Congratulations on the Savage, and welcome to the site. You will find a lot of helpful people here and answers to just about any question you can think of regarding this underrated very versatile machine.

Now, to your question.

I do believe you can get an OEM luggage rack but I have no idea how it would attach because I do not use one. My saddle bags are off of a Honda VTX1300 that I modified to fit onto the savage as under the pillion throw overs.

But there are several posts regarding saddle bags and packing the Savage for a trip, just use the search function and type in Saddlebags. Be sure to set the search criteria for "all posts", that way you will get a bigger hit on results.

I installed the factory luggage rack on my 2004. I thought it fit the charactor of the MC well (looked good) and was very functional. It took a couple of minutes to install with minimal fuss.

I used a tail bag that had three compartments and slid over the sissy bar for attachment and could either sit on the pillion seat or the rack (I kept it on the rack). It was made by T-bags I'm pretty sure. Construction was of ballistic nylon. Only downside was that it wasn't water proof, so even with a cover in a driving rain the contents could get wet unless you used water proof containers for liners (plastic bags   ) It would slip off the sissy bar so you could carry it inside with you and also left the pillion seat open for another bag or sleeping bag or whatever.

Don't forget tank bags. I use a small one all the time now to carry my rain gear. Lets me leave my hard cases at home.

 OK Ferwood I am offering my two cents as I believe you and I have the same issues.  How to increase the cargo capacity of our beloved bike.  
 After much contemplation and several beers, I decided to mount saddle bags under the seat.  Yes, I was sitting in the garage looking at the bike and thinking how do I use it and what do I want to meet my needs? The bags were throw over and I recalled self using them every day.  Self said to self if you use them that much why don't you secure them under the seat.  I did this last week end and also installed the luggage rack to carry a barrel bag on business trips. I use the bike to commute daily, weather permitting, and plan to use it to distant assignments (130 miles away).   Now I have the best of both worlds, every day convenience and the ability to move more on the scoot.  The yolk did need modification to fit around some electircal parts but is not that difficult to modify.
 If you have a sissy bar the install of the rack is simple. I have a 2006 and needed to buy on eBay.   Remove the Suzuki emblem from the back of the seat and behold two easilty removed screws are visible.  Remove the screws and the the rack slips over the sissy bar bracket afer removing the backrest held on by the two screws.  Suzuki even supplies the double sided adhesive tape to reattach the emblem.  Install time minutes.
 Saddle bags are a bit more difficult.  I bought  leather bags (Jafrum, I like the looks an inherent weakness) and was not happy with the appearance and rubbing on the shocks.  Installing saddle bag brackets improved both but resulted in some scrapped knuckles and swearing.  Install time 50 minutes.  Don't do it you if your patience tolerance is low.  Although it can be done the middle bolt allows only small turns without removal of the tire.  Who wants to go thru all that work, better to breath deeply and turn the wrench only a small amount per turn.
 Bottom line install both.  I also love camping and you do not want to limit yourself on cargo capacity.   Being comfortable and having what you need make it a more enjoyable experience.  
 I don't leave the barrel bag on the scoot but am contemplating solutions.  Shopping trips tend to point out the storage limitations of the saddle bags.  To lazy to look up the exact dimensions recollection screams aproximately 12 wide, 12 long and 5 1/2 deep.  
 Hope this helps.

I don't know what your level of technical skill or your budget is Fernwood.  If you can afford an airline suitcase-on-wheels doohickey, and are handy with a drill and welder, check out Paladin's post.  He made a really handy setup.  I'll look for the link to it.

Here's what I've come up with so far for my bike.  I ride it to work daily, and can fit pretty much everything I need on it.  Total investment of about $60 including the fork bag.  Everything comes off in about 2 minutes.  Goes on in about 5 minutes.  I made the round trunk from an Igloo water cooler and a stuff bag and slung the backpack from the trunk by its own shoulder straps.



My bike won't win any beauty contest, but I'm an ignorant hick wood butcher, and need more of a pack mule than a palomino with ribbons in its mane.  Some of the folks around here have some really beautiful setups, and you'll get lots of input from them as well.

That's my $60 worth.

Im in the same boat too Fernwood...I dunno if i need campin gear on it but grin...thats what the misses would take in my other suzuki ... SX4 ... wadda car that is... Anywho, for simple saddle bags i know that a local dealer up the road has the Boulevard Saddle bag...which look very nice for 79 and thats before he said he would hook me up...As a side note..picked up new sunglasses to ride with...MAXX foam riders...Im tellin ya they are really really NICE...14.99 High Def glasses..shoot i bought another pair for night driving too...  Sandy ... WOAH your seat! what is it? Sure looks comfy!

cornfuzed wrote on 05/28/08 at 20:30:41:

Why thanks for noticing, Cornfuzed.  That is the mod I am most proud of so far.  That's my original hideous Savage seat pan.  I built the cushion and cover with my own 12 little fingers using Kay's sewing machine.  Nothin' to it.
And it is muy comfy.  I'm looking forward to seeing how it does on a long run, but I did 180 miles on it one day and felt great at the end.

Look at the Tour Pack series.  I've used an earlier version for a long time with no problems.  It hold a lot and has stood up to my abuse!

http://www.revpack.com/motorcycle/main.html



That's it on the back of my old K-75