Well, as some of you know, a couple of years ago, I mounted an RK Tourpak on the stock '03 luggage rack... Then I installed a 3 gallon gas tank inside of it. I built a brace that supported the rear of the tourpak to the saddlebag support. Over the past year, I have had to replace the original aluminum brace with a steel one (The aluminum one broke in two places - through the mounting holes drilled in the brace) . And while at the crawfish bash I noted that both connectors to the saddlebag support had failed (for the third time, each tile a heavier gauge bracket). So I hit WalMart for some hose clamps and more sturdy brackets and made a fix.
Figured I'd better take a closer look and see whats going on under there. I removed the tourpak and found that the luggage rack had failed in FOUR places. Everything seemed to be sturdy enough, but appearances can be decieving. So I have some work to do before the Spring Fling.
Word to the wise, the MoCo probably knew what it was doing when it put the "10 lbs maximum load" sticker on the sucker.

Man that stinks. Simply a vibration over time thing or did you have a heavier load than usual?

I suspect the 50# I routinely carry may have had something to do with it. That and the fact that my additional rear support has failed three times (is that a clue) and there was some riding time without it as a result.

Hey Danii, sucks about your damage.

I'd really recommend the cyclevisions kit for the tour pack. I think it is about $200. I have routinely carried 50 lbs and no signs of any problems. Also, it is detachable which is nice.

Daniii: What are you going to replace it with?

Fred

I've looked at the Cyclevision thing. Closer to $300. And I have heard there is some conflict with the HD leather bags. I'll find a welder and beef up my broken one. In the meantime, I have ordered a replacement from Hales ($80). I don't need it to be removable - I'd never take it off.

Word to the wise, the MoCo probably knew what it was doing when it put the "10 lbs maximum load" sticker on the sucker.


Starting to sound like the same guys that knew what they were doing when they stopped at a 3.7 gal. fuel tank also! :hidesbeh:

I've looked at the Cyclevision thing. Closer to $300. And I have heard there is some conflict with the HD leather bags. I'll find a welder and beef up my broken one. In the meantime, I have ordered a replacement from Hales ($80). I don't need it to be removable - I'd never take it off.

Works with my HD leather bags.

Works with my HD leather bags.Thanks for the info. The guys at Cyclevision said they didn't know...

I've looked at the Cyclevision thing. Closer to $300. And I have heard there is some conflict with the HD leather bags. I'll find a welder and beef up my broken one. In the meantime, I have ordered a replacement from Hales ($80). I don't need it to be removable - I'd never take it off.

Daniii: Cancel the Hales rack (or return it) and get the Cyclevision one. You would not make and use a brace (I think).

Fred

I'll need one for the spring fling in 2 weeks. Can't get the Cyclevison apparatus installed in that time. (Its only money....) Hales shipped the luggage rack this morning.

Update: I got the new rack from Hales, and reinforced it with aluminum angle, reinforced the connection to the luggage rack frame, and moved it back another couple of inches. I think it'll last this time.

I also moved this thread to the bagger section.

You gentleman know enormously so more about this sort of thing than I, but how about having a metal artisan create a steel plate that could be bolted in place where the luggage rack goes? It could be multilayered to take on the configuration of the pic in your post immediately above this one.

You gentleman know enormously so more about this sort of thing than I, but how about having a metal artisan create a steel plate that could be bolted in place where the luggage rack goes? It could be multilayered to take on the configuration of the pic in your post immediately above this one. Obviously the proper way to do things. But I had the Broken Bow thingy the week after I discovered the broken luggage rack. I'll use the broken one as a setup jig to make a proper base. One of these days.....

Obviously the proper way to do things. But I had the Broken Bow thingy the week after I discovered the broken luggage rack. I'll use the broken one as a setup jig to make a proper base. One of these days.....
Betcha Pondo can C-N-C a billet aluminum one in about any size/strength!

Betcha Pondo can C-N-C a billet aluminum one in about any size/strength! I'll have to get it with flames, though.....

I'll have to get it with flames, though.....
:rofl:

Update. The second (stock) luggage rack has failed at the rear bolt location. But it seems solid enough with the stronger rear supports. I'll be looking at the cyclevisions side plates... Life goes on.

Thought that I should mention that the Cyclevision sideplates and bagger Tourpak rack won't fit with the fender baseplate. The tourpack rack will hit the baseplate.

So, why will I need the fender baseplate after I install the CV stuff?

Dan;

When I installed the cyclevisions tour pac rack on my 04 I had to remove the fender base plate. No real loss since the plate serves no purpose once you install a tour pack.

Tom

That's what I figured. Thanks.

I just mentioned it in case you needed it for your pillion. I can't use my Corbin dual tour pillion without the baseplate.

Oops. Well, we'll see. Cycle Vision called at noon and said the parts are back ordered.

I loathe cyclevisions... so does the sundowner seat use the base plate? I want the sundowner but a base plate won't fit my phat rod fenders

The Sundowner pillion for the '02 - '06 A and B fenders (for 180/200 tires) uses the baseplate. Don't know about the wide tire ones, apparently though the Sundowner seats for '07 and later models and '06 and '07 VRSCR models just have a rider seat and you use the stock pillion.

One other problem (which wouldn't apply to you guys) is that you can't use the quick on and off Leatherpro/Boss Bags with the Tour pak setup but the Harley bags will work as long as you don't try to install the rear saddlebag support bar (which you don't seem to need anyway). This is assuming that you have the stock DA and turn signal setup.

Here are some pictures of what I was mentioning. I just stuck an old stock pillion behind my Corbin dual tour seat-it leaves a space showing behind the Corbin DT rider seat, but with all the other sh!t piled back there you don't really notice it, much.....

Jedi, if your fender is too wide for the baseplate then it will probably be too wide for the tourpak rack. The '97 - '08 bagger rack fits my fender , but my heritage softail tourpak rack is too narrow. They now make a tourpak rack for the '09 baggers with 180 tire and wider fenders so that may be an option for yours.

The third picture shows the lack of space between the rack and the turn signals where the rear support for the saddlebags would go.

the width is fine but the phat rod rear fender doesn't follow the same curves as the factory... i am still trying to figure how what to do... just curious , what attaches to the base plate when using the sundowner?

Not sure what you mean...? The pillion still attaches to the rear fender with the baseplate bolted to the rear frame between the pillion and the fender.

so then why is it (the baseplate) necessary?

Oh, okay. If you have the Sundowner made for the '02-'06 A, B and D models or the Corbin with the pillion made to fit with the baseplate and you don't use the baseplate, the pillion will about 3/8" to half an inch above the rear fender and you then have an unsightly gap between the fender and pillion. I can post a picture tomorrow if you want to see what I am talking about.

ahh... ok.. gotcha... i will quit hijacking this thread now...

Looking at the two up detachable mount (53276-04 Detachable Tour Pack Rack), it should clear the base plate nicely (at least from the pictures. I can't figure out where to get the other two required parts: 53684-96A Rear Docking Pt, and 53683-96 Front Docking Pt. Probably on a dealer only parts list.

No rush, though, as my luggage rack hasn't fallen off yet.

Just left Cycle Visions. They have the tourpack mounting kit (399.00 ouch) and a leather trunk box (600.00 bigger ouch) on the counter ready to go.

Dealer had the luggage rack, and I ordered the mounting pins. CV said the plates were back ordered, but should ship in a week. I boughht an RK Tourpak from Hales for $500 delivered a few years back.

I am just about to post our saddlebags, tourpac and rack in the classifieds looking to get $1100 for the full set-up but will part out as required. pics will follow once i get them up loaded but i do have some pic posted from an old post when i built the rack

I am just about to post our saddlebags, tourpac and rack in the classifieds looking to get $1200 for the full set-up but will part out as required. pics will follow once i get them up loaded but i do have some pic posted from an old post when i built the rack
Curious, what are you going to change to?

Gslick wants more room so we are going to go with the hard bag option and then I have a fiberglass tourpac to work with. I can also likely get you some better pricing on the CV stuff if interested. I would need to check the pricing again but they guy that i got our stuff from was the best price anyplace, we saved close to $100 on just the fairing bracket and floorboard mounts

the width is fine but the phat rod rear fender doesn't follow the same curves as the factory... i am still trying to figure how what to do... just curious , what attaches to the base plate when using the sundowner?

Jedi why not find the location for the stock touring mounts and just bolt them to the fender struts you were working on? you might be able to slightly adjust the mounts forward or back wards to make some more room for the passenger.

Jedi why not find the location for the stock touring mounts and just bolt them to the fender struts you were working on? you might be able to slightly adjust the mounts forward or back wards to make some more room for the passenger.

that is exactly what i am doing...

I suspect the 50# I routinely carry may have had something to do with it. That and the fact that my additional rear support has failed three times (is that a clue) and there was some riding time without it as a result.

Your bike is awsome, thats the vision I had. Can you give me some specs on parts. Thanks,
Shaggy.

Ok, here are some links:

Tour Tank: http://www.1130cc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36641
Tour Pak: http://www.1130cc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9856

And you can buy fiberglass bags and tour paks quite reasonable from these guys:
http://www.tsukayu.com/

The CycleVision brackets interfere with the wraparound bar on the '03 HD saddle bag frame, but they seem quite strong enough without it.

The HD removable luggage rack will not clear the Base Plate. With the Corbin rear seat, there is a gap, but its supported on feet so its only cosmetic. Haven't tried mounting the modded Sporty Sundowner on the rear, but I don't think that is an issue either.