 saddle bags
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 80
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OP
Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 80 |
i bought the triumph bags the beginning of last riding season, and they are already falling apart. the rivets are all falling out and it is driving me nuts! they were not cheap.
do you think triumph would listen at all if i griped? also, what do you guys use for bags. does anyone have any hard bags for their trump....
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Re: saddle bags
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,216
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,216 |
Find the receipt for the bags and try to get replacements or your money back. Have heard nothing good about the Triumph bags, absolutely nothing. I have Saddlemen Slant Drifter jumbos. They are available in up to extra-extra jumbo and regular as well as slant. They look good and carry a ton of stuff, and come with small locks to secure the straps closed. Ostensibly they are 'throwovers', but they have a plastic back that has a tendency to crack (at least they did to me) if you don't install additional hardware and brackets.
I started out with Willie&Max compact slants, they looked great, but were just too darn small (and not waterproof at all)!
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Re: saddle bags
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Like JJ, I'm a happy Saddlemen customer. (Large Slant Drifter) $110 from: Saddlemen Bags The Large size holds a jacket with liner in each side. Buckles are lockable. Mine have not let any water in or cracked. (I pack light)
Al
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Re: saddle bags
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,590
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,590 |
I put these on a month or so ago. "Carolina Leatherworks", I don't know if anyone else here uses their stuff. The bags I have installed easily onto the ez brackets. They come with a plasticized hardened back, although after hearing Dinqua's tale of destruction, I will probably mount an internal plate to spread the load this year. Hauling gold ingots home on payday can be a load. They carry a lot of products, the workmanship and leather quality seems to be very good. I've had a black leather ruck sack type bag and one of those cylinder things that came with it for over a year. Those items had performed well. Time will tell regarding the saddlebags, as I haven't packed them up for any road trips yet. They will mail you a "cardboard template" on anything you are contemplating with is nice for sizing. They mistakenly sent me some different black saddlebags. Between the great looks and the weight of leather (stiffness, almost a leather hardbag), I was tempted to keep them instead. http://www.carolinaleatherworks.com/carolinaleatherworks/browleatwits.htmlGood Luck
"It's not what I say that's important, it's what you hear" Red Auerbach
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Re: saddle bags
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,630 Likes: 7
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,630 Likes: 7 |
I just got a bag from Bikers Friend. It is a hard bag that fits on the passenger seat forward of the sissybar. It's held on with bungee straps or reusable zip ties. It is not only a very large bag but a riders backrest with lumbar support as well. It's easily removable and carries like a small duffle. It costs a little over $200 and comes in 4 sizes. I have the XL, it carries almost as much as two regular saddle bags combined, including two full coverage helmets. Worth a look www.bikersfriend.com
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
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Re: saddle bags
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,630 Likes: 7
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,630 Likes: 7 |
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
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Re: saddle bags
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 287
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 287 |
I went to leatherup.com and spent $40.00 on my bags.....$60.00 on kawasaki bag supports....i think they look pretty good.....they dont hold much but they hold what i want them too......There's pics here under members-gibson722
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Re: saddle bags
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 323
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 323 |
Larry, I just got the XL bikers freind last week. How are you locking it down ? I had a pair of smaller bungies going from front D-hook through and around the back rest uprights and into the second D-hook. Didn't care much for that, am looking at tapping a 1/4-20 eye bolt under the red reflector. Any other ideas??
ModelMaker
Your not the boss of me!!
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Re: saddle bags
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 80
Member
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OP
Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 80 |
as alawys, thanks for all the useful advice... i will contact triumph about the bags and let you know what they say...
does anyone know a customer service email address i can try.
thanks
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Re: saddle bags
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 300
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 300 |
gibson722, I saw you post k53021-103 as the part number for the kawasaki bag supports. Is this an actual kawasaki part number? They bolt right up no problem? Do you need anything else, or just that part number and some bags?
04 America
SS Pipes, Airbox Mod, 132/45, TBS Needles
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Re: saddle bags
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 287
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 287 |
Thats The part number....they are for the Kawasaki Mean streak....the bolts that come with the bag supports are too long....you need bolts about 1/4 inch longer than the ones your bike has from the factory..maybe 1/2 inch......but not as long as the kawasaki supports....and they bolt right up.......i cut the "over the fender" part out of the bags i got....and drilled holes......mounted the bags right to the supports....no rubbing on any painted parts.......the kawasaki supports come with 8 huge washers.....one on the inside of the bag...1 on the outside.....at all 4 mounting points.......if ya need more pics i can send them...or post them.......
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Re: saddle bags
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 65
Member
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Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 65 |
I just ordered the Saddlemen Jumbo Slants from Inernational Accessories and they are also sending supports. Is there something to put under the part that throws over the fender that will keep the bags from scratching the fender? I only have the solo seat on for now and don't want to muck up the paint. I was thinking lambswool.....
Charles
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Re: saddle bags
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Buy two cable clamps at Lowes or the like (stainless is best, a few bucks for two). For reference, a cable clamp is what holds your rear brake line to the frame just before the caliper.
Using the factory holes on the back of the saddlebag, which have rivet supports, put a stainless bolt through and use a washer/lock nut inside the bag. This secures it to the saddlebag support and you don't need the over-the-saddle yoke supplied by Saddlemen. On the bottom, use the supplied elastic strap to secure the bottom of the bag to support. Mine work and look great this way. The top of the saddlebag is just about flush with the top of the chrome fender rail.
Using the supplied holes/rivets on the back of the saddlebag (there are four), eliminates the need to drill the backs of the bags. Saddleman supply two extra rubber plugs to fill the two unused holes (with their yoke). That leaves two holes open. I called Saddleman and they sent me two additional rubber plugs for the extra holes. So far, mine have been virtually weather tight. And of course, you have no scuff marks on your fender.
Al
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Re: saddle bags
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,933 Likes: 3
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,933 Likes: 3 |
Al,
How well do the jumbo's fit on yor bike, I took a tape out and measured the dimensions and it looks like they may be a little tight? What do you say? [/color
Larry
Do you think the Bikers friend will work on a fender rack only on a solo set up?
Charles Some one makes a clear plastic stick on (non adhesive) made to protect tanks from tank bags, that would be a place to look or item to look for, I have the same concern as you. I like my paint to stay nice.
ed
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Re: saddle bags
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Ed:
I have the Large size on my bike. I thought the Jumbo only looked good on bikes with a solo seat, my personal preference. Pix of my install are in my gallery.
Al
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Re: saddle bags
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1
Complete Newb
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Complete Newb
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1 |
Hey...I dug deep for the Hepco Becker bags from Germany. They are BMW quality all the way...no shaking, leaking, or removal by strangers. The Germans have an odd idea about how "luggage" is supposed to hang on a cruiser, so I altered mine to ride "harley style" (a little lower than originally designed). I can provide e-pics to anyone whode interested, and would enjoy the communication. I'm at packardsix@yahoo.com. Steve
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