How To: SW-Motech Side Rack On A Kawasaki Ninja 650r [Archive] - Kawasaki Versys Forum

: How To: SW-Motech Side Rack On A Kawasaki Ninja 650r


gypsyangel
09-11-2009, 08:15 PM
I'll apologise in advance for some of the blurry pics. My camera's not so good at indoor pics.
Also I already put the top case and rack on last year, I started to document that,but got distracted
by having to redo the top plate when almost done and never finished taking pics.Lesson learned- never tighten anything onto the bike until all parts are in place!

First: Twisted Throttle will send your box-o-side racks.

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/565839658_mykiQ-L.jpg

I use cupcake pans to organize all the nuts and bolts and lay everything out to make sure there are
no missing pieces.The instructions are usually in German, but don't worry. If you can read a parts fiche, you can follow the pictures they provide.:

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/565843088_pYqLN-L.jpg

Then, go ahead and mount your appropriate luggage tabs on the racks themselves.
I chose the Givi Monokey system. The top tab just takes a couple of simple screws to hold it
in place.Next, place the two lower tabs and tighten the allen bolt through them. So far,so good.

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/565846924_CnQpf-L.jpg

The rubber "bumpers" take a bit more finess. I use copius amounts of saliva to lubricate the back of them
and an allen key (I believe it was a 2 or a 4)stuck into the hole in the front of each bumper, to twist and push the rubber "bumpers" through the holes on the rack.

front of bumper:

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/646517478_kePEG-L.jpg

back of bumper:

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/646517705_gugbd-L.jpg

Side view:

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/646517280_Jx95Z-L.jpg

Bumpers in place:

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/646516844_ABVV4-L.jpg

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/646517051_PfxVH-M.jpg

Then I flip the racks over and insert the screws that will hold them onto the plates that go
on the bike.

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/565853162_nSxhG-L.jpg

This little washer snaps over it to hold it in place.

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/565853906_JHUvy-L.jpg

All the screws in place:

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/646516428_C6VcU-L.jpg

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/646518541_2cxay-L.jpg

Now onto the bike.SW-Motech is kind enough to send a bracket that relocates your turn signals.
This was actually the toughest part of the whole install as you have to (one at a time so you don't
mix up wires) unplug each turn signal, disconnect the signal from the bike,pull the signal and wire all the way
out, attach to the new bracket, then finally feed the wire back up through the miniscule
hole on the bottom of the bike and plug it back in.Not really hard, but loads of patience is required while gently trying to encourage the wires back through the hole on the bike.

Here's the new bracket on the bike with my turn signals already disconnected from the bike,but still plugged in at this point.

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/565849372_epcbD-L.jpg

And here they are mounted to the new bracket.

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/646518982_mC8UK-L.jpg

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/646519250_Pj5vz-L.jpg

Next is the luggage mount that goes by your rear passenger peg. It's actually two pieces that clamp
together. Make sure the back piece follows the lines of your rearset.Finger tighten the bolts,but DON'T TIGHTEN THEM ALL THE WAY YET!

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/565851244_JK9cb-L.jpg

gypsyangel
09-11-2009, 08:16 PM
Finally we'll mount the main luggage mounts onto your bike. These go where your grabrails would go.
On my bike, I have the SW-Motech rear rack, so the mounts go under it. SW-Motech once again excells
at following through by sending new bolts to mounts both your top rack and the side rack mounts.
If you have the top rack, you'll want to swap out the bolts with the new ones. If you don't, just
use the bolts provided, they shouldn't be too long.

Here I unbolted the toprack and placed the side rack mounts underneath. They line up
with the angles in the fairing. The rounder one goes in front,but angles towards the tail.
The one with the straighter edges goes in the back and angles towards the front.I placed my
top rack back on top and placed the new bolts through. Only finger tighten them at this point.
DO NOT TIGHTEN THEM ALL THE WAY DOWN YET!

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/565852675_SiECj-L.jpg

A view from the side.

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/565851196_9PVhu-L.jpg

Now you get to mount the racks to the mounts.Line them up carefully. This is where
you find out why you don't tighten anything down to the bike yet, as you may have to move
the mounts a bit to get everything to line up.

Racks go on in this direction.This is standing on the left side of the bike.
The rear is to the right of the picture.

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/646518326_2Hg7U-L.jpg

Place the top two first, They go ontop of the mounting plates, then the lower two at the passenger peg and tail bracket.

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/646514946_4tnbT-L.jpg

The racks lock into the mounts with just a simple turn of a large flat-head screw driver.Turn them clock-wise until they lock into place. It'll be tougher at first, but they get easier to turn after
you've taken em off and on a few times.

Unlocked:

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/646516006_Pzpvy-L.jpg

Locked:

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/646515320_x9tDz-L.jpg

Locked:

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/646516223_WRbLd-L.jpg

Once all is in place, go around and finally tighten down all the bolts on your mounts.

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/565855338_chjpM-L.jpg

Now just add luggage and enjoy.

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/565864096_8Ztxk-L.jpg

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/565862803_6FPGy-L.jpg

Bear on a bicycle
09-11-2009, 08:31 PM
Very nice write up! Great pics!

gypsyangel
09-13-2009, 07:57 AM
BTW this is for 06-08' model 650r only.

From Twisted Throttle's website, this is the 09' version:

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/ezimagecatalogue/catalogue/variations/10622-425x350.jpg