backrest/luggage rack

[JerseyJon]

Hi folks. I'm looking for a backrest/luggage rack for my 1980 1100 xs special. Anybody have one of those lying around? If not, does anyone have a suggestion as to a possible aftermarket source?

Jon

[tom clisham]

Luggage rack

There are 2 of the original Yamaha type listed on ebay right now for cheap money. These have brought $100-200 in season .
They'll fit a special or a standard. You just have to move your rear signals.
These racks originally came with little drop down brackets for the signals, but don't seem to remain with the racks when transferrred around.
Just put yamaha xs1100 luggage rack in the ebay search slot.

[cywelchjr]

Crazy Steve was selling a couple of those last summer and he had both special and standard ones, as the mounting points for the OEM rack are different between specials and standards. Also I have one of the OEM racks from Steve, and it doesn't mount to the rear signal location at all, but rather to a different location that is there specifically for the rack, with the other mount point to the top of the shocks. This is a good thing as my Vetter luggage mounting system uses the signal mounting locations as part of it's mounting points, and would have precluded using the rack if it had required using those points for the rack as well, but it also means my signals are already relocated onto the Vetter luggage mounting system so as to be out of the way of the bags.

[old_skool]

If you can get either of those 2 for anywhere near the starting price, grab them, I paid about $112 for mine not too long ago, to me, still worth it.

[JerseyJon]

Thanks to all of you guys. I'll try to get one of the racks and see what's involved in getting it bolted on. Should be fun.

[tom clisham]

Crazy Steve was selling a couple of those last summer and he had both special and standard ones, as the mounting points for the OEM rack are different between specials and standards. Also I have one of the OEM racks from Steve, and it doesn't mount to the rear signal location at all, but rather to a different location that is there specifically for the rack, with the other mount point to the top of the shocks. This is a good thing as my Vetter luggage mounting system uses the signal mounting locations as part of it's mounting points, and would have precluded using the rack if it had required using those points for the rack as well, but it also means my signals are already relocated onto the Vetter luggage mounting system so as to be out of the way of the bags.

I've mounted these racks on both my special & standards. No problem. They don't mount to the shock mounts, rather to already present holes in frame. The signal relocating brackets I referred to were to allow the luggsage rack to clear the signal lights. Not to mount the rack to the light position. I have 2 sets of the original light relocation brackets in my garage.

[cywelchjr]

I've mounted these racks on both my special & standards. No problem. They don't mount to the shock mounts, rather to already present holes in frame. The signal relocating brackets I referred to were to allow the luggsage rack to clear the signal lights. Not to mount the rack to the light position. I have 2 sets of the original light relocation brackets in my garage.

Crazy Steve claimed that the special and standard racks are different, and that the mounting areas are different for both. I looked at mine, and we are both right sort of (you more so) as the rack doesn't MOUNT to the signal area but does indeed block it (not an issue with the vetter bag mounts, as it doesn't interfere with them and they already relocate the signals out of the way) and the rack doesn't mount to the shocks, that was my other rack, there are two mount points on both sides for the rack, one of which is one of the mounting points for the grab rack, and the grab rack mounts to there and the upper shock bolt (this is what confused me, I have just the part of the grab rack from that mount point forward to the shock in place on BOTH sides which work as grab points and also work to tie the bike together visually (chrome) up to the shocks). I think it's that my install is a LITTLE non-standard (gotta do things a little different than others) just because I like how it works and how it looks.

[DCII]

You may want to check the dimensions on the mounting points on the two racks on ebay if you plan on using them on a 1980 Special. Try to get the measurements for the distance between the mounting points, front to back as well as the width between the mounting points both front and rear. The rear mounting points on the OEM style rack for the 80 Special are different than a Standard model.

[barrelguy]

Saddlebags

Hi,

Not to hijack the thread or anything but I have a brand new set of leather saddlebags that would go well with your new luggage rack. I'd like $100 plus shipping. Drop me a PM if you are so inclined.

[JerseyJon]

Wow. You guys are great. My question still is whether I have to move the turn signals, and what happens to that aluminum grab bar when I mount the rack.

At least I think those are my questions. I just want to get my hands on a rack that's close and try to make it work.

[crazy steve]

...My question still is whether I have to move the turn signals, and what happens to that aluminum grab bar when I mount the rack..

You don't have to move the turns for a rack; saddlebags yes, but not a rack..

The aluminum grab rail on the '80-81 Specials can present a problem; not all rack designs will clear it properly (yes, there's multiple styles out there and there's no easy way to tell which is which unless you see the bike it came off of and how it fit that bike), but you don't want to remove the rail because that's what your taillight is mounted to. Don't butcher the rail either, as those are getting hard to find too. Pretty much any rack can be made to fit (but try to get one for a Special if at all possible) with some tweaking and a few strategically placed spacers. As an alternative, you can remove the grab rail and either fabricate a taillight mount onto the rack, or find a equally-rare '79 Special rear fender/tallight to relocate the taillight.

Good luck!

[JerseyJon]

back rest

Thanks again Tom. I just bought one off of ebay. It claims to be from a 1980 special. It's not in the greatest shape, and it was probably overpriced. But it looks like it might clear the grab rail, and it looks like it will accept some fabricated modifications if necessary.

I really appreciate the advice.