I got my Christmas gifts now have to put them on the Savage.  The mounting brackets came with full instructions and looks pretty simple.  If anybody thinks I'm in for a suprise and it's more complicated than it looks, please warn me now!

But.........

It is not obvious how to remove the back seat to mount the saddlebags.  Your input would be greatly appreciated.

If you do not ride two up you may want to consider, if you haven't already, mounting the bags over the rear seat.  Mine fit much better that way and the right bag is keept away from the exhaust.  Each case can be a bit different, just a thought.

Thanks Paladin.  I can feel 2 bolts on each side at the rear of the front seat.

red2k1....... I measured everything before deciding on saddlebags.  It looks like I'm gonna have plenty of clearance over the exhaust.  No, I don't ride 2 up and I've never heard of anybody stealing saddlebags but I do live in a big city and would prefer not to have the temptation just hanging there.

Patty....... Yep I have the support rails.

We did hit one snag right off the bat.  Metric tools!  We have a metric socket set but no metric cresent wrenches and if I do it according to instructions I am supposed to use a torque wrench.  So, I'm gonna have to buy or borrow some tools which is why you aren't looking a pics of my saddlebags right now.

Hi Diane ... I mounted some bag brackets last year and made a mess of a couple of the fender rail bolts (which you have to remove in order to install the brackets) ... I put it down to my "mechanical ineptitude" and the fact that I didn't have the proper tools. Anyhoo, these bolts (2-each side) reside on the inside of the rear fender and are kinda awkward to get at ... a socket won't fit in there (unless you remove the rear wheel), but those ratcheting ring wrenches work well in a situation like this ... after ruining the head on one of the bolts and having to use a set of vice-grips to remove it, I then used one of those ratcheting ring wrenches to remove the other bolts without trouble ... they work well, 'cause you don't have to reposition 'em after every turn ... especially good in close quarters like under the fender ... a metric set can be picked up at any automotive parts or tool supply store. After these bolts are removed, putting on the brackets is a straight forward matter ... just position and reinstall those pesky bolts!

And here I thought you were just screwing with the rest of us to see if we'd catch it!  I guess you guys had a white one, huh?  That's cool.  The only snow we had was what was left in a few shaded areas from a couple of days prior and it was negligible then.  Oh well, I heard there have only been two recorded instances of a white Christmas for Dallas and last was in the 20's.