Bag protection (topside)

[Rocketman]

My daughter has started riding with me recently.  She likes to put her feet up on top of the bags.  Rather than try to convince a 5 yr old that she shouldn't do something, I would like to protect the bags.  Therefore:
Do ya'll know of anything that I could put on top of the bags (stock I/S bags) that would protect the paint from little shoes?  I'm thinking of either some sort of peel-off rubber stickers (like traction stickers companies put on stairs, except ones that could be peeled off), or if that won't work, then possibly building a bracket that mates to the bag rails I have already, and goes over the bags so that her feet go on the bracket rather than the painted parts.

Ideas?

Thanks.

Mark

[Jess from VA]

This has come up before. 

There are some magnetized tank protectors for sportbikes, but our bags are plastic.  Some have tape, but you may not like the design or residue if removed.

There is clear plastic that will stick when wetted.

There are bag racks.

You could bungee some tall blocks (of something) to passenger floorboards (if you have them) so she can reach.

And you can have her put thick sox over her soft shoes.  (but no walking around in the dirt with them on)

[Skinhead]

Go to the hardware store and get some 2" vinyl tape, or electrical tape, it will come off easily with out harming the paint.

[gordonv]

Nicer still is the vinyle wrap for auto advertising. Take the lids to a shop and have them put some on. Or ask them for some scraps and do it yourself. Doesn't have to be perfect, you'll be taking it off in a few years. Use water to allow it to move while applying, to give you more time to work.

Might be a nice time to change the color even.

I have some, to cover over the color portion on my IS truck, to make it all black, rather than paint it, so match my black/cream ACE tourer. Waiting for warmer weather.

[Rocketman]

Nicer still is the vinyle wrap for auto advertising. Take the lids to a shop and have them put some on. Or ask them for some scraps and do it yourself. Doesn't have to be perfect, you'll be taking it off in a few years. Use water to allow it to move while applying, to give you more time to work.

Interesting idea.  What sort of shop would do that?

As for the other ideas, I thought about the back racks, but those are one of the many accessories that can't be found except for rarely, and at a hyper-markup, right?  As for tape, I would worry about residue.  As for blocks on the floorboards, I'll have to take a closer look at her feet, and determine whether I have tall enough blocks.  (:

[KSDragonRider]

Nicer still is the vinyle wrap for auto advertising. Take the lids to a shop and have them put some on. Or ask them for some scraps and do it yourself. Doesn't have to be perfect, you'll be taking it off in a few years. Use water to allow it to move while applying, to give you more time to work.

You can go to hobby lobby and get 8x11 sheets of vinyl for decals and stuff, i was just going to get a couple sheets of that in black and put on mine, then maybe stick some pieces of rubber on top of that for her feet to sit on.  that way when im ready to take it all off, i can remove the vinyl easy, and the rest will just come off with the vinyl.

My 5 year old is also thinking she would like to try riding this summer, and yeah, you cant keep track of them the whole time you are riding, and those bags are going to have feet on them.  

KS law says they also have to have feet on the pegs.  Does not say where the pegs have to be.  I have thought about putting some kind of clip on foot peg at the top of the shock.  make something with a slotted mount that you loosen the shock bolt and slide this in, then tighten it back down.  It will be just in front of the bag, and be bout the right length for my 5 year old to sit back in the seat and have her feet on pegs.

If you are the one with the arm rests, i also dig that idea, and am looking at purchasing a pair for a "cage" myself.

[Jess from VA]

Bag racks are still available.  Course gritty shoes may not be great on the chrome either.

Of course the Honda's are spendy and no longer listed on HDL; but Pinwall Cycle might have a used set for reasonable (I always call rather than look thru 50 pages) or sets of the ones below as well.

MC Enterprises:  http://www.hondadirectlineofshadyside.com/stores/product.asp?pid=1397&str=2&ID=970774169

BigBikeParts/ShowChrome:  Shorties..... and where they center on the bag may not be where feet want to go.   http://www.hondadirectlineofshadyside.com/stores/product.asp?pid=2525&str=2&ID=970774169

Also, now that I'm thinking about it, it seems to me some folks have a vinyl cover on their bag lids (like the fairing bra, only on the lids) .  Fudgie, is this you???

[sugerbear]

friend of mine uses the stair tread. works for him.....so far.

[PhredValk]

I could be wrong here, but wouldn't this practice affect her balance and center of gravity? I'd be concerned about her falling off doing this.

Hope it's just me...
Fred.

[Ricky-D]

I think the point about teaching youngsters, regarding respect for others property is being lost here.

Compensating for poor choices can have long lasting and negative consequences.

Foot pegs on the other hand are the best alternative, but a five year old on the back of a bike (in my estimation) is dangerous,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and in many states illegal.

My suggestion is to rethink the whole proposition.

***

[Rocketman]

I could be wrong here, but wouldn't this practice affect her balance and center of gravity? I'd be concerned about her falling off doing this.

Hope it's just me...
Fred.

I'm not sure what you mean.  What would affect her balance and cg, and how?

Mark

[Rocketman]

friend of mine uses the stair tread. works for him.....so far.

That sounds rather permanent.  Is it something that can be removed without taking the paint off with it?  I'm hoping to remove this again in the near future.

Mark

[Rocketman]

I think the point about teaching youngsters, regarding respect for others property is being lost here.

Compensating for poor choices can have long lasting and negative consequences.

Foot pegs on the other hand are the best alternative, but a five year old on the back of a bike (in my estimation) is dangerous,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and in many states illegal.

My suggestion is to rethink the whole proposition.

***

Thank you very much for your helpful suggestion.  After giving it all the consideration that it is due, I have filed it appropriately.

Mark

[Rocketman]

Bag racks are still available.  Course gritty shoes may not be great on the chrome either.

Of course the Honda's are spendy and no longer listed on HDL; but Pinwall Cycle might have a used set for reasonable (I always call rather than look thru 50 pages) or sets of the ones below as well.

MC Enterprises:  http://www.hondadirectlineofshadyside.com/stores/product.asp?pid=1397&str=2&ID=970774169

BigBikeParts/ShowChrome:  Shorties..... and where they center on the bag may not be where feet want to go.   http://www.hondadirectlineofshadyside.com/stores/product.asp?pid=2525&str=2&ID=970774169

Also, now that I'm thinking about it, it seems to me some folks have a vinyl cover on their bag lids (like the fairing bra, only on the lids) .  Fudgie, is this you???

The MC enterprises one looks interesting.  I thought they were only available on the used market, and thus were one of those humongously overpriced items.  Can anyone provide a close up picture of how far forward those things go?
I've been considering building a bracket that attaches to the bag rails that provides her with a footrest.  If the back top racks are too short, perhaps I could do some combination of a homebuilt bracket and the bag top racks.

Mark

[Rocketman]

Nicer still is the vinyle wrap for auto advertising. Take the lids to a shop and have them put some on. Or ask them for some scraps and do it yourself. Doesn't have to be perfect, you'll be taking it off in a few years. Use water to allow it to move while applying, to give you more time to work.

You can go to hobby lobby and get 8x11 sheets of vinyl for decals and stuff, i was just going to get a couple sheets of that in black and put on mine, then maybe stick some pieces of rubber on top of that for her feet to sit on.  that way when im ready to take it all off, i can remove the vinyl easy, and the rest will just come off with the vinyl.

My 5 year old is also thinking she would like to try riding this summer, and yeah, you cant keep track of them the whole time you are riding, and those bags are going to have feet on them.  

KS law says they also have to have feet on the pegs.  Does not say where the pegs have to be.  I have thought about putting some kind of clip on foot peg at the top of the shock.  make something with a slotted mount that you loosen the shock bolt and slide this in, then tighten it back down.  It will be just in front of the bag, and be bout the right length for my 5 year old to sit back in the seat and have her feet on pegs.

If you are the one with the arm rests, i also dig that idea, and am looking at purchasing a pair for a "cage" myself.

For some reason, I didn't see this response until just now.  Your clips onto the shocks sounds like precisely what I want to build.  If you come up with anything, let me know.  I'll do the same.
Yes, I have the arm rests.  My wife liked riding with them (I say that in the past tense, because she has to fight the 5 yr old for space on the back), and I really like the extra security it gives for the little one.


Mark

[Jess from VA]

Can anyone provide a close up picture of how far forward those things go?

Rocketman, I think many here have the MCE bag racks, since they are the functional equivalent of the Honda racks (though not as pretty) for half the price.

You mount them where you want them, with hardware and RTV silicone for waterproofing.  Obviously there will be an element of ascetic centering on the bag lids, and they are pretty long.  I'm sure if you go to the picture section of this site you can find them on many bikes.  The question I don't know the answer to, is where do her feet comfortable rest?

Here they are on an 1100 tourer, with identical bags to the valk. (crappy, but all I can find on-line)





I found this too.
 
Secure 4-point mounting-vibration-absorbent hardware included. 
Approx. 14"L x 6-1/4" rack incorporates three 3/8" diam. chromed steel rails plus approx. 1"H upswept lip at rear to prevent gear from slipping off. Chrome-plated, custom-fit rack stands approx. 1/2" above saddlebag top-drilling of top required.

[gordonv]

Mark

I've not seen arm rests on an IS yet. Do those swivel out to give the passenger access, or are they fixed? Where did you get them? I'm looking for something so my wife wont fall off the bike when she falls asleep on the back of the IS.


I dropped by an automotive advertising company, that does vinyle wrap. I actually got the vinyle for free, scraps, so gave the guy the box of donuts I happened to have on the back of my bike at the time. Look in your local Yellow Pages, under advertising.

[NITRO]

Mark

I've not seen arm rests on an IS yet. Do those swivel out to give the passenger access, or are they fixed? Where did you get them? I'm looking for something so my wife wont fall off the bike when she falls asleep on the back of the IS.


I dropped by an automotive advertising company, that does vinyle wrap. I actually got the vinyle for free, scraps, so gave the guy the box of donuts I happened to have on the back of my bike at the time.

See here: http://www.bigbikethings.com/armrests.html

[Rocketman]

I've not seen arm rests on an IS yet. Do those swivel out to give the passenger access, or are they fixed? Where did you get them? I'm looking for something so my wife wont fall off the bike when she falls asleep on the back of the IS.


I dropped by an automotive advertising company, that does vinyle wrap. I actually got the vinyle for free, scraps, so gave the guy the box of donuts I happened to have on the back of my bike at the time. Look in your local Yellow Pages, under advertising.

They swivel out.  You should be able to see the wingnut directly under the armrest.  Loosen that up, and it swivels out.  There's another wingnut on the opposite side of the support bar, at seat level.  You can just barely see it in the picture.  Loosen that, and everything above it slides out.  If you get them, put them in the way I have.  If you put them in such that the upper wingnuts point inward, then they will catch on clothes as the rider gets on/off.
The disadvantage of the armrests is that you can't really open the trunk more than a few inches with the rests installed.  I never have them on unless I have, or am going to pick up, a passenger.  I just take them out at that seat level joint, and stow them. 
The backseaters love 'em, though.

Mark

[PhredValk]

Balance and center of gravity as a danger. If you were to cross your legs on top of the tank, how safe would you be? Without solid anchors (pegs) for the feet, you aren't really safe from rolling off the bike in a turn. Her little feet that high raises her whole center of balance, making it easier to fall off the bike.

With the arm rests that you have locked, though, she should be safe. I didn't know that you had them, and should have realized that you would be sure that she was safe before letting her ride.
Fred.

[junior]

3M makes a clear tape called chip gard its used on the trikes foward rear fenders and once its on its on for good the only thing that shows is a faint tape line


http://www.chipguard.com/

[fudgie]

I had a set of bag lid protectors made. Vynal that is felt backed. Had a tarp/canvas place make them for me. Its owned by a HD riders and they make bag protectors for HD friends. $100 for the set. I also have the mc racks on top, which is why I had the protectors made.