Cheap storage for DRZ...

[jsb223]

The saddlebag idea for my DRZ didn't work as well as I had planned, the boxes I ordered weighed too much. Back to the drawing board.

I needed a bit of storage for my weekend rides so I took a softside cooler
and bent a piece of aluminum plate to fit inside to serve as a mount plate and as a stiffener and using metal wiring clamps fixed it to the Suzuki rear rack.

Looks okay a gives me almost 1 cubic foot of storage...

[CycleCat]

Similar to what I did with a Pelican case, which has the advantage of being lockable.

http://cyclecat.smugmug.com/photos/8292462-M.jpg

http://cyclecat.smugmug.com/photos/5484114-M.jpg

[jsb223]

Similar to what I did with a Pelican case, which has the advantage of being lockable.

It must be your post I read about that and I ordered the 1200 to mount when I need lockable storage...

[CycleCat]

Cool. Mine is a little smaller. I think the 1130 or 1150 or something like that.

[Chirpy]

Oh, just wait.

I've almost finished my cheap plastic ammo box that bolts to the Promoto rack. A #8 machine screw fits the predrilled holes almost perfectly, and it all went down hill from there :-)

I've either finished painting, or need one more coat. Then some clear coat, and she's ready. After 6 years of Superhawks and Sportsters, it'll be nice to have a bike I can carry something on again.

Hmmm, I've got a couple of Pelican 1600s around. I could challenge Buck for the "AWACs" lookalike tailpiece!

[WoodButcher]

I think I'm going to have to give up my dream of owning a 1200 GS until after both kids get out of college (9years?) and just get a rack for the DRZ. For you two with the DRZ's are you using the OEM rack or one like the Happy Trails?

edit

Duh, I see Daryl has the promoto, what about you JSB?

[Chirpy]

The nice thing about the Promoto over the stock Suzuki rack is all the predrilled holes. Like I said, perfect fit for a #8 machine screw, and it's made bolting on the box a lot easier. Not much difference in price over the Suzuki rack either.

No provision for side panniers though. If that's on your list I'd go with the Happy Trails. Not sure the DRZ sub frame could handle hanging everything off the back, and I liked the Happy Trails on Txmedics 650 and the way they distributed the wieght.

[jsb223]

Factory rack here...

Using these for mounts...

[WoodButcher]

Thanks for the info guys.

[bushwhacker]

I have the Wolfman Tank bags that work great -

http://www.wolfmanluggage.com/03Tank/TankPanniers.html

I also have the suzuki rack which I got here -

http://store.azmusa.com/suzdrractool.html

If I had it to do again I might have gotten the Tonn's Rack

http://www.tonnsracing.com/products.php

I do plan to add one of the following - just not sure which - listed from most to least expensive -

http://www.happy-trail.com/productinfo.aspx?productid=398&categoryid=28&startpage=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4616505738

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4616739920

-

[jsb223]

I do plan to add one of the following - just not sure which - listed from most to least expensive

JC Whitney has a trunk with mount with quick detach for $60...

[Sleepy Weasel]

JC Whitney has a trunk with mount with quick detach for $60...

Which by the way, will also pop right onto a Givi plate if you've got one.

[jsb223]

Got this for storage while commuting around town...

Big enough for cell phone, gloves, flashlight, manual, and security cable...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v51/jsb357/DRZ/minitopbox-2.jpg

And got this when I need to carry the kitchen sink...

:mrgreen:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v51/jsb357/DRZ/bike01.jpg