factory like saddlebags kinda wide

[mason79]

sounds funny, but the problem may be serious, i won them on ebay i think they were for the specials the front lower strap ended short but i made an extention strap that reached, i think it's ok now.

however:

they measure almost 38 inches wide crash bar to crash bar, i would be a little concern to split lanes now that i'm fat, lest i clip a car and go down.

does anyone know if the mounting frame bracket goes behind the shock absorber? i have it in front, while to me it does not appear to go behind the shock maybe some of you have had an experience that shoud be different than mine.

help?

[DiverRay]

Mason,
That is about correct. The factory bags are wide. That is why I was trying to get some detachable bags. Then I only have the mounts, unless I was "on the road".
As I remember, the mount did end outside the shocks. I also remember that with the '78 Yamaha fairing, if the fairing fit, the bags would fit.
Ray

[mason79]

I also remember that with the '78 Yamaha fairing, if the fairing fit, the bags would fit.

hey ray, fit you mean in between the cars when we split lanes?

i was wondering if i could just mount the hardbags without the crash bar setup will that be too flimsy?

[DiverRay]

Yeah, I used the fairing to judge the space for lane splitting. If you have hard bags, I would keep the guards on. They can save the bags, mostly from the "small" impacts that wouldn't hurt the gaurds, but will break the bags.
I did just order some "soft" bags from a local shop. $97 and I make the bar to keep them off the shocks.
Ray

[81XS1100-2006]

The set that were on my 81 Standard were mounted on the outside of the shocks for sure. Man was it wide before I sold em.
But the chrome gaurds were nice. I'd leave them on.