Would enjoy your opinions

[ME 109]

ZM, do you need a coffee table as part of your functional touring kit?

If so, Airbear is your man. Why his coffee table even has a magazine rack underneath!
As a matter of fact, I think you'd be most impressed with Charlies entire home made luggage kit.

[Zombie Master]

The DR650 is a very sensible 'chook chaser'.

(n.) A clapped out motorbike. A trail or motocross bike. Taken from motorbikes used on farms used to 'chase' chickens.

You silly Aussies!

Thanks for doing the research, Rob. Any bike set up for riding on dirt is now , generically, a chook chaser, in the modern Oz parlance. 'Roo botherers' could be a better alternative, or 'moose botherers' perhaps, for Neil.

You don't want to hit a moose.

[Zombie Master]

ZM, do you need a coffee table as part of your functional touring kit?

If so, Airbear is your man. Why his coffee table even has a magazine rack underneath!
As a matter of fact, I think you'd be most impressed with Charlies entire home made luggage kit.

He seems to be talented with textiles. Maybe even a savant.

[Rob]

ZM, do you need a coffee table as part of your functional touring kit?

If so, Airbear is your man. Why his coffee table even has a magazine rack underneath!
As a matter of fact, I think you'd be most impressed with Charlies entire home made luggage kit.

He seems to be talented with textiles. Maybe even a savant.

The textile whisperer?

[Zombie Master]

ZM, do you need a coffee table as part of your functional touring kit?

If so, Airbear is your man. Why his coffee table even has a magazine rack underneath!
As a matter of fact, I think you'd be most impressed with Charlies entire home made luggage kit.

He seems to be talented with textiles. Maybe even a savant.

The textile whisperer?

Why yes. Where he a capitalist, there would be millions of riders with Airbear adventure gear.

[Zombie Master]

Still having difficulty with this decision. I like simplicity of the moto-racks, but every other well regarded side rack manufacture uses 3 or 4 points of attachment and a connecting brace that goes back to the rear fender. Is this lack of support going to cause things to bend easily on a get off?

http://www.moto-racks.com/DR650-buy-page.html

[ME 109]

Is this lack of support going to cause things to bend easily on a get off?

Quite possibly so, but then it will bend back easily, too. I think you mentioned that point earlier.
The ability to brace the lower rear corner of the rack is not there, unfortunately. Whether or not that becomes an issue would depend on the weight being carried, and the terrain traveled.

Far better for the racks to bend and not the bike frame, anyhoo.
Soft luggage will be better for those racks and absorb a lot of impact, if the bike ends up on its side.

The racks appear to be more than up to the task of carrying luggage, and they look ok.
How well they stand up to the forces of a get off, is probably not factored into the design.
The rounded corners of the 'package' would be 'more' rider friendly in an accident, than some racks I've seen.

[ME 109]

The moto rack looks better if you want to travel lighter.
The other two seem to have the rear brace, but also require the luggage to be further rearward to effect the benefit.
They also look more agricultural.

How much/what sort of gear are you gonna carry?

[Zombie Master]

The moto rack looks better if you want to travel lighter.
The other two seem to have the rear brace, but also require the luggage to be further rearward to effect the benefit.
They also look more agricultural.

How much/what sort of gear are you gonna carry?

Good question! I guess there will be time when I will have to carry a lot with me, but I do like to keep things to a minimum. I've sent the manufacturer an Email about this. I see what he says.

[Duane Ausherman]

ZM said, "......... Is this lack of support going to cause things to bend easily on a get off?"

That was one complaint of the Reynolds luggage rack. It was stronger than the rear frame section and a crash would do bad things.