Front rack for touring
 

Somebody emailed me a couple of days ago asking about the rack on the front of my bike...rather frustratingly I deleted the email thinking it would be a PM here but it wasn't :cussing: ...so if you're reading this and were asking about the rack, here goes!

The rack is a home made job using aluminium angle bar (you know, with a cross section in the shape of an 'L'). It was more than strong enough to carry the tent which is quite heavy but it was mighty tricky to knock up my MK1 version. The upside was that I got a bit of weight forward and the gear on the front protects you from the elements a bit. The downside is that the (very) low speed handling is effected eg, when you're manouvering in a car park or sometimes pulling away around a corner. The handling may actually have been caused by the weight I had on the back of the bike and have nothing to do with the weight on the front at all!

For my MK2 version I'm going to raise the lower fixing points (at the moment the uprights knock against the plastic side pannels at full lock). I might even investigate a steering damper to improve the handling.

If you want to know more email me again

I didn't email u but thanks for that. Could you get some proper close up shots though?

Do you find that the extra weight has any other adverse effects on the bike at all? That chain looks unnervingly like mine did after my recent trip (although I'm quite big boned... oh, ok, I'm a little chubby). :naka:

Does anyone know what the max weight Yam recomend with regards to luggage etc. for the XT's? :dontknow:

That chain looks like it's about to jump off. :eek2:

Yamaha recommend 1.5 - 2 inches of slack taken from inline with your wheel rim. That bike has about double that or more.

If your's was like that MC when it snapped then I can see why. Worst case scenario would be it'll throw ya off.

186 kg of rider/accessories etc.

I am very conscious of this being close to that weight with my leathers (they are very very heavy - it's not me - honest):050:

Eeeek...the chain really was dangling at that point wasn't it! I did about 3500 miles in 3 weeks up and down mountains so it got some serious abuse. Also, coming from shaft drive bikes I didn't give it the proper attention it deserved :retard: .
Just fitting a new chain and sprockets and Scottoiler before dissapearing off to France.

Denny, when I return I'll post some better close up shots of the rack. I have a few piccies in the Gallery here but I'm not sure if they include the rack.

Off now to hang my head in loose-chain shame...
:iamwithstupid:

...forgot to add...
All that luggage really didn't effect the handling and gave me a great backrest! Total weight of luggage about 50 - 60kg absolute max so only like having a pillion.

My trip into France is going to be a little less loaded but for 3 weeks of comfortable camping around Scandinavia the XT acted as a bloomin' wonderful workhorse.
:campfire:

I thought you rode with the mrs on the back, or did she go on another bike?

Looking forward to the close up shots mate, as I'm gonna be (hopefully) going on a 3 week stint around Turkey and might make something like that myself :nod:

No, I went solo for this trip. Just leaving for France in the morning though with the girlie riding her BMW for her first long/overseas trip so we'll see how she does.

Just managed to get a new chain and sprockets on today and have fitted a Scottoiler...I will look after this chain, especially after seeing the shocking state of my chain/sprockets after returning from Scandinavia :086:

Piccies when I return...

Nah, it wasn't like that when it snapped, it was however 10k miles old. It's the new chain (cr@p chain) that's looking like that after just 2k miles!!!! I guess it's very true what they say � you get what you pay for. Gonna get me a new one next payday, just hope it lasts the month. Fingers crossed.

Greencat, we need MORE pictures of your travels!!! :campfire: