Hi all, I bought a sissybar with luggage rack from HD for my '09 FXDF and I was looking into buying a bag for the girlfriend that slides into the sissybar.
On the luggage rack there is a sticker that says max load is 4.7 kg wich is more or less 10lb.
I see HD sells sissybar bags that takes up to 3800'' and I imagine you can easily make them heavier that 10lb...
So since this is my first experience I wanted to ask you if I can put heavier bags on my sissibar without risk or if I'm sissing something here...
Thanks!

 

My guess is these weight limits have more to do with the balance/load weighting of the bike more so than what the rack will handle. I have an H-D rack/sissy bar on mine and have not had a problem with "horizontal" loads.

 

I can stand on my luggage rack and lean back holding the sissy bar........

 

Thanks for the feedback guys!

 

I had a bag that was about 50 pounds on it for a trip of a couple of hundred miles without a problem. It did impact the handling of the bike and I had to be careful. I agree with the person that said the limit is probably more about stability of the bike then it is the real capacity of the metal.

 

But most of all, the "weight limit" has to do with limiting the liability of the motor company. If you have more than 10 pounds on it, they can wash their hands and say "We warned ya".

Have you ever read the owners manual? At least twice per page, there is a warning that "serious injury or death may result". Hell, if you look at the thing parked in the driveway, it may result in injury or death according to the motor company. D$$%^&@# attorney's control everything.

Seriously, I agree that it is probably most related to handling. Adding weight does create different handling characteristics.

 

have put approx 50 lbs, no issues other than handling.

 

for me have done 25 lbs with no handling problems ... Go heavier than that have to improvise and overcome ...

 

I agree with RFRANZ...purely a "legal" issue. Put a 150-lb (+?) GF on the backseat and you'll affect the weight/balance considerably more than 50-75 pounds of beer[cases] stacked on the luggage rack. I'm quite sure I could Lift-A-Loft my whole bike by that 10-lb-limit luggage rack.

 

I've had mine weighted down much more than the 10 lbs they advise with no ill effects.