The CB1100 Community Forum

Don't think I shared my pannier setup, so here it is. Maybe somebody else has been thinking about this type of setup.

The bike had a standard Honda rear rack, but it's not suitable for the SW-Motech setup as-is.

I came across (around $30 as I recall) the SW-Motech Suzuki DL-650 rear plate with the proper setup for Trax panniers. The plate had the essential hole spacing, mounting washers, etc., that I needed to match the Trax boxes.

The only problem with this is that particular rack does not fit on the Honda rear rack, it's designed for a completely different bike. But after eye-balling it online, I ordered it anyway. At that price, I figured I could fabricate a new rear rack from plate aluminum to mount to the Honda rack rear bars.

I bought a heavy sheet of aluminum for $20 and cut out the shape I needed, ground down the edges and drilled the holes to mount this to the Honda rack. I then drilled bolt holes to put the Suzuki plate onto the rack and put everything together with loctite. I was very happy with the results.



I also got lucky and found the SW-Motech side pannier racks on clearance for the CB1100. Those were the design I wanted and needed.



I also found the Trax trunk and side panniers used in a nearby town, so that saved me quite a bit. All told, the racks, mounts, bags cost less then half the price of new, maybe only 1/3 their cost.







The rear trunk sits level in relation to the side panniers (which cannot be adjusted), and I could put spacers on the rear rack plate to tip the trunk forward, but doubt that I will (I don't see the need). It's also way easier to load and unload the way it sits.

This is actually my very first pannier setup, I've always owned "naked bikes" and none out of 20 or 30 or whatever the actual number was had panniers.

I've taken this down our dirt road unloaded and there is virtually no rattles or sounds coming from any of the luggage, so I'm pretty happy with that. All the locks, releases, etc., all work too, so they can be quickly taken off the bike if desired.

Other mods done was MRA windshield, driving light, flashing rear tail light, LED headlight, SW-Motech engine guards, front mud flap, Corbin seat and Arrow exhaust.

That looks great Nightengale. Well done.

Good job Nightengale. You may even be able to blend in nicely with the Beamer riding community.

Agree with Cormanus, good job

Looks sharp and tight--ready for a long trip.

This looks amazing and I absolutely want to copy your setup. Do you happen to have the part numbers for the parts?

No, not really. Parts were ordered from Twisted Throttle and others. You'd get the panniers, side racks and possibly the rear mounting plate from Twisted, you just need to be sure that whatever side racks you get match the mounting points for your panniers.

The rear rack for the trunk definitely isn't the right one for a Honda - but it wasn't hard to make it work by putting down the aluminum plate underneath it. You do have to put some thought into the room required for the seat to be removed, so after some fiddling and measurements, I picked the spot I liked and drilled the holes. The only other parts I had to fabricate were for the trunk latch to keep it locked on the rack.

Can't recall where I got the windshield, Twisted I think. The exhaust was found on Ebay. Over many months I just kept bookmarking stuff and watching out for the right deal, eventually it all came together.

I really like the space this provides, even if the bags are empty. I can keep a battery charger in their (portable power pack), spare C02, tools as needed, etc., and when I get somewhere, the helmet goes in the trunk, jacket and boots in the panniers and I can roam around without taking all that stuff with me.

I've put the stock seat back on - it actually offers a lower position then the Corbin, which I like, but I remember this seat not being too comfortable, so I'm going to consider swapping out the foam with something, maybe this winter. Also want to get a lithium battery somewhere, the stock battery is 5 years old and doesn't seem to stay charged up like it should.

Nice. What kind of seat is that; do you like it?

It's a Corbin seat, and no, it's not working out for me.

I'm not tall and it's actually designed for a taller rider. I took the bike out today for about 120 miles and rode on the stock seat again, didn't like that one either! The foam is too stiff, I was butt-numbed.

Corbin makes a great seat and if you're taller then me, you might be happy with one.