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Here in question is a rear luggage rack for the KTM Duke 200/390. Adding on a rear luggage rack for my KTM Duke 390 was the requirement. Purpose and function for the same are listed below:
- Should support luggage on the bike independent of any other.
- A top case can be added at a future date if deemed necessary.
- It should act as an extended support to the pillion seat if a larger tail bag is placed onto it.
So looked up online and consulted fellow biker friends. Options that came up were either the SW Motech aluminium rear rack retailed locally at Rs.14198/- by Big Bad Bikes or the metal rack priced at Rs.3000/- fabricated by a Pune based company named Faaster Wheels. Former was much more refined and pricey while the latter was boxy/sharp-edged but practical and cost effective. Cost between the two was a whooping Rs.11198/-. This is madness! This is Moolaah!!
Loctite 243 thread locker (medium strength) from Amazon online and waited. No sooner than they both arrived home, set out to assemble it. Took pictures as I progressed. The rack when assembled weighs a little over 2kg and is sized up to 18″ length x 13.25″ width x 7″ height. The maximum load capacity as stated in the manual and on the rack itself is 7.5 kg. To begin fixing it onto the bike, first sort out the nuts, bolts and washers as per the installation sheet provided to make it simple. Fitting it onto the bike requires the two bolts on the underside of the pillion section/rear wheel mudguard to be removed. With the help of Locktite, bolt in the U bracket provided.
Remove the pillion seat, remove the existing grab rails and now fit the left and right arms to the rear rack in its place. Do not tighten the bolts though. Bolt on the rear rack onto the arms with the four recessed bolts provided. Again, do not tighten just yet. Now bolt the rear rack to the U bracket underside with 2 nuts/bolts provided. Make sure to use the Locktite thread locker liberally on each of these nuts/bolts. If needed move/shift the rack a bit so the arrangement sits correctly in place and then tighten all the bolts up firmly with the allen key/spanner. All done. Looking good, yes? oh yeah!
Pros
This SW Motech aluminium rear luggage rack has clean lines, smooth edges and neat finish in matt black color. It blends perfectly with the contours of the bike like it was meant to be in the first place.
Cons
Nothing really but to come to terms with the fact that the panniers, in my case Viaterra Velox
Contacted Viaterra and have conveyed this problem along with two workable solutions and possible alterations to the current model. Was informed that the problem was genuine however a fix for the same could bump up the price. Well, hope its taken into consideration on future production models and also hope to get an alteration/upgrade for the same.
For more details & pictures, do check my website/blog review on www.frozenmercury.com
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