new guy with a few questions

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sorry I do not think they are available any longer...try Doug's Nortons
 
Classic Bike Racks -

https://www.classicbikeracks.co.uk/product-category/norton/

It always bothered me that Norton had an Interstate touring model but they never offered any luggage racks or panniers for it.
The roadster model rack doesn't seem to attach to anything other than the hoop, so I guess that might be an issue for heavier loads. Still a nice setup with integrated gra b rail. I guess one could Fab up a support bar from zplate or shock tower if concerned. I run a Terrain Pannier soft bag from Iron & Resin on my modern bonneville. It attaches to frame rails via nylon web straps and quick release metal D rings. Have not tried fitting to the norton but might one day.

new guy with a few questions
 
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Classic Bike Racks -

https://www.classicbikeracks.co.uk/product-category/norton/

It always bothered me that Norton had an Interstate touring model but they never offered any luggage racks or panniers for it.


And it’s too bad ‘cause there’d be some approach to follow--maybe even a beefier loop left behind. I guess they just left it to the aftermarket.

I understand your rack attaches to welds under the seat but is it hung entirely off that, or does it also rest on the loop? toward the back. I can’t tell from your photo.
 
And it’s too bad ‘cause there’d be some approach to follow--maybe even a beefier loop left behind. I guess they just left it to the aftermarket.

I understand your rack attaches to welds under the seat but is it hung entirely off that, or does it also rest on the loop? toward the back. I can’t tell from your photo.

It touches the rear loop but gently with a rubber bumper. Attachment is via four 5/16" bolts. I'll try to get a photo of that.
 
It touches the rear loop but gently with a rubber bumper. Attachment is via four 5/16" bolts. I'll try to get a photo of that.


Please do/ thanks.
(and... I went to high school in East Hartford...)
(Not a bad place, but I don't mind being 3000 miles away from it.)
 
Please do/ thanks.
(and... I went to high school in East Hartford...)
(Not a bad place, but I don't mind being 3000 miles away from it.)
Hi John
Depends what you are looking to carry, if it is just something that would fit a rack, a number of guys on the Triumph Forum are using Nelson Rigg “motorcycle trunks” - unlike the Kriega etc. It stays on the seat like a small top box
Anyway, no engineering needed, just straps to the seat in the pillion space,
https://www.nelsonrigg.com/motorcycle-luggage/new-tail-bags/commuter_lite-detail
Have a look, discount if it is not what you need/want
John
 
I always liked this design. I think I found these pics somewhere on this site, but really can't remember. Super simple, doesn't hurt the rear loop, easy on and off. Really very elegant. I guess you do loose the grab bar...

-- D


new guy with a few questions
new guy with a few questions
new guy with a few questions
new guy with a few questions
new guy with a few questions
 

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Thanks to everyone for the ideas and photos, etc. All of it was helpful.

So, here’s where I landed on this...

new guy with a few questions

new guy with a few questions

new guy with a few questions

new guy with a few questions

new guy with a few questions

new guy with a few questions

new guy with a few questions

new guy with a few questions

new guy with a few questions



The short of it is I fashioned the struts from an aluminum bar (cut/ drilled/ filed radiuses) then, using steel, made the tabs that bridge to the shock bolts (which I swapped for slightly longer ones). Then I made the "platform" for the grab rail for the rack to bolt up. The rack is a modified aluminum GI ALICE frame. I riveted a steel bar up front to bolt the struts to (and additional aluminum bars in the racks nest.)

It’s strong.

Between its leading edge and where it hits the grabrail I think it would take 40pds traveling, no problem.

(I did the fender/ taillight work last month. A mash up of parts. BSA/ Yamaha R5/ OEM blinkers and a Japanese lens of unknown origin. I’m not sold on the white yet. I may repaint it black.)
 
There are few pictures/ ideas here that got me thinking, so thanks (this is all really helpful).

I feel I’m on the right track mounting the load at the shock mounts then somehow tying into the grab rail—the salient move being to then locate the “platform” directly over those points (where the passenger sits). The big geometry problem back there seems to be keeping the load forward, and not creating a lever worse than it needs to be.

When I get further into the build I’ll look into how to post photos (then I can stop trying to explain this with words).

A question arose in thinking about this though—which might be getting me a little too far into the weeds (but I’d like to hear anyone’s opinion)…

I wonder how much of the passenger’s weight is offset be the operator. These seats (with pillion) seem like they can kind of behave like a seesaw board, having a pivot point. My seat has none of the bumpers, so it’s kind of floating (and I’ve taken my girlfriend for plenty of rides already with no weirdness.)

I wonder because if the operator’s weight isn’t doing the heavy lifting—and the passengers load lands below the passenger (aft of the shock mount/ before the end of the seat)—is to say that that part of the loop (alone) can carry 150plus pounds (…at speed, and over bumps too). If compressed my seat’s back end land on the grabrail mounts.

I won’t be resting my rack on the seat, but if I tie into where the passengers weight falls (and load over it—not away from it) I should, arguably, be able to carry a passenger on my rack, yes?

Or, again, the operator is holding them up, and their weight alone would collapse the bikes back end.

Either way, I should be fine, but I did have the thought.
Reuben Tang and Keith Newton (Toronto) both turned me on to your concern (and mine ) fix. A passenger puts way too weight rearwards as they sit. So the solution is to move their weight forward as it sits . The rear of the seat sits on the fender. Bad idea. Build/fabricate a wide band of curved steel to lift the rear off the fender so that passenger (even luggage/packs) weight is between the 2 seat securing knobs. No more rear droop issues. The goal is to move weight weight forward and off the rear loop. Handles better too.
 
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