Vulcan Drifter Riders

DISCUSSIONS => Drifter 800 Only => Topic started by: rpoturica on April 20, 2016, 21:24:30 PM

Title: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: rpoturica on April 20, 2016, 21:24:30 PM
Been working on saddlebag brackets for a solo 800. This is the initial mock up. Still have a lot of grinding, cleaning, and fitting to do and they will be powder coated gloss black. Very sturdy, you can literally pick the bike up with these. They are designed to take the place of the original seat brackets. Standard bag u brackets will be mounted to them. I think they will work great! Made from 3/8 " steel.
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: Pilgrim on April 21, 2016, 05:44:48 AM
I think they will work great also..look good.
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: rpoturica on April 21, 2016, 19:46:44 PM
A few more pics of the progress. One ground and polished, the other primed. Coming along pretty good so far.
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: greenbarn on April 21, 2016, 20:56:43 PM
Looking good..... that's half the fun of owning a Drifter.  You get to make your own parts.... ;D
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: rpoturica on April 21, 2016, 21:02:09 PM
I'm definitely finding that out! Seat rail will be next.
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: CDNRatMan on April 21, 2016, 22:16:04 PM
 :o What is this I hear you are going to start to mass produce these hard to find items and make money for your Wife's bike.....


you just need to buy a 1500 now.......
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: rpoturica on April 21, 2016, 22:55:15 PM
Actually, that's kinda what I'm aiming for. A buddy of mine's family owns a huge machine shop business and he said he can form these from stainless steel or laser cut them. We talked about making removable luggage racks for them and other things like seat rails. If enough people are interested we can make it happen!  He's pretty excited about it. I made these with a torch and a grinding wheel, on the clock at work. too much work to mass produce this way. I work maintenance in a foundry so I have access to a few things. these are just a prototype, but they aren't turning out too bad!
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: Sand Storm on April 22, 2016, 09:16:21 AM
The brackets do look good, I just did a mod I saw here to make my saddlebag brackets work with my Corbin seat.  A simple U shape for the forward frame seat mounting hole. I say this to suggest that you don't forget about all the members that already have Corbin seats. Scootworks didn't want my money, I waited too long for them to still not make a batch. JUST DO IT! ;D
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: rpoturica on April 22, 2016, 10:12:42 AM
How much difference is there on the Corbin seat mounts?
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: rpoturica on April 22, 2016, 22:59:39 PM
 Brackets finished and mounted! They do level out when you sit on it. All that's left is to buy some bags. Looks like a visit to the Iron Pony is in order tomorrow. The little lady likes them fringy, so fringy she shall have!
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: CDNRatMan on April 22, 2016, 23:01:46 PM
  Iron Pony, I got a coffee cup from there, just go in and order anything you want and put it on Greenbarn's tab.......I'll pm you his real name and info later.........be a good joke on him.......
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: rpoturica on April 22, 2016, 23:13:20 PM
Wrong Iron Pony! This one is a motorcycle super store in Columbus. Bigger than a Wallmart, more bikes, parts, assessorys, and clothing than you can shake a stick at! Saw a set of bags there last week I want!
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: CDNRatMan on April 22, 2016, 23:56:55 PM
  That is the Iron Pony I am talking about GreenBarn bought me a coffee cup from there one time....duh....lol.......GB has an account there,.........just use his real name and the cost is covered........
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: rpoturica on April 22, 2016, 23:59:12 PM
Sorry, I thought you were talking about the bar!
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: Trall on April 23, 2016, 05:29:25 AM
GREAT job and nice looking brackets for the 800.  They look and appear close to the factory 1500 solo seat strut/brackets for saddlebags that are rare and hard to find. You could also make or add the top rack (Rare and hard to find) like the 1500 has to add storage and looks. I saw the top rack only sell on eBay a few weeks ago for $300.

If your looking to make things on the side that are super rare Solo Seat Rail for the 800 and the 1500.  That would be a good candidate to feel the need of rare parts and wanted items.   I paid $450 for a used one that needed powder coated. 

I've been waiting on Scootworks for my solo seat saddlebag brackets costs $220 range (No Longer made but occasionally does a small batch in the past) since last year with no end in site. 

This past Friday, I ordered the Osprey 800 saddlebag brackets for the 800, costs $99 free s/h and the owner also has some for the 1500 that were in stock.  The Osprey brackets can be used with the solo or double seats.

Here's a pic of the 1500 solo seat set-up with the Top Rack and the 1500 solo seat rail mounted to my 800.....................
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: greenbarn on April 23, 2016, 08:49:50 AM
rpoturica:  that looks pretty good.  One word of advise from the wise.  DO NOT underestimate how far that rear fender moves up and down...   Otherwise you will end up with a mark in either the fender or the fender stays or the exhaust or .....    Don't ask me how I know. >:(

Have a good time at Iron Pony --  You can eyeball and drool all over a few Indians while you are there.   And Ratman is wrong -- I do not have an account there ---  I just used his credit card info to buy him that coffee cup I sent him,   good thing he didn't notice  :o 
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: rpoturica on April 23, 2016, 09:15:18 AM
No worries! Got plenty of clearance all around. Guess I won't be putting my new bags on your tab!  I test rode a Chief at the Pony before I bought the Triumph. Great bikes!
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: CDNRatMan on April 23, 2016, 12:48:14 PM
 :o Oh yes ask the man how he knows....lol......Ron when you are visiting with the Family GreenBarn......no matter what the man says.....ask his lovely wife to tell you the story of their first born and his motorcycle exhaust.......I still laugh thinking of how she was so animated telling the story, Himself tried the next day but he just got peeved off telling it so it was not funny.....lol.....
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: rpoturica on April 23, 2016, 20:07:05 PM
Bags installed! An easy way to mount them is shown in the pics. I just took the flap that normally goes over the fender and riveted it to the back side of the bag near the bottom. then you just unzip the bag from the flap, run it through the bracket, and zip it back up. Then tie to the bottom of the u bracket. Just untie and unzip to remove!
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: greenbarn on April 23, 2016, 21:16:38 PM
Nice looking saddlebags.  What brand are they?   How much did they charge on Ratman's credit card??  You did get that CC# I texted you, right?? ;)

Nice mounting system!
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: rpoturica on April 23, 2016, 21:26:50 PM
The brand is UNIK. About 160 bucks to his card!
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: CDNRatMan on April 23, 2016, 21:40:12 PM
  Pretty talented for an 0hi0 boy......GB you have been removed from the bus list. PC has moved up in our place......rpoturica is also off the bus list........
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: greenbarn on April 23, 2016, 22:16:58 PM
Quote from: rpoturica on April 23, 2016, 21:26:50 PM
The brand is UNIK. About 160 bucks to his card!
Pretty nice...  That Ratman is a really generous guy!
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: pcarrell on April 24, 2016, 08:26:53 AM
Quote from: CDNRatMan on April 23, 2016, 21:40:12 PMPC has moved up in our place......

How did I get dragged into this?  I've been quiet as a church mouse this whole time!
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: drifter2001 on April 24, 2016, 10:11:42 AM
I bought my saddlebags from Osprey limited and they offer mounting brackets which I got and they work great.
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: rpoturica on April 27, 2016, 21:06:33 PM
Working on a luggage rack for my brackets. Here's where I'm at so far.
Title: Re: Drifter 800 saddlebag brackets
Post by: Sand Storm on April 28, 2016, 09:58:48 AM
Here are some pics of my Osprey mounts and Corbin seat setup.