Posted by dave cutter on May 25, 2003 at 20:03:03:
hi folks...try the following on soft saddle bags...it works
1) get your soft saddlebags..preferably the slanted ones because they fit just right in back of the springs.
2) remove the passanger seat
3) remove the back rest and chrome support that rides along the rear fender
4) drape the saddle bags over the fender
5) replace the passanger seat
6) replace the back rest and chrome support (i was lazy and used only the four bolts furthest to the front of the rear fender)..dont worry..2 bolts on either side of that back rest support arm is all ya need to snugly support that back rest.
and now you have saddle bags that go under the passanger seat and are not hiding any chrome, cause they go under the chrome as well.
TIP: construct something to keep the bags from rubbing...i did it like this:
belt side of bike....wrap duct tape around the rear axle nut many times...excess duct tape sticks out and rides on the saddle bags...much better than the metal nut chewing through the leather
brake side...lash a block of wood to the swing arm where the belt adjustment bolt is....that will keep the bag spread away from the wheel and make it look more like the other side where the bag gets pushed out by the belt guard.
slap duct tape under the bags..no one will see the tape (especially if it's black), the tape won't come off when the bags get wet and the duct tape will take all the abuse instead of the leather.