Pannier rack installation - Bad fit?

[ody04]

Mine also the same problem I even talked to the dealer back in India, he said "aiye se hi" which means it is like that, not perfect looking but the gets the job done. Nothing wrong with the installation but the problem with the bending of the tubes. Definitely mis-aligned. For $100... its cheaper than dealer asking price of $250+$100 installation. I will add some pics soon.

 

[It'sNick]

Mine also the same problem I even talked to the dealer back in India, he said "aiye se hi" which means it is like that, not perfect looking but the gets the job done. Nothing wrong with the installation but the problem with the bending of the tubes. Definitely mis-aligned. For $100... its cheaper than dealer asking price of $250+$100 installation. I will add some pics soon.

Yeah, I paid I think a total of $136 including shipping to get mine. Dealer would've been I THINK $99 plus labor, and it's a Harley dealership so it would've been EXPENSIVE! I'm gonna try grinding it down to make it fit, just to snug it up a bit.

I still think this is something that RE needs to address, and make right with everyone having problems. I don't know what that would mean, but something. I really want the Himalayan to be successful, but shit like this makes it look even cheaper than it already is.

 

[Donkey Mat]

My inseam is shorter than yours. A couple things to try.....

Mount from the right side. Maybe you're more "agile" with that leg.

Or, put your left foot on the left peg and stand up on that leg and then put your right leg over the bike. If I have a bag or something on the rear seat, I have to do it that way.

 

[Donkey Mat]

I have the same problem with paniers and a large tail bag...
I suggest (it works for me)......get on the bike the way you get on a horse. Step on the left side peg (AKA the stirrup) with the side stand down and swing you leg over with gusto. The cowboys had it figured out a long, long time ago.

 

[ody04]

Yeah, I paid I think a total of $136 including shipping to get mine. Dealer would've been I THINK $99 plus labor, and it's a Harley dealership so it would've been EXPENSIVE! I'm gonna try grinding it down to make it fit, just to snug it up a bit.

I still think this is something that RE needs to address, and make right with everyone having problems. I don't know what that would mean, but something. I really want the Himalayan to be successful, but shit like this makes it look even cheaper than it already is.

True I agree, I am aslo RE fan and wanted Himalayan to be successful. I have had few phone conversations with RE customer service who called me to get some feedback. Lets hope they come-up with a simple design and fix these small issues.

 

[Donkey Mat]

True I agree, I am aslo RE fan and wanted Himalayan to be successful. I have had few phone conversations with RE customer service who called me to get some feedback. Lets hope they come-up with a simple design and fix these small issues.

I have purchased 4 different engine guards my Himalayan....only one even fit well and the others....not so much or at all.
That said and having spent time in India......and you can not expect perfect.....they don't. Better than China (as I spent 3years there)....East Indian folks have a different view of 'perfect' and China has 'mamahuhu'.....(meaning 'horse,horse-tiger,tiger as their guide to "perfect, not so much"..... looks like the 'real' thing. Indians care and try to make it work right....but with 3rd world low end materials and tooling......they just try their best. I love my 2 wheeled Donkey and prefer it to my Ducati ST3, DRZ-SM, Sportster and my other bikes. Being a mechanical engineer helps getting things to work right (as intended). Take it as it comes....it will improve your Karma and improve you patience too.

 

[ody04]

I have purchased 4 different engine guards my Himalayan....only one even fit well and the others....not so much or at all.
That said and having spent time in India......and you can not expect perfect.....they don't. Better than China (as I spent 3years there)....East Indian folks have a different view of 'perfect' and China has 'mamahuhu'.....(meaning 'horse,horse-tiger,tiger as their guide to "perfect, not so much"..... looks like the 'real' thing. Indians care and try to make it work right....but with 3rd world low end materials and tooling......they just try their best. I love my 2 wheeled Donkey and prefer it to my Ducati ST3, DRZ-SM, Sportster and my other bikes. Being a mechanical engineer helps getting things to work right (as intended). Take it as it comes....it will improve your Karma and improve you patience too.

Soo true, I am not complaining on fellow country men as I grow-up in India and moved to US 20+y back my love for RE never fades away as its my dream bike from my childhood. But to make things better RE should consider the quality of the product that they sell, I am sure material and tooling should not be a problem in this age of technology as most of the manufacturing in Indian factories are as competent as any other factory in the world. If they can look at the finished product try to fit it then they will know right-away that there is an alignment issue all they need todo is adjust the bending machine few mm and they are good. I suspect their quality control is not as robust as anyone could expect. I am happy to provide good and constructive feedback to RE if they are willing to listen. None the less the bike is good and love to ride it.

 

[ThinkMud]

Mine are sort of angled like yours as well, I had to use a ratchet strap to get them in place to line up the bolts... they are holding up fine with 90% off road riding so far.

 

[Curt Meinecke]

There is a saying when woking on cars. "If it does not fit, don't force it." That saying does NOT apply when installing these racks. My right rack assembly went on fine. The left front mount hole was off a good 1/4 inch! I had to use a very long bolt to get it to thread and just cranked the thing together. Precision machining this is NOT. I would return for another left rack mounting assembly, but who knows if it's the mount or the position of the bracket welded to the frame that is off?

 

[sb152]

There is a saying when woking on cars. "If it does not fit, don't force it." That saying does NOT apply when installing these racks. My right rack assembly went on fine. The left front mount hole was off a good 1/4 inch! I had to use a very long bolt to get it to thread and just cranked the thing together. Precision machining this is NOT. I would return for another left rack mounting assembly, but who knows if it's the mount or the position of the bracket welded to the frame that is off?

I had the same issue and also went with longer bolts. I ran them all the way to the inside of the frame and put nuts on - figure if the bolts ever snapped or bent I could at least back them out then.

 

[Curt Meinecke]

I had the same issue and also went with longer bolts. I ran them all the way to the inside of the frame and put nuts on - figure if the bolts ever snapped or bent I could at least back them out then.

Excellent idea. I will do the same. Also, I think the supplied bolts are aluminum. Steel does could not hurt.

 

[TN_twowheeladdict]

There is a saying when woking on cars. "If it does not fit, don't force it." That saying does NOT apply when installing these racks. My right rack assembly went on fine. The left front mount hole was off a good 1/4 inch! I had to use a very long bolt to get it to thread and just cranked the thing together. Precision machining this is NOT. I would return for another left rack mounting assembly, but who knows if it's the mount or the position of the bracket welded to the frame that is off?

Mine definitely weren't that bad. Of course when it comes to anything for the Himalayan I just keep thinking about how little I paid for all the fun I am having. I've owned motorcycles that cost 5 times the cost of a Himalayan and they definitely weren't 5 times the fun. LOL!

 

[Finklejag]

I was watching a guy on youtube install the racks on his 2021. The brake light relocation bracket doesn't fit our brake light housing. He had to Dremel the bottom of the housing for the bracket to fit. He bought the rack from his local dealer and not off of Ebay India.

 

[cwadej]

I was watching a guy on youtube install the racks on his 2021. The brake light relocation bracket doesn't fit our brake light housing. He had to Dremel the bottom of the housing for the bracket to fit. He bought the rack from his local dealer and not off of Ebay India.

the LED lights have a slightly different bolt pattern than the incandescent bulbs

 

[Curt Meinecke]

I was watching a guy on youtube install the racks on his 2021. The brake light relocation bracket doesn't fit our brake light housing. He had to Dremel the bottom of the housing for the bracket to fit. He bought the rack from his local dealer and not off of Ebay India.

I was able to ut mine on without difficulty. Maybe they changed it?

 

[johnny42]

I always screw the bolts into the holes to clean out the threads first. Oftentimes there's paint and other crap that might hinder bolt entry, especially if the rack and frame are not exactly aligned. At least this way you know the threads are good.

 

[cwadej]

I always screw the bolts into the holes to clean out the threads first. Oftentimes there's paint and other crap that might hinder bolt entry, especially if the rack and frame are not exactly aligned. At least this way you know the threads are good.

good idea, especially with this bike. I found myself running a tap through a lot of holes before a bolt would thread

 

[grymsr]

good idea, especially with this bike. I found myself running a tap through a lot of holes before a bolt would thread

same here. I couldn't mount my gas can holders until I reamed out all four bolt holes

 

[Rodrigo Chies]

Hi group...anyone with experience between the OEM rack and the GIVI PL9050 ? Want to check perceptions before committing buying. Best and have a great week.

 

[Curt Meinecke]

I bought the OEM racks for the OEM panniers. The left side rack had a manufacturing flaw that made it very difficult to attach. It was not off just a "little". Quite simply, the holes did not match up. I do not have a GIVI rack, but I have GIVI drop bars. They are made with what could be considered "expected" precision -- meaning you can simply bolt them on without using a vice, blow torch, profanities, etc. The GIVI drop bars are made with impressive quality, fit and finish. The RE pannier racks -- not so much. Even the welds are ugly. After installing them (I have a little "machine shop" and made it work) I mentioned to my wife "It's kind of amazing they can make an engine that even starts!" I was not amused. Expect that the RE OEM racks may off center, too.

The panniers themselves are very nice I must say! I assume they had a vendor manufacture those. They do not have the classic RE "organic" precision factor.

(P.S. I do like my RE Himalayan btw! I find it's shoddy construction and quirks amusing. It is like tinkering with a bike that was made in East Germany before German reunification. It's a blast. But for any after marked accessories, if YOU are installing them, I would recommend buying from other modern vendors).

Good luck!