I bought this rack right after I bought my 550 back in 1974. I wanted a larger sized rack for a 3 week 5000 mile ride all over the country, eventually taking me from L.A. to New York via a very circuitous route. Piled stuff incredibly high. The chrome has held up nicely, so I just put it back on the bike for the Godzilla relay. I'm able to load a lot of stuff without sacrificing seating position flexibility, so I'm able to move around a lot during longer rides. Old school, but still functional.