KIWI RIDER JULY 2020 VOL.1 | Page 60

PRODUCT REVIEW VENTURA RACK INSTALL As a year round commuter and recreational rider, Ray Heron’s MT-07 sees some serious kilometres. To help him lug his gear he’s fitted a Ventura rack. This is how it went… Words & Photos: Raymond Heron F or a long time Ventura has been a top brand in the world of motorcycle luggage systems. Ventura is a Kiwi company based in Hamilton. As with any brand that’s been around for an extended period of time, there are those out there who give negative reviews. Especially on the internet, where reviewers can remain anonymous to some extent. Working out which reviews to believe can be something of a game, so with that in mind, I decided to give a Ventura rack a crack on my daily commuter, to find out a number of things, firstly how easy it is to install, secondly how durable it is, and, finally, how practical the Ventura packs are for daily use. There are a few different racks produced by Ventura right here in New Zealand, including some quite stylish options. The classic Ventura “Pack-rack” is what would come to mind for most people when you mention Ventura and includes the large vertical loop which the pack fits over. Other options include the Ventura Sports rack, which has a lower vertical loop. I opted for an EVO rack, which keeps the low profile of the bike and has no vertical loop at all. Compatible packs have a horizontal pocket in the base of the bag which slides over and secures with two clips. 60 KIWI RIDER