Fast bag drop for OEM leather bags?

[Colin]

Is there such a thing?

With my polished rear wheel I have found that cleaning it (and I've only done a few miles) is a pain with the leather panniers in place and it is a real pain having to undo 4 allen bolts each side to get them out of the way and still have the bag mounts in the way. I hope that there is an easier / quicker way or is it a DIY job to fabricate something better?

[9Ball]

Back when I had these bags on my bike (when fairly new in 2000), I ran new bolts from the back side of the brackets to make "studs", then used washers and wingnuts to hold the bags on from the inside.  Don't remember the length or the size, but you should be able to figure that out easily enough.  The studs made lining up the holes a snap instead of trying to fish the bolts from the inside into the brackets and the wingnuts needed no tools to remove or install.

Good luck.

[sandy]

Bolts from the inside is one approach. Another is to use all thread rod to screw in place and then install all your bags. Cut off the all thread at the right length and put the final nut on. The front bolt is a 10X1.25 pitch (fine thread). The rear bolt is an 8X1.25 pitch (standard thread for an 8MM).

[Farther]

How about converting the bags to use Easy Brackets.

[Colin]

How about converting the bags to use Easy Brackets.

Easy brackets?

Thanks everyone else for the suggestions.

[9Ball]

Bolts from the inside is one approach. Another is to use all thread rod to screw in place and then install all your bags. Cut off the all thread at the right length and put the final nut on. The front bolt is a 10X1.25 pitch (fine thread). The rear bolt is an 8X1.25 pitch (standard thread for an 8MM).

my suggestion is only for the 4 allen bolts on each side that hold the bags to the bracket, not the bracket to the bike...this makes pulling the bags easy for cleaning either the bags or the wheel...

[Farther]

Easy brackets?  Thanks everyone else for the suggestions.

Yes Easy Brackets:  http://greatbikegear.pinnaclecart.com/valkyire/easybrackets-for-honda-valkyire/

[9Ball]

I don't think the factory leather bags would hold up too well with just the easy brackets.  The bag mounts have a cage-like piece that helps support the bottom of the bags when they are loaded.  You really need these brackets to prevent too much sagging and distortion.  They aren't assembled like the Leatherlyke bags that have the stiff plastic backing piece, they use grommets to prevent pulling the bolts through the back and the back sides are made of the same leather as the rest of the bag.  That's why they have four mounting points on each bag, two at the top and two at the bottom.  You would have to figure a way to add a stiffener to the bag to prevent sagging.

YMMV

[Colin]

Thanks guys for all the replies 

Even though I have stiffened my bags I think that the easy brackets are a non-runner, looks like I will stick with the PITA allen bolts for now and do some more thinking maybe some M6 thumb screws and go with jhortons suggestion (I don't fancy the wings of wingnuts catching stuff inside the bags) or maybe some thumb nuts or get a friendly machinist to make me some.

Ultimately I will probably buy some leatherlyke bags it is just a pity that the shipping from the US is so expensive  plus I need to top the bank account up after the cost of the rebuild and registration here.

Thanks again everyone.