Wednesday, July 31 2013 [871 miles]
One of the few shortcomings I’ve found with the new GS is the stock luggage rack. It is big enough for a lunch box and not much more.
Touratech bling
Rear luggage rack extension
Simple mounting hardware
There are several choices for luggage rack replacements and extensions. For once the Touratech solution was the cheapest by almost half over the competition. It also met my needs. Nothing fancy, just a larger platform. Easy to mount, too.
Stock rack
Spacers in place
Extension installed
I removed the four T-30 screws from the stock rack and put them in a marked ziplock bag. The bag is stored with other stock hardware I’ve taken off the bike. The extension plate sits on four spacers (see the middle picture) and are held in place with M6 hardware – allen head, not torx. I used loctite.
Larger platform
With Rok straps
The bottom view shows how much extra platform space is available with the Touratech plate installed. The top view is with the Rok straps that I always keep on the bike. Now I’ve got enough room to get that emergency case of beer wherever it needs to go.