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SW-Motech Evo Quick Release Side Carrier instal with Honda Factory Rack
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Redbird Offline
Running Like a Top

Colorado, USA
Posts: 273
Joined: Apr 2015
Post: #1
SW-Motech Evo Quick Release Side Carrier instal with Honda Factory Rack
Here is how I installed this SW-Motech Side Carrier Kit with a Honda Factory Rack. First I need to see if I can post pictures here. If this works, here are pics of the final results. The cases are Givi Trekkers.
İmage
İmage
Ok, I can post pics from SmugMug.

This kit requires relocating the turn signals to the license plate area. It comes with the necessary wire and hardware to do that. So I removed the rack, disconnected the turn signal wires from the connectors in the bundle under the tool tray, unthreaded the wires from the retainers so the turn signals could be removed along with the grab rails, and made a note of which color wire was the right side signal (blue) and which was the left side signal (orange). Easy to tell by disconnecting one then working the signals and see which side flashes. Now remove the turn signals from the grab bars and mount them on the supplied fixture. This fixture mounts between the license plate holder and the rear tail light rubber mount. As I found out later, you do not need to modify the license plate holder in any way. You can even leave the reflectors on it, they will clear the turn signals. Here it is positioned between the license plate frame and the tail light rubber piece.
İmage
Next you need to feed the wires back to the rear fender area. They suggest running them under the tail light mount, so that is what I did.
İmage

İmage
Now cut the wires to extend them. Leave enough on the connector so that you can crimp a connection (or use a Positap connector if you prefer). The kit has wire and crimp connectors. The crimp connectors are blue, which is for 14-16 guage wire. The wire in the kit is 16 guage, but the taillight wire is 18 guage, so I used red crimp connectors instead. This extends the wire so that you can feed it back to the bundle. Note: feed the wire through the chrome hold down first, then crimp. See below.
İmage
To be continued...

Next, you need to mount the attachment points. Here is the problem with that if you want the rack as well. These attachment points are about 3/16 inch thick but the rack and its spacers are sized to fit snug with the grab rails. To get the 3/16 of an inch space, you could grind the grab rails, grind the rack spacers, grind the rack mounts themselves OR, the option I chose was to remove the grab rails entirely and make spacers to fill the space between the rack parts and the side carrier mounts. I had an old rack whose tubes had the right inside diameter so that I could cut the right length from them and use that as a spacer.
İmage
As you can see, I added this spacer and a washer, then the attachment point. I did the same for the other three rack mount points. This got the upper loop attachment points onto the bike. Don't snug these bolts up tight yet, the attachment points need to be able to move a bit.
Now add the lower attachment point to the passenger footpeg support. You will notice that I had to grind the loop mount here since it was not welded at the correct angle on the left mount. If I did not do this the side case would not sit level and mate up. The right side loop was ok.
İmage
Using the quarter turn spring loaded fastners, attach the loop to the forward top mount (near the battery) and the passenger peg mount.
Swing the top mount back until it lines up with the loop mount. Raise the loop as high as you can and you will see the next problem, which is that the rack will not let the loop get high enough to mate with the rear top attachment point. I first though I would drill a hole and run a bolt through the pieces, and I started to do that but then I got smarter and thought why not use a piece of steel to just extend the loop mount to the attachment point. I looked around for a piece and spotted an angle bracket that already had holes drilled and they appeared to be the right diameter. So I cut off both ends of the angle bracket and bolted it (loosely) to the loop attachment point. Then I swiveled everything until the other hole lined up with the rack as high as I could position it. Ok so far, but the hole need slots for the quarter turn pin. Also, if the holes had been a bit farther apart on the steel bracket section they would not have lined up so nicely with the edge of the fender. Oh well, lets see if this can work anyway. I took a triangle file and filed notches in the hole until the pin would clear. Result:
İmage
Ok, so now it looks like this:
İmage
I did the same for the other side.
Next is the link connection for the rear most loop mounts. The instructions show it being bolted to the license plate mount of a NON UNITED STATES bike. It will not bolt to our license plate mount. I cut mine in an attempt to make it work, no need to do that. Even if I could have gotten it to mate up, the loops would be too low for it because of the rear rack. Actually all that needs to happen is for it to be connected to each loop, passing under the license plate mount. It clears the fender by 1/8 inch at least. And, everything is plenty stiff and tight with just the two loops connected by the crossbar.
İmage
It will touch the license place mount, I put a small piece of rubber between the 2 parts. If you care to, you could add some rubber to the inside of the crossbar to keep it from scratching the fender if you are not careful when you remove it. Now with both sides in place, tighten everything up tight.
Here is what it looks like with the loop removed.
İmage
The next problem was that my top case mount is now too low to work with the side cases attached. I'll continue with my solution to that...
(This post was last modified: 06-21-2015 02:33 PM by Redbird.)
06-21-2015 01:14 PM
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Redbird Offline
Running Like a Top

Colorado, USA
Posts: 273
Joined: Apr 2015
Post: #2
RE: SW-Motech Evo Quick Release Side Carrier instal with Honda Factory Rack
I needed to get my rack mount Givi adapter plate high enough above the rack so the case would clear the side cases. I needed a spacer block, and I did not want to use wood, or at least not have wood showing. I remembered that I had a few plastic slip top boxes, dark brown in color, that I thought would at least look a little better then wood. So I stacked up 2 of them, put the mount on top, and yes, that would make it clear. I took one box, marked on the bottom piece where to drill holes to match up with where the bolts needed to be to mount through the Givi adapter and clamp to the rack, then drilled out the holes and lined everything up again. Ok, looks good. Next I filled each box with wood, put on the covers, held them together and drilled (I used a drill press) a 1/4 inch hole through everything. I used quarter inch bolts, 4 inches long, with nylon insert lock nuts to clamp the Givi adapter along with the boxes to the rack. Not the best looking riser, but better looking then a block of wood.

İmage

İmage

Job finished, finally!
(This post was last modified: 06-21-2015 02:18 PM by Redbird.)
06-21-2015 02:16 PM
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redbirds Offline
Been There

Patterson, GA, USA
Posts: 4,591
Joined: Jan 2014
Post: #3
RE: SW-Motech Evo Quick Release Side Carrier instal with Honda Factory Rack
Looks good and ready for an extended tour.

1 Cor 13:4-7 (NIV)
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
06-21-2015 02:48 PM
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Cormanus Offline
Moderator

Queensland, Australia
Posts: 20,660
Joined: Dec 2013
Post: #4
SW-Motech Evo Quick Release Side Carrier instal with Honda Factory Rack
Thanks for the detailed write up Redbird. Looking forward to the tour reports.
06-21-2015 06:59 PM
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Inhouse Bob Offline
Road Warrior

NoVA
Posts: 1,955
Joined: Jun 2015
Post: #5
RE: SW-Motech Evo Quick Release Side Carrier instal with Honda Factory Rack
Looks like a PITA to install, but the results are great. Good work. Thanks for posting the photos and how-to.
06-21-2015 07:48 PM
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Honda Lover Offline
1st Service Completed

Connecticut
Posts: 104
Joined: Nov 2013
Post: #6
SW-Motech Evo Quick Release Side Carrier instal with Honda Factory Rack
Special thanks to Redbirds! I finally bit the bullet and purchased the Evo racks to mount my Trax Adventure 37L panniers. Given our (U.S.) bike have a different rear license plate bracket, I was getting ready to cut it to in order to secure it to the license plate frame....when I remembered this Forum is THE SOURCE for all things good...and low and behold this post mentioned to simply connect both ends together, therefore avoiding having to cut. This went on in about 2 minutes and it's100% stable just like you said it was. Thank you Redbirds!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

'13 CB1100
'08 VTX 1800T (still ride)
'02 Shadow Spirit (sold for VTX)
(This post was last modified: 03-01-2017 08:13 PM by Honda Lover.)
03-01-2017 08:10 PM
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jedd Offline
Running Like a Top

Austin, TX
Posts: 417
Joined: Dec 2015
Post: #7
RE: SW-Motech Evo Quick Release Side Carrier instal with Honda Factory Rack
THX REDBIRD. Your pics & detailed instructions saved me alot of time and stress.
İmage

İmage

İmage

İmage

İmage

I'm using panniers off of my vstrom 650
İmage
looks like i need to raise the suspension up another 1".

İmage
10-08-2018 03:44 PM
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Cormanus Offline
Moderator

Queensland, Australia
Posts: 20,660
Joined: Dec 2013
Post: #8
RE: SW-Motech Evo Quick Release Side Carrier instal with Honda Factory Rack
They look good, Jedd. Nice work.
10-08-2018 04:41 PM
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