HAWK Backroad Development

[Thumper]

Maybe your original setup was sufficient. I used 1/4" flat stock from Home depot to make standoffs for my soft luggage. I used them with full panniers on many trips and they were rock solid.

I got stainless steel nuts and bolts, flanged bolt settings, acid washed and powdercoated the work. The main strength came from the beefy 1.25" x 1/4" stays from the lower mounts, but the upper mounts were good and stiff. I heated them for the bend to retain/gain strength. I saw no need for additional reinforcement. And by the way, I love to see this kind of fabrication initiative! Nice work.
Your rack is "overbuilt". But an old T bucket fabricator told me once... "If it is worth building, it's worth overbuilding." Rest in peace Gordon!

Originally Posted by China Rider 27

A saddlebag rack has been on my mind for some time and tried some things but just could not get to a workable idea. Eventually the CR27 team came up with this idea. I want to recognize and give credit to the following posts which provided an inspiration for this work.

http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=25613

http://www.chinariders.net/showthrea...t=26951&page=2

I don’t know if it will really work yet. I put this together over several days last October so I have not had a chance to really try it and the weather has been south ever since. The idea is to build something that will give under the pressure of a fall so as not to damage the bike. The piece going over the frame, as well as the mounting front mount, should act like a torsion spring taking up some of the shock. Whether it will fall and return to its shape or whether it is strong enough to withstand saddle bags with weight under load and over terrain is yet to be tested.

It was built entirely of steel purchased at Home Depot ¾ inch by 1/8 and ½ inch by 1/8 with some aluminum slates, 6mm bolts and nuts, and a Sawzall to cut. The steel was heated and bent with a plumbing torch, vise, and a hammer. Before it gets anymore work it must pass testing.