I think it's over $500 for a hitch. I can get the trailer free, that's the only reason I was checking into doing it for my bike. Odds are I'll never do it. My wife has a knee that starts cramping up and we have yet to take a very long ride to test her out. My work keeps me held down to local riding only since I'm on call 24/7. I want to take a vacation trip on the bike, but don't know if it will happen any time soon. I got my saddlebags used so at least I can haul some stuff and not spend a fortune. My bags and sissy bar are bolt on stuff. I can still remove them in 5 min and install the orig bolts if I choose to have that look. Personally I doubt they ever come off.

 

trust me like i like the hotel and shower idea. my girlfriend is the one who wants to camp. i think i will just talk her into the hotel idea. ill make her sleep outside if she want to camp lol

 

ok ive decided what i want to do. im going to get a detachable fairing and the brackets for some hard saddle bags off of an ultra or a street glide and just go that route. i like the look of hard bags and didnt know until a few minutes ago you can mount them to a softail.

 

Dude...

I would _STRONGLY_ suggest you do some research on this plan first.

You cannot just "add" a streetglide or ultra fairing to a softail bike. The front forks are different spacing, the mounting bolt holes are different spacing, the front frame is different and overall, it will take considerable work to make one fit. You might look at one of the aftermarket fairings, but that is a $600-$1500 investment.

As for the hard bags, they will fit and there are a couple of companys that make brackets to mount hard bags on a softail, but there is no way you can run a Fatboy shotgun type exhaust with hard bags. They extend much lower and, as such, require that you run the type of exhaust found on a Heritage or Deluxe.

Its an interesting plan, and having seen a guy's early 200? Heritage with an aftermarket fairing and hard bags, I can say the bike looks really cool if done right. But, it costs a lot of bucks to do it right. Don't throw your bucks away... do your research, ask questions, call the vendors.

Good luck!

 

Yeah i definately typed that wrong. I did mean an aftermarket fairing. Wide Open Customs was at the lone star rally and they had a pretty good looking fairing that came un-painted with a stereo and speakers for $799. as far as the exhaust goes i hadnt even thought about that. Could i make a touring exhaust work that ran out the back under the bags? I know it is going to take money but we all Know what HD stands for. This isn't all happening over night either. Trust me, it is going to take quite a bit of saving and selling lots of parts off of the bike that i have sitting in the garage. I am a college student without much money but my bike keeps me sain. Thanks for any and all input.

 

BTW I am running Vance and Hines BS exhaust not stock

 

sounds like your first long trip. Hotels are the way to go and you don't need to over pack like I did. The hotels can wash cloths and you don't need to pack to make a fashion statement. his and her saddlebags and the joint things in the rear bag. If your a hog member then don't forget to upgrade your road service. for $20 more you get unlimited towing. it can save you hundreds on towing. Maybe your first long trip should be with local hog chapter.

 

tk353 what kind of bag is that on your tank? Looks like nice fit!

 

No this will be my third trip. The first two I was riding with somebody on an ultraclassic so that is why i did not have to worry about it.

 

Hey J,

Glad to see you're on the right track. Let me see if I can help...

Here's some links to fairing dealers:

http://www.dragonflycycleconcepts.com/

http://www.corbin.com/

http://www.deadcentercycles.com/

http://www.kendayproducts.com/

http://www.wideopencustom.com/dotnet...0/Default.aspx

This one has brackets to mount hard bags from an FLH
http://www.bagger-style.com/

And this one for detachable brackets for your bags:
http://www.easybrackets.com/

And trailer hitches:
http://www.hitchdoc.com/index.html

And cheap tour packs:
http://www.mutazu.com/index.html

As for pipes, you will need to check with the bag bracket makers. I listed one but it seems like I've seen several. Check the motorcycle magazine ads in the back; lots of little jewels there. You will definitely need some pipes made for a Heritage or Deluxe type softail, or just something that runs parallel to the lower frame of the bike. The one I saw was a Twin Cam 88 Heritage and he had the early 70's or 80's style narrow width FL hard bags with dual pipes (the back cylinder went out to the left side) so I know it can be done with purchased parts and not a lot of fabricating.

If you went with detachable brackets for the bags and a tour pack, you could have it all and still be able to strip the bike down for around town cruising. you can see from my links that I've some something similar. All you have to do is plan out the big picture look, then do some research. Don't forget ebay or Craigslist. I got a windshield for $50 and slip ons for $30, and my tourpack and bracket for less than $250 combined just by doing some shopping and being patient and not bidding on high priced stuff.

Good luck.