Honda Pacific Coast ipcrc Archives

Title and Body Title Only	All Words Any Word Phrase
Author:
Search Start Date:
Search End Date:
Sort Order	Newest Posts First Oldest Posts First
Sources to include:	Both Yahoo Groups and List Server Only Yahoo Groups Only Older List Server
OR Message ID:

New Reid Rack -- Discussion and Progress
Written by CalvinFold on 10/25/2004 at 04:35 pm


--- In ipcrc@yahoogroups.com, "Fred Seyfarth" <goldwingman@u...> wrote:
>
> Leland,
> You are correct, the Givi rack is probably made of cast aluminum.

Definitely a rock-solid piece of work. But that's been my experience
with the Givi gear, even on their plastic bits (like the Micro 2 for
scooters).

> I have never handled the parts, only seen them on the bikes. Based on
> the design with heavy members and shapes, it indicated they were cast
> or injection moulded of a lower strength material than steel.

Well, they are *heavy* in any case. If it's aluminum, it's
unyieldingly thick and rigid. They didn't mess-around on the sturdiness.

> The point I was really trying to make is that with the wide, thick
> members and small open area it hides the lines of the PC and does not
> complement the bike.

Well, the rack platform doesn't bother me, but you are right when it
comes to the members that secure it to the passenger handrails. As
Leland noted when I visited this weekend, it pretty much means a
passenger has to grab from the up-angled parts of the handrails at the
back, or to the rider.

> The much more open rack designs, such as Reid
> Rack and others made by members look much better on the bike. And the
> other problem is the Givi will not work with the rear spoiler fin,
> either Honda or Wong

> and does not work with the Honda or Utopia
> backrests without making special brackets.

Apparently this turned out not to be the case, much to my surprise.
But as has been mentioned, while the Honda or Utopia backrests will
work, the backrests get in the way of using any of the Givi boxes.

(Now I wish I had kept my Utopia and the Hondaline brackets...*doh*)

So you can't have all three (backrest, Givi rack, and Givi box). If
all you're after is a sturdy rack, the Givi will work (with the
aforementioned handrail problem).

> With the backrest attached
> to the rack, the rack probably won't work with the Givi trunks.

*nods*

What would be nice on this new Reid Rack (I had the original):

--They should be colored black...I think it's a more natural match
than the bare silver of the current Reid Rack and will complement more
of the PC800 paint schemes

--Should clear the Hondaline and Wong wings.

--Should be no more than 1" wider (so you can still use things like
the Revpack Tour and Expedition bags)

--Should definitely be 2-3" longer (to accommodate standard tail bags)

--Open design--not for aesthetics, actually, but for more flexibility
using hooked tie-down/bungie cords (which is a problem on the Givi).

Now I've already heard from Leland that the following won't happen
since the plan is to make another "bolts to the Hondaline backrest
brackets" version, but in an ideal world I'd also like to see:

--Should support more weight like the Givi

--Should go UNDER the handrails like the Hondaline brackets (i.e.
replace the Hondaline brackets since they are getting to be in short
supply and required even for the Utopia backrest).

--Should accommodate the Hondaline and Utopia backrests. Perhaps make
it an optional bolt-on cross-brace that can be removed for those who
don't need it or want it.

--Should be of a better design to eliminate welds (the weak point in
the Hondaline brackets) and support the weight of, say, a 200 lbs.
passenger leaning back a bit on it (especially in the case of the
Utopia, which encourages that more than the Honda "butt pad")

NOTE TO RACK DESIGNER: Make sure to put some nice, durable bolts with
the kit. Unlike the Utopia bolts, I'd feel better if the bolts went
through and had a nylok nut on the other side, rather than relying
strictly on the threading of the Hondaline rack.

My two cents worth...I'd be on the list to get one if I hadn't already
made the switch to the Givi recently. Heck, *I* contemplated this
project more than once, but just never had the time to do more than
go-over it in my head. ;-)

Kevin
San Leandro, CA
---
1996 Honda Pacific Coast 800 ("Red Dwarf")
49,500+ miles || HRCA #HM729375
<http://www.quosig.com/pc800/>
---
2002 Uni-Go Trailer ("Starbug 1") || Trailer #499
<http://www.quosig.com/pc800/uni-go/>
---
Monday, October 25, 2004 || 9:31 AM PST