Luggage Racks
I have a 2008 FXSTC with the Factory King Queen seat and installing easy brackets and leather works saddle bags if that matters.
My question is, what luggage rack do you use for the behind the seat on the rear fender?

 

Hi Oregon, I too have the easy brackets - with cheap saddlebags - and they work really well. I have the HD bobtail fender rack fitted as it looks good on the rear of the custom, it fits OK with some drilling of the plastic light bracket - all in the easy to follow instructions. I have now fitted the Tri-bar LED and the new tail bracket assembly (as required if you want to keep the rack) and that looks even better as it tidies up the number plate a bit more.

 

I have to agree with aliandray the Bobtail rack looks really nice and should fit without any problems at all as it uses the taillight and unused fender seat mounting hole and will not affect your bag mountings.
One thing you do need to be aware of is that nearly all of the racks have a low weight limit (about 10#) and if you have the stock taillight sticking to it is probably not a bad idea. However if you replace the taillight with the Tri-Bar LED version like we did you need an adapter kit that fits the rack to a pair of very heavy duty steel plates that should easily support far more weight than the plastic of the stock taillight.
Its kind of expensive way to get an extra 10 or 15#'s on the bike, but it does look really nice.
Here's the rack mounted with the the stock taillight.



Here's the rack with the Tri-Bar light.



Sorry, but I'm not a great photographer. Think I'm going to have to get some new/better shots of these parts for future reference.

 

I've got a removable sissy bar with the luggage rack, which works out great as I can just take them both off when I don't need/want them... I presume this is an option for the Custom also.

Roger

 

Hi Roger,
Unfortunatly the Custom has a hard mounted sissy bar because the seat bolts to it, not the fender like your Fatty. The rack for the Custom and other Bobtail bikes is a little different.
However with a little bit of 'work' you could replace the stock sissybar with a detachable one that will hold the seat and do it your way. Might even be a neat way to have the two up seat of the Custom be interchangable with a solo, if that's something that would interest you.

Frank

 

Thank you guys,
I ordered the same rack only with the twisted bars, and the messenger Harley bag.
I was thinking of the LED light, now you guys gave me a great reason to get one!
Riding to Reno the 5th and needed some more bag room.

 

I don't know if you are aware of it or not but if your getting the twisted bar version of the rack there is a twisted sissybar PN=51853-07 that matches it.
Not sure if it would be a benifit or not but its a little taller than the stock bar you have. But it would give you a matching piece that has more height to hook or loop a T-Bag or something like it to.
The real drawback is the price, HD's accessories catalog lists it at $229.95, but you can get it cheaper from Chicago HD or Zenetti's.

 

I did see that frank, might get it the next go around.
Between the leather works saddle bags, easy brackets, luggage rack and HD messenger bag I'm not gonna have much left for the ride to Reno ........LOLOL

 

I know EXACTLY how that goes and I'm sure we're not alone. especially around here.
After last winters 'upgrades' I ran too low on 'fun' money and didn't have enough left for the paint job I wanted.
Oh well, maybe I'll get lucky and hit the lottery or something.