@OutRecording

WOW!that looks like a headache!


That might help explain why the package I ordered from Thailand is taking so long to ship. I went online to bikerzbits and ordered a rack and a horn and after waiting 3 weeks and now having a bit of buyers remorse, it was cheap ($50), I ordered the PM rack and side racks too. Hopefully, this week I'll have the rack mounted and in service.

 

I've had a TCI rack for years that has served me well. I've hauled many 5 gallon gas cans in my pelican box that is often mounted on it. Problem is the racks height off the bike. It makes it nearly impossible to ride hard off-road w/o taking a shot or two from the steel crossbars. That means I always remove it for off-road, which is a PITA.
I've been wanting a full PMR set-up for a while, but I have an aux. tank on the left side. I need to get in touch with him and see about extending the left side, or just run without the left side.
I melted the crap out of my right saddlebag and side panel(even with a stand off brace for the bag) on my "No Kickstand Tour" to S. Carolina, that wouldn't have happened with this rack. Lesson learned.

 

Ok! It took about an hour for me to install the PM rack due to the fact that I also changed the rear fender at the same time. The instructions were so-so and honestly, the only thing that I would have found them useful for was figuring out which bolt/screw to put where because it was pretty easy to figure, especially since there were only 4 total screws and 2 of them were identical.

That said, PM has earned 5 stars for ease of installation, materials and overall value.

Initially, I thought that fitment might knock it down a star. As you can see in the pictures, the side racks did not want to line up with the tail rack without some encouragement. Which makes me wonder if there should have been a structural sleeve on the interior of the junction or some sort of locking between the two pieces (where the screw inserts and attaches to the motorcycle's frame).

-.5 star for making me question the structural integrity. I reserve the right to change this at a later date.

Out of the box I noticed several minor issues such as a few undercuts on the welds and spatter everywhere. (Overall decent. AND Yes, I am a certified welder). Don't get me wrong, they weren't so bad that I'm discouraging others to buy the rack, in fact, I really like the rack, all I'm saying is that for $200, I would have liked Mr. Whitehurst to run a grinder over the spatter and knock it off prior to powder coating. Which brings me to the last nit pick item. There are a few spots where the power coating is rubbed through - probably due to several pieces knocking on each other. But Hey - it's going on a dirt bike right?

For the most part, mounting the bike wasn't an issue. When I ordered the rack I thought that it might be one, but it isn't - at least unloaded it isn't.
Overall, 4.5 stars for a quality product that I am happy with and will probably modify slightly for aesthetics and stability.

 

As soon as I installed the rack I began looking at cases and cargo nets. I noticed there were a bunch of really cheep nets, around $10, and then there was price jump to $28 bucks for the next "quality" net. I've no problem buying and using the cheaper net, and in fact, I was actively seeking the cheapest to save some money, but i was curious to see if the higher end net was worth the added expense. So I ordered it and I'm glad I did.
The fit and finish of the POINT 65N cargo net is awesome! As you can see from the pics, it looks like it was made specifically for the PM rack. $32 after shipping.

 

That net looks really useful for day to day riding. I miss the storage space of my old scooter. This would help.

Will that still strap on ok if you don't have the side racks?

 

I actually had him make me that structural sleeve you mentioned
because I use the side covers to lift my bike around, he used my bike as a model to make those racks so when I picked it up I had him make those really quick as I felt them shift when I had to move the bike around at his place

I thought he would of included them in the kit, guess not
it is just a piece of tubing ground down slightly to fit between the rack and the side covers
actually quite simple to make if you have any scrap tubing

 

Yes. I'm sure you can make it work.

 

Can you show a picture of your set up? i'll try to make it myself, but I'd appreciate seeing it. Thanks!

 

 

I just received my rack and sides from him last Friday. They came with 2 aluminum sleeves that were taped to the 2 bolts that were used in the spot.