Tenere 700: Tool Box Mounted to Left Luggage Rack

 Tool Box Mounted to Left Luggage Rack

I adapted a locking aluminum tool box from AliExpress for BMW's 2013-20 R1200GS designed to mount on the inside of the left BWM luggage rack. Several slightly different shaped boxes are made for various model years of GS & this one was the closest match to the T7 body panel angles & dimensions needed to fit in the gap behind my modified/narrowed DirtRacks HD Soft Luggage Rack & clear the swingarm.  This mounting location provides some symmetry with the MIVV Dakar high mount muffler tucked into the similar void behind the right luggage rack.

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Advertised volume is 5 litres, however, using the supplied dimensions noted below equates to about 4 litres. The 2 exterior stainless mounts were not used & plugged the holes with stainless bolts & rubber washers to seal out the elements.  I opted for matt black acrylic enamel paint to hide the GS labelling & better match my 2021 Tenere 700 matt black colour scheme. 

Several considerations were at play regarding positioning:

• DirtRacks HD Soft Luggage Racks mount further forward & closer to the bike than traditional Tenere 700 racks resulting in not enough space behind them to permit mounting the tool box directly behind the rack tubing as it does on the BMW because of interference with the Tener 700 oem rear body panel, so opted to locate it partially rearward of the rack  occupying the void behind the rear body panel & below the passenger seat & tail rack;

• Adequate clearance with the swingarm & chain guard over it's full range of 200 mm travel;

• Not having it protrude below the rack lower tubing for improved protection during left side lay downs (although the rear portion of the tool box protrudes beyond the rack increasing vulnerability);

• My pre-existing Yowling Tail Rack, Camel Tail Tidy + my custom fender insert complicated mounting to the underside of the oem wheel well fender mounting bolts via a custom made bracket, so opted to utilize the included stainless tube clamps;

• The tool box needs 15 mm clearance from the inner surface of the lower rack tube to clear my Giant Loop Quick Detachable Pannier Mounts for Soft Luggage lower mounting clamps + the rearward tool box position creates open space for the forward Giant Loop lower mounting clamp thumb screw used to secure the mount clamp & reduce rattling. 

• Enough access space for removal of the rear hatch/lock operation & clearance with the rear Cyclops 3.0 Multifunction LED Signal.

I relocated my heavy Enduristan Tool Roll & a few other items from my Tactix Tail Rack Case for improved weight distribution. The 85 mm (3.35") tool box width has full clearance with the swing arm at full travel.

 

Mounts

• 1" (2.54 cm) 6061 square aluminum tubing was mounted to the DirtRacks center bar & RotoPax ready mounting holes for the forward tool box mount & used rubber stair tread as spacers with the included stainless tube clamps for the rear tool box mount + TechSpec Gripster Tank Pad material at both mount locations with the sticky side against the tool box to help seal the mounting holes & provide rubber isolation for improved durability; 

• The 1" (2.54 cm) square aluminum forward mount had to be cut on an angle top & bottom to allow proper alignment of mounting holes for the rack center bar whose upper RotoPax hole is situated higher than the tool box sloped upper surface;

• Stainless round head allen bolts w/nyloc nuts were used - four M8 x 15mm used for front mount & four M6 x 30 mm for the rear mount + four M5 x 15 mm bolts w/rubber washers & nyloc nuts to seal the original mounting bracket holes. 

 

The inside of the lid (+ the inside bottom surface) has a rubber material to provide a water seal & minimize rattling, but added a length of u-shaped automotive rubber edge molding on the top edge of the lid for a snugger fit & seal.