tourer/interstate bags questions.

[Walküre]

Hi all,

I have my Interstate bags mounted along with my HitchDoc hitch, spacer made for my cross-bar, everything is honky-dory. I do have a few questions, though...

I've read there are differences in the hinges between the Tourer and Interstate - Just guessing, I would say the Tourer hinges up, and the lid stays connected by the hinge. And having the Interstate, I know that the hinge comes apart, to hang the bag lid to the side. Is this a correct assumption? I would prefer the bag lid to stay attached. Is it possible to just buy the correct hinge from a Tourer, and swap it over? I do know that the bags themselves are different, as far as having a seam, but are the hinges mounted the same?

If that's it, if there's anyone out there with Tourer hinges, that would like to "swap" for the Interstates, I'd be happy to. Just let me know.

The other question is, on the bottom "tray" that the bag rests on, the sheet metal that's formed to fit the bottom - all the parts places show the right side, for something like $195, and the left side for $50. Is there a reason for that? Is there something that caused the right sides to be replaced more often than the left, so that there are fewer of them in stock, or maybe, the left is the same as the Shadow Tourer, but not the right, so that there are many more of the left's? Just curious...

One last thing - if anyone has put the HitchDoc on with their stock hard bags, and "squeezed" them together at the rear cross-bar, and would like a spacer, let me know - I have a lathe, and wouldn't mind making a few, custom, as a little pay-back for all I've gained here on the forums. Mine is out of aluminum, polished up nice. I'll try and take a pic or two, and post them.

Thanks,

Roger

[tank_post142]

bag lids wont open up if you have a trunk with tourer hinges on the bags (i added a trunk then switched the hinges) trust me you do NOT want to do that.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Hinges are no problem get some for a Tourer and they will fit perfect...Only difference I know is the Tourer has a seam in the bags ( two pieces put together ) the Interstate bags has no seam....Hinges will swap out  ...I've done it on my yellow/ creame.If you have a trunk the Tourer hinges will hit the bottom of the truck and not open all the way.Bike below is a Standard with Tourer saddlebags when I added the trunk I had to get some Interstate ( latch ) hinges.

[Walküre]

I'll never have a trunk - at my age, I prefer the weight in a trailer, than high up on the bike. Plus I like the look of the Tourer over the Interstate. Thanks for the info!

Neither one of you happen to still have your Tourer hinges, by chance, do you??

 

Roger

[tank_post142]

mine are rusty

[joefromperry]

Roger, could you please tell me more about the spacer you mentioned? I have a hitch doc on my interstate, and I'm not really happy about the way everything lines up (or doesn't). Thanks.
You can email off board if you like. jlorek@roadrunner.com

[Walküre]

Joe - I sent you a message, but here it is for everyone. Basically, when you space out the bags, HitchDoc I think, tells you to just "squeeze" the bottoms together, and force the back lower crossbar in. That brings the bottom in the width of the spacers, plus the thickness of two sides of the hitch. Mine ended up 1" spaced out, so I would have had to pull the bottom of the bags in that far. I couldn't bring myself to do that, so I cut the crossbar in half, and made a "stepped" spacer that slides into both halves of the crossbar, and spaces them out 1 and 1/8" (1/8" added, for some tension). I can then drill the outsides, and put in either a cotter pin or small bolt to hold it all in place, although mine is tight enough, I can get by without the bolts/pins.

I also noticed that the front of the mounts, that bolt to the footpeg mount, MIGHT have benefitted from some spacers, but I pulled mine in easily, and I just put in the bolts, and they worked just fine. I might take them back off, and put a couple half-inch spacers there, as well, just to see if it changes anything. Time will tell.

As I said, you have to be willing and able to cut the crossbar, then put it in place with everything "relaxed", take a measurement of the gap. I then make a spacer, adding about an 1/8" to put a little bit of tension. I haven't taken any pictures, but will tomorrow, and post.

[fudgie]

I made a cross bar out out copper. Painted it black and dropped in a screw on each end. Cant see it with the hitch on.

As far as the hinges I have a tourer with I/S hinges and love it. Esp if you have or gonna put on a lid rack. When we have stuff strapped to the lid it is far easier to unhook the lid and lay it on the seat then it is to have all that weight opened up on the Tourer hinge. Plus if you haul something large you can leave the lid at home. Or if you make the saddle bag into a cooler. 

[cef2lion]

I wondered about the prices of the trays that the bags sit on. As you stated one side is so much more expensive and wondered why as well. Diagram doesn't show much of a difference. I picked up a set of Honda bags but need mounts and have not found anything so far.

[Walküre]

I wondered about the prices of the trays that the bags sit on. As you stated one side is so much more expensive and wondered why as well. Diagram doesn't show much of a difference. I picked up a set of Honda bags but need mounts and have not found anything so far.

Just a mirror of each other - I have to guess that it's am availability issue, but can't help but wonder and speculate why it would be.

I saw several times, bags without mounts, but steered clear, because was worried about how difficult and/or expensive it would be to find just the mounting. There was a guy selling the Shadow Tourer bags with their mounts, that PROMISED that they would fit with very little modification and effort, but wouldn't send pictures so I could see the differences myself. And I didn't want to trust the fiche to see. I would imagine it would be somewhat close - form follows function, but I wasn't ready to chance it.good luck finding the mounts! They are nice bags. I was going with the Tsukayu, until I found these. I still like the Tsukayu's a lot, but I'm happy I found stock.

R

[cef2lion]

I added the I/S trunk and have Champion bags which I like a lot. Very close to the Honda bags and are carpet lined. But the hinges don't work with the I/S trunk. SOmeone showed pictures to me of the I/S hinges on the Champion bags. There is one part of the hinge that isn't on the HDL parts page. I ordered the I/S hinge and tried to make that missing part. I gave up and bought the I/S bags. Wish I would have held out for bags with mounts as you said.