Rack Envy

By: Rob Beals

Rack Envy has nothing to do with the latest surgically enhanced blond to grace the cover of men's magazines not sold at Wal-Mart.

Rack Envy is a common ailment plaguing sport-machine trail riders. Unlike their utility-machine riding comrades, sport machine riders generally lack cargo racks to carry gear and refreshments on long trail rides.

My most intense bout of Rack Envy came on a trip to the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System.  The utility-machine riders in our group conveniently carried drinks, tools, snacks, and first-aid kits safely strapped to their machines. Some of the sport-machine riders carried similar items in backpacks; not something I am interested in doing for a long day of exploring "trails heaven."

As a sport-machine rider, I don't need the ability to carry hundreds of pounds of gear or a ten-point buck. However, I would like to conveniently carry a drink and a few other small items to make a great day on the trails even more pleasant.

Unable to find a suitable product in the ATV aftermarket community, I set out to find a solution at a local home improvement warehouse.  There, I discovered a common Welding Rod Storage Tube is the perfect diameter to hold a sports drink bottle or 20oz bottle of water.  This type of tube is specifically designed to be moisture resistant and includes a tough rubber gasket under the screw off top.  With a bottle stored in the tube, there is still room left over for a snack or another small item essential for a long trail ride.

I also purchased two stainless steel laundry dryer vent clamps to hold the tube securely on my machine.  The clamps are large enough to reach around the storage tube, easy to adjust, and made of durable material.

After removing the stock tool storage container, I mounted the tube to the sub frame of my Honda 400ex with the vent clamps positioning it to fit neatly under the rear fenders.  I placed small pieces of plastic between the clamps and the sub frame to protect it from scratches.  I quickly discovered that tightening the clamps too much would distort the shape of the tube, but was able to firmly clamp it in place without much trouble.  We remounted the stock tool storage container behind the front bumper using bolts and lock nuts.

On the trail, this storage solution exceeded my expectations.  It has endured a year of riding and another three-day trip to Hatfield-McCoy with absolutely no issues.  For under $20, this practical solution provided me with the lightweight, no hassle storage I was searching for.  Utilizing this simple solution, sport-machine riders around the country can finally be free of Rack Envy's debilitating symptoms.