Tourer bags

[GWS]

I'm thinking of buying a Tourer next. Wondering what the process is to get the hard bags off and on?

[Jess from VA]

Each bag has four screws (two up, two down, fore and aft).

The mounts (which include a rear tip over guard level with the engine guards in front) don't come off with those four screws, but most all maintenance can be performed with the mounts on.  The mounts also have heat shields under the bags to protect them from the exhaust.

Tourer bags are hinged for opening.

Twin rails around the bags are not stock but add-ons, and mount to the bag mounts, not the bags.

Here's the mounts with integral guards.  The bags drop into them.



This is the add-on bag rail kit.


You only need the bag mounts to protect the bags in a tip over or a slow speed fall and slide (but not a tumble).  The bag rails look great, and do help from bumps and rubs and car bumpers if you turn too sharply.  They stay on with the mounts when the bags are pulled.

[sandy]

If you want to remove bags only, there are 8MM bolts inside (4) and the bags come off the support racks. This all you need to do to remove the rear wheel. If you need to remove the racks, there are 4 bolts (2 on each side) that hold the racks to the fender brace. they can be difficult to replace as the fender is held up by these bolts. The fender drops and alignment can be tricky. Some owners replace the bolts with all thread and use a nut to hold it in place. Then a spacer and another nut holds the brackets to the bike.

[..]

I schmear a good wax on the heat shields twice a year to help weather proof them.

[Jess from VA]

I schmear a good wax on the heat shields twice a year to help weather proof them.

Yeah, they get crummy under there.  And surface rust from wet/dry and heat/cool.

[GWS]

Thanks guys for all the input. Pretty straightforward. I have a Standard now and the leather bags that came with it don't fit very well and don't look as good (to me) as the hard bags.
 
As I explained to my girlfriend when she asked why I need another bike...sometimes you feel like a bagger, sometimes you feel like a bobber. (Insert joke here!)

[Skinhead]

If that girlfriend doesn't understand why you need more bikes, you may want shop around....

[Led]

When I first bought my Tourer, I replaced the saddlebag bolts with a "push pin" kit I had found, that was available back then.  I forgot who made the kit.  Probably unobtainable anymore today?

Pretty handy for washing and waxing!   They are pins, that had a locking ball  protruding from the side.  You push a little button in with your thumb (on top of the pin), which releases pressure on the locking ball........then you can pull the pin out.

Then lift the hard bags out of the bike.  Takes about three minutes!  Never had one back out EVER!  They fit tight.  They are SWEET!

[Ltlfeat]

Harley davidson has exactly what you describe. Maybe they would work on the valk.

[..]

I needed to wash my bike after Inzane.

Emptied out the contents.

Undid the 4 bolts and left them in each saddlebag as I always do so I know where they are.

Washed and polished bike and bags.

Put the left one on.

Put the right one on..............................what!

One bolt missing.................................what!

MIssing? Impossible.

Feel all around inside the bag especially the nooks and crannies.

No bolt.

Used a flash light to look around inside the bag especially the nooks and crannies..

No bolt.

Look on floor.

No bolt.

Look under bike.

No bolt.

I just know it's sitting somewhere chuckling with my 13mm socket.

[da prez]

I have a set of interstate bags for sale. Why start over with a new bike. I have only bought ten.

                                                  da prez