Hepco & Becker Luggage Installed

[zbillster_imp]

Bought my 2014 blackie off craigslist on Thursday ... the seller emails me Friday:

HE: "Hey, I got this Hepco & Becker rear rack new in the box I can sell you if you're interested?"

ME: "Um ... (checking prices online) ... how much?"

HE: "$150."

ME: "Um ... yeah!!!"

I put it on today. Just some tips, some of them obvious:
1. Take the seat off (silly me forgot and wonder why I was struggling).
2. I did one side bolt at a time ... front first, rear last (catch that inside nut as it falls off the stock rear).
3. The 3-piece design is genius, because you can keep everything loose and shimmy everything straight into place before the final lockdown.
4. Socks over the turn signals to protect them from scratches.
5. The only tricky part I had was getting a purchase on the inside hex nut on the rear side bolts. None of my wrenches/spanners, box or socket, fit inside that small space between the frame and fender. So what I did was use a mirror (or the shiny chrome rear fender) to line up the hex nut's points at 12 and 6, slip a needlenose pliers in to grip the side flats (a good, solid grip before you start), and held the nut that way while I tightened the allen from the other side. See photo.

Makes a nice "Oh, excrement" grab rail and rear safety catch for a passenger. Will probably keep a sliced rubber bicycle grip and zip ties in the storage bin for the back rail so the passenger doesn't hurt his/her back.

Matching H&B top box next on the list ... love how it locks on and off!