saddle bag support

pdedse

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After looking at all sorts of of saddlebag support bars...I started looking at the two pegs that stick out and thought maybe I could just, you know, "make something"...something that I could just stick on and pull off. 

I'm sure it's a terrible idea, but keep in mind I'm a former long-time owner of a KLR650 and KLR owners are proud of their old milk crates that serve as tail bags...
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I could just zip-tie the wood supports to the grab-rail, and I should be good to go, right?

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Can I still be a moderator?  Maybe if I apply stain to it?
 
I like Peter's thinking; anything that reduces maintenance is to be commended.

And, yes, I'd vote for you continuing to be a moderator. But then I like that sort of innovation.
 
I had a similar setup on a VTX years ago. I think they were called “Ghost Brackets” or something like that. They were basically flat bar stock notched to slide over slotted knobs that screwed into the ends of the things sticking out of that seat rail. The bags attached to the bar stock.
 
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Gone in 60 said:
I had a similar setup on a VTX years ago. I think they were called “Ghost Brackets” or something like that. They were basically flat bar stock notched to slide over slotted knobs that screwed into the ends of the things sticking out of that seat rail. The bags attached to the bar stock.

Darn...I was hoping I had one original idea in life...but wait, were they made of wood from your own backyard?  I have a few dried branches that I whack with a machete into walking canes, but I think I could make it work.
 
Heck, you can make 'em out of wood, I won't cast any dispersions. If you've got the wood, use it! It's a reflection of your surroundings.

I found a reference to the Ghost Brackets. I had these a long time ago, but the pictures jogged my memory. The bracket mounted to the saddlebags, and dropped on to the knobbie things that attached to the bolts on the seat rail.

http://www.harley-performance.com/ghost-brackets.html
 
Thread starter
I've been lackadaisical about getting ready for a trip, and undecided which bike to take--the Kawasaki W800 or the CB1100.  After setting up the saddle bags and rear bag on the W, I found I was using too many straps to tie things down and the seating room was getting confined.  So back to the CB1100, and now I've waited too long to buy proper saddle back supports...so it's back to the wood.  

Hmmmm....
C1MwBtn.jpg


With the zipties, they are rock solid and they give me an easy to reach bar to use as a tie down to the D-clips on the saddle bags
VPPAvP1.jpg


And it looks like they'll keep the saddle bags away from the springs
Ida70IL.jpg


That's two less walking-canes that I'll never make, but I think it might work ok.
 
[quote="pdedse" pid='269161' dateline='1749948703']
I've been lackadaisical about getting ready for a trip, and undecided which bike to take--the Kawasaki W800 or the CB1100.  After setting up the saddle bags and rear bag on the W, I found I was using too many straps to tie things down and the seating room was getting confined.  So back to the CB1100, and now I've waited too long to buy proper saddle back supports...so it's back to the wood.  

Hmmmm....
C1MwBtn.jpg


With the zipties, they are rock solid and they give me an easy to reach bar to use as a tie down to the D-clips on the saddle bags
VPPAvP1.jpg


And it looks like they'll keep the saddle bags away from the springs
Ida70IL.jpg


That's two less walking-canes that I'll never make, but I think it might work ok.
[/QUOTE]

Those bags are not moving an a millimeter after you strap them down. :) Enjoy your trip and safe travels.

We all look forward to your pictures and the next chapter of Saddle Bag Support. David
 
pdedse said:
Now that my home-made saddle bag supports shockingly didn't last beyond the morning of day 2 of my trip, I'm looking at a more professional set

What happened? Hopefully it didn't fail catastrophically making the ride home troublesome.
 
Thread starter
Whoops said:
pdedse said:
Now that my home-made saddle bag supports shockingly didn't last beyond the morning of day 2 of my trip, I'm looking at a more professional set

What happened? Hopefully it didn't fail catastrophically making the ride home troublesome.

I tried to put the bike on the centerstand and grabbed the support because it's in the way of the grab bar.
YfdvILq.jpg


But the roadside "weld" held up till I returned home
lYlAkJ3.jpg


When covid hit, that first winter was tough, not much to do.  I had some downed limbs from an ice-storm, and I thought I'd make a hiking stick for my son's birthday out of one of the limbs.  I used a machete and a sander.  It came out pretty cool.  Then I made a cane, turned out nice as well.  I "estabalished" my own company and called it "Machete Whacked Canes". 

kdvaLJV.jpg


I made three more canes and game them to each of my three brothers, all older than I am.  They loved them.  Alas, the business owner got lazy and some "unfinished canes" sat in the garage.  

I used a couple of these to make the saddle bag supports.  The fact that one broke easily makes me worry about my three brothers...I hope they understand that my Machete Whacked Canes are for decorative purposes only.
 
pdedse said:
I made three more canes and game them to each of my three brothers, all older than I am.  They loved them.  Alas, the business owner got lazy and some "unfinished canes" sat in the garage.  

I used a couple of these to make the saddle bag supports.  The fact that one broke easily makes me worry about my three brothers...I hope they understand that my Machete Whacked Canes are for decorative purposes only.

Sounds like a small peice of paper with a disclaimer is in order for the next batch.

[sb][sb]*Cane is not intended to support any weight.[/sb][/sb]
 
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