Pannier Rack Questions

[MSW]

I'll resist the temptation to tell the long story, but suffice it to say that I loved my Tourmaster Cortech soft saddlebags when mounted on my Baghira with the homemade stand-offs that I bent from 1/4" steel rod. Well, now that my cool stand-offs have been twisted into an evil pretzel shape, one bag has a 6" gash in it from following the stand-off into the rear wheel, and the other bag has a hole the size of a quarter burned in it from landing on the muffler, it seems I'm looking for a new luggage set-up.

Anyway, even if I do manage to get the bags repaired, I think I'm done with homemade solutions. So I've been looking for a professionally made rack that I could either use with my repaired soft bags, or mount new hard bags to. So far, I've seen the SW Motech rack that Twisted Throttle sells, and the Touratech rack.

Both racks strike me as overkill, if I'm just going to put my soft bags on it, although they both look great if I go the hard bag direction.

Question(s) 1: Does anyone have the Touratech version? Does it fit anything but the Touratech cinder blocks... uhh... I mean, panniers?

Question 2: I just installed the Baja Designs tailight/fender replacement (which, thank God, survived the saddlebag debacle unscathed), but haven't yet cut off the "hoop." It looks like both the Touratech and SW Motech racks have a support that bolts to the stock rear fender. Do those attach to the hoop, or do they just bolt to the plastic fender (in which case, I'm already screwed)?

Many thanks for any info/ideas/opinions offered.

At least winter's coming up, so I can commence looking for replacement plastic for the damaged tail and sidecover and (hopefully) have the bike ready for spring.

[DEmark]

I have the touratech racks, mounting kit, and liner bags. I made my own "cinder blocks" and saved a bunch of money. I dont know if any other bags fit. The tube that runs from one rack to the other in the licence plate area does NOT attach to the :hoop: or the fender. Hack away on the hoop. Be aware, if you are running a m4 can it is right in the way of the tube, not a big deal if you have a welder, just add some new tabs to attach to.

I am happy with the touratech racks, they fit nice and are real strong.

Please post some pictures of your fender set up.

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[MSW]

Thanks DEMark!

The pic is extremely helpful. I'm thinking that I'll easily be able to attach my Tourmaster Cortechs to that rack (provided I can get a luggage repair shop to fix them). If you happen to know off the top of your head, could you tell me what the dimensions of the rectangular bag stays (or mounts or whatever you call them) are? You don't have to bother measuring them. I just figured you might remember, if you've adapted other bags to fit them.

I'll snap and post a couple of pics of the new tail when I get home tonight.

Thanks again!

[MSW]

Hey DEMark! I think I just bought a Baggy rear rack from you on ebay!

If that was you (and if it wasn't, what are the odds there are TWO guys with the handle DEmark that have Baggys?), thanks! I wish I had known you were selling it. I could have saved you some ebay fees.

Question: Are you ditching the rear rack because of the sweet touratech rack (and if so, are they incompatible or did you just not need this one anymore)?

And I promise I'll get those pics of my newly-installed-but-maybe-only-partially-complete Baja Designs tail section posted tonight. It's been dark and rainy here when I've gotten home the last few nights, so I haven't been able to drag her out of my over-crowded garage for her photo session.

Edited to say: P.S. I guess I should have looked in the "For Sale" forum where you DID post the rack for sale. Duh!

[DEmark]

Hi Mike
You got a great deal on that rack, I bought it off ebay 3 years ago for $125, I'm selling it because I have two of them. The 01 Baghira I bought last week off PatsyMack already had a rack on it. My 03 Baghira is a parts bike now.

I used the rack in conjuction with the touratech racks, 40 liter "brick" side panniers and a 45 liter givi trunk, lots of room for extended trips.

The rack will ship tomorrow