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Message started by DanGill on 08/25/07 at 19:32:10

Title: JC Whitney Trunk Installed
Post by DanGill on 08/25/07 at 19:32:10

I finally bought a luggage rack and a large trunk from JC Whitney for my S40. I have been needing lockable storage, and this seemed the least expensive way of getting it done. I looked at the Leatherlyke bags, but just couldn't go the cost. This setup cost me about $170 for the rack and trunk, and about $20 for some cutoff tools because . . . the trunk wouldn't fit behind the stock sissy bar. The bar angled back too much and I was left with only about 1 1/2 inches to mount the trunk plate.

Here is the bike with the case mounted:
http://w2.bikepics.com/pics/2007/08/25/bikepics-1003820-320.jpg

Here is the plate with the cut off sissy bar:
http://w2.bikepics.com/pics/2007/08/25/bikepics-1003822-800.jpg

Here is the trunk from the front with the seat re-mounted:
http://w2.bikepics.com/pics/2007/08/25/bikepics-1003821-200.jpg

Cutting off the sissy bar was a bit of an adventure, as it's solid chrome steel, about 5/8 inch square. I should have cut it lower, and I probably will trim it down after I get some more cutoff disks. I went through several getting to this point.

The trunk removes with the key, and I may drill it and put in some bolts to back up the latch. It will be holding my laptop, after all. I don't plan to remove it often.

Here's the link to the trunk:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ItemBrowse/c-10111/s-10101/p-100000346517/mediaCode-ZX/appId-100000346517/Pr-p_CATENTRY_ID:100000346517

I got the luggage rack from Oneida Suzuki.

Title: Re: JC Whitney Trunk Installed
Post by Paladin on 08/25/07 at 21:14:27

If it's to hold a Laptop it's a good thing you passed on the Leatherlykes -- my 15" Acer will not fit in my saddlebags.

Title: Re: JC Whitney Trunk Installed
Post by islandwahine on 08/25/07 at 21:41:30

Ditto with my 15 inch DELL.
But if I put it in horizontally it sort of does, I did it last week.
I might get a new one next year, once the warranty expires. A 14 inch!!! lol!

Title: Re: JC Whitney Trunk Installed
Post by islandwahine on 08/25/07 at 21:44:50

DanGill wrote:

Looks really nice and handy!
And you are sure the front isn't going to flip up once you put something heavy in it?
Just joking I know the bike is too heavy for that to happen, but still, it looks like it would!
It doesn't bounce when you hit a bump?

Title: Re: JC Whitney Trunk Installed
Post by DanGill on 08/26/07 at 05:22:14

islandwahine wrote:

It doesn't bounce when you hit a bump?

I haven't actually been able to ride it yet. :'( Too busy yesterday after getting the thing put on. Maybe today.

Title: Re: JC Whitney Trunk Installed
Post by ratdog472 on 08/26/07 at 21:10:29

Nice mod.. Would look awesome with some hard bags too.

Do you still have the sissy backrest pad?

Title: Re: JC Whitney Trunk Installed
Post by DanGill on 08/27/07 at 08:04:53

ratdog472 wrote:

Nice mod.. Would look awesome with some hard bags too.

Do you still have the sissy backrest pad?

I have the backrest pad AND the top of the bar.

I rode to work today with my laptop in the case. No noticeable difference in the ride. I'm going to have to watch the luggage rack for signs of fatigue - there is a lot of leverage there.

Title: Re: JC Whitney Trunk Installed
Post by T-Mack1 on 08/27/07 at 08:18:33

I guess you would like my rack.....it's a modified aftermarket from a '70's era Honda CB750. A "barn-find" dusty but beatiful chrome. Strong enough to pick the rear of the bike up. Plus my Swiss Gear laptop bag bungie's on really nicely.

That hard case would fit really nicely........

http://www.users.fast.net/~tommack/TomM_LS650.jpg

See bigger picture at:
http://www.users.fast.net/~tommack/TomM_LS650.jpg

Title: Re: JC Whitney Trunk Installed
Post by verslagen1 on 08/27/07 at 08:49:22

One day I'll remove my sissy bar and replace it with a similar sized bar only bent forward over the pillion. And bolt on a similar case.

Title: Re: JC Whitney Trunk Installed
Post by skrapiron on 08/27/07 at 14:02:15

Can you take (and post) a picture of the bottom (underneath) of the trunk mount?

I'm curious to see how much of the plastic case mount is actually sitting on the luggage rack....

I checked with my local stealership.. The pillion handle is $75.00. I'm hesitant to cut mine and mount a 'universal' mount top case if there's some chace that I could bend the luggage rack. The I'm buying a new luggage rack AND a new pillion handle...

Title: Re: JC Whitney Trunk Installed
Post by DanGill on 08/28/07 at 05:49:00

I'll post a picture when I get a chance. I actually had to move the case a little further back last night. It was rubbing against the stubs of the sissy bar. That's a temporary solution. I'm going to have to cut the bar off even with the top of the luggage rack so I can move the case a little further forward.

When I started to cut I was working under the mistaken assumption that the bar was square tubing, and I wanted to cut in so that I could re-mount it later using a smaller piece of tubing on the inside. Wrong-O! That puppy was solid. But I'd already started the cuts, and I was running out of cutting disks. I'll trim it further this week.

Title: Re: JC Whitney Trunk Installed
Post by allan on 08/28/07 at 11:51:11

you could have fitted the other grabrail that is on these bikes without the pad then you would have the backrest to reuse or sell ,

I make my own racks as the aftermarket ones are rubbish and will not carry a lot of weight, laptop should be no problem though,
check our racks out on my site may give you or someone an idea,

allan.

Title: Re: JC Whitney Trunk Installed
Post by DanGill on 08/28/07 at 12:22:36

I did not know there was another grab rail, or I would have looked for one.

Live and learn.

Title: Re: JC Whitney Trunk Installed
Post by Bear_Rider on 08/28/07 at 14:35:04

DanGill wrote:

Dan,

Go the other direction. Get some square tubing that fits over the stubs and you'll be able to remount the sissy bar that way. Just make sure that the tubing has thick enough walls to take the stress.

Title: Re: JC Whitney Trunk Installed
Post by Digger on 06/29/08 at 21:17:42

Dan,

Your trunk setup is similar to mine, except that I have a smaller, cheaper-looking trunk. The trunk turns this bike into a really good errand-runner. This is important to me as I do not own a cage of any type.

A word of caution, however. The Suzuki luggage rack is not the best quality. I've had welds bust on mine. I'm currently using a couple of U-bolts to keep it fastened to the bike on the port side.

I'd keep an eye on it, for sure!