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.
Personally, I like the Harley bags on Harleys, but they seem to squarish on a Drifter if you ask me. Nomad bags look pretty good though, and so do some of the old Buco bags. The new Voyager bags would be cool as well.
Nomad bags: http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Drifter/Other%20Peoples%20Bikes/140586840149f7241faaec7.jpg (http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Drifter/Other%20Peoples%20Bikes/140586840149f7241faaec7.jpg)
Buco's: http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Drifter/Other%20Peoples%20Bikes/BUCO11-HIGH-1.jpg (http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Drifter/Other%20Peoples%20Bikes/BUCO11-HIGH-1.jpg)
I think you sold me on the Nomad bags Phil, they do look nice. I wonder how hard it would be to adapt them to a Drifter?
I wouldn't think too hard. Start with the OEM softbag braces and build to suit from that. Take a look at the top heavy chrome pieces here ( http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/oemsbsetup.html (http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/oemsbsetup.html) ) and use those as a your base. They're strong and sturdy and would easily hold the weight.
Saddlebag Strut PN: K53021-101 (Search on the part number and you should be able to score some.)
Quote from: pcarrell on October 11, 2012, 16:49:25 PM
I wouldn't think too hard. Start with the OEM softbag braces and build to suit from that. Take a look at the top heavy chrome pieces here ( http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/oemsbsetup.html (http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/oemsbsetup.html) ) and use those as a your base. They're strong and sturdy and would easily hold the weight.
Saddlebag Strut PN: K53021-101 (Search on the part number and you should be able to score some.)
Actually I have brackets that look like those. When I got my Drifter it had a solo seat and leather saddlebags using brackets like those. I also have the bags and brackets from my 2003 Suzuki Volusia so I should be able to come up with something. And there's always Fatty's if I get stuck.
You're all set then! With Kevin and Matt's help you're home free!
Now all ya need is an old Nomad that took a punch in the nose!
Quote from: pcarrell on October 11, 2012, 18:43:22 PM
You're all set then! With Kevin and Matt's help you're home free!
Now all ya need is an old Nomad that took a punch in the nose!
Yeah and from what I'm seeing while searching I think finding them will be the hard part.
If you look in the mods/tips section of the site, there is a detailed "how-to" on putting Nomad bags on a Drifter; top notch job, too.
Regards and such,
49Reo
OMG!! I love the Buco's picture!! I have the same teal Drifter but this one is magestic!! Something definitely to aspire to--someday! Wow!!
That's Leonardo's bike. He's done a massive amount of custom work on it, including customizing those Buco bags with the tail lights and making the mounts. That springer seat is a custom one off that he hand stitched himself. It truly is a stunning bike! You can see more here (older pics): http://vulcandrifterriders.com/photogallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=8 (http://vulcandrifterriders.com/photogallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=8) Here's a few that show the Buco's: http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Drifter/Other%20Peoples%20Bikes/1LowRes.jpg (http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Drifter/Other%20Peoples%20Bikes/1LowRes.jpg) http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Drifter/Other%20Peoples%20Bikes/2LowRes.jpg (http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Drifter/Other%20Peoples%20Bikes/2LowRes.jpg) http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Drifter/Other%20Peoples%20Bikes/3LowRes.jpg (http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Drifter/Other%20Peoples%20Bikes/3LowRes.jpg)
BTW, JoBear painted his bike in 2011, then sold it. It was the bike with the Nomad bags. Here it is right before he sold it: http://jobear2.com/images/600_IMG_0149_1_.JPG (http://jobear2.com/images/600_IMG_0149_1_.JPG)
Found a couple more options that might look good with a Drifter. Not real cheap, but available! You'd have to do custom mounts, but that's not a big deal since you were going to do that anyways.
http://tsukayu.com/Strong.htm (http://tsukayu.com/Strong.htm)
http://tsukayu.com/JumboStrong.html (http://tsukayu.com/JumboStrong.html)
http://tsukayu.com/LeatherSeries.htm (http://tsukayu.com/LeatherSeries.htm)
This stuff may be of some help...
http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/reviewpost/showcat.php?mcats=all&si=hard+bags&what=allfields&name=&when=0&whenterm=&dist=&radius=&low=&high= (http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/reviewpost/showcat.php?mcats=all&si=hard+bags&what=allfields&name=&when=0&whenterm=&dist=&radius=&low=&high=)
I didn't realize you had a link to them on the site. If I'd have known that I'd have posted it.
I like those Buco bags with the tail lights. I know the tail lights were added after purchase. Does anyone know where I can get the bags?
Are these the ones you were looking at?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-XL-HARD-SADDLE-BAGS-SADDLEBAGS-HONDA-VTX-1300-1800-SHADOW-AERO-/231966204137?hash=item36024360e9:g:jM4AAOxy--NRp1of&vxp=mtr
Quote from: thenemos on July 30, 2016, 11:28:23 AM
I like those Buco bags with the tail lights. I know the tail lights were added after purchase. Does anyone know where I can get the bags?
You see them come up from time to time. They were used on a lot of different 1950's and 1960's bikes. There are several styles, but the one's on Leonardo's old bike are pretty easy to find if you look around. Most had reflectors on the back, but some (the BMW's I think) had working lights. They aren't cheap though!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/262508386571?item=262508386571&lgeo=1&vectorid=229466&rmvSB=true
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/262536701886?item=262536701886&lgeo=1&vectorid=229466&rmvSB=true
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/350779038516?item=350779038516&lgeo=1&vectorid=229466&rmvSB=true
Sorry, I am out of town this week and didn't see the responses. I will probably hang on to the Buco bags a little longer , they may be used on another upcoming project. Good ones are hard to find.I almost bought the repo ones first as I thought they wouls be easier to paint.Glad I didn't.
Quote from: RockinRonny on August 01, 2016, 05:59:24 AM
Sorry, I am out of town this week and didn't see the responses. I will probably hang on to the Buco bags a little longer , they may be used on another upcoming project. Good ones are hard to find.I almost bought the repo ones first as I thought they wouls be easier to paint.Glad I didn't.
Well, keep us posted with your new project.
And if you should ever abort with it, keep me in mind...I'd like to get those bags...
My brother wants to restore an old Triumph and since he has done so much for my Drifter he may end up with them. If I do sell them You will be the first person I contact.