I built up my FLSTN pretty much the same way. My bags are reproduction "bubble" bags that preserve the old school style of the Softail.

 

There ya go!

 

I have not run across one that doesn't have the passenger backrest. I suppose you could remove it, and fill the holes. Just depends on how much work you want to do.

I can bolt a OEM TourPack on the back of my FLHS, but I would need to remove the accessory luggage rack first. I went cheap and Hack Fab'd up a plywood mount that allows me to put an 8 gallon Rubbermaid Action Packer on the rack using a couple of bungee cords. Been working fine for over 24 years. Get to my destination, or motel stop, and off the bike and into the room it goes. The down side is that it's really not weather-proof (like the TourPack or hard saddlebags). I pack everything inside a large plastic trash bag before it goes inside. Many 8 hour days chasing and being chased by the remnants of hurricanes have proven that this works fine. And I have dry clothes to change into.

The saddlebags do just fine for my daily commuting. I can get my leather jacket, gloves, and small helmet in the high-side bag. The other bag doesn't see much use, unless I'm going to be traveling long distances. Then I want all my rain gear in the high-side bag. Everything else in the low-side. My insulated cooler/lunchbox is strapped to the luggage rack with a couple of bungee cords.

 

Take one step at a time! My FLHS is the predecessor of the Road King, and when new came with bags only. The bike is fine like that for much of the time, until you start carrying a favourite person or go shopping for the week! Or for that matter going on a touring holiday away from home, which is what prompted me to get one. I suspect all tourpaks come drilled to take a backrest, so you can be prepared for the day when you carry a passenger, but no reason why you shouldn't take it off and install blanks in the holes.

 

Truth be know, I pack more crap than my wife does.....

 

Shhh! Don't say things like that - we chaps must stick together, sing from the same song-sheet - brothers in arms and all that......

 

Thanks everybody. Think I will start with just the side bags.

I would like to find used OEM, but I will probably go with aftermarket reproductions.

Planning to paint the flat black.

 

I mounted a three-channel luggage rack on mine, along with the Mustang wide solo seat. The rack is great. I can strap a duffel to it for touring, and I can use a bungee net to tie something to the rack if I'm out and need to carry something that won't fit in the saddlebags (like a case of Mountain Dew and a pizza, or, whatever).

 

Your bike looks pretty similar to what I am trying to do with mine. I am even thinking of switching out my Ape hangers for more standard handlebars like yours.

Although I have my Ape hangers racked back a bit and it creates a very comfortable riding position.

 

Comfort trumps looks all the time IMO.