Touring with a pillion??

Discussion in 'Touring' started by Peter, May 2, 2014.

  1. ColinBR

    ColinBR God Like

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    Clean T-Shirt for the evening turns into a T-Shirt for the following days riding.

    Surely your not that posh !
     
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  2. Jimbo Vills

    Jimbo Vills God Like

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    Shoes? 2 pairs of jeans?? All this etc etc..... You sure ya on a bike TOUR?? ;)

    My target for 9 days Spain is a tank bag and us30 but will struggle tbh.

    Have standards too.... Shorts and flip flops! :)
     
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  3. Dave V

    Dave V Elite Member

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    I don't take that much gear on the family holiday!
     
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  4. Peter

    Peter Active Member

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    Silverback, you put hope back in my heart again!! :D
    This is EXACTLY what I wanted to do with the Renntec rack and my Kriega set!

    Looks absolutely great! Do you have any idea what was the weight of your Kriega-50 pack?
    Was is causing any troubles while cornering? How about side winds?

    Thank you mate!
     
  5. Silverback

    Silverback Member

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    Sinewave! No pants?? Going commando??!!!

     
  6. Silverback

    Silverback Member

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    Peter! No idea what the weight was but the bags were well stuffed and I had a laptop on board as well. No issues at all with wind or handling. No issues even at 156 mph on the Autobahn! I use two of the Kriega straps attached under the passenger seat, to the bike frame and the other two are attached to the rentec rack. This way, the rack is somewhat supported and is taking much less of the strain. The trick is to fit the US20 firmly, leave it to settle for a minute, then wiggle it around and cinch it up again so it's really solid, then strap the rest of the bags on.
     
  7. Peter

    Peter Active Member

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    Just a short update on the strength of Kriega rack fitting. I’ve recently contacted the company to get their opinion about Renntec/Kriega set up I had planned for my trip. The initial response wasn’t very informative: ‘the rack will take the luggage, but the weight depends on how it’s packed. It’s up to the user as to how far they want to exceed the recommendations’.

    However, I asked them again, this time more specifically about:
    1. How was it possible that Ventura offers similar system bolted to the subframe, with a bag of 51 litres capacity?
    2. What is the quality of Renntec’s bolts?
    3. Would those bolts sustain the weight of the luggage I had in mind.

    Well, this time Renntec guys were far more helpful, the answers attached below:
    1. ‘The Renntec rack will hold the luggage as will the Ventura. Both will have weight limits, as all manufacturers do, they are required for warranty and insurance purposes. All luggage manufacturers are the same if you read the small print of their terms and conditions and warranty’.
    2. Commenting on the strength of the Ventura system vs. Renntec, they said: ‘The attachment system is different between ours and Ventura, we think ours is stronger as we use thicker materials and the way you are proposing to use it will be much safer for riding stability’.
    3. On the quality of the bolts: ‘The bolts are fitted into special spacers that are made by us from high tensile steel, the bolts are high tensile also and are more than capable of carrying the luggage you are suggesting’.

    I was on the verge of buying Ventura L-bracket and fitting my Kriega luggage at the top of it… but given the above and Silverback’s 5,000miles test, I will stick to my original plan :cool:
     
  8. Moily

    Moily Active Member

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    Sounds like that's the best plan. But where did the 5kg limit come from??
     
  9. Silverback

    Silverback Member

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    Useful stuff Peter. I did notice that the bolts pictured in one of the posts (the broken ones) were not the same as my ones and suspect that they are an older fitment. I have recently removed my rack to have it powder coated. I checked all the bolts and fittings and they were all in good order. I even did some off roading across French fields whilst fully loaded, whilst doing a bit of escape and evasion from the Gendarmes who seemed to want to have a little chat with me about speeding ! We escaped nicely across the bumpy terrain, luggage intact and made it to a nice monument later that day ! WP_001707.jpg WP_001745.jpg
     
  10. Peter

    Peter Active Member

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    The company hasn't commented on that ridiculous 5kg limit.
    IMHO the limit is for:
    a) legal protection 'just in case something happens', however the company said that they had never any 'claims against this product',
    b) to discourage from fitting large plastic top boxes on the rack.

    The limit seem also pointless for another reason: the rack is also meant to be a grab rail for a pillion, right? So, it is perfectly possible that under heavy acceleration the pillion might shift back and while supporting its weight with his hands, apply a material force to the rack. How would it then be decided if the pillion apllied the force 'within the 5kg limit'? :rolleyes:
     
  11. ninja

    ninja Active Member

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    I must have done in excess of 50000 miles on the continent with a Ventura on the back.

    I've never had a problem with it. The beauty of Ventura is that it doesn't touch the bike apart from the pillion pad taking the majority of the weight. The rack really just keeps it all stable and away from your badywork.

    I wouldn't use anything else.
     
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  12. ninja

    ninja Active Member

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    Found a pic.
     

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  13. Yorkshire Tyke

    Yorkshire Tyke Elite Member

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    Surely it must be quite flighty on the front end with someone on the back?? I only had a us30 on the back of mine and it wheelied everywhere just with an extra 15kg over the back wheel. Haha must be fun for the pillion!!!

    honda-goldwing-wheelie.jpg
     
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  14. Peter

    Peter Active Member

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    50,000miles. That figure speaks for itself. Respect :cool:
    I'm sure Ventura is a top-notch equipment. However, if not the fact that I'll be travelling with the pillion, I wouldn't bother with any rack at all, I would just put Kriega US20+ 2xUS10, on the rear seat, as I always did.Well, I will test Renntec/Kriega this year. Expect, detailed trip report ;)
     
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  15. ninja

    ninja Active Member

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    I really should read the thread titles, shouldn't I?!
     
  16. Jap_STi_3

    Jap_STi_3 Member

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    If you fancy trying the Ventura rack and bag let me know as I have the full setup sat in the garage collecting dust! Cheers Raymondo
     
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  17. Peter

    Peter Active Member

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    Thank you Raymondo!
    That's very kind of you ;) ...and a good excuse to visit Peak District :D
     
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