SuzukiSavage.com - DIY Motorcycle luggage on the cheap!

JohnBoy

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DIY Motorcycle luggage on the cheap!
09/10/09 at 13:18:35

Make your own motorcycle luggage on the cheap!
I purchased an American Tourister overnight bag at goodwill for $3.00, forty at Wallyworld. I had removed the sissybar pad because it is “butt ugly”. This left me the opportunity to stitch a pocket the right size to go down over the top of the sissy bar to the cross member. I attached a nylon belt to the back of the pocket and sewed the pocket to the center back of the bag. It only takes a second or two to push the pocket down over the sissybar and latch the belt; and, it is just as easy to remove. I used the same fabric that the bag was made from to make the pocket, but I'm sure that any stout fabric and bag would work. Nelson-Rigg Laptop bag $134.00...my total cost, under $20.00!

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« Last Edit: 09/12/09 at 01:40:40 by JohnBoy »

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TestPro Full Member Offline Show up, shut up, catch up! Posts: 121 Florida Gender:	Re: DIY Motorcycle luggage on the cheap! Reply #1 - 09/10/09 at 17:08:11 Sweet! Execellent work. Been considering the same idea, nice to see it.
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FreeSpirit Serious Thumper Offline Joy is my Compass ! Posts: 3823 North Georgia Gender:	Re: DIY Motorcycle luggage on the cheap! Reply #2 - 09/10/09 at 17:38:08 I think we all like to see things done like this! And be able to save money! Very Nice job!! Will that also work as a backrest? I just wish there was a Goodwill store near me. They have great prices,and alot of good stuff!
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runwyrlph Serious Thumper Offline Semper ubi sub ubi Posts: 846 pa Gender:	Re: DIY Motorcycle luggage on the cheap! Reply #3 - 09/10/09 at 20:12:48 that ought to work! nice job
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: DIY Motorcycle luggage on the cheap! Reply #4 - 09/11/09 at 02:12:42 Much nicer looking than my gym bag that runs the lenfgth of the seat & hangs off, over the tail light. I LIKE seeing stuff liike this. It makes me feel better than cheap, it makes me feel frugal.
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drharveys - FSO

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Re: DIY Motorcycle luggage on the cheap!
Reply #5 - 09/11/09 at 03:06:19

Looks great! Very professional stitchery -- and the nylon band going through the sissybar looks quite effective.

Freespirit -- you really don't miss the pad. The sissybar just tells your passenger where the seat ends. S/he should be leaning a bit forward. Leaning back on a backrest just takes a lot of weight off the front wheel and screws up handling!

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False Illusion

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Re: DIY Motorcycle luggage on the cheap!
Reply #6 - 09/11/09 at 04:04:39

JohnBoy wrote on 09/10/09 at 13:18:35:

Make your own motorcycle luggage on the cheap!
I purchased an American Tourister overnight bag at goodwill for $3.00, forty at Wallyworld. I had removed the sissybar pad because it is “butt ugly”. This left me the opportunity to stitch a pocket the right size to go down over the top of the sissy bar to the cross member. I attached a nylon belt to the back of the pocket and sewed the pocket to the center back of the bag. It only takes a second or two to push the pocket down over the sissybar and latch the belt; and, it is just as easy to remove. I used the same fabric that the bag was made from to make the pocket, but I'm sure that any stout fabric and bag would work. Nelson-Rigg Laptop bag $134.00...my total cost, under $20.00!
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_TCSH6bqjHEM/SqlaUdxFPyI/AAAAAAAAASU/4rOPvLzkwzM/s128/P1...
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_TCSH6bqjHEM/SqlaZhPtAnI/AAAAAAAAARI/_5BG0VoUUJE/s640/P1...
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_TCSH6bqjHEM/SqlahgJr_RI/AAAAAAAAARA/ccpCceQwj9M/s640/P1...

AWESOME, JohnBoy! Wink

You are now officially a "C.E.C." Cost Efficiency Connoisseur!

GREAT job, man!

Cool

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Black '07 Boulevard S40 w/ OEM Saddlebags, Windshield, Guard, SissyBar,and Rack. Schwinn Bicycle Computer, Highway Pegs by Thumperclone, Time Piece ala the $ store...and a $5 cooler from WalMart Wink

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babbalou

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Re: DIY Motorcycle luggage on the cheap!
Reply #7 - 09/11/09 at 05:52:32

Cool idea. I was searching for a tailpack but didn't want to spend $89+ for one. Found a kid's mini-backpack at Wallyworld, $9.95. Worked great for a year now. Started carrying my lunch to work & needed a bigger one, so found one for $5.00! Just a bigger backpack, Wallyworld again. Put it on last week & very happy with it. Until my wife finds a job, every nickel counts right now.

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Had an S40 Jul '04-Jan '07

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justin_o_guy2

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Re: DIY Motorcycle luggage on the cheap!
Reply #8 - 09/11/09 at 08:12:30

Yep, I have 2 backpacks I can strap on if I need more room. The gym bag stays, so I can haul quite a bit. I did cut a piece of the heavy plastic off a junked out trailer house door to slip inside the backpacks to stiffen them up & keep them out of the wheel & added D-rings to tie them down to the swing arm. Once thats done, you really dont want to try to get air over a railroad track or do anything that makes it swing up & down too hard...

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The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.- Edmund Burke.

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FreeSpirit

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Re: DIY Motorcycle luggage on the cheap!
Reply #9 - 09/13/09 at 18:32:33

drharveys - FSO wrote on 09/11/09 at 03:06:19:

Looks great! Very professional stitchery -- and the nylon band going through the sissybar looks quite effective.

Freespirit -- you really don't miss the pad. The sissybar just tells your passenger where the seat ends. S/he should be leaning a bit forward. Leaning back on a backrest just takes a lot of weight off the front wheel and screws up handling!

No,I meant using the bag as the riders backrest,just for a little back support.
I dont have passengers Wink

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2002 Suzuki Savage-Stock.Windshield,Saddle bags,Hwy Bars,Tank Bib.Custom Paint.

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ALfromN.H. FSO Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Dragon Slayer Posts: 1421 Rochester, New Hampshire Gender:	Re: DIY Motorcycle luggage on the cheap! Reply #10 - 09/14/09 at 02:54:22 I did something similar with a cooler from wallyworld. Cost was 10 - 15 bucks (I think) and gives me plenty of storage. It's also nice to throw in a freezer pack and have a cold drink when I stop to take a break. I put a piece of foam in the front pocket and it makes a good drivers backrest. Heres a couple pics.
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kel30734 Senior Member Offline Dragon Rider Posts: 486 Calhoun, GA Gender:	Re: DIY Motorcycle luggage on the cheap! Reply #11 - 09/14/09 at 04:28:02 Y'all want storage check this out
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JohnBoy Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 825 Gender:	Re: DIY Motorcycle luggage on the cheap! Reply #12 - 09/14/09 at 05:27:48 Whoa! Nice work. Does that fasten in place of the side rails. if so how die you mount the sissybar?
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: DIY Motorcycle luggage on the cheap! Reply #13 - 09/14/09 at 05:35:07 Id probably radius the corners a bit. One day you may rip yaz drawz on that. Or, maybe some kid being dragged along by Mommy will peel his forehead? Heck of a great tray.
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kel30734 Senior Member Offline Dragon Rider Posts: 486 Calhoun, GA Gender:	Re: DIY Motorcycle luggage on the cheap! Reply #14 - 09/14/09 at 05:46:17 Fastens to the side rails on the out side of them.... put red rubber gasket material between.... I did lessen the sharp edges abit with a grinder, and round off the corners... it is all bolted on no welding Dang kid needs to watch where he is being dragged
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