looking for hard saddlebags etc

[deo]

I would like to put saddle bags and a "trunk" on my XJ11 but haven't been able to find one. Does anyone have any recommendations of places to look? Or does anyone have a set for sale.

dave

[Jim Scott]

Check out ebay. i do a search under vetter and find a lot of stuff. its a better source than a XS11 search.

[Madness]

Dave,

You might check here: http://www.mikescycleparts.com/ They had several factory XS11 hard bags last summer. Some of them weren't in the greatest of shape and the prices seemed a bit high for me. If price is a factor then the best bet is eBay. If not, send Mike's an email and I'm sure they have something.

Jim

[deo]

Thanks for the heads up. I went to the site and then realized that they want a personal email from me so I guess I'll have to wait until they get back to me.

dave

[Jerry]

A couple notes on putting the Vetter bags on your XJ.

The XJ rear footpeg mount is different than on an XS. The grab bar behind the seat is also different. Therefore, unless you find a Vetter system specific to the XJ, you will need to slightly modify the Vetter frames.

Not difficult...I added extensions to the frames I received, extension are short (about 2 inches) flat steel (1/4 inch) bolted to the frame bottom mounts. 2 holes need to be drilled, one for the frame end and the other for the footpeg mount.

Top mounts, around rear fender/turn light mount, did not require any modification.

Rear turn signals are removed from stock location and mounted on Vetter frame. You will need to make up wiring extension for the lights. Again, not difficult. I used bullet-type connectors which plug into original wiring.

Vetter trunk will interfere with the stock grab bar. Three options. The rack itself is no problem, so try moving the trunk mounting plate as far to the rear of the rack as possilbe. You may have to come up with an extension to the rack to do this. Option 2 is to remove the grab bar. I tried this, but found the lack of the bar to be a real PITA, so simply removed the trunk and put the bar back on. Left the rack in place, use it to carry a small foldable ice chest when on trips, works out well. Option 3: Trunk has what looks to be a removeable pad, and it might help to remove this pad. Did not try this myself.

Vetter bag mounts will cover your helmet lock, making it unuseable. I bought a long-shank padlock at Walmart, fits through the helmet ring and around one of the rack braces. Works OK to secure the helmet. There are other after-market helmet securing devices out there, and you will need something.

If and when you buy a Vetter luggage system, a couple things to look for. Trunk should come with original harness that plugs into bike's wiring. You can make your own, but trunks is better sealed and looks better if you have original wiring. Option: trunk lights are only running lights. It is possible to re-wire these sockets with dual filament bulbs and use them for brake/turn lights.

Fairing should also come with wiring 'pigtail' that plus into the bike's wiring system as well as the XS/XJ frame mount. (Mount is same for all XS/XJ 1100 models.)

On my set of luggage there is a brace that runs over the rear fender that ties both sides together, helping reduce vibration. Did not need to modify this bracket for my installation.

Check the luggage doors for looseness. Original hinges used pop rivits. I lost a door on a trip because of bad rivits. Replaced them with small screws (10-32?) and Nylock nuts, have not had a problem now in a couple years and lots of miles.

Other wear point on the bags is the mechanism that locks the bags to the frame. The actual clip is nothing more than a U-shaped piece of heavy-gauge wire, and one side of 1 wire was broken on my set when I got it...bag would fall off on a bump! I drilled out the OEM rivits, replace the wire from a heavy-duty wire hanger, and rivited the original hold-down plate back in place.

You can change the rear tire with the frames in place. However, you may need to jack the bike up a few inches instead of simply putting it on the center stand. The extra height gives you a better angle to slip the tire in and out of the swing arm.

I like having the bags, and have been running them since 2000. Handy for a bottle of water, camera, windshield cleaner, other odds and ends for both short and longer trips. I rarely take them off the bike anymore except to clean them or the bike. If you are planning any longer trips at all, would recommend you find a set and add them to your XJ.

May not win any styling awards, but they are really handy to have!

I have photos of the extensions I added to the flame lower mounts, will try to find them and post them to this thread in the next couple days.

Again, if you can find an XJ specific set, most of what I have covered here does not apply, but odd are you will find an XS set and will have to adapt them to your bike. Good luck!




--- January 27, 1974: President Richard M. Nixon signs 55 MPH speed limit into law. ------

[deo]

Jerry,

Lots of good info. I was just at my local bike shop looking around and the owner told me that the Shoei company made some universal bags. Have you ever heard of them? He said that they sometimes were created for a police conversion.

I have the fairing on the front already that is part of why I want to put the trunk and bags on it. I am wanting to do some long distance traveling and it just seems that a nice set of bags will make it much easier. I also want to have the option of taking my bike to the beach in the summer and that is a 3.5 hour ride. I usually like to take enough for the full day so your recommendation of a cooler makes me thirsty. Great idea.

Been checking out ebay but no body so far has listed anything.

Hey, is there an easy way to get broken exhaust header bolts out. I just discovered that the PO had tried and broke two of the nuts off while trying to get the old exhaust off the bike.

Thanks again, I will save this one for further reference.

dave

[Jim Scott]

Hi Deo,
first you mention some universal bags I have found that for the most part all bags are universal but the mounting hardware is model specific. I have looked at my 79 Goldwing and 79 XS11 special and the shock mountings are simalar in height and placement. i think that any wing( OLDWING) would probably modify rather easily.

recommendation of a cooler makes me thirsty A Vetter saddlebag does indeed make a GREAT cooler. It even has a drain hole in the bottom. I had a set many moons ago and people would always TELL ME THAT MY BIKE WAS LEAKING !

checking out ebay I found a complete set of wing saddle bags listed in a Vetter search but they were probably Bates or Pacifico. They were just my color.BRIGHT RED .

broken exhaust header bolts This is another area that i have had a lot of experience in. The center cylinders each lost a stud. I decided that since they broke I should replace them all. i got all but 2 out they were the ones half hidden behind the frame down tubes. I ended taking it to my shop to have them finish up. Two months later it was done. They hated the job as much as i did. They did have a long drill that did make the job easier . They did loan me a special tool that closed up on the stud from all sides that worked well, not the cam type. But the studs behind the frame are tough. Lots o' luck

[deo]

Thanks Jim,

I am not looking forward to having the bolt problem. I gave the bike to the shop today and they immediately said that they were not necessarily interested in getting them out. They figured that if the bolts were broken that they could stay broken. I am not sure that I could pay the hourly fee for what it would cost for them to get them out.

I am going to check out the website for those vetters you mentioned. I was told that the XJ has a different setup than the XS. So it might be very challenging.

Have a great evening.

dave

[chopper]

Originally posted by deo
I am not looking forward to having the bolt problem. I gave the bike to the shop today and they immediately said that they were not necessarily interested in getting them out. They figured that if the bolts were broken that they could stay broken. I am not sure that I could pay the hourly fee for what it would cost for them to get them out. [/B]

hi dave, i ended up drilling and helicoiling,engine out job. should never ride with the bolts broke/missing if the pipes draw air - bye bye pistons/valves,it may not leak now,but it probably will 500mls from home in the rain...lol. is the bolt sheared flush or is there enough to grip a nut? try boring and tapping hex bar and screw it on then use a short bolt or a stud and nut,thats only way i can imagine to fix it without doing it properly

[deo]

Mick,

The bolt is sheared inside of the collar at the head of the exhaust pipe. The PO sheared it and then just let it rust up. I am afraid that I will end up grinding off the collar and then trying to get the threads and bolt out. They said that once the collar is off the nut head will peel apart and the threads from the bolt will be exposed. Every other bolt that holds the exhaust pipes on is rusted as well.

For a free bike, I guess I can expect some problems. But I have always hated rusty bolts. I never seem to get them out right.

I will take your advice to the shop and see if they can get the bolts dealt with.

dave
Hope to see you in May. We are going to be in Glasgow the 19st through the 23rd of May. I have a 4 man video crew coming with me.

[Jerry]

I was just at my local bike shop looking around and the owner told me that the Shoei company made some universal bags. Have you ever heard of them?

Uh....no. When I bought the XJ, my first 'big' bike, I knew I wanted to fit it out with the goodies I couldn't aford in my younger days, so started putting the fairing/bag combo together. This one set of Vetter gear is the only stuff I've worked with.

I found I didn't particularly care for the trunk when I had it installed. I tend to carry, in addition to a cooler, a camera tripod and camera case, and maybe a few other odds and ends. Worked out better for me just to have the rack there, so don't really miss the trunk.

Have tried both a small hard-shell cooler and a larger 'soft' cooler on long trips. Prefer the soft cooler, holds more ice and stuff, easier to store when I get to camp. Tip: I've had good luck stopping at K-mart and Walmart stores with lunch counters to buy ice. Typical 7 pound pack at grocery stores is to much unless you can split it with someone else. In Spearfish, South Dakota last year the local Walmart charged me 50 cents ($.50) to fill my cooler with ice, and it pretty well lasts all day.

Several replies dealing with the broken studs; I've not had to deal with this issue, so bow to the greater experience of others!



-------- This day in history -----

William McKinley, 25th president, born 1843 in Ohio.

[oldfart]

bolts and bags

First the bolts....If there is any of the stud protruding ,the fix is simple.you must first remove the head pipes,then take a nut and tighten or force it over the remaining stud ,then weld the nut to the stud(on the exposed part of the nut)Carefully!(disconnect the battery)The heat from the weld loosens the stud and allows you to remove with a wrench on the nut.I am a welder by trade so it is a little easier for me.I have used this method many times and works consistantly. I have a set of hard bags with mounts(need painting,few scatches)but they are for a 1980 xs1100.You would have to adapt them to an xj.I do live a distance from you though,North Bay,Ontario,Can.Asking 100 Can.I have no experience shipping items or how much it would cost.(but could look into.

[deo]

Hey, Will, sounds good on both points.

I will get with the bike shop and see if they understand the process as outlined. If not then I will have to get someone who does. I really don't want to ruin my heads etc by having a leak.

Has anyone else on this forum ever done the modification of XS bags to an XJ? If so do you have pictures and or suggestions.

Will, can you send me a picture of the bags, please? Are they cracked anywhere or broken. I realize old stuff breaks but I am currious as to what kind of damage I may have to work with.

dave

[deo]

I just realized that Jerry has explained the principles of what modifications are necessary, sorry I asked a second time.

My question about cracks was because I didn't read the parethesis, where you said, (need painting,few scatches) I guess I should engage my mind before I post.

I would like a picture if possible. Do they have any chrome or any kind of mounting frame. I think that is the part that needs modification.

dave

[oldfart]

bags

Deo,sent you a reply in your private messages.