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Excellent, UPS delivered them today. I may just have to leave work early to go home and set up for the install.

I'll post a bunch of pictures once I get them attached.

blake, if possible, please post some "real world" pics, like with a six pack or helmet in or near the bags for perspective. i can't figure out how big they are without something next to them.

Shouldn't be a problem Jeff. I'm doing the install tonight, and I will post pictures tomorrow or the next day.

OK, after a couple false starts, the deed is done! I'll post more tomorrow after I can get some sleep. Here are some pictures of the process:

http://e3rpt.com/gallery/v/Blake/Speedmaster/Bags/

My camera battery died just as things were coming together, so there's no pics of the finished product yet. I'll take some in the morning and post 'em from work. I'll also post here with my experience installing.

But for now, sleep.

blake, thanks, they're looking great so far! i don't think i would have the turnsignal issue as i shortened my stalks when i put kuryakyn silver bullets in the rear. how did you get past the problem, and is that the factory mounting kit? looks pretty hefty/strong.

More pictures are up, same URL, good shots of the finished product. Now, some details of the process.

First off, I love these bags, they are exactly what I needed, and they look fantastic. I'm going to talk about the issues I had, but don't take that as a sign that I am in any way unsatisfied with the end result. Everyone go send Brent all your money and get some

One odd thing was that there were no instructions that I could find in the kit itself. Maybe I just lost them in the packing material. In any case, I printed out a copy from the manufacturer's web site: http://www.tsukayu.com/Installation_rev3.htm, and that got me through the install.

False start #1: I didn't have the right bolts to attach the brackets to the bike. Needs an M8X50 I think it was, maybe M8x40. Same diameter/thread as the bolts in the kit for attaching the bags to the brackets. Some 5/16" washers also come in handy for spacing out the rear bracket.

False start #2: I didn't have a 3/8" drill bit! I keep all my tools over in my friend's garage, because I don't have a good work space at my current apartment. But it seems I didn't have my drill index there, and his bits stop at 5/16". Silly me.

Day 3, success!

The recommended method of locating the brackets on the bags using dry erase marker on the bracket and then transferring it to the tape on the back of the bags by pressing them against the brackets was not all that useful. I did get a little bit of transfer, but mostly the physical indentation on the tape was what I used to locate the holes. They didn't come out perfect at first, but the Dremel was exactly what I needed for opening the holes just so. I highly recommend having one on hand for this install. Also, when test fitting I found that the top would just hit the front mounting bolt when opening it, but this was alleviated by the thickness of the rubber washers in the final install.

The stock blinkers were definitely an issue. You can see in my test fitting shot that they were preventing the lid from closing. I removed them at that point, so they wouldn't be in the way during the install. Positioning the bags out of their way is really not an option. The coil-overs prevent you from moving them forward, and the length of the brackets prevents moving them down further. (Jeff: that is the stock blinkers, and yes, they are quite sturdy.) I ended up using the Dremel to cut the stock blinker/plate bracket a little, and bend each of the blinker back a little. You can see the detail of the cuts here (3MB file download):

http://www.e3rpt.com/gallery/v/Blake/Speedmaster/Bags/IMG_0446.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=2

Two on each side, above and below where the blinker stalk mounts to the bracket. Be *VERY* careful with that cutting disk an inch from your fender, it will go through your paint with just a touch. I used a strip of wood as a buffer just in case. One of these days I'll get around to wiring up the lights on the bags, and then I may just dispense with the stock ones all together. Shortening the stalks would have been another option, but that would have been a lot more difficult based on my brief observations.

Unfortunately, when I was doing the final install of the right bag, I put too much pressure on the wrench for the front bracket bolt, and stripped the fender. A little longer bolt and a M8 lock nut should take care of that. I may end up putting nuts behind all 4 bolts, for added strength. I think I may get some 5/16" fender washers for the mount points on the inside of the bags as well, distribute some of the load a little. The install instructions refer to fender washers in that position, but the ones in the kit are just regular washers.

I started installing on the right side, because the stand leans it to left, and when I got over to do the left side install, the front bracket is very close to the rear brake caliper. So close in fact, that when the shocks compress it just rubs against it. I don't think this will be a problem, but it's worth mentioning.

Questions?

I hate to tell you this, but for about $25 you could have shortened your stock turn signal posts enough to work with the new bags. JPCycles has some hollow bolts and chrome spacers that do the trick nicely.

Definitely reinforce the holes with big washers on the inside. We hear so many stories of cracked bags, it's silly not to have some cheap insurance! Maybe even a small plate on the inside.

Good to know. If I decide to keep the stock blnkers I may just go that route. Welding up the cuts I made would be a cinch. More likely I'll just go with the blinkers on the bags and remove the whole bracket like the pictures on newspeedmaster.com.

More new pictures.

The good news is: I didn't strip out the fender, my bolt was just too short. The fender has nice big nuts welded into it. Switched to 50mm bolts and everything is much more stable. You can see in the picture that I put some brass washers on the bolts, to protect the brackets. I also put fender washers on the inside of the bags at the mount points.

The bad news is that the bracket hitting the brake caliper was making the rear brake useless. It wasn't leaking any fluid, but it took half a dozen pumps to get any pressure. As you can see in the pictures, we put the bracket in the mill and shaved 1/16" off the back. This got rid of most of the problem. It still just touches it on occasion, and this makes the rear brake spongy if it isn't used for a while. I'm going to either space out the bracket from the fender further, or angle it out slightly.

My recommendation to anyone fitting these bags is to do the left side first, and avoid this hassle by steering clear of the brake caliper. The right side just has the sprocket, which is not going to be a problem, because it is close to the wheel.

I don't see why you couldn't use a luggage rack and sissybar. Spacers and longer bolts. It would set the bags out farther away from the bike though.You can do almost anything with a little thought and making a few small parts. I can't count the parts I have made out of stainless then polished up mirror finish. Looks better than the chrome.

nice bags

Hello all, has anyone installed these yet with a backrest? i would love to have them but the wifey wouldnt give up the back rest.
Jack

I have a set of these bags from my old bike. They are VERY well built fiberglass. I am still doubtfull I will mount them to the SM because I am hope'n for a different look but if you want hard bags, don't hesitate.

Mine are Leather covered which meant no color matching or painting.

These are actually made by a company from Japan called "tsukayu". And here's a little heads up on newspeedmaster.com's price: They are selling them CHEAPER then the company is selling them directly.

tsukayu would charge you $629us plus shipping. newspeedmaster's price is better.

I plan to sell mine but they are fine bags.

http://www.tsukayu.com

The Fairings discussion has been moved to Accessories. When Brent starts selling them he can start a new post here.

I saw a set of these installed on a Speedmaster at the Kootenay Raid and they look awesome in person.

While searching the Tsukayu website I came across these pics . So those of you that wanted to know if they will work with a sissy bar the answer is yes,take a look.

from the pic below it looks like these mount on standoffs from the brackets without any sort of backing plate on the bag - they must be wicked tough.

I've had mine on for 10 months now, and they have taken all the abuse well. I managed to chip the paint a couple times, but that's it. They still shine up and look amazing. They fit the bike so well, a guy at the dealer asked me if they were factory. (Of course there is no such thing a factory hard bag.) I'm a big fan of these bags, and I highly recommend them to anyone looking for some storage.

These baggs are the best thing I put on my bike. I love them, they match the fender perfect.Plenty of room,locks,2 weather strips seals.Worth every penny.

somebody please show me what these things look like in leather. I am ready to jump but don't care for the look of the paintd ones. For some reason they just look to large and I was hoping the leather ones would be a liitle more suttle.

I put some on my 06 america. They look great and are very functional. However, the load resistors for the LED lights got so hot that they burned some of my gear. I cut those out and wired the LEDs in directly with no problems. Ohms law states that current will take the path of least resistance. LEDs have such a high impedance that they will draw no more that they need. Besides, I converted my turn signals to tail/signal lights which should balance the load sufficiently. Be ready to get some extra mounting hardware such as bolts and spacers. Fit the left bag first in order to be sure and clear the brake caliper assy. If you have the funds you may want to invest in the easy mount kits because the brackets that come with the bags are for permanent fit. All said, I am well pleased with mine and the price was just right. The newspeedmaster/newbonneville people are OK in my book.

Yeah, they're okay in most of the rest of our books, too.

If I would get the leather harf bags would anyone know if you can cut the leather, drill the bag itself and mount some emblems/badges on there to break it up.

EZ Brackets:

Stainless steel knobs from hardware store for spacers. Also used some flat washers and had to get some long bolts.

Why did you feel the need to space out your Tsukayu bags?

Nevermind, I read your post above...

The thing is that I fitted the right bag first and mirrored the the left bag to it. That put the forward bracket on the left bag in the way of the disk caliper. The right side had to be spaced some on account of the chain guard. My advice would be to fit the left bag first. The bags are cut-in enough that with a different mount system they could possibly be mounted flush to the sides. I've got some ideas that I'm gonna try.

I would really like to get a set of these bags but I just don't think they would look the same with the EZ Brackets on. I definitely want the EZ Brackets as I do not want to leave them on all the time. decisions decisions

Not my cup of tea. I think they spoil the look of the bike. It reminds me of them old Tri-ang kids Tricycle with the bread bin stuck on the back.

Just MHO.....

I quite like em, but trying to get hold of some in the UK is hard they will ship to the UK, but be prepared to pay the TAX man around £90.00/$180.00

Mine are almost mounted but here are a few thoughts/tips...
* Yes...left side first. I measured the angel of the brackets on the bike w/o bags and I got 50 degrees sweeping front to back (like this \ ). At that angle you clear the caliper no problem and you can mount the bag closer to the bike.
* I had to grind down the brackets on the bag side cause they were not flush. I saw the "opportunity" for long term pressure causing breaks or cracks. Im also looking for some rubber washers/gromets to absorb some of the pressure as well.
* Easy Brackets wont look good at all. They will mount the bags too high so they wont be flush with the rear fender and in my opinion they would space the bags out too far.

Ill get some pics posted soon...

Well, my dealer has the right bag mounted to my new 07 SM, & all the other mods are done, but the left bag was warped & needs to be replaced. This is the only thing holding up the delivery. I hope it gets done soon...

Thats kinda cool....but then again...I have a set of the bags and REALLY like em

I like um too , just cant part with that much money + Id still have to have them painted Mulberry