Fender mount rack?

[CDNRatMan]

  Rob before you get really into this might be a good idea to get someone you trust to ride your bike for you and you follow them and see how your fender acts. I was really surprised the first time I saw the Drifter 800 fender moving........it seems to be in motion all the time. Go to youtube and type in First Northern Drifter Rendezvous and that might give you a hint...as you watch the rear fenders.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cFAAuKBdJU

but the fender is going up and down a lot........

[rob f]

Jmbo, thanks for the info on the geometries of that suspension. I've got a single seat and am now conversing with OR regarding getting one of his setups. If the costs end up too much I will have to get my thinkin' cap on and attempt my own design. I see that the passengers foot pegs mounts
are nice and solid. Hmmm
Rob

[jmbo]

I bult ( and rebuilt several times) a rack for my Drifter.  If you mount the rack on the fender anything on the rack will bounce up and down.  Second the fender is plastic not metal so be careful.  If you cantilever the rack out over the fender as I did, be aware that the range of fender movement is much more than you think.  The space between the fender and the rack also depends on whether you are putting it behind a single or double seat.  Due to the suspension geometry, the most extreme up and down movement of the fender is toward the rear of the fender which is about three inches beyond a double seat which is sort of where you want to put your rack.

Good Luck

[OR Seedman]

message me and I can get you a total cost plus shipping.  The only issue right now is the chrome rack.  I had a good source for them, but can no longer get them at a reasonable price.  they are the standard Harley fender rack.  I have one in stock that is already mounted on the rack (used for pictures and display). It was mounted on my 800 for a while.  I can send you up close pictures of it if you are interested, as I am not using it and keeping it stored.  let me know if you are interested in it along with the other pieces....

[rob f]

OR, i have seen clips of your stuff from posts back in the summer but these pics do your designs justice. I can now see how it all fits together. I worked for JD for over 30 years and seen all sorts of manufactured parts and gotta say that your stuff is of factory built quality. You must be/been an Engineer or a Millwright.
I don't see these on this sites classifieds. I would be interested in the costs if you had some for sale. I would require this setup...........

[OR Seedman]

my various racks & saddlebag mounts for the 800...

[kw-retrorider]

just to confuse the issue...just bought a Drifter 800 with Saddleman Bags on brackets bolted to the fender bolts....never saw that before, but I guess it has been done.

[rob f]

Thanks for your valuable insights,guys.
I will rethink my approach to the rack.
R

[mittico68]

Unlike every other motorcycle I've owned, even those with a mono shock, on a Drifter 800 the rear fender moves up and down with the rear wheel and swingarm.

I'll add to the above that when I bought my bike it had a rear fender rack with a tail bag on it, and it was a little odd for me to feel against my back at times the tail bag going up and down when I went over bumps, because of course when the fender travels up-and-down so does whatever is attached to it. I think that is why many have decided to mount saddlebags to the bike's frame rather than to the swingarm.

I totally agree.
That's the only safe way to mount saddlebags to our Drifters.

[Tfrank59]

Unlike every other motorcycle I've owned, even those with a mono shock, on a Drifter 800 the rear fender moves up and down with the rear wheel and swingarm.

I'll add to the above that when I bought my bike it had a rear fender rack with a tail bag on it, and it was a little odd for me to feel against my back at times the tail bag going up and down when I went over bumps, because of course when the fender travels up-and-down so does whatever is attached to it. I think that is why many have decided to mount saddlebags to the bike's frame rather than to the swingarm.

[rob f]

Good point about the shaken luggage and I thought of that also.
But..... From what I have seen regarding the suspension setup, is it not the seat that goes up and down ? When I bought this bike back in december I hauled it home in the back of my pickup. Everytime I hit a rough spot I looked back in the rear veiw to check the bike, and all that I seen was the seat bouncing up and down. Got me to thinking about that goofy mono shock setup. I am guessing that geometrically speaking the fender and the seat would move about the same.
I haven't had a chance to ride this bike yet so I do not know if my theory is correct.
I don't mind being told i'm wrong. That's why i'm asking if any one has this setup?
R

[mittico68]

You should consider that a rack mounted that way would bounce up & down while ridin', and so it would be for everything sittin' on it.
Unless you like shaken stuff, I think it's not worth the effort...

[CDNRatMan]

   Check with OR_Seedman as he has made a few of them.....

[rob f]

Ok, I've scoured the site for Vn 800  rear racks and all that I see are ones that are using the seat mount holes. I must say there are some interesting designs.
I am in the middle of conjuring up my own design but as my brain works different than most, my design would be to attach the mounts to the fender. My reasoning is that because of the unusual suspension the seat moves up and down so why attach there and risk hitting the fender? I also don't like the idea that all that weight is hanging back off the seat brackets. Direct weight onto the back tire makes more sense to me.
I am looking at using the fender to swingarm top mount hole and then a rear support to the fender guards about 6-10" back from that top mount hole.
Am I out in left field on my own or has anyone else tried and succeeded with a fender mount?
R