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Opinions wanted

  • Thread starter Thread starter Boriqua
  • Start date Start date
B

Boriqua

Guest
I know everyone has a different flavor ice cream they like but .. I have a non conundrum I would like opinions on. I bought the bike and it came with a rack, box and sissy bar. You will notice its going on a tow .. Thank you again GS forum for helping me to get it operational. This was the day I bought it.

gs750v1.jpg


The box left immediately .. I mean its at least 1/3 the size of the bike.

So while I dont like sissy bars my wife was pretty stoked that I got a bike that had one included so I left it on.

Suzi%20apache%20trail.jpg


But it wore on my nerves and I eventually removed it

suzi%201.JPG


Alright feeling much better but the luggage rack is chipping and rusting in spots and while it was very very useful it needs paint or something or ... maybe it just needs to go away.

So off it came today. I have to say .. I like the look without the rack but the rack has been useful. It weighs a ton but I ride like an old man ... because Im old.

suzi%20minus%20rack%201.JPG


suzi%20minus%20rack%202.JPG


SOoooooooo What do you think .. dont try and think what I think .. just your open and honest opinion ..

Leave the rack off

Have someone powder coat it Black

or

Have someone Chrome plate it??

I kinda maybe think if it were chrome plated I could live with it and it might look ok and be durable .. but .. the bike sure looks nice without a rack ??

So what say you?
Alex
 
I'll admit I love the look of a clean stock classic GS without fairings, racks, bags etc. The fact of the matter is for me that it becomes less of a useful vehicle. I compromise fashion for function. Often times I'll look at my 850 and want to pull all of that stuff off, but it's so useful! I've hauled all sorts of things on that rear rack.

If it's simply looks you're then heck yeah, leave it off. The firs time your wife sends you a text asking to grab a gallon of milk on your way home you may reconsider having it though.
 
Alex,

Certainly a sharp looking E there in it's stock setup.
Yah, that trunk looked out-of-place on that bike.

Perhaps that should be your vintage stock bike .... and you need another bike that is more of a long distance traveling setup. har har har
 
Opinions? Here?..... :p your bike looks best sans rack, BUT if having it allows you to take the bike for small packages instead of the car, the visual trade off is worth it. Plus you can?t see it while riding. Long ago I found a way to quickly strap on one of my saddle bags to the seat. Good for a quick jaunt out for small things. If you keep the rack, I think black is better, but I?m a minimal chrome kind of guy.
 
Me personally, I prefer the way it looks bare however, as Roger said, the rack and backrest come in very handy at times so, I think that because they were with the bike when it came along, I would have it chromed and reinstall it. The only thing that would not go back on is the box, that thing would be donated or given to someone here who wanted it.

By the way, really good looking bike you got there.
 
Same from me. Bare bike looks best but just isn't very functional for daily chores. I am dealing with the same thing with my GS. Only way I have of carrying anything is in the tank bag. It works but has it's limits.
 
It killed me to put a rack on my E. But I didn't feel comfortable with a passenger on back without it. I also found a sporty Eclipse soft pack that matched my side bags. It really comes in handy for hauling small stuff and a lot more streamline than the side bags. Id show you a pic but I have not gotten past the photobucket melt down.....
 
If it was MY bike, I would take off the trunk, leave the rack and back rest, then paint it to get rid of the red. :oops: It looks OK on YOUR bike, but no red for me.

That trunk looked very functional, but was not very pleasing to the eye. The rack and backrest, though, are worth their weight in gold for passenger and cargo carrying. How much do you value your wife's companionship on a ride? Without the backrest, she may not want to go with you as much. (Maybe that's your goal? :-k) The rack is just too functional to get rid of it. And personally, I would not consider that backrest a "sissy bar". It is just a nice, low backrest. A "sissy bar" goes up over twice as high as that one, and is usually more pointed at the top.

That's my opinion, but you asked for it. :encouragement:

.
 
I agree with Steve...keep the rack and mini backrest...so you're wife can enjoy rides...but 86 the trunk, it is an eye sore.


Ed
 
I mean how hard is it to remove and install? I like it with out, but i like the functionality of it too... i have one for my 1000g i may install from time to time like when traveling and such
 
thebrandonbeezy said:
What i was getting at is, install when needed
Click to expand...

This is where the wife and I arrived last night.

I explained to her that I rode the bike without the rack and backrest and the bike had better torque, idled better and was far faster! :)

Actually... I told her I hated it but would keep it around and repaint it. It is a total of 2 shock nuts and 2 bolt and nut assemblies to install and it took me under 5 minutes to take off. This way if we decide to go for a long ride or a multi day trip I could just prep the bike a day ahead and reinstall the rack and backrest. Most of our rides thus far have been around 50 miles. To me its like dragging a trailer on my car all the time for something I may use 4 times a year

and

I swear it was faster had more torque and idled better !!

her suggestion .. and you have to love it was ... maybe we should get another bike and this one can just be my toy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God I think I married the perfect woman.
 
Get another, makes perfect sense if logistically feasible . I reasoned with my wife saying, you don't wear the same style of shoes everywhere right? No hiking boots while walking on the sidewalk and we don't wear sneakers climbing mountains...
 
Get another bike...? Sure that works. And use the BBQ luggage thing as was suggested...when you need it.


Ed
 
My opinions

My opinions

FOR ME --

MY GS850 is a very utilitarian vehicle -
I LOVE he way it looked without the rack & saddlebags--
BUT - I use it to commute everyday (weather permitting) to work and back -
Not having the ability to carry stuff and store my gear while I work would be a problem for me.

The bonus for me is that I can actually take the GS850 out for a longer ride (overnights) now that I have capacity to haul stuff.
However it is NOT a 2-up ride as it sits now...or any 2-up riding we do ...
I take the Goldwing - she likes riding on the back - and it is extremely well suited to do it.

My commuter -
FZW8bn8.jpg
 
damn wingsconsin that is one pretty bike .. I love those chrome fenders but I have a question .. how did you get the tranny cover so shinny! I tried some bllue magic on a rag with elbow grease and it cleaned it but it is still all mottled.

I am flirting with someone local who has a running registered bike but I am not really a fairing guy but I imagine I can remove it .. I just think its a bit tattered for the price.

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/mcy/d/1982-suzuki-gs1100gk/6356223408.html
 
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