Breva 1100 / Hepco Becker Pannier Frame Question

[circlip]

I purchased a new-to-me 2006 Breva 1100 last November. Since I already own a pair of MG badged H-B Juniors, I decided that I would buy and install some H-B pannier racks and use the bags. It was finally warm in Chicagoland today, so I spent some quality time in my detached, unheated garage installing the frames. My college level German is a bit rusty after 40 years, but with the photos included in the directions, I worked out what went where. My first surprise was that not all of the washers were included. Oh well, just washers - I can deal with that. Then I noticed that the foot peg portion of the H-B brackets would beed some remedial bending. I'm less that excited about that, but I had read about the possibility on either this forum or GuzziTech. The final blow came when I realized that the top two holes in the H-B rack (on both sides) do not align with the mounting points on the Breva.

Is this normal? Has anyone else experienced this issue?

I have installed H-B brackets on three other bikes - two Triumphs and one MuZ. Those brackets all fit. What's up with H-B and Guzzi?

[jas67]

It's not uncommon for mounting holes on HB stuff to need a little tweaking.
If it is of any help, I can take some close up pictures tomorrow in the daylight of the HB mounts on my Breva 1100.

[auzziguzzi]

My HB pannier brackets were also misaligned.   Well, one needed tweaking;  the other was a perfect fit.   

They do bend quite easily and I realigned mine by inserting a length of right-sized tube through the mounting points to twist and bend them to the correct alignment.

I put it down to them being under duress during the shipping process because they arrived just bubble wrapped, with no other protection.

I like them though and have a set fitted to both my Norge and Breva 1100.    Most of the time, I use them with a set of throw-over panniers which I find much better than hard-panniers when travelling on corrugated surfaces and rough roads.

John.

[circlip]

Thanks for the info. I am talking to Moto Machines, the US Hepco importer. It may not change anything, but at least they will be aware that there are some issues with the racks.