Saddle Bags

[chopper]

Dont know were else to post this so if its in the wrong place feel free to move it were you see fit.

Now that i have a long rear guard and a rack on the bike i would like to get my first ever pair of saddlebags to chuck on when rallying season is on, been looking at some options in the Custom Chrome Catalogue and they all look like they should work ok with the wide rear guard but what about saddlebag supports? as i dont have the stock struts on the bike i cant fit a set of off the shelf supports, do i need them? is there a set of bags out there that doesnt need supports or attach somewhere else etc

have seen a set of supports that i could possibly mod to make fit but dunno if i want to go down that route

thanks all for any enlightenment!

[michael_dinwiddy]

If you dont fit supports the saddlebags will get jammed in the rear wheel.

I quite like the single sided saddlebag often sported on choppers....

[Gray]

Hi Neil, I've tried throw-over bags without support on my Sporty. They seemed to hang away from moving and hot stuff but the wheel and shock wore holes in them very quickly and they rubbed the paint off my chain guard. Doh. Perhaps supports in the form of a couple of upside-down steel letter Us could be fitted to the bags and their straps rather than the bike, so the the bags were pretty rigid in relation to each other if you see what I mean. But then how to fix them to the bike without doing the paint in? You might find it easier to just get an eGlide and be done with it.

[chopper]

ok thanks guys, ill add it to the "perhaps to do over the winter" list!

Gray, funny you should mention the E glide, would love this one but my missus would kill me!
1973 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLH 1200 Electraglide Shovelhead on eBay, also, Harley Davidson, Motorcycles Scooters, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 13-Jul-08 16:05:26 BST)

and i dont have the space

[phssthpok]

......Neil, a friend of mine wanted saddle bags on his Night-Train and bought some pukka Harley saddle-bag mounts. I can't say I was overtly impressed, so I had a look at a better (and cheaper) method. I know this is "sucking egg" advice but, if you can weld, it would be a piece of piss to cut and bend up some stainless rod and tube and make some great-looking and practical saddle bag supports. If you can't weld, then you can still cut and bend the component parts and take them along to a welder.

[Tibbs Art]

Chopper, have you thought of making your own?
I secure mine by a couple of small brackets that slip under the mudgaurd.
Just a thought.
I can't attach any pics at the moment as photo bucket is down.

Cheers

Tibbs

[simonDeuce]

I have successfully used Oxford panniers for years. Stuff paying silly Harley prices. I put wonderweb onto the painted areas of the bike so the bags dont rub. The Oxford bags have a nice padded section on the inside face so nothing hard contacts the bike. They also have adjustable velcro straps that can be shortened to pull the bags up high enough so they rest on the mudguard rather than hang down on the wheel area.

If you are around south Sheffield, you are welcome to come and try them, I have three different sorts/sizes that I have used over the years.

[Monkeybrain]

These invites to your place are getting more and more common Simon....


Next you'll be inviting people to come and see your puppies...

[simonDeuce]

Being without transport and with the bike away at the moment, its either that or not bother trying to help.

[Mike Benis]

I agree with what Simon says. I've used PVC and nylon throw-over panniers on all sorts of bikes without a problem.