I'm a novice at suspension, so I need to ask if this is possible and/or feasible.

I'm working on my wife's Savage and want to permanently attach some hard saddlebags.  The problem is that the shock is in the way at the angle it is at now.  

I'm removing the back seat and making hers a one-seater, so I won't have any need for the rear foot pegs.

Here's the question...

Is it possible to relocate the bottom end of the shock to the rear footpeg location?  If so, how will that effect the ride/handling?  It would essentially put the shock at a 90-degree angle to the ground.

My wife is 5' 4" and about 125lbs.  

Am I just wishful thinking, or can I do this without any problem?

Here is what I have done to mount hard bags. I used the front fender rail bolt hole enlarged to mount the front bracket, I had a machinist make a press inplug where the turn lights went as they were in the bags now. The bags I got also had a brace that ran between the 2 bags across the back down low uder the license plate. I too removed the rear pillion and used the siisy bar shortened (to just the uprights)  to weld the rear rack support too and then used the rubber pads off the pillion on bar stock to cantilever mount the front support. They rest on the fender where the pillion pads did. My bags were a display set at a place called bent bike and they had no idea what they were supposed to fit.

On the second one we did for my B-i-L, we did the same at the back then I had some extra peices from the original hard bag mounts that just fit the 2 fender rail holes and went to the front arms on the rack. His rack area is smaller than mine but will work great. We then used the rest of my old bar to make a backrest out of the old sissy bar as the rack was made to clamp on the original sissy bar and go back to some bolts. Have no idea what it was supposed to fit, the guy who sold the savage threw it in when we asked for it.

I can send pics if you want, PM me a address. Max

Hi WD, Yes we have been working on using parts of the side rails/sissy bar I bought from you back then. Think the rails, some rear lights from mine is all that is left. The bags were on the display at the back of the Kent/Auburn store. They cut the tie wraps off that held it to the end of the display row to take them down and sell them to me.  Still have a couple brackets left. Interesting you might still have a set or two there. It was nice as they were new and came with lights, keys for the locks and good gaskets for the covers. One or all of those were missing from the other sets I had acquired.  Take care and I'll try to stop by next trip over that way. Hauled a 99 Savage home that came down from Juneau AK for a neighbor last trip so didn't stop on the way home. Take care, How is WDO doing since grad school? Max

WD I should have mentioned the bags say AMCO on the side. I mounted them outside the shocks and moved them forward too keep the weight forward. One learns to move the feet quickly to keep from have their heels caught under them when walking the bike while on board.  They worked great on the one trip I took and will fit a loaded plastic grocery bag or old style 12 can beverage box and the lid will close and lock. Top trunk will hold 2 of the new shelf style pop boxes or even more above them. Glad to hear that Lisa is doing well, Max