DIY Saddle Bag Mount Project for my new bike ^^;

[BusyWeb]

Hello, here is my last weekend project.
DIY Saddle Bag Mount.

I tried to get some steady saddle bag mount for my weekend touring.
So that I could hold more, havier, or bigger luggages for it.
And lowering the center of mess for the windy road...
Today, there were some winds on my commuting; very short though, it gave me better feeling against wind.
Bigger(warmer) sleeping bag, camera tripod, some folderable chair, and etc....
After some more test riding, I like to paint or change to the Steel or Aluminum tube for the final assembly.

Link for the slide show.
http://picasaweb.google.com/busyweb/FZ6 ... 5232005698 (http://picasaweb.google.com/busyweb/FZ6SaddleBagMountProject#slideshow/5344806945232005698)

[picasa=busyweb:57vmjx9t]5344806800676232993[/picasa:57vmjx9t]

Thanks

[Water Warrior 2]

That is a slick solution for bag supports. I admire anyone with the patience to do this kind of creative modding on a bike. If you are thinking of changing the material you might also consider using pop rivets instead of nuts and bolts. This would make the whole assembly look very professional as well as never needing to check for loose nuts and bolts on your connecting elbows and T's. :2tup: :2tup:

[BusyWeb]

That is a slick solution for bag supports. I admire anyone with the patience to do this kind of creative modding on a bike. If you are thinking of changing the material you might also consider using pop rivets instead of nuts and bolts. This would make the whole assembly look very professional as well as never needing to check for loose nuts and bolts on your connecting elbows and T's. :2tup: :2tup:

Yes, I may do change material...
Actually, I put some right weight wood rod inside my stainless tube to increase some strength.
*** Some solid Steel Tube and Welding service which I could not do myself; no tools which are exp...
And, I actually bought some rivets but could not do until my measurments are absolutely correct.
ha ha ha,
After final good assembly with correct size, I found that my drilling size is far bigger then the rivets will hold.... ha ha ha, stupid me ^^;
Thanks for your advice...
I will consider to change tube material when I feel that my setup works fine after some test riding with my saddle bags on.

[Water Warrior 2]

Busy, we learn by doing things. You have shown us what some thought and planning can do. I would never have thought about wooden dowels to strengthen the tubing and preventing it from crushing when you tighten the nuts and bolts. Can't wait to see the finished product. :rawk:

[alanmcorcoran]

You might also try PVC pipe and glue. Doesn't sound very strong, but if you can get the right specs, you can build furniture out of it. It's cheap, lightweight and easy to work with. Unfortunately, it is often only available in "sprinkler system" size, but it exists as small as 1/8" diameters.

[BusyWeb]

You might also try PVC pipe and glue. Doesn't sound very strong, but if you can get the right specs, you can build furniture out of it. It's cheap, lightweight and easy to work with. Unfortunately, it is often only available in "sprinkler system" size, but it exists as small as 1/8" diameters.
Hello, Mr. Alan.
Glad to see you here again....you have not been active lately here??

You got me once again... ha ha ha
When I was in the Home Depot, I actually bought PVC pipe setups too.
But the size that you said doest not exits on there.
I bought the size of 1/2'' diameter, that was the smallest ones available in there????
And was/is little thick for my needs.
If I found 1/8'' size, I might tried with it first.
Are you sure 1/8'' size is available for small quantities???
BTW, how's your bike...

[alanmcorcoran]

Biz, if you look online you'll see specs for as small as 1/8". I think 3/8" might do it if the walls are think enough. But I have no idea where you can buy it - maybe pool supply or fisk tank store? Google is your friend. Or maybe Bing.

I've checked in pretty regularly, but I don't ride the GZ anymore, I'm not a modder, don't do my own repairs or maintenance, and I've at least moved from newb to novice - so I generally don't see many threads to contribute to. It seems that many of the folks that were on here originally have all moved on to bikes other than the GZ, and, not being on the GZ anymore myself, it's naturally of less interest now. I guess I also got a little tired of the backbiting every time I did post something.

I do enjoy reading of your exploits though!

New bike is good. I ride it most every day, but I had to put some of my plans for longer rides on hold. An opportunity to play in a four piece orchestra for a show came up and I'm practicing whenever I am not working. Show opens in July and runs through early August. Then I can get back to wasting serious time on the bike. I ride back and forth to work most days, and I was riding 30-40 milers to area coffee shops to audition singer songwriters for a while. Yesterday I rode all the way down to San Diego and back (about a 200 mile round trip - business related.) Closing in on 3500 miles on the Strat. Love it on the freeway! It's really hard to talk too much about riding the Stratoliner compared to the GZ without pissing people off or getting lectured about how stupid I was to get into a big bike and blah, blah, blah, so, I just keep it to myself and I'm enjoying the hell out of it. Even after 3500 miles, I still get a shit eating grin whenever I hit fifth gear and open up the throttle. It's quick, smooth, nimble, handles good, easily holds clothes for an overnight, rides like a '60's Buick, not too loud, shifts great, brakes great, starts easily, runs perfectly, goes real fast, nice big shiny headlight, built in windshield. Only complaint is I gotta go to the gas station pretty damn often. But I've got it down to about a three-four minute drill.

Please keep posting about your adventures. I promise as soon as I take a noteworthy trip I will put up some photos.
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/2984/81465765.th.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqoRllS)

[Moedad]

An opportunity to play in a four piece orchestra for a show came up and I'm practicing whenever I am not working. Show opens in July and runs through early August.

Hey, send me details about the show, we might want to catch a performance!

[BusyWeb]

needing to check for loose nuts and bolts on your connecting elbows and T's
I replaced all the regular nuts with Lock-Nuts which one of the hardware store men suggested.
After replacing to the lock-nuts, it seems more steady at movements and holds with good tightness.

I tried to find some good size steel tube, but there were none for my purpose on the local hardware store...um..

Today, I made some extended test riding (150 miles) with my saddle bags on the bike.
To get some good test, I choose the coast-line where I expected some strong wind on the road today; and was some windy.
Result was pretty satisfactory for me.
There are enormous improvement against wind; I think that lowering saddle bags (with some good load) do good job for me.
No more sailing-effect against side or cross wind.... Happy with it.
I felt that I was riding some big-heavy crouser bike,
rear tire was stick into the road surface; may be my new tire do the jobs; amaizing feeling.
Even at the corner with high speed, it gave me more confidence at leaning on the windy conditions.

I may need some more test with Full Loads on the bike... for the mounting strength.
I want to keep this current setup for a while as I like it and do the jobs, until I got some major defect... ha ha ha

An opportunity to play in a four piece orchestra for a show came up and I'm practicing whenever I am not working. Show opens in July and runs through early August.

Hey, send me details about the show, we might want to catch a performance!
Yes, Mr. Alan.
Let us know about it......

[alanmcorcoran]

Biz,

Show is "Hair", opens July 10 @ Chance Theater in Anaheim Hills. See www.chancetheater.com (http://www.chancetheater.com).

(Not for kids.)

Where'd you go for the 150 miler?

[BusyWeb]

Biz,

Show is "Hair", opens July 10 @ Chance Theater in Anaheim Hills. See http://www.chancetheater.com.

(Not for kids.)

Where'd you go for the 150 miler?

Hi, Mr. Alan.
The musical seems great.
I, personally, thought that some classical music performance; according to your personalities.. ha ha ha.
If I have chance/time, let me try it.
However one thing to worry, my body age was matured long times ago, but my emotional age is still kid.
Ha ha ha..

Saturday, I made test riding at;
los angeles -> malibu -> santa babara -> ventura -> los angeles (total about 160 miles)
At Sunday, at;
los angeles -> I 15 -> San Bernadino
-> Angeles Forest Hwy. 2 (full course about 80 miles and twisty??)
-> Hwy. 210 -> I 5 -> los angeles (total about 170 miles)
Aha, as Mr. Moedad said that Hwy. 2 is open fully.
And its on really good road condition, new pavement.
I loved this part of riding yesterday, some rocks(pretty big ones) on the road.
Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my camera..... :cry: , it has really good sights/sceneries at the north part of Angeles Forest Highway.
If you have a chance, try it. :roll:
It's first time that I have ridden through the CLOUD, about 7000 ft., couple of road sections were corvered with cloud (not the FOG).
Anyway, my mounting works well on both Windy Coditions and Heavy Loading, still... ...
And I like it myself... ha ha ha.

[alanmcorcoran]

Yeah I got to get out to that road. I'm waiting until the novelty wears off. I will probably try to hit it during the week.

The Strat isn't exactly built for the twisties, but I'm curious to see if my riding skills have improved at all after 6500 miles.

[Water Warrior 2]

Alan, you might be surprised what the Liner can do in twisties. It's mostly in your skill level. Today I got smoked in the twisties by my friend with a 1700 Vulcan. I in turn smoked a Yamaha 600 sport bike in the twisties. He was quit surprised when a 4 foot wide 650 Vstrom(large luggage) passed him on a curve. Straight line was much different. It's all about experience and skill levels of individual riders. Lynda could carve a better line in the curves than I can when she was on her GZ or now on her M-50. The GZ itself will not win on long fast sweepers but in it's own element at it's ideal speed it will more than hold it's own. It is more fun riding a slow bike fast rather than a fast bike slow.

[alanmcorcoran]

Yeah, I'm less concerned about the bike than my skill levels. I don't do a lot of that kind of riding, but you do tend to gradually get more comfortable leaning the bike over and maintaining stability via the throttle over time - even if it is mostly making left turns at a intersection. I agree the GZ was more nimble. Also, think it had higher ground clearance than the Strat. The other thing is, I weigh a little more than half as much as the GZ, but the Strat is way heavier than me, so it takes a lot more skill to have one's way with it.

I had one of my most challenging rides last week when I got to San Diego. A seven story, steep, super-tight spiral on oily concrete in a parking garage. Survived it without any unplanned contact, but it was hairy. The next day, I almost bit it in a parking lot with a "blind backer outer" (came out right in front of me) but although I panic stopped using the front brakes and skidded, something caused me to let go rather than lock them up completely (shoulda been on both brakes, but I guess I've lost that instinct already.) Skidded a bit, twice in rapid succession, but remained fully upright. Probably dumb luck but I like to think experience is kicking in after 6500 miles.

(The Strat has two giant disc brakes in front, tremendous stopping power, you have to respect it when you grab the lever.)

[Water Warrior 2]

Backing up safely should be part of a driving road test. Backing into a parking spot is far easier and much safer when leaving again. Just try to educate the driving public and see how far you get. Many drivers have no idea about the actual size of their cage. My first wife kept running into things at low speed in parking lots and our driveway. How the H&*$% do you have a head on collision with a garage ?? I always told her to walk around the vehicle and look at it. I did hope the size and shape would imprint on her memory but no dice.

[alanmcorcoran]

What seems to be the problem down here is:

1) All parking spaces are now designed to fit a Honda Civic or smaller.
2) There is only about six feet of space behind each car to "back out" into.
3) Mr. Econobox parks in between a Hummer and an Expedition and cannot see squatola on either side of him.
4) After he waits a random amount of time, he squinches up his eyes, clenches his butt and backs right into you.

Normally, I can see them coming, but this guy was completely masked by the Chevy Behemoth, or whatever oversized land yacht he was hidden behind, and he didn't do the typical tentative "mine-sweeper" feel-your-way-out. Just barreled right into the right of way. I was only able to avoid a collision because the bike can swerve a lot farther and quicker than a car. I just hope these gamblers don't have kids on tricycles in their neighborhood.

[alantf]

Backing into a parking spot is far easier

I agree, but in the supermarket car parks you can't get the trolley between the cars, to load the boot (trunk?) so you have to drive into the slot so the boot is to the outside.

[alantf]

It's first time that I have ridden through the CLOUD,

Over here, when you ride up the twisty road, up the volcano "Mount Teide" you ride up through the clouds, then once you're through you look back down & all you can see is forest & cloud. It's just like flying without a 'plane.

[Water Warrior 2]

What seems to be the problem down here is:

1) All parking spaces are now designed to fit a Honda Civic or smaller.


Yup, I hear you. The price of space for parking is high so the designers just make space for a small car. Along comes Mr. Macho with his big duelly 1 ton and creates complete caos.

[Water Warrior 2]

Backing into a parking spot is far easier

I agree, but in the supermarket car parks you can't get the trolley between the cars, to load the boot (trunk?) so you have to drive into the slot so the boot is to the outside.
Very true. I am one of those folks who will park in the farthest corner from the store and hope all the open spaces don't fill up while I am shopping. Really quite amusing if you have a lazy passenger who hates walking.