 How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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I'm looking at a set of Willie & Max revolution series saddlebags, and am trying to decide between hard mount bags and throwovers with easy brackets. The throwovers are cheaper, but when you add the price of easy brackets, the hard mounts become cheaper. The question I have is, how often do you remove your saddlebags? And for what reason? I just don't want to buy easy brackets if the bags are rarely or never going to come off, know what I mean? Thx.
06 America 904
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 Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: May 2007
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
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Maybe a half dozen times a year. Sure is handy at the motel and for the odd maintenance job in the shop. Custom bags on Easy Brackets: 
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: Aug 2005
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I only ever put the bags on if I need them
90% of the time I manage with just the rack
CHAOS, MAYHEM, DISORDER ................................ my work here is done
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: Mar 2007
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Check Pants
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Check Pants
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only when Im doing a thorogh cleaning (maybe twice a year)...but I have hard bags.
SOLD: 07 Black BA, 39mm FCRs, TPUSA stage 1 head, TPUSA 813 cams, TPUSA 10.8:1 pistons, TTP #3 igniter, Specialty Spares Long Cannons, Tsukayu Hard Bags. 82HP/55tq
NEW: 19 Goldwing Tour DCT
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
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Used to keep them on all the time. Now only when traveling.
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: Apr 2007
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Loquacious
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Quote:
Used to keep them on all the time. Now only when traveling.
+1 
12 Rocket Roadster
03 Bonneville America
69 BSA Firebird Scrambler
73 Yamaha TX 750
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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I remove the bags whenever I switch motorsickles.  EZ Bracket mounts are on both. When I lube the chain I remove them. Whenever I work in the swingarm area I remove them. When I wash the bike I remove them. When I check into a motel or get a place for the night at a friend/relatives house, I remove them. I used to try to not have them on the bike(s) all the time, but what the heck, bags are bags and if I need to pick up some groceries I have em. If I need to strap a case of brewskis on the pillion, the bags have the bungee cords to do so. If I want to wear my stirrups I have em. So what does this boil down to? I remove the bags at least once a week. ifnotmore. I am getting ready to remove them every day for two weeks straight...So goes the trek to/fr the NH Rally 09!
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Traveling or if I need to pick something bigger up while I am out.
You! Off My Planet!
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Wendys are on almost all the time but she has 2 sizes both with E Z Brackets on to make switching easy. I put mine on just to travel. We both remove ours at the hotel or campsite to make unpacking easy and the reverse. Hers go back on to carry misc. stuff.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: Feb 2005
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3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
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Quote:
Maybe a half dozen times a year. Sure is handy at the motel and for the odd maintenance job in the shop. Custom bags on Easy Brackets:
Those are some nice looking bags, they go great with the green tin. What kind of pipes are you running? I want to get a set of tips for mine and it looks like those may fit. Great looking ride! 
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: Jul 2007
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
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Just use them for traveling, use the rack for the rest of the time. But my other scoot has them full time, so I use that bike for the occasional grocery gettin.
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: May 2006
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
I remove the bags whenever I switch motorsickles.
Now there's a problem I wish I had!
It's looking like spending the extra 45 bucks for the easy brackets will be worth it in the long run, even if I just take them off for the rare cleaning, or chain lubing.
06 America 904
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: Oct 2008
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Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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Hey Scott...
I doubt you'll find a better deal than Eddie's since he has free shipping too. I really recommend the easy brackets because when you do take your bags off and on...it happens in seconds. They also leave a clean look when you have your bags off. I take mine off and on at LEAST once a week. They're expensive, but worth it.
Catch you later, man. Chris
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
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Never. With my solo seat, my paper work is in one bag. I also keep some bungies, zip ties and a windshirt for cool summer evening/mornings. I ran out and bought a dozen ears of corn last night. No bags, I'm in the car - which I absolutely hate on a nice summer evening. If I can stuff it in my bags, I'm on the bike. But, I drive about 60,000 miles per year in that ****** car and very rarely get to ride to my occasional day at the office, so I don't need much of an excuse to chose the bike.
I've learned to do the regular maintenance with the bags in place, in fact I can't recall the last time I had them off.
Al
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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Al, are yours permanently mounted?
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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I remove my bags about once per month, for cleaning or mainenance on the bike. Carry lots of stuff that I leave in them. I commute almost daily. I don't regret the EZbrackets at all. Great product. Well worth the cost over the many years that I have had them.
--Tom
02 TBA; 130 mains; TBS; Nology Coils&Wires;Unifilter/opened Airbox; -AI/snorkels; -2 baffles;Progressive 440s & Springs
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
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Quote:
Al, are yours permanently mounted?
Yes, via three mount points.
Al
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: May 2006
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
Hey Scott...
I doubt you'll find a better deal than Eddie's since he has free shipping too. I really recommend the easy brackets because when you do take your bags off and on...it happens in seconds. They also leave a clean look when you have your bags off. I take mine off and on at LEAST once a week. They're expensive, but worth it.
Catch you later, man. Chris
I went ahead and ordered throwovers and easy brackets. I could have saved about $18 ordering from jpcycles,(got an email for 20% off), but I ordered from Eddy anyway. I'd rather support a member here than some huge outfit that barely recognizes our bikes. it's worth the extra couple bucks IMO.
Hey Chris, sent you a PM.
06 America 904
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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Quote:
Quote:
Al, are yours permanently mounted?
Yes, via three mount points.
I get why you seldom remove the bags now. When lubing the chain or removing the rear wheel the bags are in the way, but one can learn to work around them.
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: Jul 2009
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Adjunct
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Quote:
Quote:
Hey Scott...
I doubt you'll find a better deal than Eddie's since he has free shipping too. I really recommend the easy brackets because when you do take your bags off and on...it happens in seconds. They also leave a clean look when you have your bags off. I take mine off and on at LEAST once a week. They're expensive, but worth it.
Catch you later, man. Chris
I went ahead and ordered throwovers and easy brackets. I could have saved about $18 ordering from jpcycles,(got an email for 20% off), but I ordered from Eddy anyway. I'd rather support a member here than some huge outfit that barely recognizes our bikes. it's worth the extra couple bucks IMO.
Hey Chris, sent you a PM.
So..... if I am gonna use the EZ Brackets..... get the throw over type saddle bags? I am glad I read this, because I would have thought to order Hard Mount bags to use with the EZ BRackets....
Troy
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,647
Loquacious
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OP
Loquacious
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Hey Scott...
I doubt you'll find a better deal than Eddie's since he has free shipping too. I really recommend the easy brackets because when you do take your bags off and on...it happens in seconds. They also leave a clean look when you have your bags off. I take mine off and on at LEAST once a week. They're expensive, but worth it.
Catch you later, man. Chris
I went ahead and ordered throwovers and easy brackets. I could have saved about $18 ordering from jpcycles,(got an email for 20% off), but I ordered from Eddy anyway. I'd rather support a member here than some huge outfit that barely recognizes our bikes. it's worth the extra couple bucks IMO.
Hey Chris, sent you a PM.
So..... if I am gonna use the EZ Brackets..... get the throw over type saddle bags? I am glad I read this, because I would have thought to order Hard Mount bags to use with the EZ BRackets....
You can mount either bag to easy brackets, but the hard mount bags are $100 more than the throwovers. The throwovers I'm getting (like this) have zip-off yokes that make for quick disconnect. If you order traditional throwovers that don't have something like this, the easy brackets wouldn't do much good I would think. The hard mount bags come with some sort of mounting system, but it's not quick disconnect.
Last edited by KaiserSoze; 07/22/2009 12:43 PM.
06 America 904
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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With EZBrackets, you would normally not order 'throw-over' type bags. You mount bags, with a hard backing, to the EZBrackets.
--Tom
02 TBA; 130 mains; TBS; Nology Coils&Wires;Unifilter/opened Airbox; -AI/snorkels; -2 baffles;Progressive 440s & Springs
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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I thought the easy brackets themselves provided somewhat of a hard backing, eliminating the need for saddlebag supports?
06 America 904
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: Oct 2008
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Oil Expert
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They do, Scott. I'm having a hard time understanding what some folks here are talking about. You simply mount your easy brackets to your bags. Period. I bought leather bolt on bags(Badlands) and bolted them straight to the easy brackets. No added plates or hard backing or whatever. Here is a video from easy brackets showing you how to install the system to your bike and bags.
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Oil Expert
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One word of caution: I've HEARD from others that throw over bags will scuff/dull the paint on your fender.
If your bags are too soft at the mounting surface because they are throw-over, add some extra support to the bracket using a larger plate and bolt it to the bracket. There's a thread where someone(I forget who) did that with their brackets
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: May 2007
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
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Quote:
With EZBrackets, you would normally not order 'throw-over' type bags. You mount bags, with a hard backing, to the EZBrackets.
My bags came as throw overs when I bought the used bike, and yes, they lightly scuffed the rear fender. When I mounted them to the EZ brackets I installed aluminum plates on the inside of the bags for support...the added bonus is that it keeps them from sagging as well. A portion of the cut off strap became my fender bib with another section covering the battery.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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I used thow over bags on E Z Brackets, I cut away the trow over part then made black plexi-glass backing for them the same shape and size as the back of the bags.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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Quote:
They do, Scott. I'm having a hard time understanding what some folks here are talking about. You simply mount your easy brackets to your bags. Period. I bought leather bolt on bags(Badlands) and bolted them straight to the easy brackets. No added plates or hard backing or whatever. Here is a video from easy brackets showing you how to install the system to your bike and bags.
Saddleman bags require a reinforcement like the dog did. Willie and Max too. Otherwise the saddlemans inboard panel will crack. If one spends enough money the inboard panels are of sufficient quality $$$$ to bolt the EZ brackets right up with no reinforcement needed. Saddleman bags run round 150 bucks. The $$$$ bags run around $500.
Does reinforcing the saddlebags constitute a customization? Hum time to post in the other section! Hey Friar: 
I first integrated the customization using only the four EZ bracket bolts. Later I had to through bolt the bottom portion of the new backing plat in three other places. Use a dremel to plungecut the holes. Drill bits shatter plexiglass.
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Check Pants
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Check Pants
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Al
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Loquacious
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The bags I'm getting says they have reinforced backs, we'll see when I get them how sturdy they are, or if i will have to do something like you guys have done.
06 America 904
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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You can drill plexi but it's best done on a drill press. The trick is to go very very slow through the material so the bit doesn't catch. The Dremel is much better if doing it by hand.
I have Auburn bags. Very expensive but the quality is there. I didn't need to make any backing for them and the leather is the best quality I have seen.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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I had to do the same plexiglass treatment to my Saddleman bags as Moe did last year. But since then, no problems with the easy brackets.
2003 TBA Thunderbike pipes / floorboards / and the most uncomfortable seat known to man....
Barry aka: 8-Ball
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Oil Expert
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Last edited by Staffo; 07/25/2009 10:45 PM.
Staintune Pipes, K&N Pods, 45 pilots, TBS needles and 145 mains.
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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I keep mine on most of the time. I never know when I may have to pick something up from the market on the way home so it is good to have them there. I have them on EZ brackets like many others for quick removal. I also had the same problem with the Sadleman bags plastic cracking from the bracket holes. I have used a little JBWeld and that seems to be working. The plexiglass option sounds a bit cleaner.
05 BA, Goodwood Green, Chevy605 pipes , ai removed, Freak kit, K&N pods, 145 main/42 pilot / 3 turns out, bags and screen
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: Jul 2009
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Member
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Member
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Quote:
With EZBrackets, you would normally not order 'throw-over' type bags. You mount bags, with a hard backing, to the EZBrackets.
It doesn't matter, get a couple pieces of diamond plate aluminum and cut the shape of the back and rivet inside your bags. I have two set I did this to. One set I have used now for over ten years
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Quote:
The bags I'm getting says they have reinforced backs, we'll see when I get them how sturdy they are, or if i will have to do something like you guys have done.
The throwover bags you got do say "reinforced backs" but it seems to me the back on the hard version has an even sturdier back. You could just discard W&M's mounting hardware and use the Easy Brackets for an even stronger mount. Right?
So I have been following your other thread about mounting the throwover bags to the Easy Brackets. They look great. Now that you have them mounted, I was wondering if you found them to be stiff enough.
Thanks, Jim
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
CPAPs kinda make it impossible to pack light, don't they?
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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I used the W&M Revolution throwover bags. Cut the throwover part out and used it to make a cover for the EZ brackets since it velcro's directly to the bags. Been running them for a year full time and no cracking of the backing yet. Makes a neat looking installation.
Long time observer of the human condition.
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Re: How often do you remove your saddlebags?
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Quote:
I used the W&M Revolution throwover bags. Cut the throwover part out and used it to make a cover for the EZ brackets since it velcro's directly to the bags. Been running them for a year full time and no cracking of the backing yet. Makes a neat looking installation.
Cool idea
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