Hepco Becker Cali Stone Mistake?

[Bpreynolds2]

Hey all, I’ve owned a lot of HB stuff in the past and I really like it.  I just again ordered a new side carrier rack from Moto Machines, getting it in this week (took 3-4 weeks from Germany) only to find they have, I’m pretty sure, the wrong rack listed even on their website.  Maybe someone can help conform this?  It’s not MM’s fault; rather, it’s actually HB’s fault as they have this same part (I ordered rack 650.527 00 02) which says it is for a California Stone - on their German site it says fits “2001-2005”; however, the pictures show either a Jackal or an ‘02 Stone.  They show the top “arm” of the rack bolting up to the underside of the top frame rail.  If I recall correctly, my former Jackal had this hole but my ‘03 Stone does not. 
https://www.hepco-becker.de/en/sidecarrier-permanent-mounted-chrome-for-moto-guzzi-california-stone.html
The listing they show for a Cali Aluminum show the side carrier rack bolting up to where it would bolt up to on my ‘03.
https://www.hepco-becker.de/en/sidecarrier-permanent-mounted-chrome-for-moto-guzzi-california-special-sport-aluminium-titanium.html
Looking at frame pictures on ebay it is pretty clear that earlier Calis, prior to ‘03, had that hole but a frame listing for an ‘03 Stone clearly shows it does not.

Pic here of my upper top rail and rack where it “would” bolt up if it had a hole there like on earlier Cali models; my ‘03 does not have a hole there.




Here are a several pics from frames on ebay showing that hole and an ‘03 Stone frame without them

[StuCorpe]

I don't know about the Stone but that is the way the brackets are on my 03 California

[Joliet Jim]

The one's that have been on my 01/02 Stone for over 20 years are black and hook up like the second one listed but do not have the rear crossbar. My frame has the bolts in the bottom of the frame that look like bungee attachments.

[Bpreynolds2]

Typically on later model Calis like the 2 touring stones i had previously the rack would hook up at the top on the fender hole/very end of the frame arm. 

[ccoli]

Onr main difference is that the rear fender fits inside the frame rails on the EV up till they changed it to the later Bassa style fender which fits over the frame rails.
I have a new in the box set of 40l bags with the mounts for the early version,  but it claims to be for a 2010 California Classic whatever that might be. Don't think it's for a CalVin,  maybe a Black Eagle?
Part # GU03480050
Ps only see the links in initial post not attached photos.

[Bpreynolds2]

Kicking this back up to request a photo or two from someone who owns the earlier version of the Cali Stone or the Jackal (2 piece seat) send me a close up photo of the underside of your top frame rail showing the hole there that is absent on my later model Cali?  Moto Machines is working with Hepco to get this straightened out but it would be helpful to show them close up the difference where Guzzi had hole there on earlier models.  I again post these below showing where that hole is on the earlier frame and where it is NOT on my ‘03 version.  Having a close up shot of that hole would help in providing example for why this rack that fits the earlier model will not fit the later model. 









As a sidebar, if I just wanted to diy a solution I suppose I could just drill my own hole through the frame rail to then bolt up to the top arm of the rack.  Or, maybe I could just use a small stainless steel zip tie to go around the rail and through the rack arm hole; however, I’m not sure how “stable” nor permanent that would be especially under load.

[Bpreynolds2]

As a further example here of my latter diy mention above, I would be talking about possibly putting a stainless zip tie here around the frame and through the rack mount hole.  Obviously, I’d be a little worried about stability but there is also the stabilizer bar in the rear that runs across the rear fender under the tail light setup, so I suppose that would offer some support maybe?  This top mount arm of the rack is really just to provide additional support to keep the rack from traveling left to right/vice-versa when under load.  This is already somewhat prevented by the general sturdiness of the rack itself so I’m not sure if would matter so much that a metal zip tie here in this specific location would not be “as” sturdy obviously as bolting up to the frame. 




Again, opinions?  I’m only considering this because hey, if I send this back it’s going to be weeks and weeks waiting for HB to send an options that does bolt up “IF” one is even available.  They no longer produce the Stone Touring side carrier that was provided to Guzzi for the OEM setup on Stone Touring models.  This being said, it would appear that maybe this one from

I’m only considering this because hey, if I send this back it’s going to be weeks and weeks waiting for HB to send another option if one is even available.  They no longer produce the Stone Touring side carrier that was provided to Guzzi for the OEM setup on Stone Touring models.  This being said it would appear that the Black Eagle side carrier might work as it bolts up to the rear end frame fender bolt (and not the underside of the frame) but I’m not sure the Eagle and the Stone share the same geometry per se for the rack holes to be direct fit.  I assume they would, but…
https://www.motomachines.com/hepco-becker-side-carrier-moto-guzzi-california-aquila-nera

[Joliet Jim]

ok pics from my 02, these racks were free to compensate for blistering engine paint about 22 years old. Not sure why it was so wide that I needed additional spacers and long bolts but needed to clear the shocks.

[Bpreynolds2]

ok pics from my 02, these racks were free to compensate for blistering engine paint about 22 years old. Not sure why it was so wide that I needed additional spacers and long bolts but needed to clear the shocks.

Hey Jim, thanks for sending this but these photos are actually of the rack that I wish Hepco still made instead of the one they produce now and market as fitting all the Stones (2002-2004).  That is the same rack I also had on my two previous Cali Stone models; however, the rack Hepco sent me as you can see is supposed to bolt up to the underside of the top frame rail. 

[jcctx]

Couple short sections of "plumber's" tape solves the problem! Paint 'em black!!

[Joliet Jim]

I remember with those parts they all had different numbers than the Jackal parts though they were identical. According to HB at the time they were not interchangeable.

[John Croucher]

Put a "U" bolt around the frame and use one side of the u bolt leg to go through the bracket.  One on each side.  Ace is the place for hardware.

[Bpreynolds2]

Nobody is/was asking for an update on this but Hepco never could confirm what specific rack they still manufacture - they no longer produce the own ones that came stock with the Stone Touring models - that would fit my ‘03 Stone and after much back and forth and time, just wound up sending the racks back to MM for a refund.  I did workshop some diy ideas posted in this thread but none would have been seamless.  I’ll be posting a wtb thread for a used set of these in flea. 

[Gwilliam]

I have an 80th Anniversary 2001 California Stone in the UK, although I understand that the Stone wasn't released in the USA until 2002.
Mine has solid lifters rather than hydraulic, so I assume that the factory were using up items left from the Jackal production line.

I have retro fitted a luggage rack with backrest to the rear seat and a pair of used Hepco Becker brackets for a pair of their side cases as per the photos.





You can clearly see that the brackets bolt up under the frame on this 2001 model.