03 Standard to Touring conversion

[BF]

dave011182......here's your pics.....



The lid will close with two HJC half helmets in it.  



They have nice locks too.  

[BF]

Here's what I'm doing so far......









My spacers for the bag rails. 

[dave011182]

Thanks BF, your setup for mounting looks bullet proof. The pics help allot. If i go with the strong bags definitively would want the quick release over the regular. From what I can see with your measurements Tsukayu was probably more accurate and mustang rounded the numbers up.

I went to my local Honda shop to pick up an oil filter and had to order a rear cam cover gasket. Whoever did the last valve adjustment didn't bother to pull them and pinched the gasket under the valve cover.
was able to eye up the factory hard bags on a 99 vt1100ct shadow tourer, and an Is model just leaving the the shop. The sizing on the stock bags seems just right, just big enough to drop my cooler I carry to work into, I'm tired of strapping it down all the time.
Measurements are roughly 25-26 in long, 9 in wide, and about 15 high. I did not spend allot of time measuring or I would have been more precise( had my 2yr old with my and he was past due for his nap).
Mouth of the open bag came in at 8 by 19.

[dave011182]

I came across another set of factory bags on evil bay, made an offer and it got declined. Called the number listed for questions and talked for a while. Talked with the wife for a little while about the options for saddle bags and cost. Already fresh paint in the right color, cant cost me anymore in the end than the ones I missed the re listing on and Tropic Rider got (I hope). I went for it and pulled the trigger on these.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200709691788#ht_500wt_1413
Now I'm waiting for my total with shipping. Time to start searching for the missing latches and hinges.

[BF]

I think you took a step back, and shot.......and SCORED!  Well done.  

The OEM's will just bolt up simply.....not like what I'm having to do with the Mustangs.  Alot of test fitting, measuring and more test fitting....and more measuring.  I did get them permenantly mounted today though.  They're rock solid using the mounts I'm using.  

There's other folks that have mounted the Mustangs on Valks, but I don't think anyone has mounted them like I have.....and with utilizing the OEM bag rails to boot.  I'd bet that I'm going to have a one of a kind.  

I got both sides mounted up and bolted on today.....












Post up some pics of your new to you bags when you get it all done.  

[dave011182]

Thanks BF I will definitely post the pics when I'm done with their install. Yours may not be as simple but they look damn good on there like that, nice and tight to the bike . So does your exhaust, really considering seeing what my parts guys at work can do for me on a set of truck stacks when I Finish the bags. Is that a Woody's fairing i see in the background of some of the pics you sent for the saddlebags interior. I came really close to getting one myself, but didn't want my gauges on the handle bars.

Hopefully Mike over at Viper Creations (my eBay seller)can get them shipped to me with out it costing too much. I sent  Tropic Rider a message inquiring about his hardware source for the last set I missed and he informed me of his source and told me about the major loss his seller had on the $60 shipping charge. He used a pack and ship place that raped him for $172 .

[olddog1946]

I think you took a step back, and shot.......and SCORED!  Well done.  

The OEM's will just bolt up simply.....not like what I'm having to do with the Mustangs.  Alot of test fitting, measuring and more test fitting....and more measuring.  I did get them permenantly mounted today though.  They're rock solid using the mounts I'm using.  

There's other folks that have mounted the Mustangs on Valks, but I don't think anyone has mounted them like I have.....and with utilizing the OEM bag rails to boot.  I'd bet that I'm going to have a one of a kind.  

I got both sides mounted up and bolted on today.....












Post up some pics of your new to you bags when you get it all done.  

Man do those look good..and those brackets look tougher than the bumpers on my truck..nicely done!!!!

[dave011182]

Well this morning I got some good and disappointing news at the same time. My mounts and other hardware for the factory bags have been shipped, but the bags are still at the painter due to problems with the paint on one of the lids. At least I'll be able to go thru the hardware and hopefully determine what I have and what's missing.

Still trying to determine if I want the go with Tourer or Interstate hinges also, since I plan on adding a trunk later on and don't know if it is going to be a problem with interference like it is with the factory trunk.

[dave011182]

I got the bags the other day, didn't take me long to decide I don't like the finish on the paint. It was just disappointing after shipping being delayed because of the paint having issues.

Now I'm looking into my options for getting the paint fixed or completely redone. An expense I was not expecting since they had just been "professionally painted" ??? .

I have the option of sending them back also but not sure if I want to do that either since then I'll be out the shipping cost, and I've already got some latches coming for them.

[dave011182]

I still don't have a final resolution to the situation with the paint.
http://s1107.photobucket.com/albums/h385/dave011182/saddlebags/
pictures just don't show flaws in paint very well

Seems as though allot of the issues would be due to the base coat not being properly reduced when sprayed and the clear had the wrong hardener used with it. I found all this out when I asked if any extra paint could be sent to me so I could repaint, when I was told what was left and did a little research. I informed my seller about these issues and he went back to his supplier, and we are waiting to see what they are going to do to correct it.

At this point I'm beginning to wonder if it would just be easier to send the bags back and and get a set of jumbo strong from Tsukayu, they're not that much bigger than the factory bags. I am holding off on any decisions until I know exactly what the seller will be able to do for me to get this fixed. I'm already at $820 with these bags, have no hinges and related hardware, and could be looking at more for a paint job. ???

[Red Diamond]

Check the classifieds, there always seems to be someone selling OEM bags and mounts.

[Earl in Pensacola]

Dave--Any chance you could buff out or have the flaws buffed out and clear coated?  Just a thought!

[dave011182]

Dave--Any chance you could buff out or have the flaws buffed out and clear coated?  Just a thought!

There are some spots on the edges where the base already needs to be touched up (white spots on the top edge) , I had a painter look at them and was told I could try to sand and buff, but most likely would have to repaint to get everything to come out right.

[dave011182]

I did come to a resolution and got some money back for cost to redo the paint on my ebay bags. started to sand and they were looking pretty smooth and hadn't gone through the clear cote yet. So I buffed and polished, installed and they look much better than sitting on the bench in the garage.



Now that they have been on over a moth the clear is having some issues due to being mixed with the wrong hardener, I'll deal with it for now. I will en up stripping them down and starting over again when I can dedicate more time to them.

Changed my windshield for summer riding, definitely a big difference between this 7" and the 15" my dad gave my, but it still stops helmet lift and deflects allot of wind.