I decided to make up my own rack. Its an odd lloking beast but here it and why.

The rack....


And installed...


From the back....notice the tail sticks throgh the rack...heres why.
And also this...
And it also seves another function. To give the panniers some support in the event of a crash, hence the odd looking loop underneath the rack with rubber stoppers to stop rattling etc.
I crashed when fully loaded some time ago and bent one in a bit.

Oh, and I fitted one of these too..

Marvellous things these cable ties.

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We are now retired....so....... lots of this and this and no more of this or this

Very ingeneous, looks like you are ready to take on the world!

What is that you fitted on the last pic by the basplate?

looks good Ray, i've been scouring for a rack i like too, not found one yet.

One observation on your new rack based on my experience last saturday - you may be aware of this already. I found that with my panniers on (and loaded, admittedly quite heavily) and with a drybag with some bits on the back of the seat, i could lift the front wheel off the ground with two fingers under the right hand handlebar, with the bike pivoting on the sidestand, 'twas a bit unnerving as i figured it would probably tip quite easily if i stood it on an uneven surface. Also when on the centrestand it rocked very easily like a seesaw. All i'm thinking is that your rack obviously puts more weight to the back of the bike, so i'd be careful how much weight you put on it - just in case.

It's a waterproof protective tube for an Operators Manual from a tractor.

They are used as a tool tube.



Nick.

Looks nice Ray, I am envious of your bends

You had me worried there. I know the Tenere can sound a bit agricultural being a single but carrying a Tractor Operators Manual seemed a bit OTT

My intention is a tool holder but I like the tractor manual idea too .
I am not convinced that the cable ties will be strong enough so I may replace some with large jubilee clips (similar but metal and screwed tight). Another problem is that it need to be removed to change the oil.

As PEATBOG said the front will be light. Even worse when SWAMBO gets on the back. Hence the tool tube at the front. I need to buy/make some front crash bars to fit luggage/spare fuel beside the tank.

I am currently looking at Chile and Argentinian Patagonia for a future trip, deos anyone know if it is possible/feasable to ride through central America at the present ?

Anyway I just decided to fit my TCK80s tonight and when putting ther front tyre on noticed that the wheel is not symetrical and at that point realised I had not made a note of which way around it went. DOH. The boss holding the bearings on each side are of different lengths. In the end I figured it out from photographs from the Yamaha site. For anyone else that changes a front tyre. as a mental note, the long boss and the long collar are both on the left.

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We are now retired....so....... lots of this and this and no more of this or this

I resemble that remark.....seriously, the quality does not stand close scruitiny.

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We are now retired....so....... lots of this and this and no more of this or this