Installing front rack on Ridstar E26

[BiggKidd]

This turned out to be a MAJOR Pain in the TAIL!

Never in all my years working on things has something so seemingly simple turned in to such a hassle! It took a little over three hours to get the rack mounted and to be honest I'm not real happy with the way it turned out, especially the way the head light rack and fender all mount together. If I ever put anything at all on top of the rack the headlight becomes useless! The whole purpose was to mount a battery on the rack, well not the whole purpose but that's what started this all and that's going to be a problem until I can figure out a way and place to move the headlight up. I will be able to mount my smaller panniers 15L ea. on the front rack though and put the larger better Rockbro's 32L ea. pair on the rear rack now. Just threw my old 15L panniers in the wash they were covered in mud! Any one have any suggestions on a good waterproofing agent for the cloth front panniers? I'm leaning toward camp dry unless someone has a better idea. I do still have the never yet used rain cover for the front panniers but I'd still like some kind of waterproofing agent on them.

What A PITA!!!

 

[HumanPerson]

a headlight strapped to each fork work ok?

 

[BiggKidd]

a headlight strapped to each fork work ok?

No idea never thought of trying something like that. I like the headlight that came with the bike even know it's not all that bright. It is wired and plugged for that one headlight though, not sure how big a deal that is.

 

[BiggKidd]

I think I'm going to try and make inserts for all the bags out of corrugated plastic (old political signs) so they will hold their shape. Going to try and glue it with construction adhesive unless anyone has a better idea... I've been using cardboard but it didn't take the moisture here in VA long to ruin those.

 

[Annieolnie]

I think I'm going to try and make inserts for all the bags out of corrugated plastic (old political signs) so they will hold their shape. Going to try and glue it with construction adhesive unless anyone has a better idea... I've been using cardboard but it didn't take the moisture here in VA long to ruin those.

I haven't done this in a very long time, so I don't know which video is the best, but you can melt plastic milk jugs ( they are HDPE) and make plastic sheets that are the same as the plastic supports that they slide into backpacks. People also make larger stock for all sorts of crafting. If you don't need big sheets you can even melt them for rolling in a toaster oven. I'm guessing people have developed even more skills since I last tried it. Just research HDPE melting and shaping.

 

[BiggKidd]

Very cool @Annieolnie but I think I'll use what I have since I have it. lol

Just got the headlight moved up now it's double hose clamped to the top of the triple tree 1/2 inch off center because of the display bracket, but I think it'll be okay. It's now up even with the handlebars at the bottom / mount, headlight and handlebars are pretty much center to center up and down and as I mentioned 1/2 inch off to the right. I think it may be in the perfect spot to help hold my drink a little straighter. My cup has been on a pretty good lean forever and I think this may help make that a little better. Plenty of room for my ammo can 105AH 12.8 volt battery and step up charger now with no interference. Woo-Hoo LoL This should double my range and now I have a place to carry my folding solar panel so I can also recharge while I'm stopped. The solar panel should charge a little faster than the charger that came with the bike in a perfect world but in reality it will likely be about the same. Factory charger is 168 watts solar panel is 200 watts... Once I figure out the exact battery mounting and get all that done my range "should" be about 100 miles round trip at 13 mph pedaling all the way. Which means I should be safe going to the larger towns south and north of me roughly 35 miles each way...

 

[BiggKidd]

Just been doing a little math the additional battery and step up charger weighs about 22lbs and the solar panel and charge controller with wiring about another 15lbs. but that should be okay with the extra power being supplied. Most if not all of that weight will be on the front wheel so it should eliminate front tire spinout.