Choosing
and
fitting
accessori•
13
Luggage racks
or
carriers
Carriers are possibly
the
commonest item
to
be
fitted
to
modem
motorcycles. They vary enonnousty
in
size. carrying capacity, and
durability.
When
selecting a carrier. always loolt for one which Is made
specifically
for
your machine and
which
is
bolted
on
with
as
few
separate brackets as poasible. The universal-type carrier,
with
it.a
man
of
brackets and adaptor pieces.
will
generally prove
too
weak
to
be
of
any real use. A good carrier should
bolt
to
the main frame . generally
using the
two
suspension
unit
top
mountings and a mudguaro
mounting
bolt
as attachment points. and have
its
luggage platform as
low
and
as
far forward as possible
to
minimise the effect
of
any load
on
the machine's stability. Look for good
quality
, heavy gauge tubing.
good
welding and good finish. Also ensure that the carrier does
not
prevent opening
of
the seat. sidepanels
or
tail compartment. as
appropriate. When using
a carrier.
be
very careful
not
to
overload it.
Excessive
weight
placed so high and so far
to
the rear
of
any
motorcycle
will
have an advenie effect
on
the machine·s steering and
stability.
Luggage
Motorcycle luggage can
be
grouped under
two
headings: soft and
hard. Both types are available
in
many
sizes and styles and have
advantages and disadvantages
in
use.
Soft luggage is
now
becoming very popular because
of
its lower
cost and its
versatility.
Whether
in
the
form
of
tankbags, panniers.
or
strap-on bags. soft luggage requires in general no brackets and no
modification
to
the motorcycle. Equipment can be swapped easily
from one motorcycle
to
another and can be
fitted
and removed in
seconds.
Awkwardly
shaped loads can easily be carried. The disadvan-
tages
of
soft luggage are
that
the contents cannot be secure against
the
casual
thief
. very
little
protection
is afforded in the event
of
a crash.
and
waterproofing is generally
poor
. Also.
In
the case
of
panniers.
carrying capacity is restricted
to
approximately 1 O lb. although this
amount
will
vary considerably depending on the manufacturer·s
recommendation.
When
purchasing soft luggage. look for good quality
material. generally vinyl
or
nylon,
with
strong. well-stitched
attachment points.
It
is always useful
to
have separate pockets.
especially
on tank bags,
for
items
which
will
be needed on the journey.
When purchasing a tank
bag, look
for
one which has a separate.
well-
padded, base. This
will
protect
the tank·s paintwork and permit easy
access
to
the
filler
cap
at
petrol stations.
Hard
luggage is confined
to
two
types: panniers, and top boxes
or
tail trunks.
Most
hard luggage manufacturers produce matching sets
of
these items.
the
basis
of
which
is generally
that
manufacturer's own
heavy-duty
luggage rack. Variations on this theme occur in the form
of
separate frames for the
better
quality panniers. fixed
or
quicklydetachable luggage, and in size and carrying capacity. Hard luggage
offers a reasonable degree
of
security against
theft
and good
protection against
weather
and accident damage. Carrying capacity is
greater than
that
of
soft
luggage, around 1 5 -
20
lb
in the case
of
panniers, although top boxes should never
be
loaded
as
much as their
apparent capacity
might
imply
. A
top
box should
only
be used for
lightweight items. because one
that
is heavily laden can have a serious
effect on the
stability
of
the
machine. When purchasing hard luggage
look
for the same good points as mentioned
under
fairings and
windscreens.
ie
good
quality
mounting
brackets and
fittings
, and
well-
finished fibreglass
or
ABS
plastic cases. Again as
with
fairings, always
purchase luggage made specifically
for
your motorcycle, using as
few
separate brackets as possible,
to
ensure
that
everything remains
securely bolted
in
place.
When
fitting
hard luggage. be careful
to
check
that the rear suspension and brake operation
will
not
be impaired in
any
way and remember
that
many pannier
kits
require re-siting
of
the
indicators. Remember
also
that
a non-standard exhaust system may
make fitting
extremely difficult.
Handlebars
The occupation
of
fitting
alternative types
of
handlebar is
extremely popular
with
modern motorcyclists,
whose
motives
may
vary
from the purely practical. wishing
to
improve the
comfort
of
their
machines.
to
the purely aesthetic, where form Is
more
important than
function. Whatever the reason, there are several considerations
to
be
borne in
mind
when changing
the
handlebars
of
your machine.
If
fitting
lower bars check carefully
that
the
switches and cables
do
not
foul the
Petrol
tank
on full lock and
that
the surplus length
of
cable. brake pipe,
and
electrical
wiring
are smoothly and
tidily
disposed of. Avoid
tight
kinks In cable or brak.e pipes which
will
produce
stiff
cont1ols
or
the
pnimature and disastrous failure
of
an
overstrened
component.
If
necessary. remove the petrol tank and re-route the cable from the
engln gearbox
unit
upwaros. ensuri
ng
smooth gentle curves are
produced.
In
extreme cases.
it
will
be
neceuary
to
purchase a shorter
brake pipe
to
overcome this problem.
In
the c11e
of
higher handlebars
than standard
it
will
almost certainly be
necesury
to
purchase
extended cables and brake pipes. Fortunately.
many
standard
motorcy
-
cles
have a custom version which
will
be equipped
with
higher
handlebars and . therefore. factory-
built
extended components
will
be
available from your local dealer.
It
Is
not
usually necessary
to
extend
electrical
wiring
, as switch clusters may be used on several different
motorcycles. some being custom
versions. This point should be borne
in
mind however
when
fitting extremely high
or
wide handlebars.
When fitting different
types
of
handlebar. ensure that the
mounting
clamps are correctly tightened
to
the manufacturer
's
speci -
fications and
that
cables and
wiring
.
111
previously mentioned. have
smooth easy runs and
do
not
snag
on
any part
of
the
motorcycle
throughout the full steering lock. Ensure that the fluid level
In
the
front
brake master cylinder remains level
to
avoid any chance
of
air
entering
the
hy
draulic system. Also check
that
the
cabl111
are adjusted correctly
and that all handlebar controls operate correctly and can
be
easily
reached when riding.
Electrical equipment
The vast range
of
electrical equipment available
to
motorcyclists
is
so large and so diverse that
only the
most
general outline
can
be
given
here. Electrical accessories very from electric ignition
kits
fitted
to
replace contact breaker points.
to
additional lighting
at
the
front
and
rear. more
powerful horns. various instruments and gauges. clocks.
anti-theft systems. heated clothing.
CB
radios, radio-cassette players.
and intercom systems.
to
name
but a few
of
the more
popular
items
of
equipment.
As
will
be evident. it
would
require a separate manual
to
cover
this
subject alone and
this
section is therefore restricted
to
outlining a few
basic rules which m·Jst be borne
in
mind
when
fitting
electrical
equipment. The first consideration is
whether
your
machine's electrical
system has enough reserve capacity
to
cope
with
the
added
demand
of
the accessories you wish
to
fit
. The motorcycle·s manufacturer
or
importer should be able
to
furnish
this
sort
of
information
and
may
also
be
able
to
offer advice on uprating
the
electrical system. Failing this.
a good dealer
or
the accessory manufacturer may be able
to
help.
In
some cases. more powerful generator components
may
be
available.
perhaps from another
motorcycle
in
the
manufacturer's range. The
second consideration is the
legal requirements
in
force
in
your area.
The
local police may be prepared
to
help
with
this
point
. In the
UK
for
example. there are strict regulations governing the position and use
of
auxiliary riding lamps and
fog
lamps.
When
fitting
electrical equipment always disconnect
the
battery
first
to
prevent the risk
of
a short-circuit, and
be
careful
to
ensure
that
all connections are properly made and
that
they are
waterproof
.
Remember
that
many
electrical accessories are designed primarily
for
use in cars and
that
they cannot easily withstand the ellposure
to
vibration and
to
the
weather. Delicate components
must
be rubber-
mounted
to
insulate them from vibration, and sealed carefully
to
prevent the entry
of
rainwater and dirt. Be careful
to
follow
exactly the
accessory manufacturer's instructions
in
conjunction
with
the
wiring
diagram
at
the
back
of
this manual.
Accessories - general
Accessories
fitted
to
your motorcycle
will
rapidly deteriorate
if
not
cared
for
. Regular washing and polishing
will
maintain
the
finish and
will
provide an
opportunity
to
check
that
all mounting
bolts
and nuts
are securely fastened. Any signs
of
chafing
or
wear
should
be
watched
for. and the cause cured as soon as possible before serious damage
occurs.
As a general rule.
do
not
expect the re-sale value
of
your
motorcycle
to
increase
by
an amount proportional
to
the amount
of
money and effort
put
into
fitting
accessories.
It
is
usually the case
that
an
absolutely standard motorcycle
will
sell more easily
at a better
price
than one
t~at
has been modified.
If
you are
in
the habit
of
exchanging
your
~ach1.ne
for
another
at
frequent intervals. this
factor
should
be
borne
'"
mind
to
avoid loss
of
money.