Africa Twin - Another broken rear rack

Yesterday I went to an off-road ride in public dirt road. Nothing extreme only public dirt road. As usual, I bring a minimum of equipment in case of flat or any other of emergency.



Plus a heated vest for a total of 17lbs.



On my way back, I hit a big hole. When I saw it, I put my weight at the back, pull the handlebar an passed it, no problem. But the tank bag on the rack hit my but. I tought it was simply loose on the rack. So I stoped to check. But the rack was broken.





I never went down or crashed that bike, there's no scratches on it. I always carried that kind of stuffs when I go off road. On my previous adventure bikes, I carried a lot more stuffs like camping gear in more heavy conditions and never had any problem. On my GS1200, I did the White rim in Moab whit all the camping gear on the rack and I did heavy off road riding with my KTM 990R with more stuffs on the back and never had any problem.

I'll go to the dealer tomorrow to see what they think about that and see if I can have it covered by the guarantee. This is an adventure bike, not a scooter. We need to cary some stuffs when we go in remote area.

At least the fork stanchions did not come apart.

Yikes, that shouldn't happen...

Manual states max rear load is 10kg on the rear rack, so you were not outside the design parameters. The bike should certainly be built to handle the odd big pot hole while carrying gear. Perhaps there was a flaw in the plastic or maybe the basic design is lacking.

Personally, the rear rack doesn't look that strong to me and there is quite a bit of flex when you push on it. This is why I strap my tail bag to the edge of the seat when I go off road.

Good luck with the warrantee claim.

that's uncool...

you would think with all the rear rack extension plates available for adding
area to tie down stuff that if it was a design flaw that more people would
be seeing the same failure.

So I hope your dealer can warranty claim it for you.

add on's like this would make the problem much worse.

https://touratech-usa.com/Store/Zega-Pro-Topcase-Rack-Honda-Africa-Twin-CRF1000L

taking another look was the edge of your add on plate touching the area that is just above the taillight?

S10s had problems with the earlier racks, so Yamaha added steel reenforcement. AT rack looks like it could use that for insurance.

**Please bring to your dealer. I'd hate for any home remedy to slow down the changes Honda needs to make**

Sent from my SC-02H using Tapatalk

If by chance you haven't been following this thread....
http://advrider.com/index.php?threa...ed-enhancements.1171785/page-22#post-32252747

I've deleted the pictures with the additional curved brackets mounted (yellow strokes on the pics) ; But I believe the Holan frame's setup in its early version (with 2 crossbars + curved brackets) really helps in supporting the topbox load a bit more at least.

My topbox is always loaded with :

- A long U-LOCK and a rotor lock (quite heavy).
- One of my two toolboxes which is relatively heavy (more than stou's one as per the picture).
- Tyre repair spray and many other things for a total weight over stou's package configuration.

From the beginning, I've been very suspicious about this ABS rack and the very flexible side stand also btw. But so far so good and I have ridden (as a normal rider) on really destroyed tracks in Greece and in France including repeated bumps both wheels well off the ground...

@jsb223 : Already said that in the AT owner's tread. 2 ATs travelling the world have already ridden from Europe across the stans and Mongolia with Touratech topboxes well loaded, no issue. And if you look at threesomewithtwins, you'll see they are not reckless but not careful neither, normal riders who like to have fun so they are not afraid to use their bikes for what they've been build for. They've broken rear wheel bearings several times, GPS crossbar's weldings also several time but no issue at all with the rack.

It really depends on the context and how hard ones rides or how unlucky he is not to avoid a big pothole or bump but it seems stop rode under normal conditions within the load specs... We've also seen on this forum oem wheels bent over potholes so sh... happens unfortunately.

Anyhow @stou, good luck with the warranty claim. Could be a rack defeat and I hope Honda will support you.

A stainless steel replacement (aftermarket) is available. It looks way stronger then the plastic OEM rack, so at least there is a good option. Link below:
http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/1171785/

Sent from my SC-02H using Tapatalk

I have a Outback Mototek rear rack but still put my tail bag on the pillion seat as well when riding off-road. 2 gallons of gas in a Rotopax (13 lbs.) is about all I'm willing to put on that rear rack.

Thanks, I didn't saw that post. Verry interesting!

Maybe! See those pictures of the broken parts. Both side are broke in the very same way.









By the way, the small plate I did on the rack, is for a Givi mounting plate. I use a small 33 liter Givi top case to go to work down town. I ride off road with the Givi box, it's too shaky

Unfortunately (or not) you do not fall under the jurisdiction of the US National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) - I don't know if there is a similar government organization in Canada. If this was in the US, if the NHTSA gets enough of these reports (the issue is putting the passenger at risk because the expected use of the handles is that they maintain sufficient integrity / load-bearing capability to give the passenger a means to maintain balance, seating position, etc.), it will trigger an investigation, and in the best case (for us, not Honda) it will result in a product recall where Honda is then on the hook to provide a redesigned part or reinforcement for all bikes sold, to be sold, and possibly reimburse owners who have purchased replacement parts. Transport Canada, perhaps?

A plastic rack on an Adventure Bike is simply a cheap way out for the manufacturer. Hell, even my old bare-bones KLR had a cast metal rack with a plastic center.

These bikes should be built with a stainless steel rack, period. I hope Honda at least replaces it for you, though I wouldn't hold my breath. Good luck.

But while it looks like a nice rack and a good way to get rid of the grab handles, they don't claim it's any stronger. See the post below.

That said, I would expect it is stronger and wouldn't break suddenly without warning.
I've only heard of two OEM racks breaking though.

I'd like it if it just got rid of those stupid grab handles.

Too bad Kawi didn't give the KLR a better MAIN frame. I've seen them snap like a twig.

Sent from my SC-02H using Tapatalk

Yeah, I really don't miss the KLR

Seeing as how they mention overloaded top boxes, I can see why they won't go down that road. ''You said it's stronger, so I went past the OEM rating and it broke'' There are always those in the crowd who will regard it as super rack and will find out 'how much stronger' when they reach the breaking point.

Sent from my SC-02H using Tapatalk

It broke where I thought this bracket might. It is unusual, but one of the reasons why I am swapping out the rear bracket for a stainless steel one. Not withstanding the caveat by the makers of the stainless steel one, once I have received it I will make further modifications to it to strengthen it. I am to travel two up and place more than 10 kgs of weight on the top bracket.

Yeah, I understand the CYA aspect of it. Just mentioning that they don't claim greater strength.