Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories K-Drive saddlebags?

So I'm making my new America into a solo seater. The wife finally got herself a bike and I don't have to share anymore (though she professes that she is heartbroken about my taking the pillion off). Anyway, I still wanna do saddlebags on the bike, but want ones that bolt onto the side, rather than have 'em go over the top, since I'm taking the pillion off. I was looking at the K-Drive bags on newbonneville.com, and wondered whether or not anyone here had them on their bike. There are pictures on the website, but its hard to get a sense of what they really look like. Also, in the picture on the website (the one from behind) it looks like there is a lot of distance between the bike and the bags, which looked a little wierd. Could just be me though, and the fact that the picture doesn't include the whole bike. Looked at some other brackets too, but wasn't sure how well those work, or what bags to get with those.

If any of you guys (or ladies) are running a solo seater with saddle bags, I'd love to hear your thoughts or see some pictures of what you've got on your bikes. I'll probably get a pair (of saddlebags ) within the next week or two, so any thoughts would be appreciated.

I've been looking at saddlebags a fair bit lately. The K-Drive bags appear quite sturdy and good quality but I do not like the following features:

1) They appear to be a gray rather than black.
2) The appear a bit bulky, not sure why, just look that way to me when they are on the bike.
3) When you remove the bag, I don't like to see the mount. Thats why I prefer the EZ brackets for mounting.

So far I like the look of the Tourmaster II's (large slant) not the XL. Almost ready to pull the plug.

EZ-brackets

The standard K-drive bags do look grey as oppposed to black. I have never seen the standards on a bike but I have the studded version of the K-drive and they are a nice dark Black color.

They are easy to take on and off and they dont stick out too far ....they look very good and compliment the lines of our bikes nicely. I have a studly black Speedmaster and the studded deep black bags compliment it nicely

The studs on the fender rails look like they protrude over an inch. No option is listed when ordering, asking if one has fender rail 'L' brackets, so, do you have the luggage rack installed with the K Drive bags? I looked at your pictures and you had the Triumph purses on in those. Thanks.

Yup. I have the tall luggage rack/sissy bar installed on the bike with the K-drive and its supplied hardware. No problems.

The K-drives come with brackets that're intended for a HD dyna, and a bag of bits to make them suit our bike. This includes two different sets of "adapters" for use with or without a sissybar.

I got the K-Drives to replace my old Saddlemen Drifter bags, and have been very pleased with them. The mounting system is stable and secure, you don't have to fiddle around to get the bags onto tiny little pegs, and nothing tears because you've adapted bags to do something they weren't intended to. It's true the brackets are bigger than the EZ bracket posts but they blend in well and don't look obvious, and I'd rather have the larger brackets if it gets me the sturdier mount.

nice looking set up

Nice lookin bike. I'm still curious about what they'd look like on a solo set up. Do you have any pictures of what it looks like from behind? Everything I hear about the easy brackets is pretty encouraging too, but I'd like to see some of the bags people have gotten to go with 'em. The jury's still out!

I have the Easybrackets - love 'em.
And a cheap pair of River Road throw-over bags. I have removed the yoke, and have done some modification like a plate inside the bag and bolted all together on the easybracket. They sag some after a year, but have held up pretty well considering I paid less than $100 for the bags and they are on most of the time - they are not waterproof!
I have them on a solo seat set up - if I can get a picture with the bags on this weekend I'll post. I have the rear fender rack on too. I think it looks pretty good, and the bags are easy to remove. But as I haven't found a small (yet big enough) fender bag that I like, I have my saddle bags on most of the time - a girls gotta have a place for her stuff!!!
Becky

No worries with the K-drives holding their shape. They are rigid enought that that is not a concern. They are water proof and easy to clean. It remains to be seen how well the texture will hold up under the Az sun after a few years.

The straps are leather and are made well but might wear out with time. Those too can easily be remade.

I would think they would be easy to restore should they fade.

Nice thing about them is the ease of removal when you get to your motel for the night. Just turn the key and lift them off ....likewise if you have something of value in one of them that you simply cannot risk leaving for a potential thief you can just remove the bag and carry it with you.

Throwovers can mar the paint with time. Ask me how I know.

Okay, after checking around some more, and watching the instalation video for the ez-brackets (which give a great view of what they look like on a bike), I'm thinking easy brackets may be the way to go. I was cruisin' around on the net and found this set of bags http://www.ccsaddlebags.com/MB15002strapplainpkts18.htm which seem really expensive, but I like 'em a lot (and the price includes the bracket, so maybe it's a better deal than I think). I especially am partial to the quick release clips on the straps, as I have had them on a previous pair of saddlebags and loved 'em. My wife doesn't have 'em and it takes forever to get in and out of those suckers. By the way, I'd still love to see the pictures Becky, and hear any thoughts on those bags I'm lookin' at. At over five hundred bucks they may have to wait a little while.

I strongly suggest the Easy Brackets. I'm on my third bike and have used them on all 3.
If you're looking for bags, consider Leatherneck Jim.
Good luck!

I have the K-drive bags and am very pleased with them.They are easy to remove and the bracket is small which I like.Sorry no picture haven't figured out how to do it yet. I do have both seats on. Mikey

First your photo needs to be at an internet address.
Determine that address
paste that address between
[image]image address goes here[/image]
there you have it.

Addy--
Right click then when using
Explorer: select properties, then copy the address from the window that appears

Mozilla/Firefox: select copy image location

Example see this ? Well right click on it and look for the address that matches http://www.bonnevilleamerica.com/forums/images/icons/blush.gif