Flag holder

[Eagle 1]

Just finished building a flag holder for my 99 IS and 1985 Goldwing LTD, cost about $6.00 each. Very sturdy and removes in about 5 minutes, both have trailer hitches with ball, each is painted to match color of bikes. I have not had time to photo the Valk (black) with the holder but will do so tomorrow and post. Feed back?
Thanks

[Eagle 1]

Forgot to say that metal brackets are temporary, new ones are being made and chrome plated as we speak.

[old2soon]

WHAT is the Flag pole made out of?  From what I can see-ya done good!  I want to make/get a 3 or 5 flag holder for my I/S. 3 for sure BUT 5 would be better.  Again-looks good. RIDE SAFE.

[Chrisj CMA]

If you are riding with the Patriot Guard they are good about keeping speed down with flags unfurled.  However, that said, its still common to hit say 40mph max.  That speed or a serious sidewind would be too much for that temp metal bracket.  I hope the permanent one is much stronger.

[Eagle 1]

The entire unit is made of 1" sch. 40 PVC pipe, bottom unit that fits over the ball is a 2" collar with a 2"X1" reducer inserted into the collar, I installed a screw into the flag pole just below the flag and slotted the top of the pipe down and to the right to insure the wind could not pull the flag out, in order to stop any rattling at the ball end I drilled a small hole through one side of the collar and inserted a slip tie through and locked it to the hitch. Actually the temporary brackets are extremely strong (made of hurricane brackets) since they are bolted at both ends and the thrust of the wind is attempting to stretch the metal (virtually impossible), but the new permanent ones will be 1/16" metal and (hopefully) will be a bit prettier. I did try speeds of 60 (not a good ideal) mounts did not move but I am sure the flag itself would last about 10 miles at that speed. I am making a slip on sleeve for highway riding and would hope to only unfurl for speeds of 30 or less. The entire unit can be taken off without tools, by removing two wing nuts under the trunk and cutting the slip tie. I have seen others with multiple flags but did not get a close enough look to see how and what they were made of. If you have a hitch you could possibly build a unit that mounts to the hole where the ball is with 1" inserts splayed (angled) outward and build a flat bar bracket with U-bolts and attach it to the rack that holds the trunk, but I am sure someone here has done it and will hopefully chime in with some better thoughts.
As I said I will take some photos of the IS today and post them

[hubcapsc]

the thrust of the wind is attempting to stretch the metal

tension - 

going around a turn at speed, or side winds... ? Seems
like the bracket needs to be a horizontal triangle made
from angle or something like that...

-Mike "I probably don't see what you're really doing from across the Internet..."

[Eagle 1]

Hurricane brackets are angles and designed to withstand hurricane force wind, although these are just temporary until permanent ones are finishes which are also angles. The shop that are making them suggested aluminum, rather steel and chrome, which will be plenty strong but lighter and will polish nicely, and should look good when installed. My brother also thought the brackets (temporary) would be too weak to withstand wind forces, until he came over this morning and tried to bend, stretch, and otherwise do harm to them, after putting his full force in all directions he decided they just might survive a little wind.

[Eagle 1]

As promised here are the photos of my 99 IS with flag holders mounted.





Hopefully after I get the new aluminum brackets polished and installed the unit will look much cleaner.

[Daddie O]

Does anyone know of a flag holder made that attaches to the sissy bar or luggage rack?  I'd like to put a couple of American flags on my standard.

[signart]

Sure

[Bighead]

Sure

   

[Eagle 1]

Hey signart: Looking good, I am assuming you built the unit yourself, have you got any close up photos of the portion that attaches to the rack? What is the flag holder made of? my brother has a standard and would like to put one on it.

By the way has your neck healed from the lynch mob after they saw your (evil-evil) flag?

[old2soon]

NOT tryin to piss on your parade BUT-THAT word yet again-I've been on a goodly amount of P G R missions and a lot of the people I ride with have the big flags with a lot of different engineering approaches concerning Flag mounts. I've seen a few failures.   NOT a pretty sight to see an American flag detach from a M/C and spin down the highway. As an observation while the Ride Captain says we will not exceed 50 M P H on this long escort-most of the time we are between 65 and 70 M P H.    And granted-we have more Flags that stay attached then become detached. As a suggestion-because I hate to see the American Flag on the ground-get a flag of similar size and run some tests at speeds in excess of what you THINK you may run on an escort. On a recent Vietnam traveling wall escort the Missouri Highway Patrol had the lead. We were in the left lane of I-44 running 85 M P H steady. BUT we were forewarned about the speeds and we stopped just outside of Rolla Mo. so the big Flags could be unfurled. I also like the fact that your poles are color matched to the bike!   RIDE SAFE.

[Eagle 1]

I completely agree with you "old2soon", I would never unfurl my flag(s) until in parade mode and speeds well under 40 MPH, not so worried about the mounts, but I am sure the flag itself would tatter to pieces, and like you I have too much respect for our flag to let that happen. Thanks for the compliment on my holders, will post new photos when the final polished aluminum brackets have been installed. Luckily I was able to find paint to match that would adhere to PVC and hold up quite well.

[signart]

Hey signart: Looking good, I am assuming you built the unit yourself, have you got any close up photos of the portion that attaches to the rack? What is the flag holder made of? my brother has a standard and would like to put one on it.

By the way has your neck healed from the lynch mob after they saw your (evil-evil) flag?

This was very impromptu, not well thought out, but worked very well. I had a piece of chrome-moly pipe from a stock car roll bar laying around, had a funky bend in it. Grabbed a scrap 3" channel, cut it 8" long, and welded the tube in center. Drilled 8 holes corresponding with rails on Honda rack. Secured crisscross with heavy duty cable ties for quick mount & dismount. I also glued piece of rubber mat to bottom of channel to prevent slipping and protect chrome on rack. Kept the tubing long, to fly large flag high. Last minute deal, but does the job.



We love our freedom around here and it needs exercised regularly if you don't want it to wither. Silence in the face of tyranny implies concession.

[Eagle 1]

Thanks for the info on the flag holder, don't have any chrome-molly, but I believe we can make do with some aluminum pipe. Keep that flag flying high, if we continue to let them change history to fit their agendas it won't be long before we have no history, freedom or country. From an ex Arkansas hill billy and dam proud of it.

[signart]

That piece of tubing has just been laying around for years, hated to throw it away. It's strong stuff and very light.

 Meant to add this

[Eagle 1]

Thanks for the photo, thought that was what you described but the photo makes if very clear, looks very sturdy. The one problem I had with mine was, I keep my bikes in my "Mancave" and the first time I rode it out with flag attached ----------- oops flags a bit higher than top of door, its okay luckily I was just coasting, of course that was one of those kick yourself in arss moments for being so stupid.
Hopefully we will get this on my brothers soon and I really appreciate all the information.

[Eagle 1]

Hey Daddie O: I think signart might have just what your looking for. Turn the channel cross way to your bike and add as many vertical pipes as you think you can handle, u-bolt it to your rack and it looks like your good to go. The only thing that might be a problem is the possibility of the flags tangling together.

[Mr Whiskey]

The entire unit is made of 1" sch. 40 PVC pipe, bottom unit that fits over the ball is a 2" collar with a 2"X1" reducer inserted into the collar,..........in order to stop any rattling at the ball end I drilled a small hole through one side of the collar and inserted a slip tie through and locked it to the hitch.

First off, thanks for getting me from the other post to here, 'preciate it!
Second, please forgive, I've got alot of questions.
I'm mainly interested in the bottom unit. Would really like some close ups of that attachment. I'm afraid I don't know what a "two inch collar with a 2"X1" reducer inserted into the collar" is or even looks like in the hardware store?
I'm also not familiar with a "slip tie" or how exactly you use it to lock everything to the ball?
Very interested! I built something similar, but it requires the removal of the ball everytime, which is a p.i.t.a.!
With your design I could leave the ball in place & still use my hitch rack.
Thank you for any info or pic's you can provide (hey, at least I know what 1" sch. 40 PVC pipe is, haha).

On a side note, you said you're makin' a sleeve to put over the flag when at speed. Some of the guys use these..............(or something similar)!

[signart]

Excellent tip on the sleeve, Whiskey

Genius setup by Eagle 1 collar over the ball. Below is a thought on quick release keeper of collar on ball.

[Mr Whiskey]

Those are what hold my hitch rack on
Thank you, & you're welcome
(all in one motion)!

[Eagle 1]

I picked all the material up at Lowes, in their plumbing section, they have 1" PVC pipe (and others) in 5' lengths for just over $3.00, the 2" PVC collar is open on both sides with a small ring in the middle to separate one pipe the others from going completely through, the 2" male X 1" female reducer looks similar to a square sided cup with a 1" hole in the bottom. The slip ties are the plastic ones used mostly in electrical work, they have a small opening for slipping the plain (pointed) end through and have serrations along the length.
 I will take photos of all the items this afternoon and post them. I use the slip ties because they are very cheap, can be tightened by hand and can be cut with a knife of small side cutters,.
Thanks for the info on the flag sleeve, will pick one up today, I am sure it will beat the heck out anything I could make, and do a little advertisement for the NRA at the same time.

[Mr Whiskey]

Awesomesauce!!
Caint wait for pic's! (I'm "description challenged"!)
Thought that was what you meant by "slip ties" but wanted to be sure.
Bass Pro's got the NRA socks, but you can get others that are waterproof with a quick goggle search

[Eagle 1]

Hey hey Mr Whiskey: I have given myself 20 lashes with the old (preferable) wet noodle. I gave you the description of the items we used in the construction field, which is not what the manufacturer called them, so I will give the proper name of items and also will post closeup photos of the ball section of the installation.
1. Collar (real name) Coupling 2"
2. 2"X1" reducer (real name) Bushing
3. Slip ties (real name) Cable ties
And now the photos:




Hope this helps

[Mr Whiskey]

'zactally what I needed
Printed that post & it's rainin' here soooo,
off to Lowes!
Thanks man, you're a peach

[Mr Whiskey]

P.S. You pipe glue the pieces together (bushing in coupling, & pole in bushing)?
Thanks again!

[Eagle 1]

Yes Whiskey I used PVC cement on all joints, by the way I went to Walmart and picked up the paint, "Rustoleum 2X Ultra Cover" it will adhere to virtually any surface and comes in very many colors. I did find that one should wipe the PVC items down with alcohol or something similar to make sure there is no oil or anything that will ruin the paint job.

[Mr Whiskey]

Thanks for all your help Brother