Pics of my Motorcycle rack on the KJ

Spike6901 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 15, 2007 8:31 am

Here is my first fitup of the rack with my bike on it. Obivously, I need to trim off the receiver bar about a foot and add reinforcement to the tie down points. It apears to be bending in the center of the channel but when I welded the gusset to the bottom I overheated the steel a little and it warped....I am an amature. The KJ barely even squats with the bike on there.

I will repost as I make progress. So far, the total cost for this has been $15 in scrap steel.

BVCRD · **Posted:** Thu Mar 15, 2007 8:43 am

Pretty nice. You've had some storms.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:25 am

I would either triangulate or gusset from the center to the outer edges of the MC Carrier...Two nice flat pieces of triangle steel that could double as a platform to carry fuel cans would work (behind the bike) and then two braces (triangle) from the rack to the tie downs.

The other thing I might do is angle up the outside tiedown metal so it doesn't protrude "out" so far...

Looking Good tho

Maybe paint the KJ the same color "Green" :wink:

ratmloud · **Posted:** Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:06 am

91 kx 125?

FastTRX · **Posted:** Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:34 am

You're missing a front number plate... :lol:

You got a legend! What year?

BTW...nice rack. They make them for my quad??? :lol:

Spike6901 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:28 pm

Good eye, it is a '91 KX125. I picked it up for free, pulled the engine apart, put in a forged piston, bearings and new crank seals. I just finished rebuilding the forks with new seals and fluid, brake pads and chain. All in all, I have about $250 in it. I used to ride a KTM 300 2-stroke so I did not have much of an expectation for this little 125. I was wrong. This little bike will flat stand up in 2nd gear on throttle alone.

Yeah, I gusseted the receiver tube to the channel about 8" back. I am going to triangulate the channel back to the receiver tube and maybe add a piece of expanded metal for a gas can. The angle I used for the tie points is just too flimsy and of course there is very little support in the torsional directon. I am also going to cut at least 10" off of the receiver tubing so to reduce the bending moment. I will update as I build.

ratmloud · **Posted:** Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:34 pm

Spike6901 wrote:

Good eye, it is a '91 KX125.

I have been riding and racing since 3.5 years old, and have owned way to many bikes!

here was my last bike , before hurting my knee (not bike related injury) 04 ktm450

FastTRX · **Posted:** Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:47 pm

ratmloud wrote:

Spike6901 wrote:

Good eye, it is a '91 KX125.

I have been riding and racing since 3.5 years old, and have owned way to many bikes!

here was my last bike , before hurting my knee (not bike related injury) 04 ktm450

I'm guessing you ride woods? You race harescrambles and XC?

ratmloud · **Posted:** Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:52 pm

I raced N.E.T.R.A harescrambles and would ride any nasty tight woods I could find!

heres my 04 kx250f

Spike6901 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 15, 2007 3:18 pm

Nice bike, man....very nice.

KTM is my favoriate, no contest and I have been in the saddle for about 20 years now. I did a little motorcross racing until I broke my back so that ended there, lol. Since then, I have broken both arms more than once so my days of air time are done for my own health. This little 125 is just to keep me in practice until I can afford a real one.

My dream bike is the KTM 525 EXC or an XR650L dual purpose bikes. I dream of multi-week rides around the country with nothing but what I can carry to get me through.

ratmloud · **Posted:** Thu Mar 15, 2007 3:31 pm

I was thinking ktm300 but right now if I was going to get a bike, I would like to pick up a 07 yz or wr 250 and give that a whirl.

FastTRX · **Posted:** Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:15 pm

I'm more of a quad guy myself but I know and ride with alot of bike guys. My dad rode bikes too....

Here's my 06' TRX450ER...I race the WPSA ATV MX series nationally. Basically where all my money goes...and NOT in my KJ... :lol:

We're in the process of building another 07' (white) currently for this race season. Opening round starts in GA in April. Cant wait.

Spike6901 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:05 am

Yeah, I have been wanting to get into quads. I thought about selling the 125 and getting a quad but it just isn't worth a lot of dough. My neighbor rides a 250 2-stroke quad, complete with a soft ice chest containing beer. He he, beer and bikes are just not a good idea but beer and quads is only slightly stupid :wink:

FastTRX · **Posted:** Fri Mar 16, 2007 10:05 am

I like my 4-stroker. You can't beat the power. I rode a 2-stroke for three years before I started riding my 450s and I would NEVER go back!!

The 250R is legendary..if thats the quad that your neighbor has that you speak of. They used to be the only race oriented bike availiable. There was a dead period for a while and then the factories have jumped head over heels into the ATV racing world and have ALL produced 450 4-stroke race bikes. Viva La Revolution!!! :lol:

Quads are loads of fun but alot more expensive to build and maintain than a bike...

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Fri Mar 16, 2007 12:00 pm

Check the weight rating of your rear tires, springs etc. When you hang something on the back, behind the rear axel you have a weight shift from the front to the back.

Weight of bike + weight of bike rack + 1/3 of that total is shifted to the back. Here is what I'm saying: 300lb. bike + 200lb. rack + 166lb. =666lbs. added to your back end. It also can effect your steering and handling because there is less weight up front.

Terry

Spike6901 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 16, 2007 3:22 pm

Good point and I did consider that. The bike weighs 200-225lbs wet and the rack will probalby weigh about 50-60lbs when I am done. Even it it weighed 100, I would be withing the ratings of the hitch and tires. I have figured on a max of about 450lbs safely so I should be good.

I towed a tandem axle trailer with a huge tounge weight that two beafy guys could not lift once and with the suspension lift. I was very careful but the ole KJ didn't squat more than a couple of inches and did fine. The trailer had to have weighed close to 5k lbs too. I sure didn't like it but the little Jeep did great.

jarvis · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:54 am

Be careful... total weight is not the only consideration. Tongue weight is also important, and it is magnified by the length your hitch sticks out rearward (longer torque arm).

Do a search on the equipment forum of www.advrider.com for hitch and carrier to find more information.

Spike6901 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:28 am

Thanks for the comment on the weight. :lol:

I am a mechanical engineer so have actually done the moment arm and deflection calcualtions on the receiver tubing along with impact factors. Now, let me step off of my 'I am important box' LOL. :shock:

jaysus · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2007 11:36 am

great idea - looks sharp too.

Prest989 · **Joined:** Fri Mar 16, 2007 1:08 pm **Posts:** 1

I have an aluminum rack from Tucker Rocky that I use to haul around my yz250f!! Works like a champ.

Pics of my Motorcycle rack on the KJ

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