Guzzi rear rack fitting confusion?

[Anonymous]

Hi all,
I'm heading west for the weekend with the missus shortly for the first real open road run on my new 1200S. Thought I would fit the panniers and rear rack I purchased with the bike so as not to be trying to do this the night before for once! I got the panniers fitted ok and they look and feel solid although the locking mechanism is interesting... However bit confused with the rear bag rack? I removed the seat and the plastic cover over the mounting holes in the rear grab rail, however I can't see how the rack actually attaches to any of the 4 mounting holes in the grab rail? Its like I'm missing another moulding or something? Anyone had any experience with fitting one of these critters to a 1200S? The rack has 2 tapered arms with square ends which seem to fit in place OK, however with the supplied hardware, I can't see how it can be secured? See attached pics of rack in place with tapered arms over the first 2 bolt holes in the grab rail shown and also the fitting hardware supplied. Also Pic of bike with panniers fitted.
Any help would be appreciated ......Thanks in advance.
Regards Paul.

 

[Rafael]

Hi Paul,

Seems you got the filler pieces out okay. Hard to see what going on in the top photo, but this may help...

There should be 4 M8 (M10?) button head bolts. The plastic rack-cover goes over the steel parts after they are bolted in place. Then the plastic rack-cover is fasted from underneath through the steel rack arms with sheet metal screws.

 

[Joe Bar]

I fitted one to my 1200 Sport a few weeks back, everything lined up and fitted perfectly. As Rafael said, the top picture is not too clear, but from the next photo, it looks as if you've been supplied with all the mounting hardwear that came with mine - the 4 fixing bolts with washers (2 long, 2 short), self tapping screws to hold the plastic covering in place, 2 bobbins and long fixing bolts, for luggage straps or w.h.y, and the oval washers, which I didn't use, but presumed were for fitting a top box. Cannot see any reason it shouldn't all fit.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Rafael & Joe,

Thanks for your advice guys, after I read your posts, I sat and thought about it for a while. Then realised I did not actually have the steel struts that must bolt into the grab rail that Rafael mentioned. After searching the carboard box that had all the luggage in it, I finally found them. They were in the bag that the centre stand came in. I'd already fitted the centre stand and figured that these additional two steel struts must have been left over from the centre stand kit and were required for centre stand fiting to other MG model bikes perhaps? Plus these things looked way to heavy for a the little day bag and plastic rack I had? However after doing a bit more research on the web, it turns out that the rack I have is actually the same for either the 45 litre Guzzi top box or the 8 litre day bag I have. So it all made more sense once I found this out. I put it all together this afternoon and came up real good..
Thanks guys, very helpful.

P.S the Guzzi rear rack system is very strong using the 2 x square M12 steel struts supplied and the 4 x M10 bolts, much stronger than the ventura set up I had on my last bike. I reckon you could almost tow a caravan with this thing its so over engineered! However if you have a fully loaded top box on it, I guess it would need to be pretty hefty.