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Message started by Josh C on 07/09/08 at 07:33:48

Title: Got my savage finally
Post by Josh C on 07/09/08 at 07:33:48

So I finally landed a savage, or s40 I guess. It completely broke me, and I probably paid 100-200 dollars too much for it, but I was sick of waiting and didn't wanna run the guy off by asking him for more price drop. Paid 3300 for an '05 with a windshield and sissy bar and 1,700 miles.

Had never ridden a motorcycle before last night. I had to go to oklahoma (I live in arkansas) and right when I got there it started storming right west of us, moving east. So, as it was getting dark and a storm coming, had to figure out how to ride the bike then immediately take it on the turnpike for the long haul back home. Then I had to take a turny backroad all the way to my house in the dark. That was a crazy and scary experience, and today I didn't even get to ride my bike because it rained.

Anyway, since I am now broke, does anyone have any suggestions for making some REAL cheap throwover saddlebags? Is there any danger in just making some ghetto bags for a little while? (like will they get caught in the wheel or blow around too much if I don't give them a hard back?) I really know nothing about saddlebags other than that I cannot pay very much for them, but need them very much.

Josh

Title: Re: Got my savage finally
Post by thumperclone on 07/09/08 at 07:57:05

day trip size back pack,wear it or bungiee to back seat...i use one as a "tackle box"to go fishin...

Title: Re: Got my savage finally
Post by Rustbucket on 07/09/08 at 07:57:28

You paid $100. more than i did for my 05, but yours has 1000 fewer miles on it than mine did when i bought it a couple months ago.
You didn't overpay in my opinion.. Now go get some spare keys for it and upgrade the stock headlight and tail light!
Congrats!
:D

Title: Re: Got my savage finally
Post by aebooze on 07/09/08 at 08:02:44

darn you'd never ridden before and you took it on the highway? Glad you made it home ok. I still haven't worked myself up to that yet.

Title: Re: Got my savage finally
Post by Gary On A Savage on 07/09/08 at 08:03:01

Congrats on the Savage! And on making it home in one piece.

Ghetto bags can be cool, if done right. We've seen some very creative stuff on Savages/S40. With any soft bags on the back, you'll need to make sure that they have supports so they don't get caught in the wheels. You can make your own supports from some bent rod or the likes. Feel free to be creative. Must of us Savage owners have to be, since we are also broke most of the time.

Also, you can use other carrying options instead of saddlebags. That sissy bar is a great thing to strap bags/boxes to. Do some searches on this site for saddlebags and luggage. Also look in the tech section.

Enjoy the new bike and keep the Rubber Side Down!

Title: Re: Got my savage finally
Post by verslagen1 on 07/09/08 at 08:55:15

Get a milk crate, set it on the pillion (you won't be taking any passengers for awhile anyway) either take off the sissy pad and mount it on the crate or just leave it off. strap the crate to the bar, another strap to the shock mounts to the front of the crate and you're ready for some serious hawlin'.

Title: Re: Got my savage finally
Post by serowbot on 07/09/08 at 09:53:41

Trial by fire!
Thrift shop, man-bags/messenger bags are more comfortable than backpacks for me. The backpacks tend to cut off circulation at the shoulders. Wonkish saddlebags will tend to get in spokes.

Title: Re: Got my savage finally
Post by flcruzr on 07/09/08 at 10:17:00

Josh, try to save up for the MSF course! You will learn a few key points to staying safe out on the road. Congrats on your new bike, Good Luck and ride safe!

Title: Re: Got my savage finally
Post by SimonTuffGuy on 07/09/08 at 11:14:10

Congrats on your purchase! You're going to love the bike. :)

A cheap set of saddlebags will run you less than $100, the brackets to keep them out of the wheel can be fabricated (check threads here) or purchased for around $60.

If you're dumping money into crates, bags, etc... Why not just invest in actual bags?

Title: Re: Got my savage finally
Post by sjaskow on 07/09/08 at 11:20:58

I've got an Ogio Sector Z backpack which is big enough for my 15" Dell laptop and an ATV Cargo net kind of like this http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=2&L2=&L3=&L4=&item=TUC_10-0010
that I connect to the rear shocks and the fender. The backpack was free and I think I paid $7.99 at Meijer for the net.

It's really nice on 90+ days so the pack doesn't make my back sweat so much. I even manged to put 5 pounds of rawhide bones and a box of Grandma's cookies in it on day one my way home from work. ;D

Title: Re: Got my savage finally
Post by photojoe on 07/09/08 at 11:37:40

My favorite bag is the Dowco Overnighter bag here: http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/3/13/124/5429/ITEM/Dowco-Iron-Rider-Overnighter-Bag.aspx?SiteID=CSE_GBase&WT.mc_ID=80003&zmam=88421133&zmas=1&zmac=2&zmap=5429. It's strapped and bungeed on my rear rack usually containing a little under 15 lbs. of photo gear for my job, which requires me riding to/from numerous locations all day/night. It's a great bag, just needed to get used to riding with the weight at the extreme rear of the bike. But for riding with stuff with little weight, I hardly notice it back there. I paid $53 for it on ebay, and registered it with Dowco for a 2 year warranty.

Title: Re: Got my savage finally
Post by Hard Corps on 07/09/08 at 18:02:35

Wow. I admire your bravery. Or craziness. I had never ridden a street bike (only dirt bikes almost 20 years ago) when I bought my Savage. I rode her around the dealership's parking lot for almost an hour before I braved the 13 miles of straight county roads home. I take her on the freeway now 1,000 miles later.

As far as bags go, I had a really great Fieldline hunting pack I bought at Wal-Mart. I traveled with the thing on four continents and two major military operations. It was nearly indestructible for $30. Now Wal-Mart is selling the same bag as a motorcycle pack- instead of camo it's black with reflective tape sewn on and a sissy-bar attachment set-up. I bought it about a month ago out of the automotive department for thirty or forty bucks. You can fit three days of clothes and camping gear in the thing, or cinch it down tight with just a case of beer on the way home from work. And it's hydration bladder compatible so on long trips I'll put my camelbak bladder in it. It was way cheaper than saddle bags, fits more gear, and I use it as my carry-on when I fly, too.

Title: Re: Got my savage finally
Post by Dj12midnit on 07/09/08 at 20:01:22

121103001304610 wrote:

Now Wal-Mart is selling the same bag as a motorcycle pack- instead of camo it's black with reflective tape sewn on and a sissy-bar attachment set-up.

Hard do you have a pic of the bag you can post?

Title: Re: Got my savage finally
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/09/08 at 20:14:31

A backpack with a hole in it to accommodate a piece of heavy string in the lower front to tie to the left lower shock mount & a bungee to the helmet lock WILL work. The pack from Wally World for just under $10.00, a bungee cord? A buck?. It worked for me.

Title: Re: Got my savage finally
Post by sluggo on 07/09/08 at 20:34:13

welcome, i uesed, use a set of throw over saddle bags i got at surplus.

with my bobber i just throw them over the seat, sit on them to hold them in place. they dont restrict the riding position. i jume off take them with me.

a great score i got was a micky dee's book bag, it folds up real small stored in a small camera bag mounted toframe low in front of engine. take it out use it as a pack, it'll hold a half rack or a gallon of cow.

Title: Re: Got my savage finally
Post by Josh C on 07/10/08 at 10:32:58

unfortunately the normal suggestions of strap a crate to pillion won't do, because i will be riding with my wife on the back. I guess some homemade bracket with some homemade saddle bags might have to do.

HC, where did that fieldline backpack strap? In front of the sissy bar or behind it, allowing a passenger? You got that in the automotive section?

Title: Re: Got my savage finally
Post by verslagen1 on 07/10/08 at 18:02:02

As others have said, get some practice before you take your wife with you. Find a big open parking lot and spend an hour. The type of stuff you learn in the MSF course. Low speed handling, then put your wife on the back and do the same thing. It might be boring, but the last thing you want is a suprise with your wife on the back. It's ok to make mistakes, but make a mistake in front of your wife and guess what she'll remind you about for the rest of your life. And that's if a scar it's involved. :o Would kill me.

Title: Re: Got my savage finally
Post by bill67 on 07/10/08 at 19:26:59

I think when you start hauling a passenger you should find some back roads and get used to the weight ,before you start trying to do tight turns in a parking lot.A parking lot isn't a good place to learn to ride a motorcycle

Title: Re: Got my savage finally
Post by Sandy Koocanusa on 07/10/08 at 19:53:08

Well, you do have to look around pretty hard and find a parking lot with no borrow pits, hills and corners, dogs that chase you out of adjoining trailer parks, traffic (both oncoming and tailgating) logging trucks whipping around and dropping bark on you, etc. But IF you are able to find such a parking lot, it should be as good as a nice, safe, public roadway to learn on.