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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Saddlebags, Big Cranks and Turn Signal Conversions /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1136996446 Message started by reclamations on 01/11/06 at 08:20:46 |
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Title: Saddlebags, Big Cranks and Turn Signal Conversions Post by reclamations on 01/11/06 at 08:20:46 Last summer I purchased a set of saddlebags that were universal: http://www.motopakluggage.com/gts90.html "Universal" means they fit any bike, right? They're gorgeous and well made (and were half price on EBay)But they sure don't fit well on my Muse - - unless I'm willing to have chafing on the backs of my knees or move the turn signals and figure out a way to not have the backs of the bags rub against springs, tire, or anything else. What are other folks doing? I want to be able to tour a bit and not everything will fit in a tankbag/backpack. If I opt to move the turn signals, HOW do I DO that? Itchin' to ride, Yvonne |
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Title: Re: Ah, those universal saddlebags ... Post by mornhm on 01/11/06 at 09:15:13 Yvonne, After trying last summer to figure out how to tour with the Savage, I decided that I was better off with a touring MC. I did have a cloth "trunk" and was able to lash on everything I needed for a couple of camping trips, but it's kinda like asking a steer to be a bull - he's thankful for the honor (but he'd much rather have restored what's rightfully his :P ) My mechanic put it another way - "you're trying to turn a sow's ear into a silk purse." I agree I took my ST on a 400 mile trip last Saturday, starting temperature was 30 deg F and felt great at the end of the day (only had to fill up once). Anyway suzuki does make a rack for the Savage (it's around the forum somewhere). It's easy to put on and use there's a lot of trunks around including homemade, but you still need saddle bags, and a windshield and a bigger gas tank etc. etc. You could get bungies and strap on a milk crate. :D |
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Title: Re: Ah, those universal saddlebags ... Post by reclamations on 01/11/06 at 09:25:49 I hear ya about not making a steer into a bull, but the only bike I've found that "fits" me IS the Savage. I'm a whopping 5 foot, 1 and 1/2 inches (that half inch is important, ya know) with a 28" inseam (if I stretch) and less than 130 pounds. I'm not willing to sacrifice safety and muscle a larger bike (and ride on tiptoes), so I've got to work with what (little) I've been given - - and I guess I expect the same from my Savage. Am I asking too much? 'Dunno! Yvonne |
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Title: Re: Ah, those universal saddlebags ... Post by Hammy211 on 01/11/06 at 09:30:53 Do you have saddle bag brackets? That is your answer if you are having trouble with them contacting the bike. If they are pushed as far back as they will go, are they mounted as low as they can go? This may mean mounting them under the passenger seat if you haven't done that. If they still hit the backs of your legs you simply have too large of bags. Mine are plenty large and I have no problems with them. Another option you have is a sissybar bag mounted either way. If you want it on the back though, you may have to buy the shelf attachment made for the Savage. I think relocating the blinkers is more than you want to mess with. If you really wanted to do it the only thing I can think of would be to remove the entire sissy bar, blinker setup. Make a template of the holes underneath. Then start drilling new one. Better hope you like it when your done. |
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Title: Re: Ah, those universal saddlebags ... Post by SAMM on 01/11/06 at 09:45:45 Ck out the picture gallery.. There are lots of bikes with side bags to get ideas from :) |
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Title: Re: Ah, those universal saddlebags ... Post by saabsaviur on 01/11/06 at 09:58:32 my saddlebags are the unniversal type off ebay the fit great they end just a little past the rear seat and never had any problem with clearance of anything http://flagstaffelite.com/sitebuilder/images/HPIM0034-250x187.jpg |
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Title: Re: Ah, those universal saddlebags ... Post by Digger on 01/11/06 at 11:12:17 mornhm wrote:
FWIW, I've got the Suzuki luggage rack on mine, along with a travel trunk I purchased from J.C. Whitney's. It's workin' pretty good now, but I've had to do a few fixes to the rack. It is a POS, I've had to weld it twice due to breakage, and now I've got it held together w/ u-bolts. Sigh, I wish someone else made a luggage rack for the Savage, I could not find any alternatives to the Suzuki rack when I bought it back in '01. |
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Title: Re: Ah, those universal saddlebags ... Post by Savage_Rob on 01/11/06 at 11:20:33 Digger wrote:
Wow, that's odd to me. My Suzuki luggage rack has been completely solid and I've had no problems. I had a trunk from JCWhitney on it for almost quite a while and recently put a .50 cal ammo box on instead. Eventually, it'll be the Leatherlyke bags. They're lockable hard bags made to fit the Savage and look like leather bags. When you install them, you relocate the turn signals but that's part of the kit. Check out pics of Paladin's bike to see them. |
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Title: Re: Ah, those universal saddlebags ... Post by Dynobob on 01/11/06 at 13:10:50 I think you can tour some on the Savage if you do something to fix that seat. I'm doing some seat mods this winter (raise the front and get a good pad). I have Suzuki bags, bag guards, and luggage rack on mine. With a luggage rack you can add a T-Bag or two (one on the pillion and one on the rack). There are cheaper T-Bag styled bags on Ebay too - look for Jafrum bags. http://www.tbags.com/products.aspx?CategoryID=2 http://www.tbags.com/products.aspx?CategoryID=3 |
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Title: Re: Ah, those universal saddlebags ... Post by Savage_Rob on 01/11/06 at 13:13:07 Possibly one of the simplest ways would be to fabricate a higher sissy bar and attach bags to it. |
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Title: Re: Ah, those universal saddlebags ... Post by conchscooter on 01/11/06 at 13:16:46 I have installed soft bags that i found on the shelf at the Suzuki dealer in Miami. I tested them off the shelf against an S40 on the showroom floor. Above all I wanted bags that fit - no moving of turn signals etc... and as a result the bags ($135) are small and not waterproof in a South Florida summer downpours. I also bought vastly expensive Suzuki bag mounts ($70) and a rear rack ($80). I put a large box from my previous cycle on the Suzuki rack but the rack keeps coming loose and will need struts to brace it. I commute daily 25 miles and carry waterproofs etc... in the bags and my work bag in the top box. I want hard bags and a top box that won't flap on the bumps, but there we are. New rear suspension is on my to-do list and I appreciate the suggestions I've seen posted. |
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Title: Re: Ah, those universal saddlebags ... Post by Paladin on 01/11/06 at 14:28:05 reclamations wrote:
Actually quite easy. My saddlebags came with a turn signal relocate kit which was a short piece of angle iron with holes, nuts, bolts, wire, connectors. The angle iron bolted to the license bracket, the stock signals bolt to the angle iron and the wires slip along the same path as the tail light. Requires an eight inch stretch which was what the extra wire and conenctors were for. End result: http://www.andruschak.net/savage/FTP/ReLocTailLight1.jpg http://www.andruschak.net/savage/FTP/ReLocTailLight2.jpg |
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Title: Re: Ah, those universal saddlebags ... Post by Digger on 01/12/06 at 09:11:53 Savage_Rob wrote:
Actually, I've probably overloaded the thing on several occasions. The last time the luggage rack broke, I had two gallons of anti-freeze and some heavy books stuffed into the top box when I hit a large, gnarly pothole. I've owned several bikes over the years, all with luggage racks. The Suzuki rack on my Savage is the flimsiest one I've ever owned. Anyway, with the welds and the u-joints, she is solid now. |
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Title: Re: Ah, those universal saddlebags ... Post by reclamations on 01/12/06 at 10:31:49 Paladin wrote:
Neat! I like this look! Is there a place I can get the turn signal relocation kit (since I already have the bags)? Or the extra wire (entenders)? What happens with the hole in the back fender once you relocate them? I've got a watch on EBay for the saddlebag brackets ($85 retail? You're kidding, right?) and will nab them next they appear on my radar. |
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Title: Re: Ah, those universal saddlebags ... Post by Paladin on 01/12/06 at 16:16:37 You can call or write Hoese Corp, P.O. Box 41, Bulverde, Texas 78163. 1-800-594-2008 They're the manufacturer and may sell the turn signal relocate kit separate. |
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Title: Re: Ah, those universal saddlebags ... Post by threezukes on 01/12/06 at 18:31:59 I just replaced the stock lights with smaller shorter ones so they sit between the rails and the saddle bags. |
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Title: Re: Ah, those universal saddlebags ... Post by Savage_Rob on 01/15/06 at 18:12:35 Digger wrote:
I just pulled mine off to pull the side rails and such so I could install the running light kit on my turn signals and partially broke one weld. So much for mine holding up. I'll have to find a place locally to get it welded. Of course, I've had quite a bit of weight on mine too. |
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Title: Re: Ah, those universal saddlebags ... Post by Digger on 01/16/06 at 10:50:40 Rob, How dare you incite the mechanical gods by braggin' on yer luggage rack? :) |
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Title: Re: Ah, those universal saddlebags ... Post by Savage_Rob on 01/16/06 at 11:00:53 Digger wrote:
*sigh* That was obviously inviting failure. |
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Title: Re: Ah, those universal saddlebags ... Post by magicfairy on 01/19/06 at 16:11:06 I have a Ventura pack frame fitted go my 05 S40. They make them especially for the each model. I use the sports pack for commuting to work and carrying stuff and swap it out for the Pack Rack for carrying more stuff. Really common here in NZ. They don't make saddlebags but you could attach them to the frame if needed. http://www.ventura-bike.com/english/products/pack_system/index.html |
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Title: Re: Ah, those universal saddlebags ... Post by reclamations on 02/10/06 at 07:46:21 Tee Hee! I ordered a new Big Crank battery AND the turn signal conversion kit today. I CAN HARDLY WAIT!! Thanks, all, for your advice and help. I appreciate it. |
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Title: Re: Tee Hee! Post by Savage_Rob on 02/10/06 at 07:55:40 reclamations wrote:
You'll like the turn signal conversion. Oh, and I changed the title of the topic to reflect the shift from saddlebags. |
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Title: Re: Saddlebags, Big Cranks and Turn Signal Convers Post by Max_Morley on 02/11/06 at 15:43:40 The tall seat back type bags (the name escapes me right now) that have a sleeve that fits over the sissy bar worked well on my SiL's 99 Savage. She has toured and camped over parts of the Western US Canada and AK with it successfully. Also provides a back rest if allowed to sit on the passengr pillion. We have just this week put a package rack in place of the pillion pad on mt BiL's 87 Savage. I try to get the pictures reduced in pixels count and posted somehow. Used my old soft saddlebags and supports. Used the original sissy bar cut down for the rear support and then used a extra bar I had here to make back rest. BiL is all grins. Max |
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