Question for RD04 Hepco Becker owners (Whealie?)

[Zenarchy]

The hepco becker luggage rack I ordered a couple of weeks ago for my RD04 turned up today.

I notice on one of the tubular arms that runs down to the foot peg hanger, it looks like they've either run short of pipe and used another bit that's tacked onto the end before it's been powdercoated, or maybe they've cut it and re-welded it for some reason. The weld is actually on the tubular part rather than the flat bit that goes to the hanger.

I've tried looking at other pictures posted on here of them but it's a bit hard to make out if they're all like that.

It's not like this on both racks (the other side is a straight through tube with no welds in the middle). I was just wondering if it's like this on all of them, before I try fitting these?

The whole point in me buying these bars was so I didn't need to worry about dropping it or going offroad in the future. They seem really sturdy and heavy duty compared to the givi frames I had, so seem like an improvement in that respect, but I'm wondering if I've got a dodgy set and this might be a potential weak spot?

The weld in that place doesn't look all that tidy (but then I know zip about welding so it may be perfectly OK).

Don't have my camera handy at the moment, but I'll try to post a photo a bit later.

[Whealie]

Doesn't sound right. Bikes are both tucked up in the garage. Am out on one tomorrow though so will take a photo of both sides for you.

[Zenarchy]

Thanks mate. I'll try to get a photo of it myself. I'll be sick if I have to send it back as I've waited over 2 weeks for them to arrive from Germany. I'm just hoping they're all like that and I haven't got a duff set (or if I have that the weld is OK and will be as strong so I don't need to return them). I wouldn't be so fussy but they're not cheap, and the whole point in getting them was because I thought they'd hold up better than anything else in a drop

[Zenarchy]

Here's a photo showing where the weld is - in the pipe just as it runs down towards the flat bit that mounts to the foot peg hanger.





I tried to take some close up shots, but my photography skills are a bit rubbish and didn't manage to get a very good representation of it. There's a bead of weld, but it seems a bit hit and miss like a number of tack points and doesn't appear to run all the way around the tube (so there's a little indent in part of it where the rest of it runs proud - though perhaps the weld has just fell in and filled in to create that indent):




I know welding pipe like this isn't going to be the easiest job, so that might be perfectly normal. I was just a bit surprised to see it there as I was expecting the bar to be one piece (comparing the two bars the welds are in different places so I can't think of any reason for this other than they might have been running short of pipe or something - though I may be wrong).

I don't really care what it looks like, and I'll keep the bars if it's going to be strong. I'm just a bit wary as I know very little about welding and I'm not wanting to find it snap when I drop the bike or the panniers are bouncing around over rough ground out in the middle of nowhere (hoping to get away to morrocco one day and got these bars with preparation for that in mind).

When I had a closer look, I was wrong, and there is actually a weld on the other one too, though that's in a different place and between a braced joint and looks like it's welded a bit better so will probably be stronger:



On that side, the weld is only in that place, and not on the tube running down to the footpeg hanger like the first one.

I'm just hoping they're all like this (then I'll know I can trust them as I know some of the abuse you and farmboy and probably others will have put yours through offroad).

I'm probably worrying over nothing I suspect, but thought I'd get some advice before I fit them so I can send them back and see about a replacement set if anyone thinks it's likely to be a problem.

[jasonbc]

Don't know if this will help you but these are my hepco and becker rails fitted to my varadero can imagine they will be hugely different

[AIRWOLF]

Zen, it's just typical MIG welding.

The tube end is flattened and bent for the mounting point, so it is easier to get the dimension's/angle's correct with the piece welded there.

The other option would be to weld the tube to a flat plate at the mount position, but would less cost effective.

[Zenarchy]

Don't know if this will help you but these are my hepco and becker rails fitted to my varadero can imagine they will be hugely different

Thanks. That's a bit more like what I was expecting really - that it'd be welded at joints rather than bang in the middle of a pipe.

[Zenarchy]

Zen, it's just typical MIG welding.

Do you think this'll be as strong as the pipe had it not been welded there?

The tube end is flattened and bent for the mounting point, so it is easier to get the dimension's/angle's correct with the piece welded there.

The other option would be to weld the tube to a flat plate at the mount position, but would less cost effective.

The thing is, on the other side, the weld isn't in that place at all, so I can't understand why they've needed to cut it and weld it at that place on this side. The other side just runs down to the end then bends with no weld in the middle of the pipe.

I may just be being a bit too cautious and worrying about nothing, but reading this thread:

Aluminium panniers,best ones,opinions please - Page 4 - The HUBB

There seem to be a number of stories of pannier racks being the weak point and cracking or breaking (though not hepco and becker ones specifically to be fair). It seems to be the bend at the end where this is most common, but that wouldn't be such a biggie as it'd presumably be an easy thing to get another tab welded on, but I'm more concerned about this weld going as it's not in the best place for a break as far as I can see if it needs to be fixed in the middle of nowhere (perhaps I'm wrong about that too though - as I say I know next to nothing about welding).

As I say, I may just be worrying about nothing, and it's possible they're all like that (in which case it's fine because I've seen the abuse they put up with).

I was just a bit surprised to find the weld there really as there doesn't seem any reason for it (the pipe doesn't change direction or anything at that point and as I say, the other side isn't like that).

Hopefully it's nothing and I can just fit them and forget about it

P.S. Thanks for your help btw mate. Much appreciated

[Zenarchy]

Just a quick bump to see if anyone else who might not have seen this had any advice about the strength of these welds vs the unwelded pipe before I fit them and risk it with heavy boxes.

Still not sure if I should be sending these back and asking for them to be changed.

Did you ever get a chance to have a look at your bike whealie?

I don't need photos, but it'd set my mind at rest to know that I'm not alone and other hepco becker racks are like this (particularly ones that have been ridden offroad like yours).

[AIRWOLF]

I think they will all be manufactured the same.

the tube on the other side is joined below the gusset.

wherever there is a weld there is potentially a weak point, due to heat affected zones etc. this is lessened by various heat treatment/annealing processes for critical applications.

if they had carefully ground the weld off it would be barely noticeable but would be weaker.

Bottom line; . . . its not how i would have done it, . . . . but i can't see it being a problem.

if your still concerned contact the supplier/manufacturer.