Packracks-Are they a hazzard?

**Dodgyiti** · 19th September 2004, 08:07

Having never had a bike with a packrack, I have some questions about them.
In the past, well, years and years ago I was going to fit a packrack to my bike.
Several friends advised me not to do it because they seemed to think that in the event of an accident, my passenger, and possibly myself, would have trouble getting clear of the bike because of the metal frame.
So I took their advice and never fitted a pack rack.
20 years later and here I am purchasing a bike with one already fitted.
The frame lifts out, so if it is better not having one 2up, I can just pull it off.
But what is speculation and what is fact about these things?
Has anyone had any firsthand experience with crashing and the passenger or rider being unable to make a clear exit from the bike because of the packrack frame?
Or perhaps there is some stasticical data out there someone has read?

You can call me safety mad, or a nanna, or whatever, but you can add alive to the end eh?

P.S. Thanks to everyone who answered my post about CBR1000's. I have found one from the many avaliable, and take possesion on Thursday. Yay!
Now 'er indoors will be keen as to come riding with all that nice comfortable seating etc.. as compared with the spartian Guzzler.

**dangerous** · 19th September 2004, 08:35

well...... motorbikes are 'dangerous' aye. So with the pack rack on isent really going to make a hell of a lot of difference.
IMO in a acco the rack is going to get riped off same as the rider/pillion (depending on suition) so I wouldent worry about it myself, ofcourse I use a pack rack so I would say this, but if you look at my profile you will notice on the Guzzi that the rack is missing however it has been replaced with a grab rail ($22) you may prefure to get one of those when not on the night away rides. Or attached is the sport rack which is bloody brillent for day rides, but for touring ya cant beat the full rack.
Dont worry bout it....... ride it :spudwave:

**Jackrat** · 19th September 2004, 09:45

When I had my GS850 I put a venture rack on it.
It had fixed mounts that you could remove the big rack from and replace it with a small one that also had a grab rail built in.
I had the same concerns as you but in the end when I crashed the bike with the big rack on,it got wiped clean off the bike.
I use saddle bags now days but I'd use the same type of rack again no worrys.

**dangerous** · 19th September 2004, 11:52

Ohh... and should of said, a few years back a bunch of 10 riders on 8 bikes were returning from the Queenstown rally and in the Hasst Pass when a "KIWI EXPERANCE" bus with a 17yr old un licenced driver took 6 bikes out, on the two bikes that were 2 up and with pack racks on biffed the packs and racks of along with riders/pillions no harm was done to them due to having a pack rack on, however the hard black stuff did send one off in the chopper and 2 in the ambo another in the police car.

ps: a/hole bus driver had a rich daddy and got of with just about every thing

**scumdog** · 19th September 2004, 12:11

Originally Posted by dangerous

well...... motorbikes are 'dangerous' aye. So with the pack rack on isent really going to make a hell of a lot of difference.
IMO in a acco the rack is going to get riped off same as the rider/pillion (depending on suition) so I wouldent worry about it myself, ofcourse I use a pack rack so I would say this, but if you look at my profile you will notice on the Guzzi that the rack is missing however it has been replaced with a grab rail ($22) you may prefure to get one of those when not on the night away rides. Or attached is the sport rack which is bloody brillent for day rides, but for touring ya cant beat the full rack.
Dont worry bout it....... ride it :spudwave:

Don't like the big 'overhang', with a lot of weight it must cause an effect on the handling etc., if one-up I would have the pack facing other way, also some of those racks that sit about ten feet tall must be a bugger for causing a lot of drag and I guess side winds must affect them too, - my 2 cents worth.

(sorry, thought picture from the above quote would be showing)

**Mongoose** · 19th September 2004, 12:22

Personal opinion, as is rife on this site, I would not thank you for a pack rack unless it was the only way of carrying gear. I would sooner opt for saddlebags, soft or hard, mainly because I think the effect on the bike and how it handles is less with the weight kept lower.Also it always concerns me to see how much flex is in some of those pack racks, and have had one fall off another bike infront of me, man do they bounce or what!!

**pete376403** · 19th September 2004, 12:34

My old Zooki has factory fitted hard bags and a top box (more or less equivalent to a packrack with a loaded pack fitted). Similar to Gold Wings, Venture Royales, BMWs, etc.
This bike was intended mainly for the litigation-mad US market. If they thought there was the slightest chance that such a fitting was dangerous, or added more hazard to motorcycling - dangerous as it is already - it never would have made it to market.
There is a warning sticker on the topbox, but it refers only to overloading.

Some of the more serious tourers have armrests for the pillion, and a back rest for the rider. With all these in place the pillion is more or less trapped on the bike (the only quick way out is straight up), yet I've never seen any comments about associated "danger".

**Skunk** · 19th September 2004, 13:27

I've had Ventura racks fitted to all my bikes (yep, even the old DR) and never had any probelms other than the pillon getting their leg over (the bike!

).

Handling changes came down to the weight in the pack and whether it was facing forwards or backwards. One up I always had it forwards. Had MUCH less effect than a pillion.

I've had more 'issues' with saddlebags (did someone say my saddlebags smoking?

)

**FROSTY:Me** · 19th September 2004, 13:53

I've had pack racks fitted to most of my bikes and to be honest I actually feel safer with one on that without one.
That and the simple convenience of throwing the pack on and buggering off suits me.

**Mongoose** · 19th September 2004, 14:34

Originally Posted by kiwizrx

I've had Ventura racks fitted to all my bikes (yep, even the old DR) and never had any probelms other than the pillon getting their leg over (the bike!

).

Handling changes came down to the weight in the pack and whether it was facing forwards or backwards. One up I always had it forwards. Had MUCH less effect than a pillion.

I've had more 'issues' with saddlebags (did someone say my saddlebags smoking?

)

Must be a smal pack on the bike in your pic

**Jackrat** · 19th September 2004, 14:58

Originally Posted by scumdog

Don't like the big 'overhang', with a lot of weight it must cause an effect on the handling etc., if one-up I would have the pack facing other way, also some of those racks that sit about ten feet tall must be a bugger for causing a lot of drag and I guess side winds must affect them too, - my 2 cents worth.

(sorry, thought picture from the above quote would be showing)

In the case of my GS the handling actualy improved quite a bit.
It was probably a one off thing but these bikes were way front heavy,that combined with the shaft drive could make it really shake it's head at times.
I found when I had the pack on(fully loaded 70 liter)the bike became much more stable.The main frame could be turned on the mounts so it didn't over hang. The day I pushed it into a massive tank slapper I didn't have the pack on,just the frame

**wari** · 19th September 2004, 15:07

ONe time IWas doiin a runnin repairon my bike on the side of the maineroad bike on centre stande ..

HOpped on the bike afterr I was done and rocked off the stande ...

Left leg went downe to touch the ground, butt because of the camember it went downe fart-her than I expectid ...

CON-see-quently the weight of the packracke™ (and tankbag and full tank) got the bike on an inevitabel unstoppable fall ...

All I could do was soften the impact ...

So Yeah ... make your owne conck-lusions ... :spudwave:

**wari** · 19th September 2004, 15:10

OH YEah ...

I always have the pack sitin' on the seat side of the racke ...

**Lou Girardin** · 19th September 2004, 16:02

Ventura sell them in the litigation capital of the world, USA. So they must be confident. There are loading and speed restrictions on their use too.
I prefer Givi for the convienience of be able to take them off the bike like suitcases and being waterproof. Dare I say it, almost like touring in a cage.