OK, this should be easy for you guys:
I need a luggage rack for Maggie May. It doesn't have to be all that rugged - I won't be carrying anything terribly heavy back there - but I do want it to look good, not detract from the bike's appearance.
You can see my current setup on my website. (http://www.sff.net/people/sanders/mm.html) I believe that back rest is an original Honda part, although I don't know it for certain as it was on the bike when I got it.
Is there a Honda luggage rack specifically for this bike, to go with this backrest arrangement? Where can I get one, and about how much would it probably cost?
(I would prefer not to go through my nearest Honda dealer; for reasons explained elsewhere in here, I try to avoid any dealings with Motor Sports of Muskogee at all.)
Does anybody else make a good quality, well finished rack that can be fitted without a lot of surgery? (No JC Whitney type hardware, with the cheap chrome that flakes off and rusts.) Kirk doesn't seem to have anything suitable.
If anybody has anything lying around the garage, I might be interested. (Though I've got a couple of racks from past bikes that probably could be adapted, but they just look too scabby.)
Your guidance on this matter will be much appreciated. Now that my wife is in the nursing home in Tulsa rather than the hospital in Norman, I take her out sometimes for little short-range shopping trips, and with her on the back seat and those smallish saddle bags there's little room to carry her purchases.
Honda direct line has this one but I have no idea if it will work with your Corbin. Mounting brackets HO-4124213 required.
(http://www.hondadirectlineusa.com/pics/ho-4194221s.jpg)
http://www.hondadirectlineofshadyside.com/stores/byProduct.asp?prd=Luggage+Racks&str=7&ID=860321992
William,
Since the various racks do not interchange from one manufacturer's line to another's, can you post a photo of your bike's sissy bar and mounting brackets without the saddlebags? I can't identify your set-up from what you have, but the Hondaline brackets are distinctly different in appearance from Cobra's or MC Enterprisess or Jardine's.
If you already have the Honda sissy bar on your bike, then you already have the brackets to use the rack shown on the link Curtis sent to you. By the way, that is the lowest price I have found on the genuine Honda rack. There are some cheaper knock-offs such as Bestem USA sold on eBay which claim to be as good, but the owner comments in various forums indicate their chrome plating is not very good.
Dobie Gillum told me that he plans on offering a much stronger rack for the Magna and that it will mate with the Hondaline brackets, but I am not sure how close he is to making it available for sale. Meanwhile, after sifting through the comments on Cruiser Customizing and other sites regarding Hondaline vs Cobra quality, I am planning to buy the rack from Honda Directline of Shadyside.
I just posted the Hondaline part numbers in another thread http://www.magnaownersoftexas.com/forums/index.php?topic=2481.0 (http://www.magnaownersoftexas.com/forums/index.php?topic=2481.0)
I found a lower cost alternative -- a "backpack" with a roller wheel frame in it. The roller frame is stitched into a rugged pocket which fits over the backrest. Quite secure. Doesn't touch the fender. Bought it for $7 on sale.
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I have a Bestem rack..
I did have one small area that lost it's chrome, (about the size of a drug capsule) but I use my rack fairly frequently and have not had any other issues with it... I have exceeded the weight stated on multiple occasions I'm sure...
The Hondaline racks chrome may be better, but when I purchased my rack (several years ago) there was also a difference in price.
Since I purchased my rack several years ago, I can't speak to whether Bestem has improved their quality or became worse over time.
http://www.mcenterprises.com/products/search/dsp_searchForm.cfm has a decent unit.
Quote from: hootmon on September 28, 2008, 10:58:59 AM
I have a Bestem rack..
I did have one small area that lost it's chrome, (about the size of a drug capsule) but I use my rack fairly frequently and have not had any other issues with it... I have exceeded the weight stated on multiple occasions I'm sure...
The Hondaline racks chrome may be better, but when I purchased my rack (several years ago) there was also a difference in price.
Since I purchased my rack several years ago, I can't speak to whether Bestem has improved their quality or became worse over time.
I have to admit I have been tempted. I hate spending money unnecessarily. Just ask my wife: when it was a choice between an $8000 bracelet for her or a $3000 motorcycle for me, I went for the less expensive item.
Bestem's warehouse isn't too far away from where I live, so I would at least have the option of knocking on their door if I weren't happy with it. Of course, that assumes I could find the gasoline to drive down there.
Thanks. This will help.
Mike, I am with you 100% on the necessity of practicing these economies.
Which brings to mind the following story:
Late one Friday afternoon an elderly man walks into a very expensive and exclusive jeweler's, accompanied by a splendid-looking and obviously much younger lady. To the sales clerk he says, "I'd like to buy something for Jennifer, here. Price is no object."
"Well, sir," the clerk says, "we have these pearl earrings - "
"No, no," the old guy says impatiently. "Something better than that. I want only the best for Jennifer."
So the clerk shows him various items, working up into the higher price brackets, while Jennifer grows more and more visibly excited, but the old guy keeps dismissing every offering as too cheap, even a very expensive emerald pendant with matching earrings. Finally the clerk says, "Well, sir, we do have this diamond bracelet, at twelve thousand dollars - "
"That's more like it," the old guy says. "Jennifer, do you want it?"
Jennifer can barely speak by now, but she nods vigorously, clutching the old man's arm. "All right, then," the old guy says. "We'll take it. Figure up the tax and all, I'll write you a check."
The clerk hesitates. The old man says, "Yes, I know, it's a considerable amount for a personal check. And it's Friday and the bank is already closed. But that's all right, you just wrap it up and put it in the safe and then Monday morning you can call the bank, and once the check's been cleared you can give me a call and I'll come pick it up." He hands the clerk a card. "OK?"
Monday morning the sales clerk calls the number on the card. "Sir," he says when the old man answers, "I'm sorry, but - well, I just called the bank and they say there's no money at all in that account."
"Yeah, son, I know," the old man says cheerfully. "But let me tell you about my weekend!"
Heh heh heh! The benefits of strategic thinking!
By the way, if you do decide to try the Bestem rack, it is $79.95 plus shipping from their site. Here is the link to the direct equivalent their site: http://www.bestemusa.com/product_info.php?cPath=5_58&products_id=141 (http://www.bestemusa.com/product_info.php?cPath=5_58&products_id=141) There is a slightly cheaper one on the Magna link, but it doesn't look quite as strong; here it is in acse you're interested: http://www.bestemusa.com/product_info.php?cPath=5_40&products_id=142 (http://www.bestemusa.com/product_info.php?cPath=5_40&products_id=142)
You can find the Bestem rack on eBay all day long for a little less, but not sure if that includes shipping or not.
The price for the Hondaline out the door from Shadyside is $119 including shipping.
The MC Enterprises unit is only $40.
#120
Rear Fender Mini Rack-Standard (Honda VF750 Magna & Deluxe 1993-2003)
Chrome rack is a convenient place for carrying small items. Approximately 6 1/4" x 7 1/2". YOU CAN PURCHASE THIS PRODUCT DIRECT CALL 866.886.2368. $40.00
Thanks, Greg, but that's way too small for my purposes. I'll probably wind up getting the Honda.
Quote from: ezrydr on September 28, 2008, 02:01:56 PM
"Yeah, son, I know," the old man says cheerfully. "But let me tell you about my weekend!"
funny! :lol:
Quote from: ezrydr on September 27, 2008, 08:07:51 PMI need a luggage rack for Maggie May. It doesn't have to be all that rugged - I won't be carrying anything terribly heavy back there - but I do want it to look good, not detract from the bike's appearance.
William, I don't know if you have bought a rack for your bike yet or not: if you have, you may as well ignore this post, but if not, be advised that
not "all that rugged" aptly describes the Hondaline rack. I got mine this past week. Except for the mounting brackets which are welded to it, the rest of the rack is built entirely from hollow, square tubing. The top surfaces and edges are nicely chrome-plated, but the bottom surfaces are indifferently finished and look like they would be prone to rust. As a positive, it does go on the bike easily. For my purposes at the moment, it's adequate, but I would say it is expensive for what it is. Oh, and Honda Directline's "free-shipping" still applies a $7.50 "handling charge" for orders under $199.
I have the hondaline rack, i'd like to end up getting Cycleistic's new heavy duty rack, so I wouldn't neeed mine anymore. I'll sell you mine if you want it. maybe like 40-50 bucks plus shipping?
My heavy-duty rack is a direct replacement for the Honda Directline unit shown by Curtis_Valk a few posts ago. http://www.cycle-istic.com/Misc.html