tire, and especially items behind the rear tire will make that add up quickly, and using 1/2 total weight won't work. Has anybody used a larger rear tire just for this reason? And if so, how large can it be w/o screwing up the handling of the bike? :???:

11-06-2006

Great pics and blog zaqtronic. By the way, which wind screen are you using?

MES · 11-06-2006

Sweet :razz:

Copper · 11-07-2006

Walt, I got no technical data on this, but I know you can load these bikes up pretty good..I have taken a trip or two with my wife and I fairly well loaded...The two of us are close to 500 pounds (not gonna share teh percentage breakdown, though! :-D ), and then another 25 or so for luggage...No handling issues at all. You do have to be careful cause she doesn't stop as fast!

zaqtronic · 11-07-2006

Gidday Dewaldrup,

It's a Givi A620

It does a decent job, but I still have to fine tune the adjustment.

Hi Walt,

I had the box (also a Givi - e35 I think) on my previous bike too. I have a chain and lock (quite heavy), a few spare bits and two thin blocks of wood for the stand on soft ground. Other than that, snacks, bicycle pump and tyre goo. The total weight will be under 10kgs.

No effect on the handling at all - but make sure it's not too far behind (and also not too low so as to cover the taillight)

As far as the bags go - the trick is to keep them as low as possible, and evenly weighted. I'll just have clothes (and groceries) in them, so not too worried about the weight.

Black - bonnie, eventually I'll get hard bags, but I want to try things out with the soft ones first.

Cheers,
Zaq in NZ