Yamaha Hard Bags

[desert1]

How many riders out there ride with the original Yamaha hard bags anyway? If not, what kinda bags do you have? Have you fashioned your own bags? If so, what are they made of, fabric, metal or F/G (wood? nah)........why all the questions on bags you ask, just curious.......yesterday I lost a cover off my bags on a 3 mile stretch of hiway and so I will F/G mold a replacement for it, I rode up n down the hiway in hopes of finding it but no luck....should have taken somones advice on attaching a cable to the bag top!
Bruce

[rneal55555]

It ain't pretty but I have a couple of bungy cords hold mine shut, maybe someday I'll get the latches fixed.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Bruce,

Right now I'm running some aftermarket soft side bags, but I have plans on making a set that will be easily removable, like suitcases. Remember, mine is a rat bike so I'm not too worried about the exact beauty of them, but I would like to them to look decent.

I have found some nifty looking aluminum diamond plate tool boxes, and thought about cutting them in half lengthways, sealing up the ends with some spare plate, moving and reattaching the handles on the top lids, and bolting some form of quick release mounts on the back sides so that I can easily attach and remove them from the supporting brackets, that I will also need to fashion.

I might also go with steel diamond plate, a bit more heavier, but more rugged, and I know I can weld steel, haven't tried aluminum with my machine!?
T.C.

[desert1]

diamond plate

Hey TC that diamond plate idea sounds solid enough, that plate does'nt need much in the way of maintenace, rust is'nt a problem and it shines as well. I have'nt seen bags made out of it to date, least not around here, maybe you should go ahead with it......oh, TC, hinge the lids on......I was out beating the bushes today lookin for mine...
Bruce

[Jerry]

Many of us run the Vetter bags. Mounts are not generic, as they use the rear footpeg bolt as one of the supports, and this varies from bike to bike as well as being different between the XS Standard, Special, and XJ. However, mods are fairly easy to do. Sets without the rear trunk go for around $75, about double with the trunk. Require large boxes so shipping is expensive.

Vetter had a couple variations of the bags, as I found out when trying to find a replacement lid. Early lids do not fit on later (more angled) bags, and Honda had a line made for the ealy Gold Wings (GL1000) that are larger than the 'stock' bags. Most of the bags out there are late-model units,

Stock hardware store locks will replace missing/defective lid locks. The bags are also removeable, which is nice, but I rarely remove mine. Mounting them requires relocating the turn lights to the Vetter frame, I had to make up some turn light extension wires to connect the lights to the stock XJ harness.

[desert1]

Vetters

Hi Jerry; I see vetters are carried on a quite a different makes of bikes as well, you dont know how helpful bags are until you've had them for a season or two....we need something to haul or stuff around with us. Cant imagine being without them now.
Bruce

[Jerry]

Whe I bought the XJ it was specifically to tourn it into a touring bike, so a Vetter set-up (fairing, lowers, bags, trunk) was in the works. Trunk didn't work for me, but I can't imagine traveling without the bags. Don't use a tank bag, so water, camera, small tools, windshield cleaner, other items reside in my Vetter bags. glad I have them.

[Czekus21]

I use Vetter bags on my SF. I thought about removeing them but after thinking about that for awhile, decided to keep them on. I think the bike looks better without them, but the bags are handy. Like Jerry said, I can't imagine traveling without them. Also a feature that I like about Vetter is the bags open from the side and with the lids open, they also act as a small table

[TopCatGr58]

Well, I've gotten the Diamond plate boxes, and am working on getting some different latches for them! That's where the problem is. I've found a few styles I like made by SOUTHCO, but I can't find any retail destributors for them, they seem to be sold WHOLESALE to manufacturers of other products, like toolboxes, and such!?

I found what was called mini style toolbox latches with keysets on Northern tool, but they are still large, 4"x3"x1"deep.

So..does anybody know of any places where they sell replacement latches for saddlebags or such??
TIA.
T.C.

[vanhump]

Interesting reading about the bags. I have an 80G that has the Yamaha fairing and the side bags and trunk. All original except for the windshield, which the wind blew the bike onto the boat and broke. Have fabbed a shield that I found on ebay to fit. Couldnt see riding without them. Find all the space very handy for hauling things neeeded when riding.

[Ken Talbot]

TC - check out McMaster-Carr supply. Use their search tool to look for 'surface-mounted draw latch' If that's not quite what you're after, widen the search to draw latch or cam latch

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Ken,

Thanks, I vaguely remembered that URL, but couldn't remember it, nor ever find it in a search. IT's now in my favorites. I found an over center locking draw latch that should work quite well, with a nickel plated steel, should match the bright aluminum fairly well. I'll be posting photos when I get it all done!
T.C.

[Geezer]

It's too bad no one makes replacement lids for the stock bags. I have a set of the Yamaha bags I'd like to use but no lids. Right now I used them for parts boxes.

I'm looking forward to seeing pix of the aluminum bags...

Geezer

[desert1]

Flipped lids

I flipped my lid somewhere on the hiway last fall, went back but couldnt find it.....now I have to make a replacement lid.....
Bruce

[madbiker]

I have 2 sets of bates bags. I was in a bike shop near here and was talking to a oldtimer that worked there .We were talking about saddle bags for the older bikes. He goes come back here and look at this they had a back room that had the walls line with old fairings and bags . That they took off wreckc and stored for sale . Did ya ever think to check your local shops for a lid. When he showed me this I couldn't believe what I saw.
Ralph