front rack or rear rack?Picture update.

peabody99 · Post by **peabody99** » Sat May 26, 2007 1:04 am

"Mr" Peabody99 is interested in rear or front rack to bungee a gym bag or back pack. We think the top case is bit of a pain, plus the space is pretty limited to the shape of the case.I guess if you wanted to leave valuables in the scoot they make sense.

Anyway regarding the front or rear rack: Which do users think makes more sense? are either a pretty easy DIY install?
Does anyone have a milk crate attached to a rear rack?

louie · Post by **louie** » Sat May 26, 2007 1:32 am

i'm machanically ignorant and i put on a rear rack. you unscrew several things and screw in one less.

i don't know how low the front rack seats on the buddy but i've heard carrying much on the et's rack covers the headlight.

Keys · Post by **Keys** » Sat May 26, 2007 2:02 am

I really like the rear rack. Of course, you have to have a welder reinforce it at the middle mount, but once you do that, it's pretty much indestructable. I have an S/X bag that I mount whenever I need to carry much. It's pretty much the same as the Prima bag.

--Keys

Corsair · Post by **Corsair** » Sat May 26, 2007 2:54 am

Here's a guide for installing the rear rack: http://www.modernbuddy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=15265#15265

The front rack was easy to install as well (I'll have to make a guide for that).

We have both a front and rear rack. Crates have definitely been the way to go for us (and at least three other people here on the boards). Be careful loading up the front rack so that it doesn't block the headlight. And as far as the welds go for the rear rack a lot of people have had there's break. Before we got ours I asked my dealer about it and he said that they've fixed the problem with the welds on the newer racks (His words not mine). So far ours has held up very well and we've put weight on it (carrying boxes of clay and ceramics supplies)

Hope this helps

peabody99 · Post by **peabody99** » Sun May 27, 2007 2:27 am

thanks for the pics. Not only did we decide on the rear rack for the Blck Buddy, but I got one as well. It was an easy install with a neighbors wrench and some special glue on the bolts that POC Phil let us borrow. I have had a hard time picturing strapping a back pack or what ever on that small rack, but I guess it can be done. What was successful was putting our milk crate of recycling on the back (bungeed). I found this removable basket online that I bet could be bungeed to the rack and removed for when I go to the market. This may not be"the one" but somewhere to start.
http://sportsbay.com/remfronbikba.html

JeremyZ · Post by **JeremyZ** » Sun May 27, 2007 5:57 am

I don't like front racks. Someone was pretty careful when he designed the front of the Buddy. It is made to be aerodynamic. Putting a rack on there ruins the looks and streamlining of it.

So I'd vote rear.

You'll save some money if you don't look for bicycle or scooter-specific baskets. I found a nice little chrome Martha Stewart basket at K-Mart in the housewares section. Much cheaper than the bike type, and it was the perfect size for the Metro's rack.

The Buddy's rack, I believe, is even smaller. I'll have to wait until mine arrives to try it out.

Post by **ericalm** » Sun May 27, 2007 6:37 am

My issue with the front rack is that you have to pop out the plastic holes in the legshield. This seems like a ridiculous design flaw on some level—don't know why they couldn't use suction cups or rubber bumpers as "classic" front racks have.

moniraq · Post by **moniraq** » Mon May 28, 2007 3:45 pm

I have the rear rack on mine and added a Givi topcase. I was worried about whether or not anyone would be able to see my brakelight so I had a brakelight kit installed on the topcase so I have brake lights in two spots in the back.

In the front, I was going to get a rear rack but opted for the basket instead. I love it! It looks good and is deep enough to be very functional I can go grocery shopping and put about two backs in there that I secure with a spider bungee and it works great! I'm glad I didn't get the front rack.

Monica

peabody99 · Post by **peabody99** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 9:16 pm

Well, I found a grocery basket I love, at my local bicycle shop. It was only 12.95, and is removable. They were nice enough to give me some plastic flowers to attach

peabody99 · Post by **peabody99** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 9:17 pm

and from a smaller perspective...

Corsair · Post by **Corsair** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 10:13 pm

Hey I glad you finally found a solution for your rear rack

Speaking of solutions...

ericalm wrote:My issue with the front rack is that you have to pop out the plastic holes in the legshield. This seems like a ridiculous design flaw on some level—don't know why they couldn't use suction cups or rubber bumpers as "classic" front racks have.

Hey since panels are so cheap I was thinking about getting an extra front panel so that I can have the holes popped out of one, for when I need the front rack, and keep the other stock for days when I'm not using the front rack ...lol

250koala · Post by **250koala** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 5:00 am

Great, now I KNOW I need that chrome back rack. Doh! Scootover is closed Mondays.

sunshinen · Post by **sunshinen** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 3:49 pm

Oohh... I love the flowers.

jetboy · Post by **jetboy** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 4:30 pm

I find that basket to be a more aesthetically-pleasing alternative to the milk-crate option. How easy is it to remove?

-jetboy

peabody99 · Post by **peabody99** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:51 pm

The basket can be attached by bungee and easily removed for shopping and taking things into the house. When the Buddy was at the dealer getting fixed the mechanic used little plastic ties to secure it on the rear rack. While I intended to have it only attached by bungees I kind of like it on there semi permanently. I can always cut off the the ties . I am really suprised the scooter shops do not have this as an accessory. As I mentioned I this basket from and my local mom and pop bike store for a very good price.

sotied · Post by **sotied** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 10:59 pm

JeremyZ wrote:I don't like front racks. Someone was pretty careful when he designed the front of the Buddy. It is made to be aerodynamic. Putting a rack on there ruins the looks and streamlining of it.

So I'd vote rear.

You'll save some money if you don't look for bicycle or scooter-specific baskets. I found a nice little chrome Martha Stewart basket at K-Mart in the housewares section. Much cheaper than the bike type, and it was the perfect size for the Metro's rack.

The Buddy's rack, I believe, is even smaller. I'll have to wait until mine arrives to try it out.

Photo of the basket please. I can't figure out how the milk crate or basket will sit on the rear rack. Do I need to rest it on the back - behind the bar that goes over the top? Or should I cut the plastic and put the milk crate over that bar?

ryder1 · Post by **ryder1** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 11:22 pm

The new design of the rear rack has a solid bar that goes across.

It looks like you have the orignal, but I can't see it clearly through the wires of your new basket.

Caution on the weight the original rear rack can hold.

peabody99 · Post by **peabody99** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 12:45 am

I have to say I do load it on sometimes. I will be careful

MaxPotter · Post by **MaxPotter** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 1:07 am

I put a basket on my rear rack with zip ties. They're cheap and easily replaceable if you need to cut them off. I noticed that some of the wires in the bottom of my basket have broken. I attribute this to loading the basket up, and since it hangs over the rack quite a bit, the flexing of the metal from the weight and vibration have caused them to break. It's not in danger of falling off or anything, but I'm sure it jiggles quite a bit while I'm riding.

If this is a concern, you may want to cut a piece of thin plywood, or 1/4" plexiglas, to the footprint of the bottom of the basket, drill holes in it where the zip ties go through. This will add rigidity and help prevent the basket from breaking. The plastic milk crate I used initially broke apart in a big way. The metal basket is sturdier, but as I said, some of the wires are now broken.

White Apache · Post by **White Apache** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 2:48 am

Here is a basket that I'm going to check out. It's a bicycle basket made by Wald. Normally they're sold as a pair to go on either side of a rear rack like panniers. It's the Wald 582. I would use just one of them and put it sideways on the rear rack.

http://www.amazon.com/Wald-Folding-Bask ... sg_title_4

It folds, which is the appeal, though I'm not sure yet how much the advantage is. If I buy it then I'll try to put up a photo.

BoneGirl · Post by **BoneGirl** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 5:51 am

Last Sunday I was on a scooter trip with some friends and one of the guys had a new Luggage Rack bungee'd on the rear rack:

enzomatic · Post by **enzomatic** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:26 pm

White Apache wrote:Here is a basket that I'm going to check out. It's a bicycle basket made by Wald. Normally they're sold as a pair to go on either side of a rear rack like panniers. It's the Wald 582. I would use just one of them and put it sideways on the rear rack.

It folds, which is the appeal, though I'm not sure yet how much the advantage is. If I buy it then I'll try to put up a photo.

I wouldn't use that, it's a side basket for a bicycle rack, kinda like a pannier and is designed to be strapped down by at least three points on the side where it would open. I have one on my road bike and while it works great on the side, the bottom completely folds up and is only sturdy with a load down on it.

Modern Buddy

front rack or rear rack?Picture update.

front rack or rear rack?Picture update.

Milk crate