So... I decided I wanted to try some hard bags for my 2001 800. I had looked at Mutazu bags online and saw that they offered a "burgundy" color. I contacted them to see if they could provide me with a sample of something with the color so I could see how it matched up with my bike color. No dice....got the typical answer...can't guarantee color match..blah blah blah...Anyway, I decided for $168, I could afford to bid on the LW model bags in burgundy....they have a "buy it now" price of $198 on ebay and on their webpage with free shipping, but also put them up at $168 starting price under open bidding (including free shipping). I put in the minimum bid and no one else bid...so I got them and they arrived in 4 days.
Well, they just came in today and....they match PERFECTLY.... The paint job isn't perfect by any stretch. There are a couple of minor flaws and a run on one side of one bag (will go on the bracket side to hide it), but overall I am very pleased with the color match. I plan on putting studded bibs on the lids to match my rear fender....
For the money spent, I am pretty happy. I pulled the side panel off to bring with me so I could check the color when they came in.....here are the results..
Nicely done....color match looks good to me. Nice shape on the bags too.
Cool and now to see how you match them to the bike.....
Will mount them up tonight....
::) are you done yet......2200 hrs here and I need to get some down time......
Sorry...worked late today...here ya go. By the way, I had my springer seat sold...then the guy flaked on me and didn't take it. My wife told me to keep it because it looks cool and it works around town...so it's back on. Also, I mounted the war-bonnet light back a little so the face angle on the tank matches it. I hope it doesn't look too goofy...now I just gotta order the studded lid bibs..
Ok first off your wife other than picking you she has to be a smart cookie, she has good taste. :o. I now can go and try and sleep some and get some rest that you have finished what you started. Now I am personally not a huge fan of hard or soft bags on the Drifter, JMPO. But each to their own, I have however seen some really nice setups. This is one of them, it looks good, now a set of 1000 watt speakers in the lids...lol......
Now your wife is right that setup looks really good. I do like the solo seat for around town and such, so once I get mine figured out I'll get it mounted. Oh right I finally found the seat I was after. The lid bibs will give it that finished look.
You also need to visor the signal lights, all four of them.......Ok so the story I heard about the Indian head fender light.....the Heads eyes are supposed to be looking at the road ahead of you to clear the path, so yours is looking off into the distance to ensure that the way far ahead is clear...that is fine......
Yes one nice ride ...but lord some shiny.....lol.......
Not really a fan of bags on drifters either, but practicality wins out....plus I have an excuse to run up to the store for my wife from time to time. I have been looking for the signal visors...but don't like the ones with ridges in them...can't locate smooth ones so far. I still need to put the chrome rack/mount back on...sorta finishes things off...and, yeah, I need to get the lid bibs ordered....I just wonder if I will ever be finished adding stuff to it....:-P Maybe some arrowhead decals on the bags??
8) sorry I keep forgetting that a lot of you lads need to get permission to go for a ride......I am master and ruler of my abode so I do not need to ask for permission, I control the TV remote, I get to decide what we are eating for supper and when and how much I want......
Quote from: OR_Seedman on April 13, 2017, 20:22:07 PM
Sorry...worked late today...here ya go. By the way, I had my springer seat sold...then the guy flaked on me and didn't take it. My wife told me to keep it because it looks cool and it works around town...so it's back on. Also, I mounted the war-bonnet light back a little so the face angle on the tank matches it. I hope it doesn't look too goofy...now I just gotta order the studded lid bibs..
man I love your pipes
Looks fantastic. That's a lot bang for your bucks. Nice job
Well done!
That's a cool result. Those bahs match really nice the bike. And the indian headdress is a cool add.
Thanks to all the compliments. The bags even came with mounting hardware (rubber grommets, grommet sleeves, bolts, nuts and washers). I put the rear rack back on late last night as well....it really finishes the look. Mutazu has a lot of different accessories like luggage and other stuff. Not really top of the line, but more middle of the road, from the looks of it. Like I said earlier, the paint job on the bags is okay, but it's better than I could have done.. :o. But to be able to find painted bags that match so well, I'll take 'em. Last thing to put on are the new white walls sitting in the storeroom at my office....just haven't had the time to pull the wheels and take them over to the local shop and have them mounted...I still have the original tires at 6,350 miles. They aren't worn out, but they have some fine cracking due to age...
What tires pray tell are you installing?
Metzelers ME888
here it is now with the rear rack (at the lowest height setting)
Can we get a picture from the other side of the bike, want to see the bag and fender minus the pipes......
I am really liking that look, other then all that chrome, need to wear sunglasses.........you will really like the Metz 888's, I had them last summer and did my ride to Billings and home, after Sparta. I like them in the wet weather they really hold the road well.
will post a left side pic tomorrow.....too dark to take one now. and I like all the bling...drivers can see me coming from miles away
I sort of like the black out version
But...you have a chrome tail pipe..? Just kidding....gotta admit...looks very good....too bad you can no longer get that passenger backrest setup. I tried and tried to find one (no longer available from cruiser customizing), so, as you know, I fabricated my own backrest mounts and added a....wait for it....CHROME backrest and rear rack to my Fire & Steel 2-up seat... ;). I'm hoping that this summer I can get my better half to ride over to the coast with me a few times....I think that once she gets over her initial fear of the open road and helmet hair, she might actually enjoy it..
I have actually emailed Mutazu to see if the make on of their detachable hard trucks with backrest in the same burgundy color as the bags I got. That would make a nice 2-up setup for overnight trips....Plus, I bet I could figure out a way to mount it on the solo seat rack as well...we'll see what they say.
I can not afford to do the gloss black pipes I want......
Alos a bit of chrome does make it stand out.....Now I know where your spouse is coming from nothing worse than damn helmet hair.......I have to contend with that all summer long and in the winter time I have to deal with what we call Toque head...and it is horrible, with my naturally curly and wonderful hair ......I hate to hide it..........
that's why I keep mine short.... 8) here is the pic you wanted see from the left side
Ok even though you have hidden the rear fender you have not lost the effect of the class of the bike. I can only say that now you need signal light visors and to get a rectifier cover for that hole on this side of the bike..........
did you sell all the covers that you had? I would be interested in a black one....also, you could just send me your signal visors to help me finish mine off......out of the kindness of your Drifter Lovin' heart.... :P Still trying to find smooth ones (like yours)
I sold all the rectifier covers I had, if you have access to a metal banger then he can make you one, I can send you a template of the one I have.
I can remove my visors and send them to you, I will give you the visors for free, and I checked on the shipping charges and frm me to you it is only going to cost you $7,800.23, do you want to put the funds in my paypal account and I promise not to move the funds till you get the visors.
:) ROFLMAO
I decided to attempt to get a matching hard trunk to the Mutazu saddlebags.....couldn't get one from them, so I looked around and found one in "Candy Red/Burgundy. Picked it up for $65.00 including shipping. I mounted it on top of the rear rack that goes with the solo seat and saddlebag mounts. The color is a little off, but I am going to get the matching body paint and do it my self later this summer. I had it mounted with both the springer solo seat and my OEM solo seat. I used a piece of UHMW plastic between the trunk and the top of the chrome rack to compensate for the front and rear edges of the rack. It has to sit pretty far forward with the OEM solo seat but not quite as far with the springer, so I made a couple of sets of mounting holes in the UHMW to be able to move the trunk forwards and backwards using the same holes in the trunk...Not something I want to keep on all the time, but since it comes off with 4 bolts, I can use it whenever I need...I took somp pics with it on the bike with both seats....
Looks great, a nice little touring bike complete with tunes. Now you need to go to the Canadian Drift-In.
You could go down to Georgia and met with Old Gene and ride up here to Canada and join us for Rendezvous, you have enough storage on that bike for the trip and then some........looks good.....
That's really a nice combo.
But does it allow you to rest your back while riding? I'm just curious...
I have it far enough forward that I can lean back into it when I need to. The pad is not the softest, but when I paint it, I will re-do the pad with some thicker memory foam..I am going to ride with it around town a bit to see how it feels....I can make necessary adjustments to the position after I get a feel for it...I added 3.5" risers with 1.5" pull back. too, and that helps position me better to take advantage of the backrest on the trunk. I just can turn the front wheel quite are far anymore or the risers hit the speedo casing...but at least now I was able to position the speakers where I wanted them and keep the windshield bag (makes a handy storage spot for glasses and stuff)
Quote from: OR_Seedman on April 13, 2017, 20:22:07 PM
Sorry...worked late today...here ya go. By the way, I had my springer seat sold...then the guy flaked on me and didn't take it. My wife told me to keep it because it looks cool and it works around town...so it's back on. Also, I mounted the war-bonnet light back a little so the face angle on the tank matches it. I hope it doesn't look too goofy...now I just gotta order the studded lid bibs..
Nice look!
AND, in part based on your happy experience, I bought them in GLOSS BLACK to go on my 2001. They just shipped out today. Mutazu Universal LW Hard Bags Motorcycle Saddle Bag BLACK.
I tried the toss-over leather bags and they just start to look like crap and the scuff the paint... and even though I resisted it, I have succumbed to the hard bags. I know they will conceal that gorgeous rear fender BUT the thing is I always need to carry something and I also use my bike to get things, hardware store runs, cat food runs. etc. My bike is a tool as much as it fun and glorious to ride.
So, it sounds like you could use the mounts they sent you and they actually work on the Drifter 800??!!?
I just want to be certain. I thought you typed that, however I am just double checking.
Turned out well, Seedman, looks good.
Quote from: OR_Seedman on April 24, 2017, 21:54:17 PM
I decided to attempt to get a matching hard trunk to the Mutazu saddlebags.....couldn't get one from them, so I looked around and found one in "Candy Red/Burgundy. Picked it up for $65.00 including shipping. I mounted it on top of the rear rack that goes with the solo seat and saddlebag mounts. The color is a little off, but I am going to get the matching body paint and do it my self later this summer. I had it mounted with both the springer solo seat and my OEM solo seat. I used a piece of UHMW plastic between the trunk and the top of the chrome rack to compensate for the front and rear edges of the rack. It has to sit pretty far forward with the OEM solo seat but not quite as far with the springer, so I made a couple of sets of mounting holes in the UHMW to be able to move the trunk forwards and backwards using the same holes in the trunk...Not something I want to keep on all the time, but since it comes off with 4 bolts, I can use it whenever I need...I took somp pics with it on the bike with both seats....
How much clearance do you have between the TOP of your exhaust pipe and the bottom of the RIGHT hard saddlebag?
A number is fine... but a PICTURE too would even be appreciated also more! ;)
sorry...was out of town for a mini-vacation with friends we only get to see every couple of years. regarding the space between the bags and the upper exhaust...I have exactly 1" of space (minimum recommended by Mutazu). I have checked the bottom of the bag after a ride down the freeway and on slower 2-lane roads...might be slightly warmer than the sides....so...that's seems adequate...
Quote from: OR_Seedman on June 28, 2017, 16:23:14 PM
sorry...was out of town for a mini-vacation with friends we only get to see every couple of years. regarding the space between the bags and the upper exhaust...I have exactly 1" of space (minimum recommended by Mutazu). I have checked the bottom of the bag after a ride down the freeway and on slower 2-lane roads...might be slightly warmer than the sides....so...that's seems adequate...
Great! Thank YOU!
1 inch it is.
When mounting them, make sure you put them back far enough, I left about 1.5" between the taillight and the bag on each side....I wish now I had moved them back as far as possible. They are a little bit forward for the passenger on the two-up seat (hits them in the calf a little), but it's okay. Also, they may look like they are over the fender at rest, especially from the right side due to the angle..but when you sit on the bike, the fender moves up some and then they look really good....
Regarding the mounting brackets that came with the bags....I did not use the brackets...just the bolts and rubber bushings. Also, I drilled another hole at the bottom back corner of each of my saddlebag brackets so I could use all 8 bolts, bushings and washers/nuts. just makes them a little more secure. I also put a spacer between the bushings and the mounts on the lower half of each bag so they don't look like they are angling in (the sides of the bags slope down as the bottom is slightly more narrow than the top). Just my personal preference...
One thing I did do with the mounting brackets that came with the bags is I used one on each side to stabilize the bags when I have the 2-up seat on with the tour-pak. I mounted one on each side of the seat to the front grab rail hole and then attach the front top hole on each bag mount to about the 3rd hole down (they actually are threaded so you can screw that one in) it really keeps the wagging of the bags to a minimum. I will post pics next time I have that setup on....
Quote from: OR_Seedman on April 14, 2017, 20:24:13 PM
here it is now with the rear rack (at the lowest height setting)
Can you send pictures of HOW YOU MOUNTED the brackets?? Pic of bracket on the bike before you attached the BAGS??
Zoar:
not sure which brackets you are referring to. I use my own saddlebag mounting brackets for the hard bags ( I have a couple of extra sets for different bags). I followed the instructions that came with the hard bags for putting in the rubber mounting bushings and sleeves. Since I have the stacked dual pipes on the right side, I put a 1" board on top of the upper pipe as a spacer, then lined up the bag against the saddlebag mount, marked the holes with felt-tip pen and then drilled them in the right side bag. Then I put the two bags side by side to each other and just marked the holes for the left bag by going through the right bag with the marker...
If you don't have a set of the saddlebag mounts that I sell (formerly sold by Osprey), I don't think you can mount the hard bags. the brackets that come with them are to mount them on a rigid fender...
Quote from: OR_Seedman on July 13, 2017, 14:34:19 PM
Zoar:
not sure which brackets you are referring to. I use my own saddlebag mounting brackets for the hard bags ( I have a couple of extra sets for different bags). I followed the instructions that came with the hard bags for putting in the rubber mounting bushings and sleeves. Since I have the stacked dual pipes on the right side, I put a 1" board on top of the upper pipe as a spacer, then lined up the bag against the saddlebag mount, marked the holes with felt-tip pen and then drilled them in the right side bag. Then I put the two bags side by side to each other and just marked the holes for the left bag by going through the right bag with the marker...
If you don't have a set of the saddlebag mounts that I sell (formerly sold by Osprey), I don't think you can mount the hard bags. the brackets that come with them are to mount them on a rigid fender...
I was referring to whichever brackets you used and since they are YOUR brackets, then those. I was hoping to just see them on the bike BEFORE you mounted the bags TO the bracket. Like a full SIDE shot. With NO bag attached.
My pipes are fish tail type and I am afraid the top fishtail may sit too high (dammit) and I either can make this work on my bike as is with these bags and your bracket OR I will have to replace the Fishtail pipes which is something I was hoping NOT to do. But if I can see where your brackets sit it will help me determine the next step.
no problem...will post a pic later today when I get home. bagless bracket on the right side over the pipes. ;D
sorry...forgot to post the pic....plus my camera in my phone has gone all weird.....won't focus and makes a buzzing noise. here is the best I could do
Quote from: OR_Seedman on July 15, 2017, 23:11:10 PM
sorry...forgot to post the pic....plus my camera in my phone has gone all weird.....won't focus and makes a buzzing noise. here is the best I could do
Okay. Now I understand better how you made the brackets. I sent you a PM.
Thanks!