BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

Never fitted a top box to my 2007 RT. Now i have one coming to me but i think i may have a problem. Checking the rack today, it seems to be just made of plastic. which i don't think that it would be strong enough to hold any weight. Is there a metal frame under the plastic?. Do i have to strengthen it with supports?. I don't want it snapping off doing 70mph on the motorway. All my other BMWs had strong metal racks fitted. It seems fitting a plastic luggage is something you would expect from a Chinese bike

May be an answer
[size=small]https://www.cymarcbikeparts.co.uk/r1200rt-rear-rack-strengthening-plate-78-p.asp[/size]

Seems expensive for a bit of stainless plate. I've got a tourer tec steel plate that I've used on a few bikes, so will try that first. Forgot how the retirement pot goes down fast with the ownership of a BM

I think the silver painted plastic cover on the top box mount is only for aesthetics, the sturdiness comes from what's beneath it. it comes from the factory designed to carry the oem top box so I wouldn't worry about any cracking in the plastic cover. 

Having run three R1200RT's all with the Factory Top Case fitted and sometimes loaded well above the recommended capacity load limit I can say you are worrying un-necessarily. If you look carefully you will see that as Simbo points out the main load bearing locations are transferred through to the Steel Sub Frame.

The luggage grid and handles do appear to be made of plastic with threaded inserts or bushes at the fixing points to the steel sub-frame.



I use the BMW 49L top case well loaded at times. There is a surface crack on the top of the luggage grid, this could be due to vibration. The top case does bounce around a little.

The Crymarc rear rack strengthening plate looks like it has been manufactured to be used at times without the top case with tie down points being provided.



The BMW 49L top case is shown fitted with an additional rack. Perhaps this owner is looking to overload the carrier.

Cheers for the replies. The steel plate does look like it is more meant for carrying bags rather than a top box.