Opinions wanted

[Boriqua]

I know everyone has a different flavor ice cream they like but .. I have a non conundrum I would like opinions on. I bought the bike and it came with a rack, box and sissy bar. You will notice its going on a tow .. Thank you again GS forum for helping me to get it operational. This was the day I bought it.



The box left immediately .. I mean its at least 1/3 the size of the bike.

So while I dont like sissy bars my wife was pretty stoked that I got a bike that had one included so I left it on.



But it wore on my nerves and I eventually removed it



Alright feeling much better but the luggage rack is chipping and rusting in spots and while it was very very useful it needs paint or something or ... maybe it just needs to go away.

So off it came today. I have to say .. I like the look without the rack but the rack has been useful. It weighs a ton but I ride like an old man ... because Im old.





SOoooooooo What do you think .. dont try and think what I think .. just your open and honest opinion ..

Leave the rack off

Have someone powder coat it Black

or

Have someone Chrome plate it??

I kinda maybe think if it were chrome plated I could live with it and it might look ok and be durable .. but .. the bike sure looks nice without a rack ??

So what say you?
Alex

[dweller]

Leave the rack off.

[Burque73]

I'll admit I love the look of a clean stock classic GS without fairings, racks, bags etc. The fact of the matter is for me that it becomes less of a useful vehicle. I compromise fashion for function. Often times I'll look at my 850 and want to pull all of that stuff off, but it's so useful! I've hauled all sorts of things on that rear rack.

If it's simply looks you're then heck yeah, leave it off. The firs time your wife sends you a text asking to grab a gallon of milk on your way home you may reconsider having it though.

[Redman]

Alex,

Certainly a sharp looking E there in it's stock setup.
Yah, that trunk looked out-of-place on that bike.

Perhaps that should be your vintage stock bike .... and you need another bike that is more of a long distance traveling setup. har har har

[GS1150Pilot]

Leave it bare. GREAT looking bike!

[dorkburger]

Opinions? Here?..... your bike looks best sans rack, BUT if having it allows you to take the bike for small packages instead of the car, the visual trade off is worth it. Plus you can?t see it while riding. Long ago I found a way to quickly strap on one of my saddle bags to the seat. Good for a quick jaunt out for small things. If you keep the rack, I think black is better, but I?m a minimal chrome kind of guy.

[wacky941]

Me personally, I prefer the way it looks bare however, as Roger said, the rack and backrest come in very handy at times so, I think that because they were with the bike when it came along, I would have it chromed and reinstall it. The only thing that would not go back on is the box, that thing would be donated or given to someone here who wanted it.

By the way, really good looking bike you got there.

[alke46]

Same from me. Bare bike looks best but just isn't very functional for daily chores. I am dealing with the same thing with my GS. Only way I have of carrying anything is in the tank bag. It works but has it's limits.

[bonanzadave]

It killed me to put a rack on my E. But I didn't feel comfortable with a passenger on back without it. I also found a sporty Eclipse soft pack that matched my side bags. It really comes in handy for hauling small stuff and a lot more streamline than the side bags. Id show you a pic but I have not gotten past the photobucket melt down.....

[Mosquito13]

bungie a orange crate on it or remove it.

[Guest]

Bye.
....and take that brace/mount with you !

[Steve]

If it was MY bike, I would take off the trunk, leave the rack and back rest, then paint it to get rid of the red. It looks OK on YOUR bike, but no red for me.

That trunk looked very functional, but was not very pleasing to the eye. The rack and backrest, though, are worth their weight in gold for passenger and cargo carrying. How much do you value your wife's companionship on a ride? Without the backrest, she may not want to go with you as much. (Maybe that's your goal? ) The rack is just too functional to get rid of it. And personally, I would not consider that backrest a "sissy bar". It is just a nice, low backrest. A "sissy bar" goes up over twice as high as that one, and is usually more pointed at the top.

That's my opinion, but you asked for it.

.

[GSXR7ED]

I agree with Steve...keep the rack and mini backrest...so you're wife can enjoy rides...but 86 the trunk, it is an eye sore.


Ed

[thebrandonbeezy]

I mean how hard is it to remove and install? I like it with out, but i like the functionality of it too... i have one for my 1000g i may install from time to time like when traveling and such

[thebrandonbeezy]

What i was getting at is, install when needed