Author Topic: Touratech Side Racks & Nomadic Top Rack Combo -- Install  (Read 1927 times)

Rusty Shovel

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Touratech Side Racks & Nomadic Top Rack Combo -- Install
« on: April 14, 2014, 07:50:48 pm »
Hey all,

Now this is my kinda day!  It's raining out, my wife's outta town, and I got all this crap to put on my bike!



I begin with the Touratech side racks.  Remove the grab handles and passenger pegs.  If your dealer didn't install the grab handles, you'll have to remove the rear fender and drill the holes yourself.  This alone should motivate ALL buyers of 690's to ask the dealer to install the grab handles.  They should do it anyway--if they don't they're just being lazy.  Also, even if you don't plan to use them, make sure they give you the passenger pegs.

It's pretty straightforward at this point. Drop in the spacers and loosely screw it all in.



Now attach the rear cross bar.



BTW: those black things on the rack are the mounts for my Pawnee Plate by Wolfman.  It's for carrying a Rotopax.  I'll go into that in another post.

Once you're to this point, the Touratech instructions will tell you to tighten all the connections.  I'm gonna install a top rack, so I leave them all loose.

The Nomadic Rack is actually two pieces; a small bracket bolts to the bottom of the main rack.  Leave these bolts loose until everything else is done.  Once the plate is assembled loosely, remove the bolts from the top holes of the Touratech rack.  Place the Nomadic Rack atop the Touratech rack and align the holes.  Goo the bolt up with locktite and secure the top rack directly atop the Touratech rack.  It fits like they were made for each other.







Everything feels very solid. In fact, it feels like a roll cage for the bike.  I wouldn't hesitate using this rack as a grab handle or a tie-down.  Despite being made of stainless steel, the side racks seem very light.  Conversely, despite being made of aluminum, the top rack feels a bit heavy.  The installation was straightforward and the mounting hardware seems high-quality.  I look forward to mounting a set of Wolfman Expedition bags on this and exploring Canada this summer.
D==[#)
2014 KTM 690 Enduro R

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Philip Pino

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I'm about to do the same setup.  How is the rear rack holding up? How much weight have you put on it?

Thanks.
'14, 690 Enduro R

Rusty Shovel

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The rear rack has remained solid.  I've taken the entire setup camping with a pair of fully loaded Wolfman Expedition bags, 2 gallon Rotopax, and my trusty walmart lunchbox on the tail rack (probably about 50 lbs) with no issues.

I take that back, I have had one issue.  I went to Big Bend with a fully fueled Rotopax and after a couple of days of hard riding I noticed that two of the bracket mounts for the Rotopax holder had broken.  I'm gonna call Rotopax and see if they'll send me some beefier brackets.

The racks have all been solid.  If fact, the Touratech rack has been forced into roll cage duty and has done well.

I'll get some photos of the broken brackets up soon.
D==[#)
2014 KTM 690 Enduro R

Philip Pino

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Awesome.  My luggage racks came in yesterday.  I actually ordered the KTM version which is identical to the Touratech in design, but painted black.  Its probably made by Touratech for KTM.  I'm not sure it's stainless steal though.  I pick up the Nomadic rack today.  For me, they are a local company.

Thanks for info.  I love this forum. No nonsense and everybody stays on topic. No sidetracks.
'14, 690 Enduro R

RiverRunner

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Has anyone used these racks for an extended period of time?  Will they hold up on washboard roads / offroad carrying a load of 2 gallons of fuel on each side for example?

I wonder about metal fatigue on the tabs where the racks connect to the bike frame.

Please tell me they have this sorted out, because they look really nice and would solve the fuel capacity problem very nicely.

Rusty Shovel

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I PUNISHED this rack at Big Bend National Park while carrying a 2 gallon rotopax.  The rack itself held up without complaint.  The Wolfman rotopax bracket, on the other hand, broke two of it's mounting points.  I'll supply pics soon.  The side racks and top rack are proven solid!
D==[#)
2014 KTM 690 Enduro R

RiverRunner

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Rusty,

How long have you been running these racks?  I'd sure like to hear from someone who has say a year on them carrying a load.

Thanks.

Rusty Shovel

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Rusty,

How long have you been running these racks?  I'd sure like to hear from someone who has say a year on them carrying a load.

Thanks.

I've been running them since April of last year with nary a hiccup.
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RiverRunner

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Thanks - Sounds like you would have flushed out any problems if they were going to develop.

Cool!