But alas,  I cannot upload a picture to show my half arsed idea that actually paid off.....


Anyway, what I'm talking about is a touring bag support that I came up with while standing in the aisles of my local Home depot.

On my bike, my bag support brackets are weird.  On the right side (non-drive side), the bracket extends down another 6" and adequaletly supports the bag (it keeps its shape and remains square to the frame) while the left side left a bit to be desired.

Unlike the right side bracket, the left side bracket extended just 3" below the mounting and out about 1 1/4".  The bottom of the bag was left to rest on the belt guard.  Not really a problem, but it was asymmetrical (not square on both sides) and the bag was beginning to wear where it contacted the belt guard.

Enter my brilliant idea.

In the hardware section of your local Home Depot, you will find an 8" stainless steel drawer pull.  It is exactly the right size for the touring bags.

I took off my belt guard and marked approximately where the bag hit on the guard.  (not too hard considering the wear..)  I marked the length of the drawer pull and then drilled the holes.

I assembled it using thread locker (having a screw back out into the drive belt is NOT a good idea,..)  then re-assembled the bike.

The touring bag now rides on the drawer pull instead of the belt guard and (most important to me) it is symmetrical with the right side bag.

I wish I could upload a picture to show you guys what I mean, but I don't have a photo-bucket to upload stuff to.  You just have to take my word.  It's super cool, and works really well....

Well, that was harsh.....

In a nut shell, I've looked for a better soft side touring bag support for a month with no luck.

Your description of what is happening with the swing arm, explains why the factory brace doesn't extend down any lower.  Given enough travel, it could contact the belt guard as the swing-arm travels up and down.

So I have two options.  One, continue to allow the bag to droop and rest on the belt guard (and wear as the swing arm moves up or down) or to put a second brace at the bottom of the bag to help keep it away from the belt guard and keep the bag square as I ride.  the pull I selected is the same length as the bottom of the touring bag and off sets it approximately 1" from the belt guard.  

So.. Since I can't get a better bag support, what else could I do?  (Besides take the bags off)

Your sarchasm also led me to take securing the screw heads one step further.  I tack welded the flush mount screw heads to the inside of the belt guard.  Now if they want to try to unscrew, they're going to have to break the weld then break the thread locker before it even begins to think about loosening up.....