Drifter hard bags

[CDNRatMan]

  Your brother's shop in Oshawa who does powder coating? And that address is what and off the 401 at which exit?

[RockinRollin]

I'm in the process of getting my rims powder coated. I disassembled the spokes and ordered new ones from Buchannan's in California. Powder coat just came in the other day, now I just need to find the time to bring it to my brothers shop.

[Bucko]

Thanks PC.  I really like that look and am considering doing the same - along with making the rim tubeless - some day. 

[pcarrell]

He removed the wheels and spokes, had them stripped and powder coated, then reassembled and balanced.

[Bucko]

PC: do you happen to know how he blacked out his wheels?

[pcarrell]

The Fire & Steel struts bolt to the frame ears under the seat, so as the rear fender floats up and down, the bags and struts don't.

[pcarrell]

I have a few pics of Dave's old ride, plus a write-up he did on his custom made headlight treatment.

[RockinRollin]

Thanks for the reply Chief. Since my bike is in little bitty pieces right now and probably won't be back together for a few more months I won't be able to do any testing, but I was hoping to buy a set of bags ahead of time and have them painted to match the bike. But I didn't want to fork out $700 only to find out it's not doable or wouldn't look right. This is something I would like to try.

I bought my bike a few months ago as a project bike and only rode it a few times before disassembley. It came with a set of soft bags and brackets, I think they are fire and steel. there are rub marks from the bags on the lower end of shock (paint was rubbed off) and I noticed one spot where the end of the bracket contacted the top side of back fender leading me to think I would have to make a set of brackets that gave a little more horizontal clearance . It's good to know that it is possible.

[chief]

The exhaust on that bike has been modified so they end up sitting lower (duals). Additionally the bags are small giving enough clearance to prevent them striking the single exhaust. How much clearance you need depends upon your suspension and loading.

[pcarrell]

Dave started with the Fire & Steel struts and loops, then modified that with a torch and some steel.  The struts and loops will keep the bags off of the fenders and exhaust without modification though.

http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/oemsbsetup.html

[RockinRollin]

If anyone who knows of this bike happens to read this could you tell me how is it that these bags are not hitting the exhaust pipes or so close to the bike without contacting the fender?

[John Hopkins]

I have a set of leather saddlebags that I use the way they were originally intended..I throw them over the seat behind me and secure them with bungee cords, then when I get to my destination I throw them over my shoulders and take them with me.

John.

[pcarrell]

Yeah, that's Leonardo's bike.  The bags themselves don't have a ton of custom work (if I remember right, Dave (Leonardo's real name) added a second tail light to each bag, but that's about it), but the mounts and protection bars were fabbed from scratch.

His bike had a ton of custom work on it.  It was a beautiful ride.  he has since sold it to another member of the Delphi Drifter forum, so you may still see it at Drift-In.

[DC]

The Buco bags look AMAZING!!---Here's a pic I found & fell in looooove!...They are sooo pretty on the Drifter!

If I'm remembering correctly, those bags were highly customized.  A lot of fab work went into them.

Those bags, as they have been customized for that bike, are my all-time favorite.   

[LadyDrifter]

The Buco bags look AMAZING!!---Here's a pic I found & fell in looooove!...They are sooo pretty on the Drifter!

[pcarrell]

Great looking bags, but kinda flimsy from what I've heard.

[FloridaDrifter]

I saw these and liked the look...haven't looked into how well they'd fit on the drifter.

http://www.mutazu.com/products.php?cat_id=7&menu=Hard%20Saddlebags&product_id=101&s=prod.php

[DC]

Buco bags would look great!

[ernscott]

I have a very nice set of modified Harley leather bags that were OEM on the Sportster models that bolt right on provided you have the luggage rack. I could send some photos to you. My e-mail is ernscott@comcast.net    Regards Scott

[pcarrell]

Make sure you check here... might be something useful...

http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/reviewpost/showcat.php/cat/51

I'd forgotten about that!

[chief]

Make sure you check here... might be something useful...

http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/reviewpost/showcat.php/cat/51

[Aaron Mitchell]

Im actually having trouble with the same issue, i believe im going to get some flh bags and notch and then refiberglass the inside to fit over the shock where i want it to and not protrude out the back of the bike. then obviously make custom brackets.

only real problems im having is no deciding where to relocate my tag a brake light

[ChilliDrift]

There are few choices that bolt on. Its the mounts not necessarily the bags that are the issue. There will be more suggestions to follow from the senior membrs. But this company makes bags and mounts. The seat you will be using also matters. But with stock 2up you could buy these guys brackets and mount whatever bags you wanted.
Www.ospreylimited.com/drifter.html

[brillo72]

I have decided I would like to put saddlebags on my 1500 Drifter but I'm having trouble finding just the right ones. I love Harley touring bags but of course they won't fit. But that is the style I like. I might consider leather bags if I can't find hard bags I like.

Does anyone have experience in this arena? Pictures, suggestions etc.?

Thanks in advance.