I'm Evolving

[G-Man]

I was always the standard, throw-over bags, sissy bar, kind of bike loyalist.  Didn't care much for the hard, rigidly attached bags and trunks and a fairing was silly to me.

But, I m evolving, and so is my Valkyrie (never did name her).  I have a pair of hard bags sitting on my living room floor and a matching trunk on the way.  And lately, I've been looking at fairings on the net.  I don't think I'll be doing the fairing this year, though, as the bags and trunk weren't cheap.  Need time to find more money.

I did notice that the back half of my rear fender has taken a beating over the last 12 years.  Losts of scratches and chips.  I even noticed a slight tear at an edge.  Will have to give it some TLC once I can get it apart.  Looked at new and it was like $700 just for half a fender but says it already comes painted black. 

[Chrisj CMA]

I enjoyed my leather throwovers too.  I even defended their usefulness when some suggested I ditch them for some real bags.  I really like them Mustang bags!

Had my first ride in heavy rain with them this weekend.  DRY DRY DRY

[da prez]

Gman , I have the rear fender section , but it is  black/grey. PM me if interested.

                          da prez

[G-Man]

I enjoyed my leather throwovers too.  I even defended their usefulness when some suggested I ditch them for some real bags.  I really like them Mustang bags!

Had my first ride in heavy rain with them this weekend.  DRY DRY DRY

Good to hear, Jeff.  That was one reason reason I made the switch.  Whenever Evan and I ride to an Inzane, we always get hit with some weather and my throwovers didn't keep things dry at all.  I also don't want to pull a trailer, so the larger bags and trunk will allow me to carry more.  And I'm gonna use the easy bracket to mount the bags so if I wind up at a motel and I'm not sure about the area I could carry the bags into the room for security.  Easy bracket has an accessory that adds a handle to the bag when you remove it from the bike, turns the bag into a suitcase.  

[G-Man]

Gman , I have the rear fender section , but it is  black/grey. PM me if interested.

                          da prez

Since I'd have to paint it anyway, I can work with mine.  Thank you, though.  Greatly appreciated!!

Where the tear in the edge is will be hidden behind the bags so if my repair isn't so perfect it won't matter.  The rest is just filling little imperfections and sanding. 

[BF]

Gary.....one word.  Woodys.   

http://woodysfairings.com/fairingsetc/HNFVLKX.html

[Bighead]

+1

[Valkjerk]

Gary, Take it from a Gary, You are evolving but it is due to maturity and experience as you pile up the years. I've ridden them all and the older I got, the more I gravitated toward function over form. It's natural. It's wisdom. Fairings and most windshields buffer the winds that would tire you to the point of all out fatigue as you age. When I was younger, I would forgo let's say a backrest because it took away from the sleek lines of my ride. Now I'm not too cool for school but too old for school. Chrome is fun but comfort is funner. LOL   Take care....out there!

[hubcapsc]

on the easy brackets and big hard bags... fill them up and get Oss
to ride behind you and tell you if they flop around much...

-Mike

[G-Man]

on the easy brackets and big hard bags... fill them up and get Oss
to ride behind you and tell you if they flop around much...

-Mike

Have you heard/experienced this?  Mustang actually recommends the easy bracket and links directly to them from the Mustang website.  That's pretty much why I went with them.  BF and Jeff did some great work with mounting these bags, but I was looking for ease of installation and also being able to remove the bags easily if needed for cleaning and servicing.

[..]

I too hard throw over soft bags on my Valkyrie.

Zip loc bags and trash bags kept everything dry.

However when I switched to the ST with hard detachable bags it was like night and day. No more plastic bags trying to keep contents dry.

[Oss]

Hubcap

I already have to occasionally ride behind G-Man to let him know the blinker is still on  

Does anyone know how to attach the real blinker buddy without ruining the ultimate seat?

It would make a great clinic thing for Inzane if my friend could have the thing done in Spearfish

Hard bags mount with 4 bolts in each bag  2 into the bottom and 2 on the inside  They are pretty much not going anywhere. The lids on the other hand.......  Well I have learned my lesson there

I love the fairing function even if I am not always enthused by the look and the fairing also keeps you so much drier in the rain so long as you are moving, unless its a toad strangler coming down

Looking forward to the ride to Inzane in 3 months

[hubcapsc]

on the easy brackets and big hard bags... fill them up and get Oss
to ride behind you and tell you if they flop around much...

-Mike

Have you heard/experienced this?  Mustang actually recommends the easy bracket and links directly to them from the Mustang website.  That's pretty much why I went with them.  BF and Jeff did some great work with mounting these bags, but I was looking for ease of installation and also being able to remove the bags easily if needed for cleaning and servicing.

I have seen floppy hard bags. I think easy brackets clip the bags onto the bike near the top
of the bags.

There's a "connector" at the base of the bags under the fender on OEM bags, Corbin bags,
and Pancho's hand-rolled mounts on his Strong bags. BF and Jeff and Detn8er all have some
pretty studly bracketry  holding their bags on...



I never heard of any easy bracket failures, but I have seen hard bags that flopped, or moved around,
a lot when travelling down bumpy roads...

Maybe others have first hand easy bracket knowledge...

-Mike

[G-Man]

Definitely don't want floppy bags because over time it would have to weaken the fiberglass where the bags are bolted to the easybracket.

If there will be movement with the easy bracket it will be the bags moving in and out, not up and down.  The bracket mounts to the bags prolly at the upper third of the bag (just below the bottom of lid) and slide onto the receiving bolts on a diagonal track.  The weight of the bags, even empty should be enough to hold them securely down. 

Brings up another question, though.  The bracket is bolted to the bag in 4 places.  They provided the bolts, nuts, and washers.  Would rubber washers, or better yet a rubber grommet under the provided steal washer help minimize wear and tear in the fiberglass at the drilled bolt holes?  Never worked with fiberglass before.

[..]

Definitely don't want floppy bags because over time it would have to weaken the fiberglass where the bags are bolted to the easybracket.

If there will be movement with the easy bracket it will be the bags moving in and out, not up and down.  The bracket mounts to the bags prolly at the upper third of the bag (just below the bottom of lid) and slide onto the receiving bolts on a diagonal track.  The weight of the bags, even empty should be enough to hold them securely down. 

Brings up another question, though.  The bracket is bolted to the bag in 4 places.  They provided the bolts, nuts, and washers.  Would rubber washers, or better yet a rubber grommet under the provided steal washer help minimize wear and tear in the fiberglass at the drilled bolt holes?  Never worked with fiberglass before.

I wold use a rubber washer anyway to minimise vibration rub at that point.

[Jess from VA]

Gary, one other thing to look for on that lower fender half. 

Sometimes the main connection to upper half just gets bent, stressed, corroded.  On one of my bikes, my lower fender half has a bit wiggle no matter how I try to tighten it up.  Been that way for a number of years, so I guess it's not falling off.   

[G-Man]

Gary, one other thing to look for on that lower fender half. 

Sometimes the main connection to upper half just gets bent, stressed, corroded.  On one of my bikes, my lower fender half has a bit wiggle no matter how I try to tighten it up.  Been that way for a number of years, so I guess it's not falling off.   

Thanks, Jess!

[BF]

Gary, back when I was looking for a way to mount my Mustangs, like you, I did a lot of research and asked a lot of questions.  

When I mounted my bags, I had considered the Easy Brackets.  I didn't like them for several reasons.  Primarily because I wanted the bags as close to the rear fender like the OEM bags are so I could mount the OEM bag rails using the Mustangs.  The other reason was because I wanted something rock solid.  

If you have the bags already, you know that they're NOT a light weight bag and are in fact pretty heavy.  

If you're considering them, you know that the Easy Brackets have +'s and -'s.  The +'s are when you take the bags off (for whatever reason), they leave a clean look on the rear fender....no brackets left behind...just a couple chrome studs to hang the Easy Brackets on....and, they're easy enough to mount them directly to the bags.  

The -'s are that they make the bags stick waaaay out from the fender.  Again, IMHO, it just don't look right.  They don't look bad mounted, just different....and very very wide.  

Another - is that there's going to be a lot of weight hanging off of those two studs hanging too far out from the fender IMO.  

I pm'd a couple members that did have the Easy Brackets with the Mustangs and they said that the mounts did work pretty well on the bike, but that they did move somewhat on the bike when mounted.  That worried me.  I don't like the idea of stressing the fender anymore than necessary....and I definitely don't like the idea of a floppy heavy bag. 

IMHO, the Easy Brackets are fine for mounting a lightweight bag such as a Leatherlyke or other lightweight bag, but not so much for mounting a heavy bag such as the Mustang, Tsukayu or other heavy hard bag.  

I know the Easy Brackets make it appealing for ease of installation on the bike and on the bag...and also for ease of removal from the bike.....HOWEVER....you need to ask yourself one question....just how many times are you planning on taking the bags on and off.  

A couple pics of members bikes with Mustangs and Easy Brackets.  Note how the bags are offset from the rear fender.  

[sandy]

After all the above evolving, I finally bought an '05 wing, a Roll-a-Home tent trailer and a Unigo. I think all my bases are covered now. OH! I still have the Valk tourer with 148K on it.

[eric in md]

Hubcap

I already have to occasionally ride behind G-Man to let him know the blinker is still on  

Does anyone know how to attach the real blinker buddy without ruining the ultimate seat?

It would make a great clinic thing for Inzane if my friend could have the thing done in Spearfish

Hard bags mount with 4 bolts in each bag  2 into the bottom and 2 on the inside  They are pretty much not going anywhere. The lids on the other hand.......  Well I have learned my lesson there

I love the fairing function even if I am not always enthused by the look and the fairing also keeps you so much drier in the rain so long as you are moving, unless its a toad strangler coming down

Looking forward to the ride to Inzane in 3 months

 oss get yourself one of those rubber pellet guns carry on your bike when g man dont turn his blinker off shoot a few rubber bullets at him,

[The emperor has no clothes]

Hubcap

I already have to occasionally ride behind G-Man to let him know the blinker is still on  

Does anyone know how to attach the real blinker buddy without ruining the ultimate seat?

It would make a great clinic thing for Inzane if my friend could have the thing done in Spearfish

Hard bags mount with 4 bolts in each bag  2 into the bottom and 2 on the inside  They are pretty much not going anywhere. The lids on the other hand.......  Well I have learned my lesson there

I love the fairing function even if I am not always enthused by the look and the fairing also keeps you so much drier in the rain so long as you are moving, unless its a toad strangler coming down

Looking forward to the ride to Inzane in 3 months

 oss get yourself one of those rubber pellet guns carry on your bike when g man dont turn his blinker off shoot a few rubber bullets at him,

Damn, I'm glad I don't live further east  I'd be getting peppered

[G-Man]

Gary, back when I was looking for a way to mount my Mustangs, like you, I did a lot of research and asked a lot of questions.  

When I mounted my bags, I had considered the Easy Brackets.  I didn't like them for several reasons.  Primarily because I wanted the bags as close to the rear fender like the OEM bags are so I could mount the OEM bag rails using the Mustangs.  The other reason was because I wanted something rock solid.  

If you have the bags already, you know that they're NOT a light weight bag and are in fact pretty heavy.  

If you're considering them, you know that the Easy Brackets have +'s and -'s.  The +'s are when you take the bags off (for whatever reason), they leave a clean look on the rear fender....no brackets left behind...just a couple chrome studs to hang the Easy Brackets on....and, they're easy enough to mount them directly to the bags.  

The -'s are that they make the bags stick waaaay out from the fender.  Again, IMHO, it just don't look right.  They don't look bad mounted, just different....and very very wide.  

Another - is that there's going to be a lot of weight hanging off of those two studs hanging too far out from the fender IMO.  

I pm'd a couple members that did have the Easy Brackets with the Mustangs and they said that the mounts did work pretty well on the bike, but that they did move somewhat on the bike when mounted.  That worried me.  I don't like the idea of stressing the fender anymore than necessary....and I definitely don't like the idea of a floppy heavy bag. 

IMHO, the Easy Brackets are fine for mounting a lightweight bag such as a Leatherlyke or other lightweight bag, but not so much for mounting a heavy bag such as the Mustang, Tsukayu or other heavy hard bag.  

I know the Easy Brackets make it appealing for ease of installation on the bike and on the bag...and also for ease of removal from the bike.....HOWEVER....you need to ask yourself one question....just how many times are you planning on taking the bags on and off.  

A couple pics of members bikes with Mustangs and Easy Brackets.  Note how the bags are offset from the rear fender.  

The setup I had up until last week included the Hitchdoc, bags struts and the throw over bags.  The Mustang bags with the easy bracket stick out way less so that's of minimal concern for me and no more trailering.  In fact the front fender bolts they supplied only stick out 1/2" from the recessed bolt holes (only 1/4" past the widest part of the fender rail) and the rear bolt stick out 3/4" from the recess in the bolt holes.  This would put less stress on the fender than I had before (the throw over bags were light but the hitchdoc and bags struts were heavy).

The only concern would be the slight in and out motion and the effect that may have on the attachment points where the bags are bolted to the bracket itself.  But, since Mustang is the one who recommends, and actually links to the brackets from their own website,  if anything does happen, I believe Mustang should be responsible.  What do you say OSS and Jess??

 

[Jess Tolbirt]

g-man, drill a small 1/8 inch hole at the end of the tear and it wont go any further

[Oss]

Attached to the merchandise will be a disclaimer of any and all warranties
express or implied.

Thats one of the reasons I was so willing to ride down to Bushtec when it was time for
the upgrade work to be done on my trailer in 2006   They did the work and rebuilt everything to better than original specs.   I need to order new tires now that I am thinkin about it  Thanks !

I thought the bags you had looked fine   

Riding on Friday to work?

[G-Man]

Attached to the merchandise will be a disclaimer of any and all warranties
express or implied.

Thats one of the reasons I was so willing to ride down to Bushtec when it was time for
the upgrade work to be done on my trailer in 2006   They did the work and rebuilt everything to better than original specs.   I need to order new tires now that I am thinkin about it  Thanks !

I thought the bags you had looked fine   

Riding on Friday to work?

I liked my old bags, and will use them if I ever need to carry anything on the chopper.  But they were too small for long hauls on the Valkyrie, which is why I travelled with that other big round bag with the backrest built in.  The new bags alone will eliminate that big round bag and the pain of attaching and removing that bag at every motel stop.  Should alleviate some tow tapping    

[BF]

Glad your asking questions Gary. 

I'm still scared of the Easy Brackets regardless if Mustang recommends them.  Recommendations and liability are two different things. 

Remember that they start out being Tsukayu bags in the first place. 

If it was me, I'd look into the mounts from them....they'll sell you a set for about a hundred bucks.  They're a rock solid, very beefy mount....and don't look bad either. 

[Oss]

This is how I am going to Inzane if you are with me

Day 1  to Elkhart IN     714 miles  The 1st day should be the longest  Straight shot out  11hrs

Day 2 to Omaha NE  563 miles  less than 9 hours for me

Day 3 to Spearfish   275 to 20 north you will like these roads at Chadron to 16 thru the Black Hills to Spearfish just under 600 miles  almost 11 hrs because of the slower speeds on the nice roads

I WILL NOT risk another storm on 90 ever again That $hit almost did me in last time near Kadoka SD
when I rode out to Keystone SD   You have no place to hide or stop on the side of the road you must keep going till you find an exit   No overpasses even

If for some reason you cant go I will be heading to Columbus and thru Indy then up to Desmoines and slug out 750 miles the last day

[G-Man]

Glad your asking questions Gary. 

I'm still scared of the Easy Brackets regardless if Mustang recommends them.  Recommendations and liability are two different things. 

Remember that they start out being Tsukayu bags in the first place. 

If it was me, I'd look into the mounts from them....they'll sell you a set for about a hundred bucks.  They're a rock solid, very beefy mount....and don't look bad either. 

Thanks BF, I will def. look into those!

[G-Man]

This is how I am going to Inzane if you are with me

Day 1  to Elkhart IN     714 miles  The 1st day should be the longest  Straight shot out  11hrs

Day 2 to Omaha NE  563 miles  less than 9 hours for me

Day 3 to Spearfish   275 to 20 north you will like these roads at Chadron to 16 thru the Black Hills to Spearfish just under 600 miles  almost 11 hrs

I WILL NOT risk another storm on 90 ever again That $hit almost did me in last time near Kadoka SD
when I rode out to Keystone SD   You have no place to hide or stop on the side of the road you must keep going till you find an exit   No overpasses even

If for some reason you cant go I will be heading to Columbus and thru Indy then up to Desmoines and slug out 750 miles the last day

Going longer on day 2 would be better as I have to stop in Rapid City to pick up Cheryl at the airport. 

[Oss]

ok Sioux City will make the last day an hour less riding and if need be we can run up
40/79 or 385

The roads in the Black Hills will be there for us during the IZ week

What time is her flight coming in?

[Stanley Steamer]

Evolving....naw, just getting soft.

 

[G-Man]

Evolving....naw, just getting soft.

 

Soft!??!  This is what I ride when not riding the Valkyrie:

[G-Man]

ok Sioux City will make the last day an hour less riding and if need be we can run up
40/79 or 385

The roads in the Black Hills will be there for us during the IZ week

What time is her flight coming in?

I think her flight gets in early afternoon.  She doesn't mind waiting, she'll grab a cup of tea and her Jackie Collins novel and she's good for a while. 

[Oss]

So the snow melted on that driveway?

If we leave Omaha at 6am you will get to the airport nice and early and you
will even have time for a few cups of coffee while I pace around (not tapping)

Just NO WAFFLE HOUSE for me

[hubcapsc]

ok Sioux City will make the last day an hour less riding and if need be we can run up
40/79 or 385

The roads in the Black Hills will be there for us during the IZ week

What time is her flight coming in?

I think her flight gets in early afternoon.  She doesn't mind waiting, she'll grab a cup of tea and her Jackie Collins novel and she's good for a while. 

What day? Carolyn flys in there on Sunday, will be renting a car. She's probably going to
go on a horse ride with a local, but I don't know the details of that yet... there's a big
chance she'll drive from the airport to ground zero.

-Mike

[G-Man]

Cher will be arriving on Sunday @ 12:30.  Leaving NY @ 6:30 with one stop in Denver.