June 8th, 2009, 12:50 PM | #1 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Chris
Location: Boston, MA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 2fiddy Posts: 7
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Hard Luggage (photos inside)
So I wanted something hard, lockable, and waterproof for holding my work stuff on my way to and from work. I haul a laptop, change of clothes, a couple books, etc, etc.
I used to use a Cortech sport tailbag which was too small for my stuff, not really waterproof, and not at all lockable. I looked at the Ventura rack options. They were big enough, but again not lockable, and waterproof was questionable. I came across http://www.cariboucases.com, which rocked, but they had no rack for a little 250. Finally, I decided to roll my own using a combination of options. I bought the side brackets and a rack from Ventura and a 35L Topcase, mounting plate, and locking mechanism (DIY version) from Caribou Cases. Note that this is not a cheap way to go! If I hadn't bought all the stuff last fall then I probably would not be buying it now with the economy the way it is... anyway. I cut the top off the ventura rack and welded the part I cut off to the back of the rack. This way the rack was "flush" so I could mount the top-plate for the case on it. I drilled it, mounted the plate, etc. etc. The case, plate, and my commute stuff (backpack with clothes, books, laptop), weighs about 25 Lbs. The Ventura people say the rack can hold 20... so I am taking it easy, checking the bolts, looking for signs of stress, but with about 100 miles on it now everything looks to be holding up OK. If something looks like it is going to fail then I will get out the welder again and go to town. The rack is very, very sturdy. You can hold on to it and lift the back of the bike well off the ground. The case locks to the rack, and the case also has a lock on the lid. It is a 35L pelican case. Which is waterproof, dust proof, and crush proof. You can quickly take the case off the rack with a twist of the key and a twist of a big ass knob. The top of the Ventura rack is held in place buy some heavy duty thumbscrews. There is a little tool that they include to really, really, really tighten them down. I don't know if I would leave the case on there overnight, but I certainly feel comfortable about leaving my stuff in there in a parking lot for a half hour or so. (whereas the tailbag could be removed in 3 seconds). All in all I think it is a nice, semi-secure, certainly waterproof, and definitely tough case. Photos: 1.jpg 2.jpg 3.jpg 4.jpg Last futzed with by chrisc; June 8th, 2009 at 01:49 PM. Reason: Thanks for fixing huge images :) |
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June 8th, 2009, 01:05 PM | #2 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Tin
Location: NJ
Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 08 black 250r (sold); '09 black zx6r Posts: 903
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very nice and creative.
but honestly, that does take away the look. if i need storage i would have gone with a touring bike. anyhow, a very well done job. |
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June 8th, 2009, 01:16 PM | #3 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Chris
Location: Boston, MA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 2fiddy Posts: 7
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Yeah, it's ugly. I'm a function over form type of guy. But I take it off on the weekends when I'm just cruising around. Best of both worlds I think.
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June 8th, 2009, 01:40 PM | #4 |
ninjette.org dude
Name: 1 guess :-)
Location: SF Bay Area
Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 7
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Nice work!
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June 8th, 2009, 01:49 PM | #5 | |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Tin
Location: NJ
Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 08 black 250r (sold); '09 black zx6r Posts: 903
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Quote:
It's good that you can take it off when you don't need it. again, nice job. |
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June 8th, 2009, 01:51 PM | #6 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Rick
Location: Alexandria, Louisiana
Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much.
MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14
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Looks like it would be great for touring.
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June 8th, 2009, 02:56 PM | #7 |
Newb..... on a steeek! :D
Name: Mike
Location: Windermere, FL
Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Harley Davidson XL883L Sportster Superlow Posts: A lot.
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You wouldn't happen to be delivering pizza's with that would you? lol
Sorry, couldn't resist. It looks good for what you want to use it for at least. |
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June 8th, 2009, 10:11 PM | #8 |
3 for street, 2 for dirt
Name: Katlyn
Location: San Francisco Bay Area (California)
Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Can Am Spyder PE #1344 / 2009 Kawi KLX140L Monster Energy / 2009 Kawi Ninja 250R (RIP 8.23.09) Posts: 586
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Looks like it gets the job done. Nice work.
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Feel free to look me up on facebook. |
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June 10th, 2009, 11:43 AM | #9 |
ninjette.org dude
Name: 1 guess :-)
Location: SF Bay Area
Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 7
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Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered) |
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June 10th, 2009, 12:11 PM | #10 | |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Chris
Location: Boston, MA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 2fiddy Posts: 7
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Quote:
When I get a chance I will add some better pictures of how I attached the caribou top plate to the ventura rack piece. It's really a simple mod if you can borrow a welder for 10 minutes and use a drill press to drill 6 holes. |
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June 10th, 2009, 12:15 PM | #11 |
ninjette.org dude
Name: 1 guess :-)
Location: SF Bay Area
Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 7
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Also feel free to edit that wiki page however you'd like; anyone can improve those pages along the way.
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Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered) |
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June 11th, 2009, 08:58 AM | #12 |
self wrencher
Name: john
Location: houston
Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): 08 250r and 07 600r Posts: A lot.
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wbhahhaha....Love the "pizza delivery comment"...
one thing for sure though..you ain't going to pick up any chick with that contraption for sure |
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June 11th, 2009, 09:07 AM | #13 | |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Chris
Location: Boston, MA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 2fiddy Posts: 7
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Quote:
And If I only bought a bike to pick up chicks it wouldn't have been a 250 |
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June 11th, 2009, 05:18 PM | #14 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Troy
Location: Northwest Georgia
Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250 & 1988 Honda Shadow VTwin 800 Posts: 19
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I think you did a fine job there my friend.
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June 12th, 2009, 08:28 AM | #15 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Travis
Location: Warwick, RI
Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.
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Good job! I think it is great that it is removable. You can use it when you need it.
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Addicted to anything that has an engine and rolls. |
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August 3rd, 2009, 01:35 PM | #16 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Z
Location: Long Island, NY
Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R (sold) Posts: 356
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I just got a Ventura rack as well. I am not crazy about the design. All the stress is on those two little bolts that hold the L brackets to the cross member mounted under the seat. If those bolts fail the whole the will swing down onto the rear rubber and potentially lock it up. Obviously that isn't going to happen with 20 or 25lbs but it seems stupid when a slight modification would enable it to carry 50...75+ lbs safely. I am thinking of drilling it out so that a stronger bolt can be used.
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August 3rd, 2009, 01:54 PM | #17 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Chris
Location: Boston, MA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 2fiddy Posts: 7
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I agree it looks a little weak, but I've had 30 pounds on them and they held fast over some pretty big highway bumps (grooved pavement transition to cement bridges. Nasty bumps!)
Also, the way mine is mounted it could only drop 1/2 inch onto the rear seat. It might be more hazardous in the stock configuration. |
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August 4th, 2009, 03:35 PM | #18 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Mr.
Location: SF Bay Area, California
Join Date: Jul 2009 Motorcycle(s): F650GS Dakar, FJR1300, Ninja 250R Posts: 47
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Good job! I've been trying to find a bit more information about how the Ventura racks mount to the back of the bike. Do you think you can take a picture of the rear mounting points up close? Pretty please?
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August 4th, 2009, 03:46 PM | #19 | |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Chris
Location: Boston, MA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 2fiddy Posts: 7
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Quote:
Page 2 of this thread has a bunch of large, close-up, glossy photos of the rack and how the install works. http://www.kawiforums.com/ninja-250r...-system-2.html Enjoy Note: Not my bike, but after I saw that thread I decided to buy the rack. I never did by the backpack though. |
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August 4th, 2009, 07:48 PM | #20 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: Mr.
Location: SF Bay Area, California
Join Date: Jul 2009 Motorcycle(s): F650GS Dakar, FJR1300, Ninja 250R Posts: 47
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Quote:
Cheers! |
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August 5th, 2009, 08:06 AM | #21 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Z
Location: Long Island, NY
Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R (sold) Posts: 356
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I don't think the week point is the way the crossmember is mounted. Its the way the L brackets mount to the crossmember. I'll take a picture from the back later so you can see what I mean. The crossmember doesn't slide inside the L-bracket or anything. The bolt is the only thing holding it.
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August 5th, 2009, 10:14 AM | #22 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Mr.
Location: SF Bay Area, California
Join Date: Jul 2009 Motorcycle(s): F650GS Dakar, FJR1300, Ninja 250R Posts: 47
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Thanks for the clarification. Personally, I would trust those more than i would trust the bolts holding the crossmember to the subframe. I would think it's easier to shear off the threads on a vertical bolt than it is to shear those side bolts in half.
Regardless, I'll be ordering one up soon because of these excellent pics you and Chris have provided. Thanks! |
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