Topic: Saddle bags: Buy or make my own?

[Wykydtron]

In preparation for my trip up to Michigan next month Im outfitting the 75 550 with a luggage rack and saddlebags.  Dont worry its temporary, just for this and future adventures.  A coworker gave me a nice luggage rack so Im good there but I still need some saddle bags for tools, spare parts, a place to store my jacket etc.  Im riding up to Leland Michigan and taking a boat out to North Manitou Island for a week and the bike will be parked durring that time so locking bags are a must.  Im camping out there so I need to be able to stash my coat and stuff on the bike cuz I aint carrying it with me!  Can anyone recommend some good bags for me.  They need to be waterproof and while being hard bags isnt a must, I assume thats a given for bags that lock.

On the otherhand, why spend the cash on expensive bags when I can just make them out of big ammo boxes as Ive seen others do.  They are tough, waterproof, and they look bad ass I think.  Anyone do this?  How did you go about mounting them and how hard would it be to make them lockable with a padlock say?  I can figure something out Im sure but it would be nice to get some ideas.  Thanks guys.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Here is a source and a close-up of a 20mm ammo can.  Looks like it would be easy enough to add a lock.

http://www.armysurplusworld.com/product.asp?ProductID=922

[techy5025]

A lot of people on the adventure rider site.... www.advrider.com ... use the Jesse bags which are aluminum, big, and I would guess
rather heavy.  At least two have dropped their bikes with their legs caught under the bags and broken legs were the result.  One could
argue that these guys push the limits on riding so I don't know if it would apply here. I decided to go with the Cortech tail and saddlebags
which are ballistic nylon. They are also one of the few that come in colors if you are into getting a match to your bike.

http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/product.php?productid=149&cat=31

Jim

[Shenanigans]

Ammo boxes are the way to go

[Blaize]

Yep, if properly executed, ammo boxes would look bad ass. And at $15 a peice.........

[xtalon]

A buddy of mine made his own out of some surplus 'waterproof' pelican cases that were used to carry computers and had holes drilled in them for the computer fans.  He repaired the holes and built racks to mount on his DR650.

Even if you don't go this specific route, it could give you some ideas and at the very least, it is excellent info on plastic repair.  The link is below.

I'm not sure if the surplus Pelican cases are still available, but if you are interested, I can try to find out where he obtained them.

Whatever you decide, good luck!

--xTalon

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=195528

[xtalon]

Thanks for the link man.  I'd really like to see more pics and info on building and attaching a rack that would make them easy to disconnect but not easy to steal.  The pics I did see gave me some ideas though and I liked the idea of putting reflectors and lights and #$%* on em/in em.  Damn it I really need to get a welder one of these days.  Luckily I can use may dads old ass arch if I need to or my step-bro's mig.  Im itchin to build some #$%*.

He built racks and was going to include it in his thread, but he got pissed off because people kept whining about his way was too expensive, etc.  He never said it was the only way, just the way he would do it, but people kept hi-jacking his thread with try this and do that, etc.  If you are really interested in the racks, let me know and I'll see if I can get some pictures for you.  I know he put something like a u channel or something on the bottom of the case that you would set the case on and then rotate it up to the top part of the rack to be locked in.

--xTalon

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Hey Wyk,

If you plan on taking I-69 up thru Michigan, there is a GREAT brew pub in Marshall.  If you do stop by, let me know when and I'll buy you a round!

[nickjtc]

Whatever you put on, be careful not to overload and put un-necessary strain on the rear part of the frame.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Msg sent.

[Rsnip988]

I had been thinking of doing this too for a while, I picked up a few ammo boxes the size you are talking about from a local Army navy Surplus store i found in the yellow pages.   before wasting money on shipping call around local shops to see if they have any

i got 2 for 5.95 each and no shipping!!!

good luck keep us posted on progress

RKS

[Rsnip988]

I'm drawing up my idea for a bracket now (only mines for a 750K), lets compare ideas at some point...  both bikes mounts should be close to the same at least the same design if not larger for mine...


let me know

RKS