Argh, my dad and I got the saddlebag supports (which were the proper part number for my model year, 99950-70145) attached yesterday.  At the time, it seemed probable as I looked at it, that I'd be in danger of having the support on the belt side of the bike scrape the tire.  Well, as feared/predicted, that is what is happening.  I've cut the sidewall on my tire enough to leave a build-up of rubber where the tire was being cut

I tried pulling the fender out as best I could just by tugging on it myself (grabbing the front part of the saddlebag support, bending/tugging gently outward and upward), but when I was riding home from work this afternoon, I could still hear the tire being scraped when I hit bumps that basically have my 240+ pounds bouncing up and down.

Suggestions on how to pull that fender out more so that the support has more clearance?

Also would love suggestions on how to raise the rear a bit more to get more clearance under the fender in general.  I've read through the manual a bit and seen the notes on being able to adjust the shocks, but am unclear on whether trying to adjust for a stiffer ride would result in any improvement.  (And to be honest, since the bike is an older one, 1998, I'm not sure that the stock shocks could even be adjusted now)

Them bolts can rub... especially if you have a 140/90 on the back....
Reverse the bolts to stick out instead of in... or use round heads...
Heck... you know the drill...
If it rubs... work it so it don't...
... but, never give in... ...

That's odd, usually it is the bolt that rubs.

I;m usually around 235#, my full fender would bottom out on speed bumps with the stock rear shocks, has room to spare with Intruder shocks set on mid range.

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 09/17/13 at 07:22:43:

I've been trying to bend it away, but I think in the end it's the fender that needs to bend.

I did think about grinding some of the support away, and that is a possibility.  There just isn't much clearance on the belt side of my rear tire (not a ton on the other side either, but more than is on the belt side).

I think I'm gonna try grabbing the fender with some vice grips on either side of the support/bolt, and try prying things out some from there.


Meanwhile, the idea of replacing the shocks is appealing as well.  I'm more frustrated and a bit p.o.'d at this point that I've been cutting down fairly new tires.  (I just got the bike street worthy back in July, the tire has only about 1k miles on it, but it's been nicked up nastily on the sidewall now )

terfpan1980:

The support and help you get would be more accurate if you could post some pictures so we can tell what is going on.  There are some issues that we can fix in the dark, with our eyes closed, while eating crackers and trying to whistle....but an unusual interference issue with a bolt on accessory is not one of those.

Just sayin........

I have the same problem.  How much were the shocks and are they difficult to find?  Thanks, best regards.

Seeing more than a couple of people with the same problem here, it has me thinking that this is definitely something that should be recorded for posterity sake.  Again, I'll try to get pictures tonight and post them for all to be able to see.  No promises on how good the pictures come out, but hopefully I'll get something very useful to point out the issues with.

In the end, I want to slap around the engineers at Suzuki for this one.  I installed parts they supplied and would have expected that they'd have designed these pieces to have plenty of clearance.  Having things as close as they do and not leaving some room there in case the bike hits a bump seems pretty stupid to me.  

Here's the pictures (assuming all of them will show up here)