Remove Your Swingarm Bag Now!
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: florida
what a grind
Exactly right, if you have ever worked in a machine shop you would have found out about that when dealing with diamond dust on grinding wheels or surface plates. If you ever worked on machines that used sinthered bronze bearings on hardened and tool steel shafts, you would also see it.
Any abrasive material that gets between two different materials will embed itself into the softer of the two and act like a grinding compound on the harder.
Water just makes the problem worse because it acts as a lubricant. So you get a bit of road dirt and or grim on there, it gets between the leather and the steel swing arm bar, and goes to town grinding the powder coating off it on you.
Get it wet and it just does it faster.
Any abrasive material that gets between two different materials will embed itself into the softer of the two and act like a grinding compound on the harder.
Water just makes the problem worse because it acts as a lubricant. So you get a bit of road dirt and or grim on there, it gets between the leather and the steel swing arm bar, and goes to town grinding the powder coating off it on you.
Get it wet and it just does it faster.
roll on
-L
Citoriplus
Moderator
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
From:
My bag did the same. I was surprised because the web site that sells them assured it would not mark the paint. I took it off, touched up the spots where it wore through to the metal with touchup paint, and ignored the parts where it made the paint matt. It's in a spot that no-one really looks anyway. It's a shame, I liked the bag, was really handy to have, and looked great.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,257
Likes: 6
From: Leander Texas
mine has been on 2 years and about 35000 miles and it has not rub. i have it very tight as to stretch the straps and i think because of that it does not move. I know also you can make a rigid mount and use that too.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,105
Likes: 1
From: Rowlett, Texas
Thanks for the warning homerandpooh. I too love the look of the swingarm bag and am planning on getting one. I have read that they can scratch the paint but it has been a while ago. Everyone needs to remember that this forum attracts new users daily and it is all about sharing experiences and helping others learn from yours. Nobody should be afraid or embarrassed to post. That is helpfull to no one.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,452
Likes: 13
From: Northern UTARD
THank you thats what I thought.
tlb I'm w/ you a little common sense goes along way. If you want a show bike have your MECHANIC build you a show bike. Then put velvet ropes around it. Other wise ride the fu(ker. Who cares not like your bike look any diffrent then the other 100,000 bikes like yours. I couldn't live w/o my swingarm bag.
tlb I'm w/ you a little common sense goes along way. If you want a show bike have your MECHANIC build you a show bike. Then put velvet ropes around it. Other wise ride the fu(ker. Who cares not like your bike look any diffrent then the other 100,000 bikes like yours. I couldn't live w/o my swingarm bag.
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,327
Likes: 1
From: South Jersey
Thanks for the warning homerandpooh. I too love the look of the swingarm bag and am planning on getting one. I have read that they can scratch the paint but it has been a while ago. Everyone needs to remember that this forum attracts new users daily and it is all about sharing experiences and helping others learn from yours. Nobody should be afraid or embarrassed to post. That is helpfull to no one.
I couldn't agree more. But it seems that you don't practice what you preach as you joined in June and this is only your tenth post. What is that a post every three weeks? Thanks for all the help
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 535
Likes: 1
From: CA
That is what I did. It doesn't matter to me either way. I don't plan on ever not having one on there. Maybe if I ever sell it then it would be an issue, but I don't plan on that either.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 92
From:
Good advice!
Good advice! If you don't keep it tight it will cause more damage to the swingarm AND you could break the straps on the bag. I broke a strap on my first bag because I didn't tighten it enough before taking it on the freeway.