Modular Luggage System

Ok so I'm not sure if this belongs in here, or in paint/bodywork. Anyway, I was thinking of fabricating an easily removable luggage system for my '78 1000 A2. Normally my bike will live its life as a streetfighter, but I would like the ability to carry some things with me on weekend trips and such. However I don't want perminant bags or even a perminant luggage rack. It needs to be totally concealed when the rack is removed.

So I'm thinking of making it a three piece system. First would be fairly typical rear luggage rack that sits above the tail piece. This would allow me to carry my lunch on workdays without a backpack. Next would be some hard bags, or a framework for pannier style bags that would mount to the luggage rack for longer trips. All of the mounts would be under the tail, and easily removable with minimum tools.

At the moment, this is a very nebulous idea, and I was wondering if anyone has tried this on a KZ? Got pictures? What kind of hard bags even fit, let alone, look decent on a KZ? Would the police bike cases be an option?

See the replies by Pterosaur in this topic w pics - Trunk .
He made a quick connect system: plastic mounting plates, harware & wingnuts.

Thank you sir! That gives me some ideas. I'm thinking of attaching mine underneath the plastic tail piece and on the inside of the frame.

I decided to go ahead and procede with at least the undertail mount and top rack portion of my luggage system. I started by attaching four tabs to the subframe. Each of these tabs has a 1/4" pin welded to it. The pins will locate the rack and support it while the bolts are installed. I will weld a nut to each tab so that a bolt will secure the rack in four places. I also made the two side rails which will serve as the base of the rack.



Here you can see one of the rails with the tab and pin arrangement. The rails are made from 1/2" square tube and all of the tabs are 1/8"x1 1/2" cold rolled steel.



Here is the front mount on the opposite side. As you can see, the front tabs are on the outside of the rails and the rear tabs are on the inside.



I found this nifty little luggage rack at Land's Cycles in Houston today. Not sure if I can use the chrome rails, but I think that it should polish up nicely. Totally worth a twenty!

Maybe something like this..

Where did you find my picture?

I like the idea you have going there Josh- It'll be interesting to see your idea to fruition

porchev914 wrote:

I like the idea you have going there Josh- It'll be interesting to see your idea to fruition

Wait until you see what I have planned for my hard bags. Unfortunately, that one might take a while.

testarossa wrote:

Where did you find my picture?

I thought that was Me.Kidding aside it looks like a fine job your doing ..I like the rack small and neat..

Thanks chance! Who Dat!

I managed to get a little work done on the rack this afternoon. I really wish that I had a chopsaw at this point. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Now you see it.






Now you don't.






... and here are the two halves out in the open.

Nice fab work on those luggage supports Any chance you could duplicate that in Ti? :laugh: All kidding aside, it looks like you have a good idea and its comming along nicely! Whats next?

Incidently, Harbor Freight is having a sale on 14" chop saws...... :ohmy: