The instructions that come with the rack system are extremely poor. In some cases the diagrams show the 2011 model when there are differences between the 2011 and the 2012 models. In other cases what they show you can not even do because what they show is nothing like what is actually on the bike.
Getting the turn signals off the bike is definitly challenging. Make sure you have a universal swivel and a long 8-10 inch extension. Better to use a deep well 8mm socket or a standard socket with a 1-2 inch extension. Once you get the turn signal off you will want to splice about 6-8 inch extensions to the wires which will make it much easier to reconnect the turn signals. Hepco and Becker does not include extensions and again , contrary to what the directions say if you don't do this you will not get the wires reconnected.

Here is a break down on the issues I had with the directions: And these have been passed to Hepco and Becker.

Step 1- No issues
Step 2- Photo wrong, shows 2011 model
Step 3- Shows 2011 model
Step 4- Can not be done! Are they even talking about a V-Strom here? I placed them upside down and it seemed to work.
Step 5-Can not be done! Again, wires are not long enough. Had to cut and splice extension wires.
Step 6- Screw missing from kit. I simply reused existing bolts and they did go all the way through. I think that they included the wrong size bolt. Had two bolts left over, one of which was probably supposed to be used here, the other I have no idea.
Step 7- No issues
Step 8- Diagram wrong. The bracket goes in front of the (roughly ) U shaped wire. Definitly will not fit as shown. Bolts must be kept loose until you mount the rack. The hole for bolt "1" has adjustment in it. It is not as shown!
Step 9- Missing?
Step 10-12- No issues.


The photo shows how they look on the 2012 V Strom.

Attached Images

V-Strom-1.jpg (92.2 KB, 67 views)

They look great on your bike despite the problems you encountered while putting them on. At least you were able to pass along the incorrect information to HB and hopefully they will correct it for future Vstrommers.

Absolutely atrocious directions. Don't buy H&B racks. They will get the picture then. Maybe. F@#%$& Germans.

__________________
Thanks, Mo

"There's a race of men that don't fit in,
A race that can't stand still;
So they break the hearts of kith and kin,
And they roam the world at will."...Robert Service

Not good news. Caribou Cases is using hepco Becker racks for the 2012 DL650. Mine are still in the boxes awaiting installation. Hopefully Roger reworked their directions.

EDIT: Caribou didn't change the directions at all. Thanks for the headsup, Ultrarnr!

__________________
-Tom (DL650AL2) (DL650AK7) (KA1TOX) (E-I-E-I-O)

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Roger is trying to rectify H&B's screwup. He wants to include wire extensions in the kit for the "winkers" or whatever it takes to smooth the installation. I phoned the US rep. for H&B. He did not seem concerned and said I was being "picky" about the poor instructions and other issues.

__________________
Thanks, Mo

"There's a race of men that don't fit in,
A race that can't stand still;
So they break the hearts of kith and kin,
And they roam the world at will."...Robert Service

Eastern Beaver sells the parts to make the extensions, but no longer sells the extensions pre-made. Jim sez they take too long to make. The kicker is the $60 crimping tool. I bought the parts from EB and will manage to get them crimped with tools I have on hand.

I'm starting to regret not choosing the Happy Trails luggage this time around.

__________________
-Tom (DL650AL2) (DL650AK7) (KA1TOX) (E-I-E-I-O)

This message and images are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. http://creativecommons.org

I tapped into the bike wire with the posi-lok thingy's. That completed, I moved on and found that the rearward adapter that bolts under the rt. side pass. peg does not line up with the rt. side carrier. It's like an inch and a half off due to interference with the muffler.

Untitled | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

__________________
Thanks, Mo

"There's a race of men that don't fit in,
A race that can't stand still;
So they break the hearts of kith and kin,
And they roam the world at will."...Robert Service

Have you got a fix for it yet? I can't install my racks until I get the plastic bike parts back from the painter.

__________________
-Tom (DL650AL2) (DL650AK7) (KA1TOX) (E-I-E-I-O)

This message and images are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. http://creativecommons.org

Hi, what was the part number of the posi-locks you used? Thanks.

I bought mine at Walmart's automotive area. Get an assortment.

__________________
Thanks, Mo

"There's a race of men that don't fit in,
A race that can't stand still;
So they break the hearts of kith and kin,
And they roam the world at will."...Robert Service