Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Saddlebag question

I know there's a lot of threads out here about saddlebags. But I have a different question. I don't know much about how they attach. I am looking at possibly getting the Willie and Max Standard Slants. I can't afford the easy brackets right now and I am wondering what other kind of bracket I can use. I see that W&M have a standard hard mount bracket, will that fit our bikes. Also, is 14"x12" too big for our bikes? I made a cardboard piece just to see how big they were and it looked like it would be hitting the shock. Again, just don't know enough about them.

Look at my photo gallery for a picture of the W&M Standard Slants. I use the Honda Magna brackets. I think the newer version W&M's are a bit sturdier.

they look good on there Millikan. Do you think that the 16" bags would fit? I found that they have green Super Slants that look pretty good. Also, are the magna brackets sturdy?

Thanks.

Pex,
I just mounted some cheap Chinese hard bags made of ABS plastic. I used a piece of stainless steel sheet metal (almost 1/8" thick) and cut it 14" x 10" and trimmed off the rear with the top being 7" wide. 1/8" aluminum would have been perfect - but then I priced aluminum sheet. I used a break (brake?) to bend the last 4" on the bottom end 90°. Then I used some 3/8" SS tubing as a spacer to move my bracket out from the fender and hold it parallel. The front spacer was 5/8" long and the rear was 7/8" long. I had to buy longer SS M8 bolts at Lowe's (increased length by 1/2").
This will work with soft bags and help stabilize them and keep shape. And 14" x 12" will fit fine (almost too small). I was looking at some 20L x 14H bags 8" thick, they would fit too, just had to mount them right.

Save up and go with the easy brackets they're worth it. The best part is the easy removal if you want to run without them. No bracket left on the bike just the studs.

Quote:

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are the magna brackets sturdy?

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I've had Magna brackets on my bike since '02 and they work great.

JMoto,
I used the easy brackets and they are convenient, but every bag I tried stuck out too far for my taste. I will probably buy some bags from Leatherneck Jim later on, and again try the EZbrackets again. Jims bags are 8" wide so they'll stick way out. Then I'll decide whether to put my EZBrackets on EBay for 99 cents.

The Leather Neck Jim Bags are great. I went with the V-Leather..very affordable. I mounted 'em up with EZbrackets.

I was the happy recipient of a brand new set of Willy and Max slant saddle bags, for the brackets i used big bike parts gards for a VT750 work pretty good, just had to buy the chrome allen metric bolts from True Value, 22 bucks for 4!

the trick to not letting them hit the shock is how you tie them down. on the left side I used the supplied zip ties, on the right, i used a zip tie on the rear and for the front I used one of the "shoe strings" but tied it off to like the 3rd coilfrom the top and this helped it not touch. I have had bags on my 1st bike that the shocks were the bag gards! I wouldnt worry too much about them rubbing. if it does start to wear into them, a pc. of thick leather can be rivited on to the bag.

Fox Creek large straight bag, mounted with easy brackets. I'll add a photo to my album.

I received my Leatherworks 112P saddlebags & easy brackets Thursday. I'll be mounting them up this week...will post pics when all is complete.

Also, does anyone know if I should consider reinforcing them? They were made for use with easy brackets and are pretty rigid themselves.

I have the Saddleman Large Drifter slant bags hard mounted to the Honda Magna brackets. Works great, bought the $5 worth of stainless hardware at Lowe's. Bags $125, brackets $50 (from Phil!). One bracket on each side with a fender washer on each side. One bracket on the bottom. Took these photos before adding the fender washers on the inside and outside.







My Webshots photo doesn't seem to want to display:Al's Bracket

For the money, I'm very pleased with my Saddleman Bags. I have the large size. They have a rigid back that holds the shape nicely, bags in the photo are empty. Another thing I like is the grommets are already in place for mounting. Each buckle has a hole for lock. If we park somewhere, I loop the helmets over the staps and put my locks on. A little security to keep soemone from walking off with our helmets or stuff inside. Useful at events when you are walking far from the bike.
Accessories International has the best prices:
Accessories International

Just another "don't kow much about them" question. Al you mentioned that you got your brackets from Phil. Where can I get a set of them. And did the brackets fit the holes on the bag or did you have to create holes?

I appreciate all the info guys!

I'd have to see them to know, but remember, the brackets bolt to them, so even tho they may be stiff, if you think the material may tear around the bolts/washers, then I'd make some sort of plate to go in there and you can use a lot more bolts that way. Either way, use some fender washers.

I think any of the cycle super-stores, like J&P, JC Whitney, etc. would have brackets. The link I posted for Accessories International should also have brackets. Just get a set for the Honda 750 Magna. The hole lined up perfectly with the fender strut mounts. They are now about $75, think I gave Phil sold me his set for $30. There was a set in the classifieds a few weeks back.
There are four grommet holes on the back of Saddleman bags so you can use their quick-disconnect yoke (not needed when bolting them to a bracket). I lined up the top of my bag with the top of the fender support piece, two of the holes lined up next to a grommet. Saddleman sends you two extra rubber plugs for the extra hole on each side. I called Saddlemen and asked for two more rubber plugs, which they overnighted at no cost to me. (the yoke uses three grommet holes, so the two plugs supplied fill those holes)
They supply an elastic strap on the bottom, which I initially used to secure to the bottom of the bracket. Last year, I added another bracket in the center of the bottom of the bracket and removed the strap (quick disconnect).
So far the bag have held up beautifully, and despite being in quite a few soaking rains, my stuff has always stayed dry, didn't quite expect that but a nice bonus. The Large size just hold my jacket with liner crammed in one side. If you carry a lot, the Jumbo may be the size you need, I thought they were a little over-sized. I do think the Jumbo's look great with a solo saddle setup.

I just this morning noticed the right bag (Saddlemen Slant Jumbo Drifter) back is cracked. This is the second set. Saddlemen sent me these to replace the original set that had severe cracking (almost falling off the bike). The plastic back is a bad weak point. I drilled and added 2 u-bolts to each bag to try to avoid this.
Anyone recommend a bag that will hold together for more than a couple of years? Of course that's with stuff in the bag!

Hard plastic?

The Willie and Max bags have a sturdy looking corrugated plastic box that the bag is shaped around. Unless it turns brittle from cold temps over time, it looks to be holding up alright so far (3 months/4k miles). The most weight I've carried is a gallon jug of Rotella and my Chevron oversuit with rain gloves and rain boot covers on that side.

Time will tell. And for $130 I won't be too sad if they crap out in a couple of years. The Lifetime Warranty probably won't help much if loading appears to be the problem.

I decided to quit screwing around with bag backers and get serious. Might be a bit of overkill but here's the result on a Saddleman slant:

I think it's important to note in Phil's design that it not only stiffens the back but supports the load from the bottom, thus reducing or eliminating any shear loading on the plastic of the bags.

There you go Phil, now just start mass producing them for everyone on here!

Yepir, that should do the trick, nice work!

Just remembered: check Bella Corse' website. I belive he had a set of brackets with a bottom support piece.
Here you go, albeit a bit pricey:
Bella Corse Brackets

I'll take a set Phil if you're taking orders...

Hey Phil, put me down for a set... I have the saddleman large slants as well...
Did you make a template, or have the dimensions written down?

Wendell
18 Days to go!

No mass production in my future, I have a stinking day job!

But here's the process that anyone can do. I found pieces of aluminum on the side of the road. They used to have a green background and white letters before I used airplane stripper on them . Friggin things were all over the place after Wilma late last year! They are 12ga btw. They probably do not have to be quite this thick but I used what I had...

I cut two pieces 2'x2' with a jigsaw and laid each bag on a piece and drew the outline of the bag while setting the top edge of the metal just under where the top is sewn on. For the bottom part, I came in just inside of where the bottom of the bag flattens and drew two perpendicular lines from the bottom of the bag. I then free drew a line about 1/2" inside the bag outline and cut that leaving the bottom tail. Still flat but now the back part looked just like what you see.

Measured the thickness of the bag across the bottom and came in about 1/2" and cut off the tail. Took the material to work where I could use the big metal brake to bend the 90 because the Harbor Freight one I bought was going to bend before the metal did. Used a flat file to round the bottom edges and take off the sharp edges.

Mounted the EZ Brackets first to get everything aligned and then drilled the holes throught the metal and bags. Used 1/4-20 bolts, 2" fender washers inside, 3/4" flat washers and nylok nuts outside. Once everything fit right, I used my Dremel with a cutoff wheel to clean up the excess bolts and then used flat, crinkle paint on the metal (inside and out). Mounted everything and resprayed the nuts.

I figure these are darn near bullet proof now and all the additional metal only added about a pound each. I intend to add some 1/4" aluminum grab handles that will mount to the top EX Bracket bolts for portability.

Another thing I did... If you have these bags, you've probably noticed how the fronts and backs bow in some? I used the same metal and added some L brackets to the top of the bags that bolt to the topmost bolts (front and back) and extend across the front and back face. Really stiffens that point up!

Now get inspired and get into your garage!!

btw, there's a couple more pics in this thread:
http://www.bonnevilleamerica.com/forums/...mp;page=0#91354

Ordered a set today (for the new bags I ordered yesterday). If no one else gets to it, I'll post details when they arrive (if I remember).

What kind of bags did you order? If I may ask.

X-L Tourmaster Cruiser II from the motorcycle-superstore.com. I really like the looks of the Drifter slants, but after having the back crack on 2 sets (even with extra support), and seeing that I really needed space over appearance, I did about 2 hours of looking and decided on these. I really don't need the bags to go on and off, just be able to hold more than 5 lbs without falling apart. The bag that cracked held a few tools (in an M16 cleaning kit bag to give an idea of size), a rainsuit (jacket/pants) a .5 litre bottle of water, and a quart of gas. I didn't go in the bag often, mostly for the rainsuit. I went into the left bag every day. It holds 4 bungee cords, a bungee net, umbrella, spare shirt, and I'd throw my backpack (with a qt thermos and lunchbag) in it.
The new bags are not slants. I figure that gives more useable room. The brackets should help take the weight. I have an old pair of JCW Pony Express nylon bags that are ugly as sin, but will hold a ton and hang together. Those are my emergency bags.

JJ,
I emailed that guy the other day and he finally got back to me. He said that they are 12" in overall height. And 6" to the support bar. I am definitly leaning towards them. Just got to decide which bags to get.

That's disappointing, those things are a bit pricey. But I doubt you would do much harm taking a hacksaw to the rear mount. Just file her down smooth, maybe put some clear touch-up paint over the exposed metal?
You can probably source some stainless bolts at Lowes or some black, allen-head bolts, they had a large size selection at my store.

Sears Hardware carries Chrome plated bolts Metric and SAE. If you have ACE hardware stores there they also have a good selection. I had to do some modifications too. Sears Hardware was the closest to my house.
Steve

That sucks JJ. I just ordered a set Sunday. I guess I'll just have to make them work. You'd think for that price they'd be perfect. Paid more for them than I did for the bags!

I finally got my brackets Friday, so I got the bags installed Friday night. I don't have the luggage rack so I didn't have the problems that JJ had. But I like them. I have W&M bags and they work well with those. I have some pics in my gallery, don't guess I know how to post them on here.

I guess I figured it out!

This is a sort of a newbie question, but since I am one, I hope it will be forgiven, but do you need brackets to mount bags? I just ordered a set of Tourmaster bags myself but I thought they just anchored with straps and such.

If I understand it right, if they are throw over bags then you need something to keep them off the wheel. If they are hard mount bag I would assume that you would need something there too. I went with the bella corse brackets because of the bottom supports.