DIY: Ebay Universal Hard Saddle Bags.

[DAFAIC]

I tried to use carbdboard cutouts of the bags but never could get it to work right.

So Once I figured out how to line the brackets up, I held the bag up and lined it as good as possible trying to acheive the look I wanted and then used the 90* pick to mark the holes to drill by pushing the pick into the bracket hole and markeing the bag with a small pinpoint. I wound up doing this on the back bracket first, drilled holes, and then mounted the bag and then marked the front holes, pulled it back apart, drilled front holes, and then reassymbeled everything. Take your time cause you don't want unnecessary holes in the bags.

I have always been pretty good at lining things up by eyesight such as mounting pictures on the wall etc so if you have issues there you might want to find away to do this with the carboard.

My issue with the carboard was factoring the lid and trying to make sure the lid didn't end up hitting the bracket.

When I held the bag against the bracket to mount I rested the bag on the bend in the bracket which worked out well and helped me hold the bag steady. The lid does not make contact with the bracket.

And I had to remove the upper belt guard so that the left side bag would not come into contact with it. I wanted the bags as low as possible.

[rcoligan2]

Very good write up.

[DAFAIC]

Well I certainly appreciate it. For he money and time invested I think they look pretty good and I did not wanna hang leather bags on the bike. If I ever get a passenger back rest I can remove the washers as spacers as that will give me my flat mating surface.

By the way there are 5 of the 3/8 washers between the bracket and hole in the back and 7 between the bracket and the whole up front. Plus 1 washer on each bolt head makes a total of 28 washers. The smaller 8mm washers were used on the bolt heads of the shorter hex bolts which were used to connect the extension to the rear bracket.

[gilly]

You should change out the washers for spacers when you can. It will make it a lot easier when you have to remove things in the future, plus it will look better than all of those washers. You can get them in chrome or paint them black. Just a suggestion.

[DAFAIC]

Very true and a good point. A Harley buddy said the same thing. I am gonna put a rear backrest on the bike so when I do that I won't need the washers anymore.

Prolly gonna do the DIY driver backrest too. But we will see.

Still trying to decide if I am gonna ditch the stealth sheild and go memphis.

[BOSSMAN2677]

I have the black ones the same as those. Didnt get the heavyduty hardware. Just made my own. Pics in my gallery.