Tourmaster Saddle Bags

[tommymck]

Based on the number of people on this forum who have them, I got a set of Tourmaster Select saddle bags.

I was curious how you guys choose to mount these on your bikes. I was originally thinking over-seat just to make it quick and easy to take on and off, but there aren't great options for tying down the straps on the bottom front and back of the bags. You can rig it so that they are tied to pieces of frame or the grab rail, which at a minimum keeps them from falling off, but it isn't super snug. It'd be ideal if there were convenient tie-down spots on the bike at or below the bottom of the bag, but I wasn't creative enough to figure it out.

Good news is that it takes just a couple of minutes to put the main top straps under the seat. Still don't have a great way to strap the bottom of the bags down so that they can't flop up, but during a quick test ride anyway, that wasn't an issue.

 

[SportsterDoc]

Based on the number of people on this forum who have them, I got a set of Tourmaster Select saddle bags.

I was curious how you guys choose to mount these on your bikes. I was originally thinking over-seat just to make it quick and easy to take on and off, but there aren't great options for tying down the straps on the bottom front and back of the bags. You can rig it so that they are tied to pieces of frame or the grab rail, which at a minimum keeps them from falling off, but it isn't super snug. It'd be ideal if there were convenient tie-down spots on the bike at or below the bottom of the bag, but I wasn't creative enough to figure it out.

Good news is that it takes just a couple of minutes to put the main top straps under the seat. Still don't have a great way to strap the bottom of the bags down so that they can't flop up, but during a quick test ride anyway, that wasn't an issue.

Thanks for posting...especially the photos.
Appears they are as far to the rear as the rear turns allow.

Few questions:
1. Any rubbing on the side covers?
2. What was your max speed when you ran them without bottoms tied down?
3. Does it seem practical to ride a passenger with bags on?
4. Appears $109.99 is the going price?
5. I have a lot under my seat. Would you consider posting a photo with seat off?

 

[tommymck]

Based on the number of people on this forum who have them, I got a set of Tourmaster Select saddle bags.

I was curious how you guys choose to mount these on your bikes. I was originally thinking over-seat just to make it quick and easy to take on and off, but there aren't great options for tying down the straps on the bottom front and back of the bags. You can rig it so that they are tied to pieces of frame or the grab rail, which at a minimum keeps them from falling off, but it isn't super snug. It'd be ideal if there were convenient tie-down spots on the bike at or below the bottom of the bag, but I wasn't creative enough to figure it out.

Good news is that it takes just a couple of minutes to put the main top straps under the seat. Still don't have a great way to strap the bottom of the bags down so that they can't flop up, but during a quick test ride anyway, that wasn't an issue.

Thanks for posting...especially the photos.
Appears they are as far to the rear as the rear turns allow.

Few questions:
1. Any rubbing on the side covers?
2. What was your max speed when you ran them without bottoms tied down?
3. Does it seem practical to ride a passenger with bags on?
4. Appears $109.99 is the going price?
5. I have a lot under my seat. Would you consider posting a photo with seat off?

Thanks for posting...especially the photos.
Appears they are as far to the rear as the rear turns allow.

Few questions:
1. Any rubbing on the side covers?
2. What was your max speed when you ran them without bottoms tied down?
3. Does it seem practical to ride a passenger with bags on?
4. Appears $109.99 is the going price?
5. I have a lot under my seat. Would you consider posting a photo with seat off? Hi Doc,

1. Not much. They only just touch the rear corners of the covers. And the bags have felt on the back sides, so I don't anticipate a problem with that. The bags could actually be positioned back an inch or two and still fit in front of the rear signals. But there is really only one place you can position the straps under the seat and have one of them not interfere with the hooks that the seat claws slide forward into. That pretty much sets where the bags have to go. I might experiment with cutting a whole in the one strap that this is an issue with so that it slides over the hooks. and still allows the seat claws to engage.

2. 55 max. I can actually tie the bottom straps to pieces up top, but that wouldn't prevent an outward flop because of the geometry. Seemed completely stable though without straps of any kind.

3. Passengers won't work out. Their legs would have to go outside the bags, and the bags cover the rear pegs.

4. That's what I paid for mine (from Revzilla.)

5. Will do!

I'm not sure how different the 2014 configuration is. There may be more options than with the 2017. In any case, underseat seems like a workable solution. I couldn't find anything stable for an over-seat configuration....but that may be just my lack of imagination.

 

[the Ferret]

I mount mine over the seat, down to the footpeg brackets and around under the tail light bracket. I think you can make it out in this pic

click on pic to enlarge and click on square box in upper r/h corner to make full screen on a pc

 

[SportsterDoc]

I mount mine over the seat, down to the footpeg brackets and around under the tail light bracket. I think you can make it out in this pic

click on pic to enlarge and click on square box in upper r/h corner to make full screen on a pc

Thank you
Can see how they are strapped, front and rear.
Over the seat keeps them up higher, but I was thinking under the seat would make more likely to still be there when the bike is parked in public.

Based on the number of people on this forum who have them, I got a set of Tourmaster Select saddle bags.

I was curious how you guys choose to mount these on your bikes. I was originally thinking over-seat just to make it quick and easy to take on and off, but there aren't great options for tying down the straps on the bottom front and back of the bags. You can rig it so that they are tied to pieces of frame or the grab rail, which at a minimum keeps them from falling off, but it isn't super snug. It'd be ideal if there were convenient tie-down spots on the bike at or below the bottom of the bag, but I wasn't creative enough to figure it out.

Good news is that it takes just a couple of minutes to put the main top straps under the seat. Still don't have a great way to strap the bottom of the bags down so that they can't flop up, but during a quick test ride anyway, that wasn't an issue.

Thanks for posting...especially the photos.
Appears they are as far to the rear as the rear turns allow.

Few questions:
1. Any rubbing on the side covers?
2. What was your max speed when you ran them without bottoms tied down?
3. Does it seem practical to ride a passenger with bags on?
4. Appears $109.99 is the going price?
5. I have a lot under my seat. Would you consider posting a photo with seat off?

Thanks for posting...especially the photos.
Appears they are as far to the rear as the rear turns allow.

Few questions:
1. Any rubbing on the side covers?
2. What was your max speed when you ran them without bottoms tied down?
3. Does it seem practical to ride a passenger with bags on?
4. Appears $109.99 is the going price?
5. I have a lot under my seat. Would you consider posting a photo with seat off? Hi Doc,

1. Not much. They only just touch the rear corners of the covers. And the bags have felt on the back sides, so I don't anticipate a problem with that. The bags could actually be positioned back an inch or two and still fit in front of the rear signals. But there is really only one place you can position the straps under the seat and have one of them not interfere with the hooks that the seat claws slide forward into. That pretty much sets where the bags have to go. I might experiment with cutting a whole in the one strap that this is an issue with so that it slides over the hooks. and still allows the seat claws to engage.

2. 55 max. I can actually tie the bottom straps to pieces up top, but that wouldn't prevent an outward flop because of the geometry. Seemed completely stable though without straps of any kind.

3. Passengers won't work out. Their legs would have to go outside the bags, and the bags cover the rear pegs.

4. That's what I paid for mine (from Revzilla.)

5. Will do!

I'm not sure how different the 2014 configuration is. There may be more options than with the 2017. In any case, underseat seems like a workable solution. I couldn't find anything stable for an over-seat configuration....but that may be just my lack of imagination.

Will do!
Thank you much. Just mulling it over.

I have almost as much storage under the CB seat as both Pelican cases on my Moto Guzzi: Compact foot pump, can of Seal N Air over the battery and a tool pouch over the fender.

V7 II mini saddle bags complete

Considering fabricating brackets for a couple more Pelican cases (hopefully deeper than the 1170), but since I retired and then the automation company that employed me for 20 years went out of business, I don't have the machine shop availability that I once did.

 

[mattmcuomo@yahoo.com]

I mounted mine under seat as far back as possible. Removed rear signals, put led strips for signals behind the seat


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tommymck]

Thanks ferret and MMC. I did consider what you did ferret, and still may do it, but I'll need to get an extension to the small strap extension / loop thingies that come with the bags.

I ended up settling on using the loop above the rear pegs as a single tie down location for both front and back tie-down straps. Seems to work well so far. This works well for the under-seat routing that I'm using, but might not be as stable with an over-seat configuration. I'm actually happier under-seat as it's a nice clean look....and it doesn't take hardly any more time to install that way.

Here's your pic with the seat removed Doc. Also, since you asked about the side covers, you can see from a top view that there is horizontal separation between the bags and the covers, so that's a non-issue.

Made a grocery store run to pick up a few items and the bags worked great. No bouncing or moving around at all.

So far anyway, the bags are working out to be a cheap, clean, easy to install and remove option and fit the bike great. Enough room to pack for overnight. Weekend might be a stretch though. They do come with rain covers that store in a vest inside the bags also.