Luggage rack mounting

[jdion81]

First off, I'm not sure if this is where they're supposed to go. Let me know and I'll move it.

Trying to mount a luggage rack on my 1982 gs850gl and I can't figure out where the rear mounting point should be or if I'm missing something.

I can see where the front mounting point would be at the shock, but where I think the rear mounting point should be it looks like my mounting tab on the rack should be about 6 in longer.

 

[gustovh]

Looks like the rear turn signals have been moved from the original location. That said, you are missing a couple bars that go from the rear holes in the rack to the turn signal mounts. You can see how it mounts to the signal mount in this picture, not your rack but the principle is the same.

V

 

[Steve]

No, the turn signals are in the proper location, that is not the correct rack for the bike.

It might be possible to use some 1" x 1/8" flat stock to go between the turn signal mount and the rack.

My wife's bike ('82 850L) has had the turn signals relocated, but you can see how the rack mounts.

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[gustovh]

I blame my old eyes, Steve is correct. Hope to meet you on your trip when you get to Oregon, Steve. I don't believe that I have ever had a rack that I haven't had to adapt.

V

 

[Steve]

Hope to meet you on your trip when you get to Oregon, Steve. I don't believe that I have ever had a rack that I haven't had to adapt.

If all goes well, we should be crossing Oregon around August 26-28.

I, too, have had to adapt multiple racks. The one pictured is modified a bit, but is not real obvious. The bolt that goes to the frame (where the turn signals used to mount) goes through a tube that was welded to the rack. Not sure what the rack was intended for, or if it was simply missing some mounting hardware, but I used to have a piece of galvanized water pipe in there as a spacer. The problem with that is that it kept drooping. By having a tube welded to the rack, it's now a solid mount.

Those pictures were taken when the new saddlebag mounts were being made.

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[ddaniels]

I've always liked the look of Bonita's bike.

 

[Steve]

Thanks. There will be one more change, when I change the exhaust system.

The baffles are getting loose and rattling. I found a set of pipes from a '79 850G.
Better sound (G vs. L), longer (again, G vs. L) and recently ceramic-coated.
The longer pipes will get the exhaust away from the bottom of the saddlebags.

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[RogerW]

Steve , do you have a good picture how you mounted the rear signal lights on your wife's bike. Sorry didn't mean to hijack the thread. Thanks

 

[Steve]

Roger, a few minutes ago, I did not. I looked through my stash of pictures and found nothing that showed the signal mounts, so I went and got one for you.

No idea where you might buy one, but it would be easy enough to make. I came across this one on one of the "catch-and-release" bikes that has come through here. It is about 1" wide flat stock, not quite 1/8" thick. The whole bar is just a bit wider than the license plate, probably about 8" before it bends for the light mounts. It has slots where it mounts behind the license plate and holes on the bent-back tabs to mount the signals. Mine is chrome, but it could be painted black just as easily.

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[RogerW]

Thanks Steve. The Harley aftermarket sells a bracket like that or I can bend one up. I have a set of Suzuki C50 Bouelvard leather bags I want to mount. Thanks again Steve.

 

[Steve]

No problem. The bags that I mounted on my wife's bike came from my sister's VTX1300 and are branded "Hondaline".

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