Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

I just bought a Ventura rack and 51 litre bag for my 2010 zx10 so me and the misses can go touring next week through the alpine ranges and gippsland. Upon reading the instructions on fitting it says it must not be used with a pillion because the rear sub frame is too light and may result in failure.

Does any one have any experience with this rack and bike combo? Is the sub frame that piss week ? What should I do ? I don't think I can carry all the gear on my back for 1500kms. I reckon the bag will weigh about 10kgs loaded and my girlfriend is about 65kgs.

Help please.....and no I can't just upgrade to a smaller girlfriend

Doesn't make a lot of sense. Does Kawasaki put a weight limit on how heavy a pillion can be?

My ventura instructions said the same thing (2010 ZX6R). However according to the owners manual rider + pillion + luggage ok up to 180kg so I reckon you'll be right

FWIW I reckon my ventura bag is up around 20kg when its fully loaded and I bounced it across some terribly bumpy roads over xmas... I snapped a number plate and lost a rego label but the subframe and ventura rack are fine!

I think as long as she doesn't push back on the rack or use it as a back rest it will be fine. The last rack I had said same thing although I wasn't doubling. The seating position for the pillion on a 10 really makes you sit forward anyway.

BlackRabbit wrote:I just bought a Ventura rack and 51 litre bag for my 2010 zx10 so me and the misses can go touring next week through the alpine ranges and gippsland. Upon reading the instructions on fitting it says it must not be used with a pillion because the rear sub frame is too light and may result in failure.

Does any one have any experience with this rack and bike combo? Is the sub frame that piss week ? What should I do ? I don't think I can carry all the gear on my back for 1500kms. I reckon the bag will weigh about 10kgs loaded and my girlfriend is about 65kgs.

Help please.....and no I can't just upgrade to a smaller girlfriend

I have the same instructions with the Ventura bag on the 12R...
its there to warn the pillion NOT to use the rack frame as a backrest...which puts stress on the mounting (on the bikes subframe)

the frame will easily hold the bag (even when full of stuff) and as long as your pillion does not nod off......

All Ventura racks come with the warning that it is not to be used as a back rest.

If anyone has seen a zx10r or zx6r rear subframe, They will know why that Ventura rack comes with an EXTRA warning.

You reckon the actual sub frame is strong enough though. It's not gonna crack or collapse ? She won't be leaning on it, just sitting there holding on

BlackRabbit wrote:You reckon the actual sub frame is strong enough though. It's not gonna crack or collapse ? She won't be leaning on it, just sitting there holding on

The main sub frame is as solid as. The second subframe the rack and pillion will be suported by is piss week.

I think they put the warning there, so 2 big units don't try and pillion each other with 2 cartons of vb in the bag.

i Reckon your misses is game doing 1,500 ks on the back of a ten Bag and pillion on a ten equals not a lot of front tyre wear

Thanks heaps guys. I'll start drilling her tonight and fitting it out. If it shits it self I'll go the warranty route.

Ps. Any precautions or supplies needed for 1500 Kms. Puncture kit, extra tools etc???

BlackRabbit wrote:Thanks heaps guys. I'll start drilling her tonight and fitting it out. If it shits it self I'll go the warranty route.

Ps. Any precautions or supplies needed for 1500 Kms. Puncture kit, extra tools etc???

Wheely bars and a hot bath and/or massage for the misses every 200k's

Yeah tubeless repair kit, bike pump and a first aid kit.
Get the mrs an air hawk.

Wattie wrote:I think they put the warning there, so 2 big units don't try and pillion each other with 2 cartons of vb in the bag.

Been done many times

Back on the pissy little ten's again!