Topic: dumb saddlebag question

[medic09]

Picked these up cheap, in good shape.  Figured they'll go on one of our bikes.  Uh, I can't quite figure how they attach.  Seems to me they must lay across the seat, with the small strap attaching to the grab strap on the seat.  What's the long strap for?  I thought it might go under the seat, but it's a bit of a funny angle for that, and it's quite long.

Anybody know anything about these?  Anyone care to educate me?

Thanks!

[Ratfink]

I think the long ones go around your waist...

[merc2dogs]

 Unless I'm just on a short ride to the store or something, I put mine under the seat that way I don't have to worry about someone snagging them.
 
 The short strap hooks to the grab bar, and the long strap goes under the seat or through the frame, anywhere it hooks up well enough to keep it from sliding off.
 
  My old bike I had velcro strips on the seat, the loop part on the seat, and the hooks on the bag, just toss it on and ride.

Ken.

[csendker]

I set mine under the seat, however, the rear turn signals use to get in the way until I replaced them.  When under the seat, they're not going anywhere so I really don't tie them off anyplace.  I do hook a bungee from the bottom shock mount to the back of my luggage rack to eliminate the possibility of them getting caught in the rear wheel.  If I used them more than once in a blue moon, then I'd probably look into some real saddlebag mounts.

[petercb750]

My mrs wants to put something like these on her 400F - do you need to have any rack or frame to prevent these from hitting the back wheel, or to fix the bags to to stop them swinging out in the breeze?

Peter.

[csendker]

You can get saddlebag supports something like in the attached picture, but they're mostly custom fit and I've never seen them for my 550.  I guess you could get a set and make them fit.  I don't use mine enought to warrant anything beyond my temporary bungee setup.  If I'm going any distance or speed, I'll also hook one of those tiny bungees to hold the bag against the big one.

[seaweb11]

Hey csendker   ...I bought a set of that exact style in Mexico years ago.  Worked pretty good for a few years and then the leather got very stiff and they final broke.  Have a nice set of soft bags for long trips now.

As for where does the long strap go?  As said earlier..anywhere under the seat, frame they will work. Each bike has its own places to steady them some what

[csendker]

I snagged these off e-buy for next-to-nothing.  I was looking for something to use until I could figure out what I really wanted for the long run.  They're getting a bit stiff, but I keep oiling them up with baby oil.  The two long straps on each flap are a pain to open & close, but they work great for carrying stuff around when Ineed to.  I prefer the bike without them, so I like the "toss-on, toss-off" concept for quick extra storage.

[Uncle Ernie]

Peter, usually the problem is not flying about, mostly it's hitting the pipe.  I sometimes use tank panniers from Riderwearhouse- 2 smaller bags that hang over the tank.

I'd really like to get a set of these some day; www.bbreproductions.com

[csendker]

usually the problem is not flying about, mostly it's hitting the pipe.

Yes, that was exactly my problem also.  I have a 4-1 that had a noticible upturn on the pipe so that the RH bag would hit.  Then I snagged a set of damn-near-perfect 4-2 mufflers, but I have only 4-1 pipes.  Then I started looking for the 4-2 pipes to go with when two things occurred to me:

1. This was getting pretty extensive & expensive for a set of old bags that I got as an experiment.
2. My muffler was connected to the header with a clamp that I had never noticed before.  Duh.

So I loosened the clamp and spun the muffler so that it was more level and less upswept.  Double duh. 

Well, I ended up painting the rusty/crusty old muffler so it looks nice (pic was before the paint job..), and at least I now have a set of really nice 4-2's for someday when I can score a set of headers to go with 'em.  <Insert heavy sigh> sometimes it's painful to be a noob.

[petercb750]

Uncle ernie - with the standard pipe on the 400F I don't think the bags would hit? They wouldn't hang down that low?
Time to start shopping around and see what's out there I think, then the mrs will be able to carry her hairdryer, make-up, brushes etc - oops sorry, that's sure to stir up the femaile readers. Sorry ladies, just joshin'.