wtf moment with Hepco Becker...SOLVED

[chuck peterson]

new HB sideracks on a smallblock, and like the advertising said, I believed i could use ANY HB bag...ordered a nice used set of 40L HBs...open the shipping box, snug them into the racks, and no go...it looks like these bags need a larger opening in the rack at the latch end...and the cross piece between the two sides fouls the latch...makes these bags unusable on these racks

tried a search, but got lots of comments about 30 vs 40, with no complaints about my problem...has HB changed the opening size on their racks?

Thanks for any knowledge.

These bags, by the way, have the removable panels that can be plasticoated, if that makes any difference

[BigDave in PA]

Are you sure your cross brace is installed correctly?  I have a set of 30s and a set of 40s. They interchange between the racks.

[Arizona Wayne]

Maybe the used HB bags aren't really HB bags.  Do they have the HB logo on their lids?   I have both 30L & 40L HB bags and have no issues.  You do have to line things up just right to get the bags to fit.

HB used to be a different brand luggage outfit(starlit?) and the frames are the same.  All I had to do was change the latches to make my HB bags work with the older mount.

[ohiorider]

Can you scan a pic or provide a link to the model racks you have on your bike?  I have a set of 30 and 40 HB Junior bags, and either the 30 or 40L fit the same racks.  Any possibility HB makes different mounts for a newer family of bags?

[Kiwi Dave]

Can you scan a pic or provide a link to the model racks you have on your bike?  I have a set of 30 and 40 HB Junior bags, and either the 30 or 40L fit the same racks.  Any possibility HB makes different mounts for a newer family of bags?

HB make the C-bow series, which use a different mounting system, latched on by a key at the top rear of the bags.  I believe all C-bow are soft bags.

[rocker59]

Post some pix.

My money says you have the racks or latches installed incorrectly.

I have both 30L and 40L side bags that I've used on five Guzzis with no problems.

Quota, Bassa, V11 LeMans, V7 Classic, V7 Special.

Post some pix! 

[Chuck in Indiana]

Yeah, I've used various HB bags and mounts, too. "This thread is worthless without pitchers" 

[fotoguzzi]

Yeah, I've used various HB bags and mounts, too. "This thread is worthless without pitchers" 
 
name the pitcher..

[Chuck in Indiana]

Dunno. The last pitcher I followed was Carl Erskine (local boy) and that ain't him. 

[nc43bsa]

I had a few problems installing the H-B racks and luggage on my Mille because the instructions were in German, and Ich spreche kein Deutsch.


It took a few tries, and moving the license plate twice, to get the bags to latch properly.

[twowings]

Nolan Ryan?

[chuck peterson]

Okay thanks.... doesnt sound like anyone's had this problem, so it sounds like pilot error...I'll do a set of snaps

Bags have guzzi oval badges, guzzi dealer installed the racks and cross piece

[davedel44]

I always found it easier to put the front part of case in first then finesse the back us usually give the back a slight rap with the flat of my hand.

Once you do it a few times it'll become old hat.  Practice a few times with the bags empty.

Dave
Galveston

[chuck peterson]

pilot error, not a change in manufacturing...jus t needed two of these:

http://www.motomachines.com/Adapter-plate--Alu-Adapter_p_984.html

normally they come with the new bags, not the racks...I bought used bags, so didn't get the adapters...

Thanks go to Walter at Europa Meccannica out in Penn

[HDGoose]

Kewl.

[Kev m]

pilot error, not a change in manufacturing...jus t needed two of these:

http://www.motomachines.com/Adapter-plate--Alu-Adapter_p_984.html

normally they come with the new bags, not the racks...I bought used bags, so didn't get the adapters...

Thanks go to Walter at Europa Meccannica out in Penn

Ahhhh yes, a number of us have run into that before.

[oldbike54]

Nolan Ryan?

 Yeah , that's the Texas Terminator . Nicest guy off the field , nastiest competitor on .

  Dusty

[sturgeon]

pilot error, not a change in manufacturing...jus t needed two of these:

http://www.motomachines.com/Adapter-plate--Alu-Adapter_p_984.html

normally they come with the new bags, not the racks...I bought used bags, so didn't get the adapters...

Thanks go to Walter at Europa Meccannica out in Penn

Was just gonna ask. Never mind ... 

[LowRyter]

Yeah , that's the Texas Terminator . Nicest guy off the field , nastiest competitor on .

  Dusty

Met him in a hotel.  Very nice and friendly guy. Got autographs for the kids.

The year before we saw him grab Robin Ventura and throw him in a headlock after he charged the mound for being hit by a pitch. 

What a coincidence. 

[fotoguzzi]

Nolan Ryan?

no sorry, Catfish Hunter

[oldbike54]

no sorry, Catfish Hunter

 That ain't Catfish 

 Dusty

[Arizona Wayne]

Was just gonna ask. Never mind ... 

Those are the latches I had to put on my pre-HB frames to match the HB bags.   They screw right on.

[willowstreetguzziguy]

Yep it's Catfish Hunter. See the KC on the hat. He played for the Athletics when they were in Kansas City and also when they moved to Oakland in the late 60's with Charley Finley. I met Charley... A crazy guy but they won 3 World Series in 1972-1974.

[oldbike54]

Yep it's Catfish Hunter. See the KC on the hat. He played for the Athletics when they were in Kansas City and also when they moved to Oakland in the late 60's with Charley Finley. I met Charley... A crazy guy but they won 3 World Series in 1972-1974.

 Dang , you are correct sir . Never saw a pic of Catfish sans stache and was thinking the uniform was a short lived Angels unit .

 Dusty