Valkyrie Riders Cruiser Club

General => 1500 Tech Board => Topic started by: Ken aka Oil Burner on August 28, 2018, 09:09:54 PM



Title: Hard bags on OEM soft bag mounts?
Post by: Ken aka Oil Burner on August 28, 2018, 09:09:54 PM
I did a search, but never really found an answer. I have a 98 with what appear to be Honda accessory leather saddlebags. They are mounted to black steel mounts that roll under the bags and have a slight kickup to allow for the seam in the bag.

The bags are showing their age, and I'm debating on what to replace them with. Has anyone mounted aftermarket hard or soft saddlebags to the OE mounting brackets? They appear much sturdier that what many companies offer with their bags. Yes, I know OE tourer bags are out there. The price tag is not agreeable to my finances at this time though.

Input appreciated, as well as pics.


Title: Re: Hard bags on OEM soft bag mounts?
Post by: Edvalk on August 29, 2018, 03:58:00 AM
I recently bought a set of handbags off craigslist . They were a set I'd been looking at on eBay . The generic unbranded $199 handbags. I also had the leather hondaline bags that were way past their prime. I used the mounts for the leather bags and am very pleased with the results. They ride little high but I'm getting used to it. The PO had mounting holes drilled alerady .I used aluminum 5/8 in. wire clamps and it feels secure. May mount it better in the future . If you want a pic email me. Haven't posted a pic in a while would have to figure it out again.


Title: Re: Hard bags on OEM soft bag mounts?
Post by: 9Ball on August 29, 2018, 05:00:38 AM
Dooney and Bourke  or Liz Claiborne ....my wife would be jealous! ;D


Title: Re: Hard bags on OEM soft bag mounts?
Post by: Chrisj CMA on August 29, 2018, 06:43:15 AM
These Mustang Bags are mounted on modified OEM soft bag mounts and they are perfect

(https://s20.postimg.cc/jwjcplei5/DSCN4356.jpg)


Title: Re: Hard bags on OEM soft bag mounts?
Post by: RonW on August 29, 2018, 09:32:02 AM

Has anyone mounted aftermarket hard or soft saddlebags to the OE mounting brackets? They appear much sturdier that what many companies offer with their bags.

Yes, I know OE tourer bags are out there. The price tag is not agreeable to my finances at this time though.

Input appreciated, as well as pics.

If you were to buy oem tourer bags you'd need this oem bracket for the tourer hardbags which cost a lot $$. The brackets support the tourer bags from the bottom and also provides a heat shield over the mufflers. Oem saddlebag *guard rails* wrap around the hardbags (second pic) and are a separate item. Try post a pic of the saddlebags brackets that you have.

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CNR6_Kgwixg/WyQOvW6jwjI/AAAAAAAA0Hc/SaqSyqiTg1wKhkPUXkntBFLrXEfvb2iSACLcBGAs/s1600/kofferhalter%2Bbrackets.jpg)

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x5ACZAh8r3U/WyQX2xjQgEI/AAAAAAAA0IY/_Zs0LIKe1eEhsmuhKQ4Tq5XldfMIpWxPgCLcBGAs/s320/kofferhalter%2BbracketsE.jpg)


Title: Re: Hard bags on OEM soft bag mounts?
Post by: Relax on August 29, 2018, 09:59:38 AM
(https://s15.postimg.cc/mjmpvstcr/IMG_0586.jpg)

My Valk, standard with Matuza RS hardbags installed on the  mounts for the leather bag.
Easy connecting  lamp to funcion as both driving light and signal light.
The "old" mounts gave a much more steady installation than the ones following the Matuza bags.

(https://s15.postimg.cc/4i3kxxmgb/DSCF0026.jpg)
My Valk in 2005 with the leather bags


https://www.mutazu.com/collections/mutazu-universal-hard-saddlebags/products/mutazu-black-rs-hard-saddlebags-saddle-bags-fits-most-road-star-roadstar-1100 (https://www.mutazu.com/collections/mutazu-universal-hard-saddlebags/products/mutazu-black-rs-hard-saddlebags-saddle-bags-fits-most-road-star-roadstar-1100)

 I was lucky to find the bags at a good price on Ebay once.




Title: Re: Hard bags on OEM soft bag mounts?
Post by: Jess from VA on August 29, 2018, 10:06:00 AM
Hardbags can be successfully mounted to universal or other soft bag loop mounts, but you must take care than your chosen bags and mounts are compatible, and the goal is always to get as tight a fit to the fender as possible, and not have them so close to the exhaust they melt or burn (though the heat from OE pipes back there is not extreme, as the rear OE pipes in back are actually heat shields for internal one inch exhaust (3 per side).

You must also cushion your mounts (like with rubber or poly washers) from loop mounts to bags so they can withstand bouncing around (esp when loaded with weight).  I'd use them both inside and outside the mounts.

To get a decent matchup from bags to mounts, I'd measure the mounts carefully on the bike, then try to buy aftermarket bags that will be compatible with those measurements.

If you don't want to go through all this,  the Tsukayu hardbags (Hong Kong) (either Strong or Jumbo Strong) will fit a Valk pretty well and come with their own mounts, but you still have to do your own particular measuring, drilling and lashup.  The Tsukayu's are pretty good bags (fiberglass, heavier than OE plastic), but they do have a bit of a radical angle in front to miss shocks, but on the Valk that was unnecessary, and the space left looks a little wrong, but it's still OK.

If you will paint these bags to match, you should do all your drilling, mounting, and a full mock up to your satisfaction, and only then take them off and get them painted.

Another thing to remember is the Strongs (and most aftermarket hardbags) are hinged in front, and need to hinge-open clear of any added trunk or wide back seat on your bike.

Jumbo Strongs (lot of space, large but so is the Valk)

(https://www.tsukayu.com/web%20photos/Jumbo%20Strong/Valkyrie/Resize%20of%20016.JPG)

(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRk2EigsItcA5vk30OXzVFbIHiP6DozIDvZOWBGywXYIP9cmiKe)

This sort of shows the more radical (than OE) cut-back angle on the front of the Strongs (from the OE bag shape).
(http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr355/ptgb/Tsu%20Trunk/DSC_0005_zpsb57c2753.jpg)

(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/hEoAAOSwNNxWFNtP/s-l300.jpg)







Title: Re: Hard bags on OEM soft bag mounts?
Post by: Jopson on August 29, 2018, 05:42:32 PM
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,43468.0.html (http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,43468.0.html)

Here’s the link of what BF did to his bike, which chrisj CMA is now the proud owner of. Really nice clean install!


Title: Re: Hard bags on OEM soft bag mounts?
Post by: The emperor has no clothes on August 29, 2018, 06:51:12 PM
[url]http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,43468.0.html[/url] ([url]http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,43468.0.html[/url])

Here’s the link of what BF did to his bike, which chrisj CMA is now the proud owner of. Really nice clean install!
It's pretty cool reading one of BF's posts again  :cooldude:


Title: Re: Hard bags on OEM soft bag mounts?
Post by: Ken aka Oil Burner on August 29, 2018, 08:02:47 PM
Thanks for all the help and info.

BTW, since I'm still pretty new here in relation to most of the membership, what happened to BF? I searched for his latest posts and nothing after a thread about a hurricane.


Title: Re: Hard bags on OEM soft bag mounts?
Post by: Chrisj CMA on August 30, 2018, 06:47:26 AM
Thanks for all the help and info.

BTW, since I'm still pretty new here in relation to most of the membership, what happened to BF? I searched for his latest posts and nothing after a thread about a hurricane.

He had kidney cancer. Before he died his bike was barely running because of sitting so long. I bought it to give him one less thing to worry about.  He passed a few months ago


Title: Re: Hard bags on OEM soft bag mounts?
Post by: Ken aka Oil Burner on August 30, 2018, 08:55:28 AM
BTW, since I'm still pretty new here in relation to most of the membership, what happened to BF? I searched for his latest posts and nothing after a thread about a hurricane.

He had kidney cancer. Before he died his bike was barely running because of sitting so long. I bought it to give him one less thing to worry about.  He passed a few months ago

That's too bad. From the posts of his I've read while browsing around the forum, he seemed like a really good guy. I'm tired of losing friends and family to cancer, or anything else for that matter. Just tired of losing people.

Thanks for letting me know, and very cool of you to buy the bike to ease a bit of the burden.