What if I lay it down

[BrettB]

Just returned from a trip with two other riders.  When stopping at a restaurant parking lot, we pulled into a parking area with a very slight down hill slope.  One of my friends (Kawasaki Vulcan) put his kick stand down & failed to leave the bike in gear. He started swinging his leg over to get off, and the bike rolled forward folding the kickstand up........down they both went on the asphalt.  After getting him up and picking up the bike I noticed that the crash bars had protected the bike so well there was not a scratch on it or the hard bags.

I looked at my bike with the Champion bags and thought that if it went over like that my bag on that side would be ruined. 

My question is if there is something I can add to my bike that would protect the bags in the same situation.  I have seen chrome trim pieces that go around the bottom of the bags, but they don't look like they would support any weight.

The Kawasaki really looked like it was leaning way over, not laying down as the bars kept it from going all the way over.
The Valkyrie engine bars don't look like they stick out far enough to really help  (I hope I am wrong, but I'm not going to test my theory!)  Can someone enlighten me?      Thanks

[junior]

i know for a fact that the saddlebag stays and the eng gaurds will keep the valk from going all the way over

[fudgie]

Surprisingly the oem bars do work. I did have some fine scratches to the bottom of the bag from gravel and some on the shield. I was at a biker pre-rally party when I was leaving I didn't want to go around through the whole field. I came up from a hay field up a side of a ditch and put my feet down to walk the turn but no ground under my feet. Over she went! Some HD guys helped me get it up. A hour later i stopped to put my rain gear on and the drop off was farther down then I though. Over she went to the other side! Cop friends helped me right it this time. I thought about the bag gaurds since we can get rowdy at the camp grounds but hate to pay the high price. 

[Trynt]

If you're talking about the OEM saddle bag rails, the answer is yes they support the weight.  Don't ask!

[FLAVALK]

i know for a fact that the saddlebag stays and the eng gaurds will keep the valk from going all the way over

I second that emotion. They work

[SteveNZ]

Yep, engine bars and standard hard bag bars that came with the bike stop any damage when making a low speed dismount, like say if one were to attempted to do a u-turn whilst riding two-up on a gravel driveway and should get one's front wheel in the very loose stuff at the side of the drive.

[mat4uscg]

Are the OEM Bag Rails still available or are referring to the mounting rails? Thanks

[FLAVALK]

Are the OEM Bag Rails still available or are referring to the mounting rails? Thanks

I'm talking about the Left/Right Saddle bad Stay. #32 in the link  http://fiche.ronayers.com/Index.cfm/Module/Main/TypeID/26/Type/Motorcycle/MakeID/1/Make/Honda/YearID/39/Year/1998/ModelID/6597/Model/GL1500CT/GroupID/278096/Group/SADDLEBAG

[BrettB]

My Valk started out as a standard model.  The windshield and champion bags were added later, so I don't have the stock bags and rails (bag stays).  Can anyone show me a picture of what you are talking about and................and will they still work with the champion bags.

[hubcapsc]

My Valk started out as a standard model.  The windshield and champion bags were added later, so I don't have the stock bags and rails (bag stays).  Can anyone show me a picture of what you are talking about and................and will they still work with the champion bags.

When I was at the Blue/Gray ride someone (Punisher?)  told me that OEM bag rails work great with
Champion bags...

OEM bags rails aren't available from Honda anymore, but you can find them used sometimes (vrcc classifieds, ebay...)

Carolina Bike And Trike makes an OEM bag rail copy that is supposed to be very good...

http://www.carolinabikeandtrike.com/

-Mike

[TearlessTom]

Are the OEM Bag Rails still available or are referring to the mounting rails? Thanks

I'm talking about the Left/Right Saddle bad Stay. #32 in the link  http://fiche.ronayers.com/Index.cfm/Module/Main/TypeID/26/Type/Motorcycle/MakeID/1/Make/Honda/YearID/39/Year/1998/ModelID/6597/Model/GL1500CT/GroupID/278096/Group/SADDLEBAG

Are parts 26 & 32 required only or do you have to add parts 27 & 28 also. 

Tom

[Black Dog]

Brett...  I too have the Champion Patriot bags, and I have Champion's version of the crash bars.  I looked on Champions site, and they no longer list the crash bars there, but a google search found this...

(snip)
Hard Bag Crash Bars   Cost $235.00
AMERICA'S FINEST SIDECARS, HARD BAGS & TRAILERS
7442 Mountjoy Drive
Huntington Beach, CA. 92648
(800) 875-0949 or(714) 847-0949
Fax (714) 847-1539

Check Out Champions Custom Chrome Crash Bars For The Following Bikes:
Honda Aero, Honda 750 Ace, Honda Valkyrie, Harley Heritage Softtail, Kawasaki Vulcan Classic
(end snip)

at the following site -

http://www.crstrikeshop.com/pagelinks/Accessories.html

Here they are on my bike...



Black Dog

[BrettB]

OK, I appreciate the info.  The picture helped at lot.  I was thinking of the chrome rails that run horizontal along the bottom of the bags.  Now I see how they can attach and protect the bags.   Thanks

[Robert]

I have the Champion hard bags and if you lay the bike down without the bars that go next to the bags and with the stock engine guard there will be a bit of road rash in the bottom comer of the bag. This also includes going down while going fast enough to have the bike flop form one side to the other. Not easily seen and able to be touched up with a minimal of fuss. If you just lay the bike over without moving there is virtually no damage just a bump on the bottom of the engine crash bars. I wanted to get the bag protectors too but if you scuff the chrome you wont be able to repair it as easily as the bag. The look alike oems look like they wont be much help and the ones in front of the bags look like they will do the job. But like I said chrome gets replaced fiberglass gets repaired, replace the engine guards and repaired the bottom of the bags myself and you never will know that I have had some stupid moments. As with all things experience comes at a price this kind of experience I wish I didn't know so well. But at least the only thing hurt was my pride and not the bike and I was able to right the bike myself without help. Gave me something to at least save a bit of face with.

[Oss]

mick-o-pegs are really good at coming between the ground and the bikes breakable parts

dont ask how I know but I really do know 

Keep the bike from going all the way over so much easier to pick up as well