SuzukiSavage.com - Do all Saddle bags need Mounts?

FreeSpirit

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Do all Saddle bags need Mounts?
08/25/07 at 16:23:49

My question/project for now is saddle bags.

I have a pair of saddle bags...17' wide...that i want to use temporarily.

They actually fit/lay over the rear suspension thing ...which holds it out some away from the wheel.
They have a hard backing and bottom thing.The other end of bag fits up against turn light signal.

My question is: Do you really need bag supports?
I'm also still going at slow speeds while learning.

I probably also need more info on the purpose of mounts. But I really can't afford them right now,so I'm wondering if I can get by without them temporarily.

Thanks for any help!

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FreeSpirit Serious Thumper Offline Joy is my Compass ! Posts: 3823 North Georgia Gender:	Re: Do all Saddle bags need Mounts? Reply #1 - 08/25/07 at 16:34:41 I'm laughing at myself now.....I couldnt decide if they were called mounts or supports.....but I am talking about the supports,things that keep the bags away from tire. Ohhhh.....too much on my mind I need to fix up this bike,learn to ride well and take a long vacation
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skatnbnc

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Re: Do all Saddle bags need Mounts?
Reply #2 - 08/25/07 at 17:05:01

No you do not need bag supports.
Mine never has had any, and they are fine. Yesterday I took them off to repair some torn stitching, but that had nothing to do with interfering in any way with the wheels or shocks.

The only thing that bugs me is that they don't sit further back, but until I do the mod of putting the rear turn signals in a better place, that is it for now.

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FreeSpirit

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Re: Do all Saddle bags need Mounts?
Reply #3 - 08/25/07 at 17:23:28

Thanks Skatnbnc.....

One less thing I have to buy

So what is the purpose of the bag supports?
I've read somewhere,but dont have any idea where

Are they just to prevent the bags from sagging?

I figure since mine have the hard back and bottom,it probably wont sag much or go anywhere.

Do most throw over bags have snaps connecting them(to each other)?
These do!

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WD

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Re: Do all Saddle bags need Mounts?
Reply #4 - 08/25/07 at 17:28:59

The supports keep the bags from getting sucked into the belt or rear tire. Not so much an issue with hard lined bags. True soft bags NEED some kind of support. I like the 1970s type, basically a pipe with a flattened end, hole drilled in the end. Bend to suit the angle needed (use a vise). I can get them all day long out here for a couple dollars per stick, you need 4.

That said, I use Saddleman Drifter bags on mine. Right (non-belt) side is directly bolted to the fender. The left bag is set out on spacers to clear the belt guard (mostly).

I really need some updated pics... But I need to fix the bike first, it croaked (spectacular flame show out the pipe).
-WD

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SavageWahine

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Re: Do all Saddle bags need Mounts?
Reply #5 - 08/25/07 at 17:45:25

FreeSpirit wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:08:

Thanks Skatnbnc.....

One less thing I have to buy

So what is the purpose of the bag supports?
I've read somewhere,but dont have any idea where

Are they just to prevent the bags from sagging?

I figure since mine have the hard back and bottom,it probably wont sag much or go anywhere.

Do most throw over bags have snaps connecting them(to each other)?
These do!

Aloha FreeSpirit,
My bags didn't need any guards either, but I did end up putting some on (they came with the bike but the owner had broken one and taken them off), cause I did find it hard to tie them on the shocks (didn't have any other place to tie them on to). I do my groceries on the bike, and I was afraid that not tying them on would cause me to loose my balance in the curves because the heavy bags would probably tip like the bike and fall outward. Now I'm just thinking on using some kind of climbers tool to quickly latch the bag on and off, instead of tying. It's amazing how many times I've removed the seat since I've had the saddlebags, each time untying those straps!! AAhh

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SavageWahine

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Re: Do all Saddle bags need Mounts?
Reply #6 - 08/25/07 at 17:50:55

skatnbnc wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:08:

No you do not need bag supports.
Mine never has had any, and they are fine. Yesterday I took them off to repair some torn stitching, but that had nothing to do with interfering in any way with the wheels or shocks.

The only thing that bugs me is that they don't sit further back, but until I do the mod of putting the rear turn signals in a better place, that is it for now.
http://w2.bikepics.com/pics/2007/07/11/bikepics-958880-800.jpg

Aloha skatnbnc,
Let me know how you are planning to resolve the turn signal issue. I have the same problem with my bags, they are pushing the turn signals back. On top of that it makes it hard for the passenger to get their feet on the pegs. my daughter tried. Now I ended up raising the bags a little and am using the guards. The pegs are more open now.
Not that I'm anyway ready to take on passengers, but I told my daughter one day!!
She can't wait, wants me to pick her up from school on the bike, to make her look cool I guess!

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FreeSpirit

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Re: Do all Saddle bags need Mounts?
Reply #7 - 08/25/07 at 18:10:30

What is a climbers tool ?

My bags snap together underneath the seat/somewhere and zip off each side/bag.

Are all bags like this....snap together?

Oh...I didnt think about the bag leaning out with the bike....guess I need to tie them down somehow!Just looked at them...they do have places to tie down!!

And thanks WD for info,hope you get your bike fixed

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FreeSpirit Serious Thumper Offline Joy is my Compass ! Posts: 3823 North Georgia Gender:	Re: Do all Saddle bags need Mounts? Reply #8 - 08/25/07 at 18:28:35 Oh....now I feel really uneducated to ask this, but....how do you remove the passenger seat? I do not see this anywhere in my manual!
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Do all Saddle bags need Mounts? Reply #9 - 08/25/07 at 19:08:51 remove drivers seat first. 2 bolts, 1 on either side. Then 1 bolt in front of pillion.
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WD Serious Thumper 2005 No Login Offline Professional "scooter trash". Posts: 5207 Rosemark TN Gender:	Re: Do all Saddle bags need Mounts? Reply #10 - 08/25/07 at 19:14:29 No worries. -WD
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FreeSpirit Serious Thumper Offline Joy is my Compass ! Posts: 3823 North Georgia Gender:	Re: Do all Saddle bags need Mounts? Reply #11 - 08/25/07 at 19:24:34 verslagen1 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:08: remove drivers seat first. 2 bolts, 1 on either side. Then 1 bolt in front of pillion. Oh....thank you....no wonder I couldnt see how to with the drivers seat on Thanks a bunch
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ALfromN.H. FSO Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Dragon Slayer Posts: 1421 Rochester, New Hampshire Gender:	Re: Do all Saddle bags need Mounts? Reply #12 - 08/26/07 at 05:27:46 Quote: Aloha skatnbnc, Let me know how you are planning to resolve the turn signal issue. I have the same problem with my bags, they are pushing the turn signals back. here's what mine looks like with the relocated rear turn signals:
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skatnbnc

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Re: Do all Saddle bags need Mounts?
Reply #13 - 08/26/07 at 08:02:07

ALfromN.H. wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:08:

here's what mine looks like with the relocated rear turn signals:
http://w2.bikepics.com/pics/2007/08/08/bikepics-987494-800.jpg

And this is EXACTLY what I want to do, but have not had the nerve to tackle the electric part, so other mods have come first.

Also, I hated having to untie the leather thongs to remove the saddlebags (especially in this super humid climate), so I devised a strap lock system.
The straps are connected to the frame, the saddlebags sit on TOP of the pillion seat, and when the bag flaps are buckled shut, it double secures the locking snaps.
Now it is one unsnap and they are off.

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SavageWahine

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Re: Do all Saddle bags need Mounts?
Reply #14 - 08/26/07 at 11:45:49

FreeSpirit wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:08:

What is a climbers tool ?

I don't know the name for this gadget, but it's just a teardrop shaped clip that opens up on the wide side. The bottom (narrow side) I have attached to the loop on the saddlebag, and the top part of the clip that has like a spring lock, I just clip on the guard. Really quick and easy to take release now in case I need to get to the seat bolts.

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You take the blue pill the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe.
You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.

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