When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
On my Breakout, I used gaffers tape to protect the paint, and 8 large zip ties (2 at each mounting point) to attach a Leather Works swing arm bag, then used the leather straps that came with the bag to cover the top zip ties.....for looks only. I put the buckles inside the bag so you just see the straps, but if you like the looks of the buckles, you could also leave them visible, outside the bag.
Yep, taping the swing arm is important to protect the paint from being rubbed off no matter whether you use zip ties or straps. I used 2 layers of 3M electrical tape, too.
My new swing arm bag came with 4 black tie down straps similar to those
With those straps you won't be limited to the holes/grid of the the leather straps. They can be tightened as fast as zip ties but are much softer allowing for a smoother fitment around the swing arm struts and less likely to work their way through the protective tape.
So far they do an excellent job.
Sure you can find them much cheaper on eBay or Amazon.
I had been running the HD solo/swing arm bag, It came with a clear protective covering
That attached to the swing arm. It has held up well for the past 2 years.
i used to have 2 zip ties for each spot, but then the looped ends came apart. so now my choice is to either get a new bag or go with brackets and just drill some hole in my bag to accommodate the brackets
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
