Luggage Rack Mounting Points

[danny01975]

82 GS1100GK. Completely de-k'd, so I don't have any of the original luggage hardware. I did procure an OE luggage rack but I think I'm missing some mounting hardware. It look like the front mounting points have tangs that slide onto the upper shock mounts. And there's a bolt hole about 6" behind that which lines up with a point on the frame. Problem is, this doesn't provide enough support for anything to be placed on the rack of any weight. There must be some kind of bracket closer to the back of the bike.

I did look up the parts diagram for the luggage rack. I think maybe it's parts 12 & 13, but I'm not sure as it doesn't show how it mounts to the bike.
Screenshot 2025-10-02 091946.png
Anyone have any photos or know how and where it mounts to the bike.

[Grimly]

Pretty much the same family of frame as mine.
At the back of each of the main frame rails there's a lug pointing downwards which has an extended steel strap (basically just a length of bar) bolted on to it, so that the bottom end is presenting a hole for the middling to rear of the mounting rack to bolt to.

[danny01975]

Pretty much the same family of frame as mine.
At the back of each of the main frame rails there's a lug pointing downwards which has an extended steel strap (basically just a length of bar) bolted on to it, so that the bottom end is presenting a hole for the middling to rear of the mounting rack to bolt to.

Interesting. I don't have any downward facing lugs on the rear of the frame, but I do have an outward facing one on either side. Maybe we're talking about the same thing. I'd previously considered fabricating a strap, just like what you described, to support the back half of the rack to the frame. Sounds like that's what I need to do! Thanks!

[Redman]

82 GS1100GK. .
.
.

I did look up the parts diagram for the luggage rack. I think maybe it's parts 12 & 13, but I'm not sure as it doesn't show how it mounts to the bike.....................e.

Not recognizing that trianglualr - three lobed thing.

Just went out in the garage. Looked at my (all stock) 82 GKZ.

Huh!! Yah there it is.
Never noticed that before.
Yah, the upper rack (tail trunk and top of sidebags) bolts to that.
And lower rack (bottom of side bags) also bolts to that.

I would like to get a photo for you, but would have to dismount a side bag to get a good view (and I got some other stuff going on).

[Redman]

here is a pic that I found from some long past project on my bike.

Not the best for this discussion.
But Can see where the upper rack does go on top shock mount, behind/inside the shock.


ANd anogther, only slightly better for this conversation....

On the lower rack, the back part, where it comes up almost to the top rack - that is where it bolts to the lower portion of that trianglar three lobbed part. ANd the upper portion of the trianglular three lobed part, about there, is where the upper rack mounts to that trainglular three lobed part.

TGHe upper crash bar part of the lower rack mounts on outside of the top schock mount.
The lower crash bar part of the lower rack mounts there by rear foot peg.

THe two more obvious screw holes on the round tabs on the upper rack are for the bag mount (bolt thru back of the bag), and look somewhat the same as the two (horizontal) on lower rack (can see better in first pic) for the lower bag mount (bolt thru bottom of bag) (all four with big washers, and rubber mounts, and bushings).

I have had the lower racks off (when rear wheel off?) at times. I dont think I have had the upper rack off.
I have not noticed those trianglular three lobed parts before, and didnt know they were removable.
And (long time ago), I bought what I thought was a complete set of GK side bags, trunk and racks (still sitting in basement). BUt I didnt get those trianglular three lobed pieces.

[danny01975]

Ah, so this is where the rear upper rack mounts to the frame, via the three-lobed bracket. That's what I was looking for. This makes sense as the placement should provide the extra support needed for the weight of the trunk and cargo.

I'll need to either get two of those brackets, or just fabricate a bracket. I don't need the extra lobes as I don't have any bags or crash bars to mount so I'll probably fabricate something.

Thanks for the pics and explanation!
Screenshot 2025-10-11 at 9.12.50 AM.jpg

[Redman]

.....
Screenshot 2025-10-11 at 9.12.50 AM.jpg

Yepper, right there.

[Redman]

Will want to see pics of your GK.

[Steve]

Interesting. You have a GK that has been de-K'd, there are some of us that have Gs that we have K'd.

My example is an 850. I never knew about that triangular thing, I just used a piece of flat stock to hang the lower bracket the proper distance below the frame.

I have only seen one other example in person, his is done pretty much the same way.

If you still have the pieces from de-K-ing the bike, use the triangle. If not, just fabricate from flat stock as others have done.

.

[danny01975]

Interesting. You have a GK that has been de-K'd, there are some of us that have Gs that we have K'd.

My example is an 850. I never knew about that triangular thing, I just used a piece of flat stock to hang the lower bracket the proper distance below the frame.

I have only seen one other example in person, his is done pretty much the same way.

If you still have the pieces from de-K-ing the bike, use the triangle. If not, just fabricate from flat stock as others have done.

.

Flat stock is what I was planning to use. That was my original idea when I first mounted the rack. But I didn't do it, and I nearly broke the shock mount tabs because there wasn't enough support.

I bought the bike without all of the luggage and fairings so I don't have any of the original parts unfortunately. I had to get the tail luggage rack from a forum member.