Modern Vespa

Hi Gang

I have the Vespa LX chrome rear rack on my LX50 and was wondering if anyone knows what the maximum bearable weight is? Need to use the Vespa to carry my camera gear around, and am wondering if my best option is to carry a peli case on the rear rack....

TIA

Simon

Mine (well... formerly mine) has a sticker on it that says 6 kg.

If I recall rightly, it is rated for about 13 lbs.

All scooter racks seem to be very conservatively rated, but I've probably carried close to 40 lbs. on mine for short stints on smooth roads.

When I do carry a heavy load, though, I always tightly bungee the load from the back side of the rack to the grab bar. I figure that the likely failure point would be the two bolts that secure the rack itself to the back of the grab bar.

It says 6kg but I have had some heavy loads on it...

Thanks all. The case I was planning on using weighs 6kg before I even put anything in it, so maybe I should rethink my strategy

I probably wouldn't put expensive glass at the back of a scooter as well... all that vibration can't be good for precision-aligned optics. A backpack (on your back) might work better.

Yes, that was my other worry, although the Peli cases are fairly well padded as the gear sits in foam. A friend of mine does carry his gear, but he carries it in the footwell. Not so easy on a Vespa due to the raised central 'bit'. I guess the helmet storage will also vibrate a fair amount, so carrying it on my back is the best option (if only it didn't weigh so much though...)

Wow, if those lenses are worthy of Pelican cases, I wouldn't risk riding a bike with them as goods unless absolutely necessary... but that's just me

i carried a 20 lb bucket of kitty litter and a 12pack of beer on the rear rack of my 74 super once... the rack didn't break but the bike sure was wheelie- happy 8)

I carry all my Nikon glass in my Lowepro case bungeed to the back of the seat. There's no way I can carry it on my back for any length of time. My shoulders can't take it. The case and seat together are soft enough to take the jostling. I've been doing it for over a year and had no problems with my lenses.

Imho...I agree that the rated weight carrying ability is grossly understated. 25-30lbs of stuff on the back of my scoot does not worry me one bit. Even 30lbs of L glass in a padded pelican case sounds completely fine to me. fwiw, I've carried my leica glass around as such in *unpadded* bags to no ill effect.

I've never noticed the weight limit stamped onto my rack. I've just been piling all kinds of heavy items onto that rack (such as a large bag of dog food with a flat of Pepsi on top). I had better be more conscious of what I strap on that rack in the future.

I ignore the weight limit sticker. I have a milk crate, and I've actually carried 4 gallons of milk in it. That's about 32 pounds, well over the rating, never had a problem.