I promised pictures of the saddlebag project, so here they are.

Bought a set of Nelson-Rigg nylon saddlebags (CL-850) from Belden Motorsports for $105 including shipping

http://www.cycleluggage.com/nelson_rigg_cl850_saddlebags.html

Bought a 10' length of 1/2" galvanized steel conduit from Lowe's for $2.50 and borrowed a pipe bender.  Fabbed the turn signal mount and the bag supports out of the one piece.

I used the samples of work done by KK LEWI, and one other whose post I can't find right now, so THANKS to you for posting the pics so I had a place to start.

I had also asked some questions about the rectifier.  I was able to get it loose.  I looked at the bottom of the pillion seat and realized there was a space that would "trap" it in place, so I left it loose and let it sit on top of the bag straps.

"Doc" minus seat and siderails


The new turn signal mount


Signal wires coming through to the front


Back of the license plate holder


Signal wires routing up through the fender channel and out the grommet at the top of the fender.


The left support mounted


The right support mounted


Both from the rear, shows turn signal mount and saddle bag supports


Show just how close I was to not having to splice in any extra wire,  but I had too, so I added about 6 inches to each of the 4 wires


The finished product - left side


The finished product - both bags


The finished product - right side


The finished product - from the rear

Chief Gunner wrote on 05/16/10 at 16:54:08:

1)  The way I installed them, NO, you can't remove them without taking off both seats.  You can put them over the seat.  There are straps with velrco to hold the two bags together.  It comes with shoulder straps for each bag, so you can take it with you when you leave the bike.

2) I have not tried the rain covers, but they do look like they are tight and look like they will be a snug fit.

Very nice instruction and pix indeed.

james may wrote on 05/16/10 at 23:30:18:


They are big, that's why I picked them.  When I head for the office, I can stick my laptop(11"x14") in one side and my rucksack in the other(folded over).  Then when I get to the office, I can pull out the ruck, put the laptop in it, and head inside.  Here in the Texas Gulf Coast, it is already pretty hot/sticky, and not having the ruck on my back when I ride keeps it cooler.

One side of the bags has some dividers and inner pockets, the other is one big space.

And for Chief Gunner, I put one of the rain covers on this morning for the ride to work.  They are form fitted, with good elastic and a draw string.  They fit over from the outside, and the elastic holds the edge next to the bike all the way around.  I did not use the drawstring,  but coulld not hear/feel/see any thing flapping.