Custom Saddlebags

[Snorebaby]

After long, frustrating and exhaustive searching, I have decided to make my own saddlebags for my '86 450.

All the bags I have looked at are either too long, too small, too expensive, hide the shocks or swallow the turn signals. (Not very picky, am I!! :wink: )

I could have easily relocated the T/S to the license plate, but I like where they are.

I have finally gotten out of the design stage and made a paper template. Hopefully within the next week I will make some mock-up bags with some hardboard I have laying around. I will post pics as soon as I get the mock-ups done.

They will be the hard style bags....the frame being made out of 1/16" stainless steel and covered in leather.

Will keep y'all updated whenever possible.

[GearJammer]

Sounds great, Snorey & looking forward to seeing the finished product once you've got 'em done.

With your knack for fabbing, I believe you'd REALLY dig building a chopper at some point. Not this Reb as I know & respect that you prefer to keep it fairly stock & have added your own personalizations, but a BTTW chopper project would really get your imagination & fabbing skills working overtime, LOL!

[Snorebaby]

GearJammer wrote: "With your knack for fabbing, I believe you'd REALLY dig building a chopper at some point."

Thanks Bro!!

Oh yeah....I have been thinking about doing that for a while!! After I finish this Rebel I may buy a bike to do that with. This has been lots of fun for me. The ideas just keep flowing out ROTFLMAO!!

[GearJammer]

ut-oh....you're going to go for it, I just know it!......hehehe.....

Plus you're a welder (I'm not, wish I were), which only further opens up the possibilities :wink:

BTW, got the chopped Trumpet back on the road today. Opened up the carb, tore it down & found the obvious problem...jet holder, which both the pilot & main jets screw into, had gradually vibrated loose & was literally hanging on by a "thread" (jet holder screws into carb body). Cleaned the carb since it was already torn down, put it back together & with old, stale fuel in the gas tank, she still fired up! Topped her off with fresh fuel & we went gearjammin', LMAO!

(Sorry for the brief hi-jack)

[Snorebaby]

Well I got the mock-up partially done....enough to put on the bike to see the shape and particular clearances. I am gonna round the corners off. The dowel rods are only there to give me the depth for this mock up. Don't know yet when I will be able to make the stainless steel version. But that one will be the final version that will be covered in leather. Will hopefully get the front, bottom, back and top for this mock-up made this weekend. Will post more pics when I get them.

http://home.comcast.net/~snorebaby2/Saddlebag1.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~snorebaby2/Saddlebag2.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~snorebaby2/Saddlebag3.jpg

[GearJammer]

"That's what we're talkin' 'bout", LMAO!

Looking good, Snorey! Plenty of cargo capacity & I REALLY dig the way you've contoured the top to match the fender strut...enhances the lines overall...

[boggs74]

i'll try and get a hold of the orginal owner of my 450 and see where he got the saddle bags that are on mine. I'll post it if i come up with the source just incase anyone else has the same problem.

[Snorebaby]

Hey Boggs74!

Can you get some good pics of your bags and post them? I would like to see them.

Thanks

[boggs74]

there is a decent pic of them in the forum album, i'll try and take some better ones but i ended up having to get help posting that pic.(i couldn't get the file size small enough to post)