550 Seca Luggage Rack w/pics

Sometime last summer, a Seca 550 "sport rack" began showing up on eBay. The guy wanted $80 to start, I knew it wasn't a real Yamaha accessory, so I asked him about it. He said it was made by GSM (still making automotive luggage racks today) back in the day. I offered him $60 and he said no. His auction ended, it didn't sell. It popped back up and sold for $81 a few weeks later. Then ANOTHER one popped up, same seller, at $80 with a "best offer" option (with $15 shipping.) So I offered him $60 again. He counter-offered $75 plus shipping. I said $75 SHIPPED and he went for it. So I got it for $60 after all. Here it is, the jury's still out. (It's not bolted down, just "fitted.") Needs touching up, or sanding and repainting with epoxy paint. My biggest gripe is the frame mounting tabs apparently INTENTIONALLY don't line up and will require a couple of flat "links" to attach. (See pic #5.) I might hide that bolt with a reflector, or re-engineer those mounting points altogether. I'm still not sure if it really fits or screws up the lines of the bike. Trying to decide between permanent mounting status or temporary use. See what you think, I believe he's got another one listed again.

 

I like the look but it appears it will be of limited utility.

 

Yeah that too.

 

Fitz, it may be me (probably is) but from the pictures it almost looks like the arms extending to the forward mount have been bent straight somewhat....

Those arms dont really follow the lines of the seat, but maybe its supposed to follow the line of the fender. Just thought Id put my devalued .02 in.

 

Limited use yes, but I think it would be perfect for strapping a backpack down. Or a gas can (I got the privilage of riding on the back of an '04 Shadow awhile back... to go buy a gas can and some gas, 300miles from home.)

 

We can still buy stuff like that new from the maufacturer
Last one I bought for my 1983 Suzuki Katana was about $160NZD so about
$88USD

They still list them for most of the XJ range including the 550

http://www.ventura-bike.com/imagedetail ... =packrack1
http://www.ventura-bike.com/imagedetail ... sportrack1

 

That is a NEAT system and there is a US distributor listed on their site. Listings for nearly ALL the XJs. Thanks a bunch.

 

I love it! I am thinking of making a similar one for my 750 Seca. My plan is to extend it so it overhangs the back a bit more to make it more utilitarian and also add a small back rest to make it more comfortable for my wife. But I think yours is awesome and fits the bike's lines real nice. I rate it a ten for COOL factor!

 

Hey Brian! I like the rack
Did you ask the seller about the tabs not lining up properly?
Almost looks like they were put on upside down.

 

Question, Can you lift the back of the rack so that the mounting holes in the rack line up with the holes in the frame? If so, is there a gap between the frame holes and rack holes?

I have a rack on my Seca 550 that uses spacers between the rear mounting holes and the holes in the frame.

 

No, the rack would be at a ridiculous "up angle" if lifted up that far. The holes are over an inch apart. The rack you have is a "real" Yamaha rack, I had them on my SR500s. (Please see if you can find a part number on it for me if you would.) I think the mounting tabs were a manufacturing concession by the cottage industry company that made the rack. There was no hardware included, but from the way everything lines up it's clear their mounting harware would have included a couple of plates to bridge the gap.

UPDATE: I got the rack powder coated in "mirror black" and it really looks nice. I'm going to hide the mounting tabs with reflectors, so it'll look like they're there for a reason. I'll be posting updated pics in the next couple days.

 

Actually, my rack is a tad different. It's not a sport rack, and it's not a Yamaha. I forgot the brand name.

 

nice rack fitz *wink, wink* just kidding, looks good tho i like the size and that it doesn't stick out the back but then i prefer that type of "clean" look

 

Fitz. I'd love to have a rack like that made for my bike, only with the mounting holes lining up. Let me know if you ever have someone duplicate a proper fitting rack.

 

OK, as I said, I went ahead and got it powder coated and what a difference that made. I had seriously considered lopping off the mounting ears and getting a pair of short tubes welded in their place that lined up with the holes, like the original Genuine Yamaha accessory. A fellow backyard engineer and old bike enthusiast studied the the thing with me and we came to the conclusion that doing that could quite possibly compromise the strength of the unit. It's pretty obvious what the original maufacturer had intended, so I'm just going to install small round red OE-looking reflectors there. It's a keeper; pardon the garage clutter and the scruffy, faded tailsection (it's getting swapped with a better one...)

 

pjb03 - that looks like a perfect match for a luggage rack that I'd like to put on my Seca. Any chance you could dig up the info on it?

 

Nice rack!
(Get your mind out of the gutter now!)

Just out of curiosity, how much did it cost to get it powder coated?

 

Fitz since you are keeping the tabs how are you going to secure the back? Looks like you just have zip tie in the pictures, I assume that is not the final solution.

 

$50, it would have been less but it was originally powder-coated (20+ years ago) and that coating apparently took some doing to remove. The difference is incredible!

With "links" that simply duplicate the original factory mounting tabs but move the holes down 1 1/4". I plan to conceal the bolt heads with reflectors if they're too obtrusive. We'll see, since I will be using black hardware. Zip ties were to hold it in position to engineer the rest of the hardware.

 

The rack was made by a company called Aschco. The model number is YMK-68.

The sissy bar was made by KG engineering. The model number is P-4/P-7.

This info is from the original instruction sheets dated 11/26/80 and 1/19/81.

It may be a tough find. The Ascheco rack is for a Seca 550 only.

 

Mine is from GSM (it had a little "logo" tag on it) also from back in the day. Unfortunately, the eBay seller didn't have any luxury items like mounting hardware or an instruction sheet.

 

LOL.Who needs that stuff anyways

 

Looks great to me!