So I finally landed a savage, or s40 I guess.  It completely broke me, and I probably paid 100-200 dollars too much for it, but I was sick of waiting and didn't wanna run the guy off by asking him for more price drop.  Paid 3300 for an '05 with a windshield and sissy bar and 1,700 miles.

Had never ridden a motorcycle before last night.  I had to go to oklahoma (I live in arkansas) and right when I got there it started storming right west of us, moving east.  So, as it was getting dark and a storm coming, had to figure out how to ride the bike then immediately take it on the turnpike for the long haul back home.  Then I had to take a turny backroad all the way to my house in the dark.  That was a crazy and scary experience, and today I didn't even get to ride my bike because it rained.

Anyway, since I am now broke, does anyone have any suggestions for making some REAL cheap throwover saddlebags?  Is there any danger in just making some ghetto bags for a little while? (like will they get caught in the wheel or blow around too much if I don't give them a hard back?)  I really know nothing about saddlebags other than that I cannot pay very much for them, but need them very much.

Josh

You paid $100. more than i did for my 05, but yours has 1000 fewer miles on it than mine did when i bought it a couple months ago.
You didn't overpay in my opinion.. Now go get some spare keys for it and upgrade the stock headlight and tail light!
Congrats!

Congrats on the Savage!  And on making it home in one piece.

Ghetto bags can be cool, if done right.  We've seen some very creative stuff on Savages/S40.  With any soft bags on the back, you'll need to make sure that they have supports so they don't get caught in the wheels.  You can make your own supports from some bent rod or the likes.  Feel free to be creative.  Must of us Savage owners have to be, since we are also broke most of the time.

Also, you can use other carrying options instead of saddlebags.  That sissy bar is a great thing to strap bags/boxes to.  Do some searches on this site for saddlebags and luggage.  Also look in the tech section.

Enjoy the new bike and keep the Rubber Side Down!

Trial by fire!
Thrift shop, man-bags/messenger bags are more comfortable than backpacks for me.  The backpacks tend to cut off circulation at the shoulders.  Wonkish saddlebags will tend to get in spokes.

Congrats on your purchase! You're going to love the bike.

A cheap set of saddlebags will run you less than $100, the brackets to keep them out of the wheel can be fabricated (check threads here) or purchased for around $60.

If you're dumping money into crates, bags, etc... Why not just invest in actual bags?

My favorite bag is the Dowco Overnighter bag here: http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/3/13/124/5429/ITEM/Dowco-Iron-Rider-Over.... It's strapped and bungeed on my rear rack usually containing a little under 15 lbs. of photo gear for my job, which requires me riding to/from numerous locations all day/night. It's a great bag, just needed to get used to riding with the weight at the extreme rear of the bike. But for riding with stuff with little weight, I hardly notice it back there. I paid $53 for it on ebay, and registered it with Dowco for a 2 year warranty.

Hard Corps wrote on 07/09/08 at 18:02:35:


Hard do you have a pic of the bag you can post?

welcome,  i uesed, use a set of throw over saddle bags i got at surplus.

with my bobber  i just throw them over the seat, sit on them to hold them in place.  they dont restrict the riding position. i jume off take them with me.  

a great score i got was a micky dee's  book bag,  it folds up real small stored in a small camera bag mounted toframe low in front of engine. take it out use it as a pack, it'll hold a half rack  or a gallon  of cow.