Is there anyway to pack your stuff with out having to get all the extra's..I am looking at another 250$ to add a sissy bar , luggage rack and detachable to put those together...Is there a way to pack stuff on your bike with out all that? If I do have to order that stuff do they send the bolts you need to put it on? last time I ordered a belt guard they sent without bolts?...Thanks

 

What kind of bike do you have? How much stuff are you looking to carry a passenger? Ultimately the answer to your question is yes. You can use bungie cords to strap a certain amount of stuff to your rear fender or back seat.

 

It is a 2004 Dyna low rider I will have 1 passenger...I dont really need a whole lot but I was bringing my 2 person tent 2 sleeping bags 2 pads..and maybe one pair of clothes? Im going on a week long trip never done this before and really dont wanna buy a luggage rack or saddle bags or a sissy bar..But if i have to I guess I will.Thanks!

 

I guess i could get saddle bags and just throw those over with out having to buy all the other extra stuff...Idk any ideas?

 

Its amazing the stuff you can fit on your dyna. I bought a sissy bar off of e bay and threw a cheapie detachable leather bag, and bungie cords are magic.

 

When you bought the sissy bar how does it fit on? Did it come with everything it needed? That is an amazing picture looks like fun

 

The brackets came with it and it bolted underneath the chrome piece where the rear shock mounts. it was actually for a Sporty, so I had to do some bending of the brackets, and get the drill out to align the bolt holes, but the whole thing just took an hour. That was a fun trip. My wife's Sportster is next to it, and the two of us (she) brought enough crap to go for a week to a two night party. We had the tent, fold up cooler, two sleeping bags, too many clothes, food and a tarp.

 

Getting on the highway and going somewhere is my passion. I ride a Dyna and gotten pretty good at packing.

If you are taking much of a trip, your passenger will need a sissy bar. Step back and look at the shape and slope of the saddle where the passenger sits. It isn't made for comfort.

As far as a sissy bar. I use a detachable one. Yes the hardware comes with it. But, you will need to be able to solder and you wil need to buy a foot of extra wire and heat shrink insulation.

For the detachable sissy bar, the turn signals are exteneded to provide 2 of the docking points. If you don't extend the wiring under the rear fender it will rub against the tire. Extend it, solder it and put heat shring insultaion on it and you are ready to go.

Harley did a great job on the back ends of the Dynas. Use a detachable so it can be easily removed when it is not needed and you still keep the bike's great lines.


You can buy a cheap pair of throwover saddle bags. I remove the seat, put rubber tool box padding down to protect the paint, then throw the saddle bags on it, replace the seat and you are ready to go.

The crotch rocket riders have it right about one thing too. A tank bag is worth its weight in gold! It is amazing how much you can put in one. They can come as large as you need. They even make a 3-story thing that holds as much as the t-bags. I use a tank bag and will NEVER travel without it again. I like the magnetic one with straps as a back up. I cut rubber drawer liner/place mat material to put under it. The magnets still hold and the paint is protected.

Other than that, just use bungies and ratchet tie-downs the best you can.

Once you have it packed get down on your hands and knees and look everywhere you might have a point that your gear touches the bike. Any rub point at all will remove the paint before you get back home. I've learned several ways to protect the paint. Prevention is the best though.


Another hint: lay out all the stuff you think you need to take on the floor. Everything includes clothes, tools and toiletries (everything!) Walk by it a week or 2 and look each time you pass. Pick out anything that is redundant or really not needed. Narrow it down to the basic neccessities.

Pack your bike and ride it a week beforehand to see what the issues are. The morning you are planning to leave is too late to figure the puzzle out. (all your crap shifting and falling off your bike as it gets dragged down the road can be a real pain. or so I've been told.....)

Feel free to send me a note if you have specific questions.

 

Your Dyna can haul a ton of gear, but the backrest is a must. It's the perfect anchor to strap things to. Here's a shot of mine a couple of years ago before I got my bolt on bags and crash bars.



Get a good sissy bar bag. Once it's strapped on, you can use bungees etc to attach more gear/bags. I go grocery shopping on my Dyna and I have a large family.

 

Roll your clothes up instead of folding them!! As suggested before, do a trial run and load up all your gear a few days in advance so you don't have any surprises the day you're gonna leave.