Sports Rack

[Kentish]

Is it worth removing the standard grab rail and putting a sports rack on? whats the advantage of a sports rack? I don't understand what they are actually for?

[darrsi]

For putting things on?
They've only got a recommended 5kg weight limit though so nothing too heavy.
I can vouch for this when my top box overtook me one night.  :eek

[Kentish]

Oh really, I managed to strap my dirtbike wheel to the rear of my fazer today when I needed to get a new tube, stuck it down with a cargo net onto the rear of the seat, an 18inch motocross wheel!!
I was thinking that if there was a rack on there I wouldn't of been able to have done that! 5kg em...how much will a givi rack take then?

[darrsi]

They have a proper frame system with spaced out mounting points so they're designed to take large top boxes.
Not sure on the actual weight restrictions but way more than a Renntec sports rack.

[nick crisp]

Don't think the Givis are rated to more than 10 kgs.....

When I loaded up my last bike for a 3 week camping tour of the UK, I put mostly clothes and light stuff in the top box - a Givi E45. All the weight went on the rear seat, with a mass of bungees:

[darrsi]

A full Givi rack system MUST be more than 10kg, surely?

[Punkstig]

A full Givi rack system MUST be more than 10kg, surely?

It's down to liability (surprise surprise) although the rack and box will carry more, 10kg is the recommended limit, however, the bike manufacturers have their own limits for the rear subframe- for instance there is no official givi wingrack for the Thundercat as yamaha don't recommended that kind of weight on the rear subframe!
I snapped the rear sub on my old xj900 just from weight in the topbox.
As such if I need to carry anything heavy (like an archive box full of paperwork) it gets strapped to the rear seat and lighter stuff put in the box!


As for the sports racks their good for a sandwich, and possibly risk a bag of crisps!

[nick crisp]

And don't forget that the Givi boxes can weigh up to 2/3kgs - doesn't leave a lot of carrying capacity does it? Common sense required, I think, but just don't go putting massive great weights in the box. Also remember that the top box sits beyond the rear wheel axle, so if you load it up you're going to have a very light front end!

[darrsi]

I wonder how they get away with putting back rests on some of the boxes then, 'cos someone leaning back on it on acceleration must really put added pressure on them?

[nick crisp]

Tbh, I think the whole top box thing was never very well thought through in the first place. But it's just such a useful item, it's success has just swamped any issues. The bike's rear subframe is up to carrying the weight of a pillion after all, so why not weight in the box? I suspect it's more to do with the strength of the actual mounting points and bolts. There is, as far as I'm aware, no legal/construction and use guidance available so it's just down to what people want to make/fit.
There have been bikes with rear subframe issues, and recalls for replacement of the entire subframe have been issued in the past - there's a particular case in mind, but can't remember what bike it was, think it was a Suzuki. Also, you have to think about the strength of the lugs/locks that actually attach the box to the rack.
If you challenged Givi, if they gave you an answer at all, they'd probably say a passenger shouldn't lean their weight on the back pad - it's just for comfort if you did happen to go back against it!  :rolleyes
But as I said, a little common sense goes a long way.

[His Dudeness]

Whoever came up with the name Sports Rack is a marketing genius :lol

[darrsi]

I knew that i'd never want it taken off so had it mounted with metal plates inside and outside of the box.

[nick crisp]

But that's increased the load you're carrying!  :lol
If you're really concerned, it might be worth seeing if you can find some high-tensile steel mounting bolts. But I don't know what the originals are like. If you're anything like me, you probably won't bother though  :rolleyes

[darrsi]

Only thing that does play on my mind is that i go down 3 roads in total to and from work that are not only quite long but full of speed bumps, which i reckon was the main cause of the Renntec rack snapping in half on me (apart from the weight of course)

[nick crisp]

Clearly when they designed the sports rack, they failed to mention which sports it was suited to - apparently not the hurdle event...... :\

Just remembered which bike had the rear subframe recall - Hayabusa of a certain year..............can't remember what year though..... :rolleyes :lol

[mickvp]

Itook my renntec off in the end in favour of the grab rail for SWMBO. the only thing I ever used it for was to strap her helmet to when I was picking her up - never realy found any other uses for it :o

[darrsi]

Clearly when they designed the sports rack, they failed to mention which sports it was suited to - apparently not the hurdle event...... :\

Just remembered which bike had the rear subframe recall - Hayabusa of a certain year..............can't remember what year though..... :rolleyes :lol

I think it was designed to strap playing darts to, or maybe a table tennis bat and ball.  :lol

[mtread]

Whoever came up with the name Sports Rack is a marketing genius

Because they're for carrying plimsolls 
I must say I've never had any trouble with my Rentec, and I've carried big loads around Europe

[nick crisp]

I bought my 750 Turbo with a sports rack fitted. It didn't seem to matter how much you tightened the bolts, the damn thing would still shift with a pillion holding on. Scared a few that way - it would wheelie real easy with a pillion, and just when they wanted to hang on to the rack for dear life, it would move! And it was so small it could barely hold a pack of cigarettes.

[darrsi]

I bought my 750 Turbo with a sports rack fitted. It didn't seem to matter how much you tightened the bolts, the damn thing would still shift with a pillion holding on. Scared a few that way - it would wheelie real easy with a pillion, and just when they wanted to hang on to the rack for dear life, it would move! And it was so small it could barely hold a pack of cigarettes.

I've got one of those rubber matting seat covers for passengers, they're brilliant for keeping them firmly planted in place, especially when braking, but they're also very good for anything bungee'd to the rear seat.
I think they look quite smart as well. 


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Grip-non-slip-...4615cee518