Just bought a 1995 GS500e

[Bluesmudge]

The Renntec rack attaches to the grab handle mount point, right? That attachment point is not strong enough to support any reasonable amount of weight. It flexes just by pushing on it. I think the Renntec rack is designed for a couple pounds of temporary cargo, like a lunch box or a sleeping bag. I can't imagine that setup you have will last more than a few thousand miles with a hard case plus cargo (please prove me wrong).  You might as well u-bolt the box directly to your grab handle so there is less leverage on that flimsy piece of steel it bolts to. I ran that setup with an EMGO box bolted to the grab handle for awhile when I first started commuting on the GS but eventually broke the mounting point.

A proper rear rack needs more stable points of contact -- ideally somehow connected to the actual frame. Look at Hepco & Becker, Shad, Givi, or Ventura racks.

Can your rack do this?

[The Buddha]

On my 89 I welded up a square tubing material "milk crate" carrier to the sissy bar and put a milk crate on it and hauled stuff. I eventually ripped the thread bosses in the frame. Oh yea, I also used to pull the bike up onto the center stand using that sissy bar as my preferred grip. Likely that killed it as well.

Cool.
Buddha.

[ShowBizWolf]

Not wanting to hijack the thread but I just had to say... Blue, I am loving all the little custom bits on your bike. I don't recall ever seeing a project or pic thread. The tank cover + the seat look awesome together. The rearsets, the front brake setup, extra lights... 

[profile_deleted]

Sorry. I must have mis-read the OP's question.  I thought he was looking for "lockable storage" or a "tail bag for groceries," not starting a lawn care business... lol.   

My Renntec rack has lasted me about 15,000 miles so far on three different bikes.  It does use the grab bar attachment points but also bolts-on further up the frame under the seat.  Like anything else, I'm sure it will break if you overload it... although I haven't managed to do that to mine yet despite being pretty optimistic in regards to its limits. 

Geez... less caffeine maybe?

[Bluesmudge]

I didn't mean to offend: the photo was meant as a joke (most of the bark mulch is on the seat anyways)
Sounds like Renntec made design improvements to that rear rack with additional attachment points on the frame. I had a similar renntec rack back in 2012 that was passed around between members because of the bad design. From adidasguy, to me, to Slack. Slack did seem happy with it in the end. That early version for the '01+ bikes only bolted to the grab handle mounting point.
Renntec makes a solid product: I have their crash bars on my bike (only crash bars that fit under the F fairing). I just think there are better rear racks on the market. Ventura, H&B, Givi, and Shad all make cases that interface with their racks. With the Renntec rack you have to improvise.

ShowBiz: I should do a build thread at some point. My GS is always changing. Lots different since that bark mulch picture was taken a few years ago.

[pugg330]

Hey i had a thought, how hard do yall think it would be to make throwover saddlebags out of 40 mm ammo cans? like in my mind it sounds like somehow riveting a strap between two cans at the correct length, but what do yall think?

[The Buddha]

I've done that on a savage. But On a bike with a lot of plastic it would look stupid, not to mention very heavy.
Cool.
Buddha.