So I have a 15 Softail Slim that I will be using for some touring and I wanted a sissy bar to support carried items. Now, I already have some detachable saddlebags and was thinking about doing the detachable sissy bar from HD as well http://www.harley-davidson.com/store...andard-upright...but I'm not excited about the options HD offers for the detachable sissys. I have been looking at bowman sissy bars as well, which seem to have a little more character. http://www.tophandventures.com/produ...th-pad-mount-1
Does anyone know if using a pinched-top bowmen style sissy bar would be more difficult to secure items than the traditional detachable HD bar for the Slim? Does anyone have thoughts on using a detachable sissy? Thanks!

 

On my '76 GoldWing, I used an Amco luggage rack w/sliding 18" sissy bar. I bought a Kelty rucksack that had an internal frame. I secured the ruck to the sissy bar with the shoulder straps crossed, and the waist strap. I used it for a backrest. Behind the sissy bar, I secured an mummy bag in a GI waterproof case w/GI air mattress.
I saw most of the USA with that rig.

 

I put a bowman sissy bar on my '15 Slim - loved it! I got one with the crossbar that was mean't for a pad but I never put a pad on it. I only took one four day trip with that bike but I had a full (military) duffel bag strapped to that sissy bar with no problems at all.

 

What size bowman sissy bar did you use?

 

I had the 16" Classic one

 

If you're gonna tour on a softail you might want to consider a duffle bag strapped to the passenger sea tin front of the sissy bar. I used one and got the following into it.

Sleeping bag
Thermarest
Dome tent, poles and fly
Pillow (yes, pillow)
a few extras.

It's like riding your favorite armchair.

After a long day your back will thank you, especially on a softail with forward controls.

 

If your using it for touring instead of a sissy bar get a quick detach tour pack, it can double as a rider or passenger back rest as well as give you a lot of extra storage that a sissy bar won't really give you