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Posted by thenemos
- July 30, 2016, 07:05:57 AMRockinRonny - Do you have a link to those Buco XLs?
Posted by mittico68
- July 30, 2016, 02:23:11 AMQuote from: RockinRonny on July 27, 2016, 13:17:11 PMI would have preferred hard bags but couldn't find anything I liked. Originally I was going to put on a set of Bucos but with a flat lid (opening) I couldn't figure out how to match a 2 tone paint job without it looking like crap.
Man! I too would like to put on a set of Bucos!
And ma-deuce is a one tone coloured...
Do you still have those?
Posted by AZCaveman
- July 27, 2016, 15:43:44 PMI have the stock bag mounts and a couple of sets of hardbags. Being able to mount them isn't an issue. I wanted to try a "new" approach. Something more along the lines of a custom bike. With proper bracing I think the thick abs fenders could hold the weight, especially since you are using the crash bar to carry most of it. if they were abs welded,molded the would essentially be a one piece unit fender and bags. Was just looking mostly as a styling exercise.
Posted by RockinRollin
- July 27, 2016, 13:25:24 PMThis is the XL Series Bags that sort of follow the fender lines. Not too expensive either. If a half dozen Drifter owners approached a place that does fiberglass I wonder if we could get a mold made for bags that match the fender then make brackets specifically for these bags on the Drifter? How cool would that be?
Posted by RockinRollin
- July 27, 2016, 13:17:11 PMI would have preferred hard bags but couldn't find anything I liked. Originally I was going to put on a set of Bucos but with a flat lid (opening) I couldn't figure out how to match a 2 tone paint job without it looking like crap.
Posted by pcarrell
- July 27, 2016, 10:27:50 AMPersonally, I like the idea of hard bags that mirror the fender in looks and lines, but I think the way to go here is to mount them solid to the frame and as close to the rear fender as possible. Let the fender float with the road, but hard mount the bags. Oldies Customs makes fiberglass repops of Drifter fenders, and this would be the starting point for me as fiberglass would be more durable and easier to work with then the stock plastic fender. http://www.badassglass.us/fenders.html
Posted by RockinRollin
- July 27, 2016, 08:00:28 AMIf it's not old Drifter then I can't think who posted them?
Yes dual pipes make it possible to lower the bags. Have you considered Buco bags?
My bag brackets have 1/2 inch side clearance from the fender rail. That's as close as you're going to get to the fender with low bags hanging from the back seat. The brackets are made from 1/4 plate with gussets near the neck so there is no side ways flexing even though they hang from the rear seat.
Posted by Ironworking
- July 26, 2016, 22:32:15 PMQuote from: AZCaveman on July 26, 2016, 17:53:19 PMI can assure you plastic or fiberglass saddlebags would not last more than a few hundred miles if loaded with any weight (20 lbs each). They would disintegrate. Think of the rear end as a hard tail, because essentially it is. The suspension if or the rider/s. It does very little for the tail section.I thought about that. the suspension mostly moves up away from exhaust. Not planning to copy Evel with it lol. The downward stroke would be maxed out by spring travel. It would have to have duals as to give more clearance under the bags. The shock clearance only requires a couple of inches. I think using "old" drifter fenders and making them into hardbags and molding them to the fender would produce nice lines like a bagger. However, the earlier post about 'shaking the frieght' could be an issue. I need to find a third 1500 drifter to test out some Ideas!
Posted by Old Drifter
- July 26, 2016, 18:14:37 PMQuote from: RockinRonny on July 26, 2016, 09:40:08 AMIt's not me. Whoever it is has a Michigan plate.Boy , that's a can of worms. Getting bags to look right on this bike can really take some engineering. There is a forum member who has mounted his bags on the fenders, I have pix of his bike but can't remember who it was , maybe Old Drifter? Anyways here is pix of his bags and also pix of the brackets I made for mine that hang off the back seat. My bag hangers match the contour of the fender but my bags don't. Don't know if this helps or not.
Posted by AZCaveman
- July 26, 2016, 17:53:19 PMI thought about that. the suspension mostly moves up away from exhaust. Not planning to copy Evel with it lol. The downward stroke would be maxed out by spring travel. It would have to have duals as to give more clearance under the bags. The shock clearance only requires a couple of inches. I think using "old" drifter fenders and making them into hardbags and molding them to the fender would produce nice lines like a bagger. However, the earlier post about 'shaking the frieght' could be an issue. I need to find a third 1500 drifter to test out some Ideas! 
Posted by pcarrell
- July 26, 2016, 17:17:07 PMYou'd have to leave a lot of clearance for the suspension to move. Remember, the exhaust doesn't move, but the fender does!
Posted by AZCaveman
- July 26, 2016, 15:35:57 PMI would love to get 2 old 'damaged' rear fenders, turn them into hardbags. And flush mount them to the fenders
Posted by RockinRollin
- July 26, 2016, 09:40:08 AMBoy , that's a can of worms. Getting bags to look right on this bike can really take some engineering. There is a forum member who has mounted his bags on the fenders, I have pix of his bike but can't remember who it was , maybe Old Drifter? Anyways here is pix of his bags and also pix of the brackets I made for mine that hang off the back seat. My bag hangers match the contour of the fender but my bags don't. Don't know if this helps or not.
Posted by mittico68
- July 26, 2016, 02:40:30 AMYeah, maybe... but that solution would lead to have everything shaken inside the bags, because of the rear fender bouncin'!
Posted by AZCaveman
- July 25, 2016, 15:23:49 PMHas anyone tried instead of the hanging Bracket for hardbags. Mounting then on the fender 'crashbar" and attaching the tops directly to the fenders? I think done cleanly they would flow with the bikes lines better.