Old Man Mountain rear rack on full suspension Haibike - better mounting system

[mikegs430]

I have been looking for a good rear rack solution for the full suspension Haibike. The Old Man Mountain rack looked like a good start but it had one critical flaw. The pucks that are designed to to secure the stabilizer brackets to the Haibike triangular swing arm are pretty close to being useless and if you can make them work they look ridiculous with the zip ties and poorly fitting puck.

i just couldn’t tolerate the pucks so I had to design and make my own. These brackets are 3D printed ABS plastic. I am planning a few more design changes but I think the work an look a lot better than the Pucks supplied with the OMM racks. Everything else about the rack seems to be top quality, but they really need to step up their game with the pucks. I think they tried to come up with a one size fits all solution but it just doesn’t work for the Haibike

the first photos are of the puck system. You can see how poorly they fit and I even had to put foam on the inside of the metal bracket so it wouldn’t rub on the frame.

the last photos are of my new bracket system. The bracket completely surrounds the frame and provides a flat surface to mate the bracket to. It also aligns the arm vertically with its attach location on the rack so that it doesn’t bend the arm.

I am working on refining it and it would look better with black hardware, but the stainless steel is probably a better material for the application.

 

[Ravi Kempaiah]

I am working on refining it and it would look better with black hardware, but the stainless steel is probably a better material for the application.

This is very cool.

Have you thought about using clamps like this?

 

[FlatSix911]

I have been looking for a good rear rack solution for the full suspension Haibike. The Old Man Mountain rack looked like a good start but it had one critical flaw. The pucks that are designed to to secure the stabilizer brackets to the Haibike triangular swing arm are pretty close to being useless and if you can make them work they look ridiculous with the zip ties and poorly fitting puck.

i just couldn’t tolerate the pucks so I had to design and make my own. These brackets are 3D printed ABS plastic. I am planning a few more design changes but I think the work an look a lot better than the Pucks supplied with the OMM racks. Everything else about the rack seems to be top quality, but they really need to step up their game with the pucks. I think they tried to come up with a one size fits all solution but it just doesn’t work for the Haibike

the first photos are of the puck system. You can see how poorly they fit and I even had to put foam on the inside of the metal bracket so it wouldn’t rub on the frame. the last photos are of my new bracket system. The bracket completely surrounds the frame and provides a flat surface to mate the bracket to. It also aligns the arm vertically with its attach location on the rack so that it doesn’t bend the arm. I am working on refining it and it would look better with black hardware, but the stainless steel is probably a better material for the application.

Well done! Your custom printed brackets look great... even better with black hex hardware.

 

[mikegs430]

This is very cool.

Have you thought about using clamps like this?

View attachment 52446

I did consider those. They are designed to attach to round objects so they are a much better application for attaching to the front forks but not much better than the pucks for the triangular shaped swing arms. Also there is no clearance to route your brake and shift cables.

And for a rack that is this expensive and requires a replacement axle, you would think that OMM would offer a choice of mounting brackets or mounting systems specific to the bike. Considering these bikes probably average $5k each it seems odd that they want me to mount a $200 rack plus the cost of my panniers (not to mention the value of their contents) with a 10 cent bracket?

For me I am looking for a rack and mounting system consistent with the quality and design of the bike I’m mounting it on. So far the OMM is the only rack I found that comes close to doing it right for a full suspension bike, but they came up a little short with the swing arm mounting system.

 

[mikegs430]

Well done! Your custom printed brackets look great... even better with black hex hardware.

I am working on finding some black hex hardware. I also want to use embedded heatset nuts in the plastic so you won’t have to mess with a nut on the backside. I will post pictures of any improvements I make.

 

[minhcolu]

Good stuff here! Thanks for sharing! I ordered the same bike too...finally coming tomorrow, hopefully! I’m most likely going to order the OMM rack too. I have the Thule Pack n Pedal rack now, which is on my current full suspension bike, but with 2.3” tires, not sure if it’ll clear the 2.8” haibike tires, so the OMM rack will be the likely alternative

 

[mikegs430]

Good stuff here! Thanks for sharing! I ordered the same bike too...finally coming tomorrow, hopefully! I’m most likely going to order the OMM rack too. I have the Thule Pack n Pedal rack now, which is on my current full suspension bike, but with 2.3” tires, not sure if it’ll clear the 2.8” haibike tires, so the OMM rack will be the likely alternative

Thank you. I made a few design changes to reduce the bulk and integrate the hardware better into the bracket. I just did this for myself because I couldnt stand the way the pucks worked. I may offer them for sale if there is a demand for them. Here are some pics of the latest versions. I would love to have them machined in aluminum, obviously overkill but it would look great.

 

[minhcolu]

Looks great! Keep me posted if you’re considering making more to sell. I would be interested! Very surprising that OMM would skimp out on that part? Maybe the weight load isn’t as significant at that connection point and only needed a couple of zip ties to keep it in place? Even if that is true, they could have designed something that would have looked better and not so cheap. My Thule Pack n Pedal, although it’s carrying load is limited to 25 pounds, their attachment point is much more elegant, and even though they use nylon Velcro straps, they designed it with a ratchet tightening system to keep everything in place, and it looks a lot nicer and more pleasing to the eye. You did some nice work here man!

 

[mikegs430]

Looks great! Keep me posted if you’re considering making more to sell. I would be interested! Very surprising that OMM would skimp out on that part? Maybe the weight load isn’t as significant at that connection point and only needed a couple of zip ties to keep it in place? Even if that is true, they could have designed something that would have looked better and not so cheap. My Thule Pack n Pedal, although it’s carrying load is limited to 25 pounds, their attachment point is much more elegant, and even though they use nylon Velcro straps, they designed it with a ratchet tightening system to keep everything in place, and it looks a lot nicer and more pleasing to the eye. You did some nice work here man!

Thank you. Message me if you need a set of the brackets. when you get your OMM rack It will probably drive you crazy with how crappy the pucks work.

 

[bikeman242]

I have an OMM Front Rack and it is very well made. On the front rack, at least, the pucks only serve to keep the extenders in place, and have no weight-bearing effect at all. So it doesn't matter if the pucks are a perfect fit.

I wish they would produce a rear rack for my bike. Apparently, BH bikes use a rear thread pitch of 1.0 on their split axle bikes, and is the only manufacturer in the industry to do this. So, they unfortunately don't make a compatible fit kit for BH bikes. I hope somebody can figure out some workaround to this, because the only other option for a rear rack on a full suspension bike with a dropper post is the Thule Pack n' Pedal, which is poorly reviewed.

 

[mikegs430]

I have an OMM Front Rack and it is very well made. On the front rack, at least, the pucks only serve to keep the extenders in place, and have no weight-bearing effect at all. So it doesn't matter if the pucks are a perfect fit.

I agree. The extenders are merely stabilizers. I think the rear rack is rated for 70lbs and there isn’t likely to be a tremendous amount of stress on them unless you are taking your bike on some bumpy trails, so pucks and zip ties will probably work just fine.

I just wanted something that integrated better with the rack and the bike. In reality OMM shouldn’t even offer that rack to Haibike owners because I had to really get creative to even use the pucks which were clearly made for round tubing and did not accommodate brake and shift cables very well. Overall just a very poorly designed mounting system.

 

[FlatSix911]

Let us know if you decide to make the brackets available commercially. I have BH Yamaha that would fit this size...Thanks.

 

[bikeman242]

Let us know if you decide to make the brackets available commercially. I have BH Yamaha that would fit this size...Thanks.

Your BH Yamaha would fit an OMM Rear? Did not think they made an axle with a compatible thread size.

 

[Nova Haibike]

I would drill holes in the stays and install rivnuts.

 

[FlatSix911]

Your BH Yamaha would fit an OMM Rear? Did not think they made an axle with a compatible thread size.

They said that they are working on it... hope that means 2020.

 

[mikegs430]

Let us know if you decide to make the brackets available commercially. I have BH Yamaha that would fit this size...Thanks.

I will sell these to anyone who needs them but I’m not sure what the rules are for the forum. you can message me if you want more information.

also I can’t tell from the BH website pictures if my brackets will work on your bike. I too have heard that OMM doesn’t make a rack/axle to fit your bike, but I don’t know for sure.

 

[Mike TowpathTraveler]

It's my Haibike Full FatSix that Ravi posted a picture of in post #2. Back in the time of OMM's original ownership, the clamping hardware and screws were cheap, plain steel, including the aircraft cushion clamps. Easy enough fix, I just replaced everything with stainless hardware. After buying several different sized aircraft clamps to go around the rear triangle stays, I found that the 3/4 inch clamp provided the most sure and secure fit. The rubber does a great job providing friction that keeps the clamp steady on bumpy terrain as well as protecting the paint. I had to have the plain aluminum rack supports and the axle brackets and rear light bracket professionally powdercoated as the original owner supplied these parts unfinished. Good that New OMM goes that extra mile in doing this today.

Several thousand miles worth of riding with no problems with the aircraft clamp-mounted rack stays. At a minimum, I always carry one pannier bag that contains my tire flat repair gear. At the max, I've had two bags on that rear rack, holding 2 Yamaha ebike batteries on a long day on the road along with other gear within the bags. Should there be an anodized black aircraft cushion clamp on the market, it'd sure help take away the hodge-podge hokiness look of the clamps on our bikes. But I must admit, they work and work well. The stainless hardware ensures there will be no rusting and the various nylock nuts and plastic flat washers will keep things tight and wear-free.

I like what you've done. It looks fantastic and I can appreciate the thought that went into making those puck replacements. However, I'd not be too harsh towards OMM. I think it'd be a tad unreasonable to ask them to design and manufacture pucks that will fit exclusively to the triangular stay of the Haibike, as well as for the rear stay tube design on the Trek, BH, Specialized......

Some pics of my cobbled together OMM rear rack:

 

[mikegs430]

It's my Haibike Full FatSix that Ravi posted a picture of in post #2. Back in the time of OMM's original ownership, the clamping hardware and screws were cheap, plain steel, including the aircraft cushion clamps. Easy enough fix, I just replaced everything with stainless hardware. After buying several different sized aircraft clamps to go around the rear triangle stays, I found that the 3/4 inch clamp provided the most sure and secure fit. The rubber does a great job providing friction that keeps the clamp steady on bumpy terrain as well as protecting the paint. I had to have the plain aluminum rack supports and the axle brackets and rear light bracket professionally powdercoated as the original owner supplied these parts unfinished. Good that New OMM goes that extra mile in doing this today.

Several thousand miles worth of riding with no problems with the aircraft clamp-mounted rack stays. At a minimum, I always carry one pannier bag that contains my tire flat repair gear. At the max, I've had two bags on that rear rack, holding 2 Yamaha ebike batteries on a long day on the road along with other gear within the bags. Should there be an anodized black aircraft cushion clamp on the market, it'd sure help take away the hodge-podge hokiness look of the clamps on our bikes. But I must admit, they work and work well. The stainless hardware ensures there will be no rusting and the various nylock nuts and plastic flat washers will keep things tight and wear-free.

I like what you've done. It looks fantastic and I can appreciate the thought that went into making those puck replacements. However, I'd not be too harsh towards OMM. I think it'd be a tad unreasonable to ask them to design and manufacture pucks that will fit exclusively to the triangular stay of the Haibike, as well as for the rear stay tube design on the Trek, BH, Specialized......

Some pics of my cobbled together OMM rear rack:

Your bike is awesome and looks like a lot of fun. You put together a great solution to solve the problem, and it looks like it does a great job.

I am not trying to be harsh on OMM I just think they could provide a better solution, one that is worthy of the overall quality of the rack. The fact that you had to cobble together your own solution kind of illustrates my point, their system doesn’t work.

Providing a custom solution for the different bikes really shouldn’t be that difficult. Their puck system is produced on a 3D printer, they could simply design a different bracket and 3D print it instead of the puck. It really isn’t that difficult to do And wouldn’t cost them any more money than their current system. For now Haibike owners will be forced to be creative when mounting this rack.

 

[Mike TowpathTraveler]

Thanks, Mike, appreciate the kind comments. From one Haibike owner and fan, to another, you've got a nice bike there as well.

I've always been a rack and pannier fan since the 1970's. There is no better way to carry gear onboard a bicycle then the tried and true rack and pannier system. The ideal thing to see done industry wide are welded-in eyelets to accept a front or rear rack.

NovaHaibike had a great idea as well, drilling and installing riv-nuts. But I'm rather timid in drilling holes in my rear triangle as I figure Haibike doesn't have any sitting on the shelf in that off chance that something bad happens on the way to setting those riv nuts in place.

In fact, a few years back, I acquired a Specialized Fatboy aluminum fork for the purpose of installing riv nuts in order to accept a front rack. Pictures below of that adventure. Spoiler alert: I marked where the riv nuts were to go, but I paid the LBS to do the actually drilling and riv nut installation. I felt it more important to have a front rack then to continue riding with the original carbon fiber fork and no rack.

The bike packing set up seems to be the hot rage in the past few years; so I'm grateful that OMM is even around, with that onslaught of rear bag designs. I tried one on the Haibike, but the cargo space in those bike packing bags are very limited.