Luggage Rack

[jmcgill89]

Would a luggage rack from a GT380 fit a GT550? I thought I was reading somewhere that the frames are smilar in size.

Thanks for any inputs!

[johnakay]

simple answer is no!
GT380


GT550

[jmcgill89]

Ugh....

Thanks for the info! Guess I'll just keep looking.

[Coyote]

Why look when John can make you one?

[jmcgill89]

Money, or lack thereof, my friend.

[H2RICK]

I have a feeling you'll be looking for a long time to find a factory rack for a 550. I started looking in 1994.....and FINALLY found a USED one on fleabay in ~2004. That was the VERY FIRST one to come up on fleabay from its beginning.......and I paid SERIOUS money for it.
THEN I had to have it rechromed when I did get it....although the seller had warned that the chrome was crappy......and that set me back half of the original purchase price.
I wish John had been in business back then. I'd have saved myself 10 years of constant searching, emails, trolling at swap meets, harrassing strangers, etc etc....and would have gotten a better built item with better chrome from John.
However, your time/mileage/price may vary.....
My .02 worth......

[johnakay]

oh I don't know about better chrome uncle Rick but thanks for the compliment.
only those who bought off me can pass their judgement as to whether my chrome is better or not.

[jmcgill89]

How much does John charge for one of those? Can't be cheap because that looks like fine craftsmanship.

[TLRam1]

How much does John charge for one of those? Can't be cheap because that looks like fine craftsmanship.

Not seeing one myself but from what I have seen, Johnny doesn't sell cheap racks for a cheap price, for that you would need cheap thin metal, cheap poorly chromed. bad welds, etc.

Johnny sells quality racks for a fair price, I think from what I have read the chrome is good, maybe not show chrome but a good job overall. Johnny makes these all by hand and hand made tools and jigs.

PM Johnny for a price on the rack you will need than you can determine what works best for you.

[johnakay]

the answer to your question on price $165 inc postage and international sign for.

Badgereplica sell these for $234 ,

I sell mine for $85 these two don't inc post!

[H2RICK]

I think from what I have read the chrome is good, maybe not show chrome but a good job overall.

Gents, you can believe me when I tell you that the "chrome" on the factory rack is crap. In fact, it gives crap a bad name.
The factory racks were probably made by an outside fabricator to Suzuki's design and had been bid/sold via a fixed price for a certain quantity.
Sooooo, the fabricator saved some nice money on the job by going the low-rent route with the plating. It LOOKED good and passed Suzuki's visual inspection on delivery, BUT......it was crap and would not last.
Going a little further with this, Suzuki probably had an unacceptable rate of warranty claims relating to the "chrome" and said "To hell with this" and made the decision not to reorder any more when the original quantity was finally sold out. By early 1977, the rack was already listed as NLA which, if you think about it, is kind of strange for a bike that was still current.
The plating on John's racks HAS to be better......just because he doesn't need/want any heartburn from fussy crybabies on fleabay.
My .02 worth....

[TLRam1]

so the answer to your question on price $124 + $39 postage this inc international sign for.

Badgereplica sell these for $234 ,

I sell mine for $85 these two don't inc post!

That's a Heck of a Deal!!! Just doesn't get any better folks!

I for one thinks he sells these to inexpensively and thinks Johnny should raise the price, Johnny has refused to do so from others saying the same. He has worked diligently getting the bends as close to originals as reasonable or making improvements in the racks.

Remember we are talking custom made New racks with New Chrome.

All he needs is exposure.

[johnakay]

thanks for the compliment Terry.
sure I could put the prices up but that's not the way I do things.
as long as I get what I considered a fair price and that I'm happy with what I get.
the only time I put up prices is when other items cost me more.,
to which I have no control.
like this government of ours has put the VAT up to 20% from 17.5%.
so likely on my next orders of tubing's etc will be higher.
so if say tubing cost $10 it doesn't mean that the tube will now cost $10.25.
there will be other factors to consider..
fuels,over heads etc this could mean an increase to me $12/$14.
then there is other consumables that I have to pay.. electrics usage,mig wire,gas's,.
also in the process of making a new type of rail or rack .I may use 2 to 3 mtrs of tubing to get the shape ,measurements etc correct.
so the new rails that I've made to get the above that I need are usually scrap.because of this any new rails or racks I add another $1 or $2 on the new rails and racks. this help to off set the cost.
I use to sell these off on eBay more often at the cost of materials and chrome.even though I was honest some punters complained..hey this not correct etc. I have stated on the eBay what faults are etc but the buggers are to lazy to read.that was a few years ago now.

I've just made 5 tank racks and these are 1/2" short to the originals.
I haven't made these in over 2 years or more.
so I'll sell these cheaper that what I would normally ask for.

OK some might say try EBAY to get the average price etc.
the trouble is there are very few rails etc ,what are on there are mostly mine
for a T500 grab rail these can sell for up to $200 or more.
so I stick my price @ $85 this is the same on all rails except the Kawasaki H1/H2c,b these are a swine to make, only need to be 1mm out and it might as well be 20mm out .even 1mm out it stand out a mile when fitted to my jig.
the time it takes me to make one I could make 2.5 T500 g/rail.
in other words 5 t500 to 2 h2..
the H1/H2 I sell to Jess bikes USA.he buys off me regularly.
I've sold one of these last year for just over $240! but that's the only time.
I think a Swedish guy bought it.
the Dane's/Swedish and some times the German's folks are quite happy to pay silly money.
I use to have them on buy it now and could be sold with in an hour or two and not giving others a chance.
so I stopped doing it and put the start bid at what I will accept and more often than not I get more!
anyway I'll stop now before this turns into a book!

oh and I've sold several rails and racks to the Japanese now what does that tell ya

[h2okettle]

I have one of Johnnys racks that I bought for my Honda CB350-4 I had.. The quality is great. I was very happy with it.. I will be ordering a rack for my 71 Honda CB450 when it gets closer to being done.. I know I should not use the H* word on this board, but I was just letting you know my opinion of his work.. I do also have a GT750 rack.. Thanks again Johnny..

Allen.... Still smoking..... CCI !!

[husson73]

just for saying Johnakay racks are quality: have one on my H2A