Intro from noob and Honda XR350 luggage rack help needed.

[uk_biker99]

Greetings to everyone from the other side of the pond!
I am new to all things enduro and looking around here seems to be a mine of information so I hope you will all not mind me picking your brains a little!
I have acquired a 1983 or 4 (not sure which as not picked it up yet) XR350. I live in a very rural area and the ambulance service here struggle to get to us rapidly so a group of us (a doctor, a nurse and 2 paramedics) are setting up a rapid response first responder service and we decided that an enduro bike was the way forwards.
Anyway, to my point! I CAN NOT find a luggage rack for this thing over here, have tried fleabay, classified ads, breakers, everywhere. I see that they are available in the US (you guys seem to be into these far more than we are) but they are bloody expensive! Also, all we need is the link from the rear sub frame to the rack as the rack is going to need to be very custom made to hold oxygen cylinder, defibrillator etc.
What I am wondering is if anyone of you good people has any diagrams for making the rack or could draw around the bits I need so that I can start getting it adapted. Either that or if you know of one that will fit with a bit of fiddling with
Eventually it will be decked out like a paramedic bike including blues and twos from a rechargeable battery pack and everything but our budget is very low. In fact it is zero as all the cash we raised had to go on medical kit.

Is anyone able to help us out?

Many thanks,

Keith

PS, will get pics up as I am going along if anyone is interested!

[High Country Herb]

Good on you for taking the initiative!

I have an '83 XL600R, and can tell you the factory rack and brackets aren't all that strong. You may be better served by making the entire thing yourself with a welder. This thread may be of some help:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...242358&page=49

[uk_biker99]

Thanks High Country. As for the project, if I have a massive heart attack I want someone there ASAP and can't expect it without being involved! Also how cool will we look, razzing round and saving lives!! Lol!

Anyway, do you know if the XL600R rack will fit my beastie? If so any idea how much work it will need?

Cheers

Keith

[High Country Herb]

I'm not sure if they are interchangeable. I'm not even sure the one I have is for a 600, since it came in a box of parts. I had to make some short pieces out of steel to mount it, so I think something was missing. I have carried a full duffel bag on it, but O2 tanks and such would probably be heavier.

[uk_biker99]

High County, any dimensions you could give would be greatly appreciated. The kit isn't goin to be THAT heavy but we can beef up any parts that link onto the bike.

Everyone else, any photo with dimensions of the expensive version would be gratefully received.

Cheers

Keith

[uk_biker99]

Have been doing some research, will a rack from an XR650 do the job?

Again, any measurements would be very welcome.

Cheers

Keith