Plans to Build a Luggage Rack for the Ninja 250

n4mwd · July 14th, 2011, 08:37 PM

In case there are other Do-It-Yourselfers out there that like building things themselves, I have drawn up a set of plans to build a luggage rack for the Ninja 250. They are attached.

Alternatively, they are also available at Google Docs.

The rack is made of welded chromoly steel and bolts to the Ninja frame via the luggage hook brackets. It has a flat deck that measures 9x13" and is big enough for a large pizza or cargo trunk.

Enjoy.

Snake · July 14th, 2011, 09:37 PM

Dennis, this is a great DIY! Very professionaly done. Thanks for sharing.

ducducgooseit · July 14th, 2011, 09:39 PM

An interesting build.

Bosgarage57 · July 15th, 2011, 04:56 AM

Great job D, too bad I dont know how to do any of that

. This thread should be stickied

n4mwd · July 15th, 2011, 06:40 AM

Thanks. The build isn't for everybody. You'll need basic welding skills and some common shop tools to complete it. But if you do, it seems to be a sturdy design. I think most people with those skills and equipment can complete it in about a weekend.

One thing I was worried about was accidentally kicking the trunk when I got on and off the bike. When I had stuff tied to the seat with my cargo net, I always seemed to kick it by accident. But with the rack, that hasn't been a problem because its farther back.

Bosgarage57 · July 15th, 2011, 07:06 AM

You could make some up and sell

Be cheaper than the twisted throttle alu-rack.

ps I run that top box on my concours, love it!

pps. can people see your brake light? Looks like the rack could be brought back a few inces closer to the bike.

setasai · July 15th, 2011, 09:38 AM

Looks good. Clean and effective. Too bad the newgens dont have the luggage bolts available. Makes for a much more difficult build.

n4mwd · July 15th, 2011, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bosgarage57

You could make some up and sell

Be cheaper than the twisted throttle alu-rack.

ps I run that top box on my concours, love it!

pps. can people see your brake light? Looks like the rack could be brought back a few inces closer to the bike.

While the materials are fairly cheap, there is a lot of labor in them. So I don't think anyone could sell these very cheap. There is the ventura rack which sells for about $150 I think. Actually, I think they sell the side rails separate from the actual rack, so you have to buy both. I don't think their racks are very long, maybe 6-8".

If you build this one, you can make the rack as long or short as you want. The Ninja tail lights are angled internally so they reflect parallel to the road even though they look like they point up. I didn't have any problem seeing them standing about 6 feet back, but if was being tailgated by a big truck, it might be a problem. I'm thinking about adding some LED lights to the trunk.

I got the trunk at JC Whitney. I think its a fair box, but JCW definitely pulled one over on me. I wanted a box that I could put my helmet in, and the photo on their website shows that it can, but they didn't say that I would be able to close the lid - which I can't. The box is plastic so my next project will be enlarging the box with a heat gun so that my helmet will fit.

Bosgarage57 · July 15th, 2011, 10:49 AM

hmmm the box I got from JC whitney (large) was able to fit 2 medium helmets or 1 large and then some. MY dad and I also took the red reflective off the JC and put leds in it for turn singals and brake lights. Really nice.

n4mwd · July 15th, 2011, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bosgarage57

hmmm the box I got from JC whitney (large) was able to fit 2 medium helmets or 1 large and then some. MY dad and I also took the red reflective off the JC and put leds in it for turn singals and brake lights. Really nice.

I got the medium one. I have a large modular and it wont fit. I tried sideways, upside down, no luck. It would probably fit a small. I'm going to make mine fit with a heat gun though.

So can you post a pic of your LED modifications?

Bosgarage57 · July 15th, 2011, 07:16 PM

yup dad and I are going on a ride tomorrow ( if it'll quit raining here) and i'll take some pics after and post em up.

CynicalC · July 16th, 2011, 02:24 PM

Looks good but your instructions are very... elaborate. I think more detailed pictures or drawings with measurements would be good.

Bosgarage57 · July 16th, 2011, 02:36 PM

Hey D, here is the link to the youtube (dont know how to imbed it sorry) We just went to autozone and got some led stripes, put them in it and spliced them into all my other lights.

Link to original page on YouTube.

n4mwd · July 16th, 2011, 02:56 PM

Thanks for posting that. They look great. I think I'm going to put some in mine too.

Jerkson · July 16th, 2011, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n4mwd

I got the trunk at JC Whitney. I think its a fair box, but JCW definitely pulled one over on me. I wanted a box that I could put my helmet in, and the photo on their website shows that it can, but they didn't say that I would be able to close the lid - which I can't. The box is plastic so my next project will be enlarging the box with a heat gun so that my helmet will fit.

I got the same box as shown in your pic off ebay and it fits my helmet sitting upright inside it as long as the visor is closed. My helmet is a large too

Definitely looks great tho!

Bosgarage57 · July 16th, 2011, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n4mwd

Thanks for posting that. They look great. I think I'm going to put some in mine too.

Go for it, I stole the idea from a COG member.

n4mwd · July 16th, 2011, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerkson

I got the same box as shown in your pic off ebay and it fits my helmet sitting upright inside it as long as the visor is closed. My helmet is a large too

Definitely looks great tho!

I think the modular mechanism makes it bigger. I can get my 3/4 in there if I lay it sideways, but I don't like the 3/4.

Jerkson · July 16th, 2011, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n4mwd

I think the modular mechanism makes it bigger. I can get my 3/4 in there if I lay it sideways, but I don't like the 3/4.

Ahh. I see

n4mwd · July 17th, 2011, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerkson

Ahh. I see

If you got it off Ebay, do you know if you have the medium one or the large one? The large one has straps inside. I'm not sure if there is a difference in vertical height though.

Jerkson · July 17th, 2011, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n4mwd

If you got it off Ebay, do you know if you have the medium one or the large one? The large one has straps inside. I'm not sure if there is a difference in vertical height though.

Both the medium and large are pictured above...I got the medium

n4mwd · July 28th, 2011, 02:56 AM

So let me know if anyone builds the rack.

July 16th, 2011, 02:36 PM	#13
Bosgarage57 ninjette.org sage Name: Luke Location: Sevierville, TN Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 06 Buell Uly, 05 VStar 1100 Posts: 577	Hey D, here is the link to the youtube (dont know how to imbed it sorry) We just went to autozone and got some led stripes, put them in it and spliced them into all my other lights. Link to original page on YouTube. Last futzed with by Alex; July 17th, 2011 at 12:54 AM. Reason: embedded it (hit edit to see how i did it)

July 28th, 2011, 02:56 AM	#21
n4mwd ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: D Location: Palm Beach, FL Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2006 Ninja 250R, 2007 EFI Ninja 250R Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 1	So let me know if anyone builds the rack. __________________________________________________ My Ninja Blog Proud member of ABATE.My NYC Road Rage documentary - CENSORED!

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July 14th, 2011, 09:37 PM	#2
Snake 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	Dennis, this is a great DIY! Very professionaly done. Thanks for sharing.

July 14th, 2011, 09:39 PM	#3
ducducgooseit Name: ... Location: ... Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): ... Posts: 999	An interesting build.

July 15th, 2011, 04:56 AM	#4
Bosgarage57 ninjette.org sage Name: Luke Location: Sevierville, TN Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 06 Buell Uly, 05 VStar 1100 Posts: 577	Great job D, too bad I dont know how to do any of that . This thread should be stickied

July 15th, 2011, 06:40 AM	#5
n4mwd ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: D Location: Palm Beach, FL Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2006 Ninja 250R, 2007 EFI Ninja 250R Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 1	Thanks. The build isn't for everybody. You'll need basic welding skills and some common shop tools to complete it. But if you do, it seems to be a sturdy design. I think most people with those skills and equipment can complete it in about a weekend. One thing I was worried about was accidentally kicking the trunk when I got on and off the bike. When I had stuff tied to the seat with my cargo net, I always seemed to kick it by accident. But with the rack, that hasn't been a problem because its farther back.

July 15th, 2011, 07:06 AM	#6
Bosgarage57 ninjette.org sage Name: Luke Location: Sevierville, TN Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 06 Buell Uly, 05 VStar 1100 Posts: 577	You could make some up and sell Be cheaper than the twisted throttle alu-rack. ps I run that top box on my concours, love it! pps. can people see your brake light? Looks like the rack could be brought back a few inces closer to the bike.

July 15th, 2011, 09:38 AM	#7
setasai ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Brian Location: Detroit, MI Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R Green Posts: A lot.	Looks good. Clean and effective. Too bad the newgens dont have the luggage bolts available. Makes for a much more difficult build.

July 15th, 2011, 10:49 AM	#9
Bosgarage57 ninjette.org sage Name: Luke Location: Sevierville, TN Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 06 Buell Uly, 05 VStar 1100 Posts: 577	hmmm the box I got from JC whitney (large) was able to fit 2 medium helmets or 1 large and then some. MY dad and I also took the red reflective off the JC and put leds in it for turn singals and brake lights. Really nice.

July 15th, 2011, 07:16 PM	#11
Bosgarage57 ninjette.org sage Name: Luke Location: Sevierville, TN Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 06 Buell Uly, 05 VStar 1100 Posts: 577	yup dad and I are going on a ride tomorrow ( if it'll quit raining here) and i'll take some pics after and post em up.

July 16th, 2011, 02:24 PM	#12
CynicalC ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Colin Location: Bay Area Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): '96 EX250 Posts: A lot.	Looks good but your instructions are very... elaborate. I think more detailed pictures or drawings with measurements would be good.

July 16th, 2011, 02:56 PM	#14
n4mwd ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: D Location: Palm Beach, FL Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2006 Ninja 250R, 2007 EFI Ninja 250R Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 1	Thanks for posting that. They look great. I think I'm going to put some in mine too.