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Message started by Evanswv on 12/31/21 at 13:51:37

Title: Relocating rear signals??
Post by Evanswv on 12/31/21 at 13:51:37

I will be needing to move my signal lights to install my bags, and the most obvious way would be to attach them to the license plate mount, but it seems like a really weak piece of what I assume is some sort of metal. It's almost looks like plastic. I don't want to drill holes in the tail end of my fender, and have even wondered if I could use light strips and attach them to the bags. I welcome any,and all advice that you can offer me.

Title: Re: Relocating rear signals??
Post by verslagen1 on 12/31/21 at 14:24:42

The license plate bracket is aluminum and people have been hanging the signals off of it for a long time.

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=tech;action=display;num=1118286882

Title: Re: Relocating rear signals??
Post by Evanswv on 12/31/21 at 14:40:02

4D5E4948575A5C5E550A3B0 wrote:

The license plate bracket is aluminum and people have been hanging the signals off of it for a long time.

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=tech;action=display;num=1118286882

Thanks. I figured it was probably aluminum, but it just looks like a piece of brittle plastic, and I didn't want to break it. Does anyone know what size hole the signals mount in?

Title: Re: Relocating rear signals??
Post by Tocsik on 01/01/22 at 11:22:53

I tried some aftermarket incandescent turn signals mounted to one of the typical flat, steel brackets on the license plate bracket. They ended up leaking, water got in and rusted them.

The factory signals are actually pretty good if you aren't building a bobber, cafe or something that needs smaller, more discreet signals.

There are some great ideas on this forum for relocating the rear signals. I'll attach some thoughts on how I did mine cheap and easy.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U_mv3ALoOQv6JPPEfvuhlBi9brG_-Q0n/view?usp=sharing

Title: Re: Relocating rear signals??
Post by och on 01/01/22 at 16:00:49

What kind of bags are you using, with stock backs you dont need to move the turn signals.

Title: Re: Relocating rear signals??
Post by Evanswv on 01/01/22 at 18:11:13

414D462E0 wrote:

What kind of bags are you using, with stock backs you dont need to move the turn signals.

The bags that I now intend to use are Saddleman bags . The guy I got them from had them on a big Victory. I think they will be a little big for the bike, but I don't think they will be too hard to mount on the bike with all the mounting stuff I got with them, but I will definitely need to move the signals. The set I ordered would have fit the bike a lot better, and look a lot better, because they are cut at an angle to clear the shocks, and they are small but fairly deep. I will probably replace the small ones on my little Virago with them, because it has a trunk. If I do stick with the big Saddleman bags on the Savage, I won't need a trunk.

Title: Re: Relocating rear signals??
Post by Evanswv on 01/01/22 at 19:09:47

I am posting pictures of the bags that I ordered, and the big ones I found listed on Facebook the next day. The ones I bought used are not perfect, but still very good. They are missing one decorative stud, and have a scuff,or two. There is nothing wrong with the straps though. I guess he just had one loose when he took the picture.I will be posting them on his bike to show the size.

Title: Re: Relocating rear signals??
Post by Evanswv on 01/01/22 at 19:14:26

I guess I can only post one pic at a time. Here are the ones I ordered,and have coming b from India.

Title: Re: Relocating rear signals??
Post by och on 01/01/22 at 19:17:06

They look small enough, I don't think you'll have to mess with your signals.

Title: Re: Relocating rear signals??
Post by Evanswv on 01/01/22 at 19:25:22

535F543C0 wrote:

They look small enough, I don't think you'll have to mess with your signals.

I am sure I could use the ones I ordered without moving them, but I held one of the ones I bought used up against my bike yesterday, and I don't see see any way of mounting them without moving the lights. I don't expect January to be ad mild as December was, so I will not get in too big of a hurry mounting them ,at least till I see the ones I ordered in person. .I know they would look better on a smaller bike like the Savage. I may change my mind,and use them after all.

Title: Re: Relocating rear signals??
Post by Tocsik on 01/02/22 at 09:40:47

Those bags from India have some character. I like 'em.

Title: Re: Relocating rear signals??
Post by och on 01/02/22 at 09:44:07

Yeah, I like those small bags too, they look far better with the styling of the S40 than the larger bags. Also, the small bags are soft and stretchy, so they will fit a lot more than you think, the larger bags are generally very hard and a pain in the ass to use. I have a set of similar large bags on my V Star 950, I rarely use them, I mostly use the trunk.

Title: Re: Relocating rear signals??
Post by Evanswv on 01/02/22 at 10:33:05

767A71190 wrote:

I kinda regret getting the big bags, and may not use them yet. I didn't realize how roomy the bags would be until I found the same ones on Amazon , except I don't think they have black. They have pictures with some of the reviews, and even though I didn't see any on a Savage, or mounted behind the shock, like I would do , I think they would be great mounted behind the shock on a Savage, because they are slanted on one side. Here is a picture from Amazon reviews

Title: Re: Relocating rear signals??
Post by och on 01/02/22 at 11:36:26

7645525D400A04330 wrote:

[quote author=767A71190 link=1640987497/0#11 date=1641145447]Yeah, I like those small bags too, they look far better with the styling of the S40 than the larger bags. Also, the small bags are soft and stretchy, so they will fit a lot more than you think, the larger bags are generally very hard and a pain in the ass to use. I have a set of similar large bags on my V Star 950, I rarely use them, I mostly use the trunk.

Title: Re: Relocating rear signals??
Post by Evanswv on 01/02/22 at 11:53:19

:-? 8-) :os[/quote]

Yep, these will look great behind the shock! Mind sharing the link where you've got them? I might replace mine with the same ones.
[/quote]
I bought mine from https://www.ebay.com/itm/Leather-L-R-Side-Motorcycle-Saddlebags-Pouch-Bags-Panniers-Saddle-Bags-GVB-Black-/154133164523?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0. The shipping will be slow, but they can be had from Amazon ad well, but unless I missed the black ones ,all I saw were brown, or tan. I couldn't get the link to the ones I bought to work. I think I got the last black for $50. I saw these for $54. https://www.ebay.com/itm/GVB-Black-Leather-L-R-Side-Motorcycle-Saddlebags-Pouch-Bags-Panniers-Saddle-Bags-/284040073037?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0. It has "Make an offer" for them, so you may get them for a couple bucks less. Mine said the same thing they were listed at $50.60, and my inner tightwad made me offer $47, but about 2 hours later they message back with the counter offer of $50.00, and I bought them. They have some bags that are the same shape, but smaller, and they have some 3 bag sets which include a fork bag. I will post a link to the tan or brown bags I saw on Amazon. This set is cheaper, but I think they are the same, as the next ones, according to the measurements they aren't exactly the same measurements, but I still think they are the https://www.amazon.com/Classic-Handicraft-Motorcycle-Saddlebags-Valentine/dp/B07KT3P3ZY/ref=pd_aw_di_ci_int_im_exp_ip_m_t_p_0?pd_rd_w=d1wYc&pf_rd_p=6094f500-c79b-415a-a12f-79d306e51056&pf_rd_r=QQ0QVCNRFY2F37AMMHP0&pd_rd_r=d7b3f53b-9d93-4139-8c22-ee3d14bbfc93&pd_rd_wg=yLmHD&pd_rd_i=B07KT3P3ZY. Here are the others https://www.amazon.com/LBH-Motorcycle-Leather-Saddlebags-Panniers/dp/B07CTD64GN/ref=pd_aw_di_ci_int_im_exp_ip_m_t_p_0?pd_rd_w=udOBT&pf_rd_p=6094f500-c79b-415a-a12f-79d306e51056&pf_rd_r=2ZT57BY2Q746RH8376E2&pd_rd_r=7435b06f-759d-49fc-b366-c41d450aad3f&pd_rd_wg=pDsVS&pd_rd_i=B07CTD64GN

Title: Re: Relocating rear signals??
Post by Evanswv on 02/26/22 at 18:20:04

Well ,I have had my cheap bags from India on the bike for a spell, and figure I would do a review. These bags are surprisingly roomy, and hold their shape well. I stuffed mine tightly full of feed sacks for a couple days, and I think it helped. They have two straps on the back of each bag and the straps are sewn and rivited. They have a green cloth liner with a small zipper pocket in the inside. Of the two bags, one does seem to have better leather, and one has a little bit of a wrinkled texture on a place on the flap. I converted mine to throw over bags by lining the holes up in the rear most flaps, and lacing a strong black shoe string though the holes, and for the front end of the bags ,I doubled the other shoe string, and ran a length between the metal loops on the back of the bags. I let this string slip in between the two sections of my seat, and let the strap go across the little square seat pad. These bags just have flaps with several holes in their straps, and are in no way water proof, but they do come off easy . I ran through a slight shower one day, and the lower quality bag got a little flimsy, but dried out fine enough. I think they fit the Savage well, but I will probably end up mounting the big Saddleman bags that I bought used. Any way ,I think they are well worth the price,if you don't ride in the rain, which I don't intend to do ,but sometimes you can't help it. This up close pic shows the flap with the wrinkled texture on the flap

Title: Re: Relocating rear signals??
Post by Evanswv on 02/26/22 at 18:21:37

Left

Title: Re: Relocating rear signals??
Post by Evanswv on 02/26/22 at 18:22:23

Right

Title: Re: Relocating rear signals??
Post by och on 02/26/22 at 21:44:58

Use leather protectant, such as "Leather Honey" on them - its basically oil that repels water.

Title: Re: Relocating rear signals??
Post by buster6315 on 02/27/22 at 08:29:28

272B20480 wrote:

Use leather protectant, such as "Leather Honey" on them - its basically oil that repels water.

Use caution if you purchase indian leather bags with brass hardware. I've got some and it turns out the chemical used in tanning the leather attacks the brass fittings! :(

Title: Re: Relocating rear signals??
Post by och on 02/27/22 at 16:03:16

51464047564105000206330 wrote:

[quote author=272B20480 link=1640987497/15#18 date=1645940698]Use leather protectant, such as "Leather Honey" on them - its basically oil that repels water.

Use caution if you purchase indian leather bags with brass hardware. I've got some and it turns out the chemical used in tanning the leather attacks the brass fittings! :([/quote]

That is not necessarily a bad thing. Brass will develop a natural patina over time anyway, and many chemicals will greatly accelerate the process. Nothing wrong with patinaed brass, I like it, and a lot of brass products come factory applied patinas. If you dont like it, just use a chemical to restore it, and then apply a layer of waterproof polyurethane.