Installing SW Motech side racks

[garandman]

Just got these and the instructions are brief.

The picture seems to show that the luggage rack must be removed? Anyone have a step-by-step illustration? Once I sort through the hardware and look at everything it may be evident, but it's dark out.

[roger123]

Yes the rack needs to come off.

Lay out all the parts and put them in different piles for each side of the bike.

Once you do that and look at the pics it all kinda makes sense.

[csr67]

It's pretty easy once you lay out all the parts. Do not, I repeat do not, tighten any of the fittings until you're all done. Just get them started and leave loose so you can line everything up. I bent the little bracket that goes below the license plate and holds the small round reflectors so that it curves around the fender. You can barely see it at the bottom of the picture:

[Big B]

Go to Twisted Throttle and search for Vstrom, you can find a step by step write up "with pics" on how to install the Motech racks on a Strom.

[JayR]

The reflector bar gets in the way. I took mine to the vise and bent it so that the reflectors are sticking out the back.

[BadKarmaPa]

I had to elongate the two rear mounting holes in the OEM top rack.
With a smal rat-tail file it ony takes a moment. And it cann't be seen, even if I decide to go back to stock some day.
I really like this rack system. I'm glad I spent the extra money for it.

[roger123]

The reflector bar gets in the way. I took mine to the vise and bent it so that the reflectors are sticking out the back.

I just left mine off. There is a work around I think listed on the TT site but I didn't mess with them.

Forgot to add that you must also drill two holes in the rear fender to mount the bracket. I can't remember why but it had to do with the license plate mounting.

[greywolf]

I made a license plate back sheet with tabs to add the reflectors and city vehicle tag.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1082/1374496225_a044ae7e92.jpg

[K6OST]

I made a license plate back sheet with tabs to add the reflectors and city vehicle tag.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1082/1374496225_a044ae7e92.jpg

Don't happen to have a picture of the license plate bracket you made do you?

And that top box... HOLY COW, you could put a VW in that thing!!! Or maybe you could use it to smuggle illegal aliens, you could probably fit about a dozen at a time :mrgreen:

[greywolf]

No picture. It's just a sheet of aluminum cut to the outline of the plate plus city tag with side tabs added. Drill the holes and bend the tabs and it's done. I did make a new bracket to bring things forward a bit but it would have been easier to forgo the bracket and mount the plate directly on the SW-Motech crossbar. It's just a 45 liter top box. Many folks here use the more rounded 52 liter case.

[Big B]

I just left mine off. There is a work around I think listed on the TT site but I didn't mess with them.

Forgot to add that you must also drill two holes in the rear fender to mount the bracket. I can't remember why but it had to do with the license plate mounting.


Must have something to do with the 650 model, I didn't have to drill anything on my 1000. All I did was cut off the side tabs for the rear reflectors, everything else went on like butter. I really do love the Motech racks, hard to believe there is a better system out there.

[K6OST]

I got and installed mine on my 650 yesterday. No problems and no drilling.

Just like it's been said over and over again, only barely start the bolts on the rack until all 4 are in. For me, the two bolts on the back needed to be started first. After that all the rest just fell into place. I got everything nearly snugged down, installed the side racks to the brackets, then tightened all the mounting brackets.

All told, probably about 30-40 minutes. I didn't even need to take German lessons.

[XLonDL650]

I made a license plate back sheet with tabs to add the reflectors and city vehicle tag.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1082/1374496225_a044ae7e92.jpg

Pat,

Do you see any problem with mounting the OEM reflector bar to the bottom of the license plate by just drilling a couple wholes in the bottom of the plate and adding 2 more nuts and bolts ? I 'd rather not do the 'stack the reflector bar on the Motech Bar and bend' thing.

Also, aside from the custom plate sheet that you made, did you have to do any drilling to install the racks ? If so, where and what drill bit size(s) ?

[greywolf]

A 1/4" drill was all it took to clear the 1/4" screws used to attach the plate. I didn't use the OEM crossbar the reflectors were attached to originally so you'll need to check that yourself.