After-market rack C90

[KROW]

Hi

Looking at putting a rack on my bike. I have the stock seats and passenger backrest that comes with the SE/T editions. All after market racks that I can find on the 'net require that the backrest it attaches to be made by the same manufacturer as the rack. Is there anyone that makes one that fits the stock Suzuki backrest brackets?

[hammersfan]

To me it looks like the Cobra and the OEM rack are the same but I emailed Cobra asking them and did not get a reply.

[KROW]

Originally Posted by hammersfan

To me it looks like the Cobra and the OEM rack are the same but I emailed Cobra asking them and did not get a reply.

Anywhere I found the Cobra rack there was a "Note" that that rack would fit the Cobra Sissy Bar only.

Checking the Suzuki Canada site, they give a MSRP for the Suzuki OEM rack, part number 990A0-75002, at $263.23 CDN. The Suzuki US site gives the MSRP as $164.95 US for the same thing. Right now the CDN$ is worth $1.013 US. How can they justify charging Canadian customers $100 more for the same item?

I can find the OEM rack on some US sites for around $130 US. Shipping though is about $50 or more to Canada. I think I'll just wait and get one from a US dealer sometime myself or someone I know is "across the line".

It's not so much the price per se as much as the fact of knowing I'm being ripped off - whether by price gouging or by shipping.

[frostbitevinnie]

I made my own and the only cost to me were the SS fasteners. I love being a machinist!!!

[KROW]

Originally Posted by frostbitevinnie

I made my own and the only cost to me were the SS fasteners. I love being a machinist!!!

Saw a bike the other day, a Kawasaki, where the guy had made the rear rack as well as passenger floorboards that he had adapted so that they were an inch or so lower and a few inches forward of the normal rear pegs. A very neat job that you would almost swear were factroy made.

My brother-in-law was a machinist, now retired. A useful trade for sure.

Found this after market rack that is supposed to fit the OEM backrest:
Voyageur Stylized Chrome Luggage Rack for OEM Backrests, Volusia / C50, VL1500 / C90 - 03-272
It cost about the same as the Suzuki (US) and I think I like the OEM one better.

[KROW]

Anybody familiar with this rack on EBay?
SUZUKI C50 M50 VOLUSIA VL800 C90 Sissy Bar Luggage Rack - (eBay.ca item 120270567482 end time 14-Jun-08 23:43:11 EDT)
Price is right and their photo has it attached to an OEM backrest. Wondering what the quality is like???

[jhubb]

I bought the one you linked too on ebay, the bolt holes were not right size & had to drill them out larger & the chrome work on it is not the best, had mine a year & the chrome is already chipping. Next time I will spend the extra & get the OEM.

[KROW]

Originally Posted by jhubb

I bought the one you linked too on ebay, the bolt holes were not right size & had to drill them out larger & the chrome work on it is not the best, had mine a year & the chrome is already chipping. Next time I will spend the extra & get the OEM.

Appreciate that JHUBB. That's the type to feedback you can't get from a photo on the web.

[hammersfan]

Originally Posted by jhubb

I bought the one you linked too on ebay, the bolt holes were not right size & had to drill them out larger & the chrome work on it is not the best, had mine a year & the chrome is already chipping. Next time I will spend the extra & get the OEM.

My OEM rack had the chrome chipping and flaking within a year too !

[Grizz1]

I believe the OEM rack and some other stuff is made for Suzuki by Jardine.

[stp1971]

The factory OEM billet rack will scuff and look faded where the t-bag sits on it. It will also hold more than the 5 lbs they claim.

[KROW]

Originally Posted by jhubb

I bought the one you linked too on ebay, the bolt holes were not right size & had to drill them out larger & the chrome work on it is not the best, had mine a year & the chrome is already chipping. Next time I will spend the extra & get the OEM.

Originally Posted by hammersfan

My OEM rack had the chrome chipping and flaking within a year too !

Well, I decided to try the "Ebay Special". Especially as the Suzuki OEM rack doesn't seem to be the best quality either. Got the rack in the mail last week. Low and behold, the bolt holes are indeed too small, like Jhubb said his were. That can be dealt with. However the width between the mounting tabs is 9 7/8". If this is to be mounted between the OEM brackets and backrest (as it shows in the photo for the ebay posting and as the OEM rack is mounted), the width would have to be 9 1/4" to 9 3/8". I sent an email to the poster and he says this is the only rack they make for the C50 and C90 (same rack). Says he'll refund me $18 for the trouble of redrilling the bolt holes, or I can send it back and he'll refund me the whole price (I guess its still my cost to send it back???)

Jhubb, how did you mount yours? With the tabs of the rack outside of the OEM fender brackets instead of between them and the backrest? If so, how does it look mounted like that? Would you mind posting a few photos?

Hammersfan, how heavy/sturdy is the Suzuki OEM rack? The dealer here doesn't have them in stock - guess you have to order it before you see it! I don't know anyone that has one and have never seen one myself. Would it bend for instance if I was to put a full TBag (I have the Lone Star with top roll) on it? The max 5 lb limit (seems to me I read that somewhere) bothers me, especially considering the exorbitant price Suzuki charges for it.

Do you, or anyone else reading this, know of any any other options for a rack that can be mounted to the OEM Suzuki brackets and backrest other than these two?

Keith

[stp1971]

The rack will hold more than 5 lbs. Suzuki puts that out there as a CYA type of thing. I have the Saddleman X-large touring t-bag that I know for a fact was at least 20 lbs full and packed and it held it just fine. Of course I wasn't riding rough terrain and no huge bumps to contend with either.

I myself was concerned about the 5lb limit but with the bag I have it seems to be working. I would rather have one that goes down to the fender for added bracing and all that I have seen that does that will not work with the factory backrest.

I did come across a used Suzuki billet rack just like the one I have that I am going to check into having some extra bracing modified to it and then re-plated once I get done.

I would say though if you go with the factory billet rack then you can pack an easy 15 lbs on there and really more but that is your call.

[jhubb]

here is how mine is mounted, it was a tight squeeze to get it on, but after drilling it fit. this pic was just after i put it on (last yr)

[KROW]

Originally Posted by jhubb

here is how mine is mounted, it was a tight squeeze to get it on, but after drilling it fit. this pic was just after i put it on (last yr)

Thanks for the photo. I see you mounted yours outside of the existing brackets. I put mine in a vice today and bent the side tabs in and then out again so that they curve in a bit and then straighten out. I was then able to get it to fit between the side brackets and the backrest. Had to drill the bolt holes larger as well, of course. Here`s some photos of what it turned out like - the first one shows the bent tabs and the second a side view of the rack mounted.

[hammersfan]

Originally Posted by jhubb

here is how mine is mounted, it was a tight squeeze to get it on, but after drilling it fit. this pic was just after i put it on (last yr)

I found that if you attach the brackets to the sissy bar first then attach the rack to the brackets it is a lot easier, can't figure out why but it is !
My OEM rack looks different to yours, its part # is 990A0 75002 and it is very sturdy although the chrome plating is not the greatest.

[KROW]

Originally Posted by hammersfan

...
My OEM rack looks different to yours, its part # is 990A0 75002 and it is very sturdy although the chrome plating is not the greatest.

His is not the OEM rack, it's the after market one on EBay like mine.