Install of Mustang Saddlebags

[salty1]

First, I would like to thank BF for all the help that he gave me to accomplish this project. Similar to BF's install I used modified Honda Leather bag mounts.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,43468.msg413406.html#msg413406

The bags arrived very well protected in a fiberglass container that was within a cardboard box.


OEM mount.


Removal of unnecessary mounting tabs and lower support.


Flat bar (1/8 x 1 ¼ inch) was used to create the new horizontal mounting points for the Mustang bags. Nuts (8 mm) were silver soldered onto the cross pieces for bolt (8 mm button heads) attachment.


Freshly powder coated mounts.


Eventually saddlebag guards will be installed so the right side was temporarily placed on the bike to make mounting hole markings on the bag.


The right side bag was drilled first and those holes were used to mirror the hole positioning on the left bag.


Aluminum flat bar (1/8 x 1 inch) was used instead of flat washers on the inside of the bags in an attempt to create stronger attachment points.


Bag on bike without guard.


Bag on bike with the guard, yet to be completed.


The Mustang Saddlebag is wider than the OEM hard bag so some spacers need to be crafted to bring both sides of the guards together. Again, BF covers this in his thread:

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,43468.msg413406.html#msg413406

Overall, I'm quite pleased with the quality of the Mustang saddlebags. The modified OEM mounts worked very well and made for truly solid attachment to the bike.   

[Jess from VA]

Very nice pics, and post.   

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Always liked that color combo ... Nice bike 

[Former BMW Guy]

Nice job!

JP

[BF]

Sweet.  Lookin' good.   

[salty1]

Sweet.  Lookin' good.   

Thanks Bruce and to the rest of you too! I'm loving the capacity of these bags.

[Red Dog]

I am about to begin the mount modification that BF and Salty have done to mount Mustangs on my Standard.
Would it be correct thinking that the only required removal of the OEM mount is the lower round bag support? Leave the other four tabs in place on each mount will be okay?
I am also wondering why Salty removed three tabs on each mount and left one tab on top of each mount. Does/will it serve a purpose?
Lastly, thank you folks for sharing your information and pictures.
It is and has been extremely helpful.

[BF]

I am about to begin the mount modification that BF and Salty have done to mount Mustangs on my Standard.
Would it be correct thinking that the only required removal of the OEM mount is the lower round bag support? Leave the other four tabs in place on each mount will be okay?
I am also wondering why Salty removed three tabs on each mount and left one tab on top of each mount. Does/will it serve a purpose?
Lastly, thank you folks for sharing your information and pictures.
It is and has been extremely helpful.

That upper, forward tab is the only one that is useful if you want to use it.  The others aren't needed and don't line up with the back of the bag so that they can be used.  That's why the need to add plate to the mounts....in order to have a place to allow for bag mounting.

When I first mounted my bags (remember, they're heavy fiberglass....not lightweight junk) I thought that I might need to use that upper/forward mount and drilled a mounting hole in the bag and did use it.....HOWEVER....it's NOT needed, it's overkill.    

With the added plate, and the four tapped/threaded holes in the plate like I did on mine, it's plenty to hold the bags on.  

Again, that's why you need to add the plate in the first place....to provide for mounting holes as the other three tabs don't line up with the back of the bag and aren't useful.

I can't speak for Salty, but he probably took the other three tabs off for aesthetics and left that one tab on there because I had first used it and he probably wanted it on there just in case he felt that he needed it.  

It's work to take them off and clean up the factory welds there.  I left them on because I didn't feel like taking them off....and they're not in the way of anything.  Besides, if you leave them on (and you're not going to use them anyway), no one is ever going to know they're there but you.  

[salty1]

..."I can't speak for Salty, but he probably took the other three tabs off for aesthetics and left that one tab on there because I had first used it and he probably wanted it on there just in case he felt that he needed it"...

Your spot on BF!   Thanks again for all your great help when I was modifying those OEM mounts. IMO they turned out great and are quite sturdy. The Mustangs bags look great on a Valkyrie.

[Chrisj CMA]

Nice work.  I am liking my Mustangs and I am sure you will like them too

[T-Bird]

Detn8er has these bags on his bike also, they have a very nice fit & finish to them.

[BF]

Detn8er has these bags on his bike also, they have a very nice fit & finish to them.

I pm'd him once before asking him how he mounted his Mustangs.  He used mounts from Tsukayu for his bags.