Swingarm Bag SOLUTION!!! - No More Scratches!!!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,796
Likes: 36
From: Toronto, Ontario
You guys are being a little harsh on, Dead Creek, aren't you?
I agree, the kit is too expensive. But no need to be sarcastic with the cat. He's offering a product for sale. Buy it, or not.
Honestly, as much as we love DIY and wrenching, if you search this thread you'll see one guy destroyed his belt going 60 mph creating his own kit. And as others point out, you are indeed spending 40 bucks on the parts already, unless you have them laying around.
Then there's the time to go to the hardware store, measure, paint some hardware black if you want etc. And as Dead Creek points out, correctly, it still won't be as clean as their kit.
I did it myself. Pleased with it. But if the Dead Creek kit were like 60 bucks, even 70 (because it's a forum sponsor with a 5 buck discount) I would have bought that and been just as happy.
Whatever I lost paying for the kit, I'd make up in time I could spend doing other things besides going to the hardware store. That's a half hour more riding. haha.
Anyway. I didn't buy the kit. You dun have to either. But cut the guy some slack. Damn.
I agree, the kit is too expensive. But no need to be sarcastic with the cat. He's offering a product for sale. Buy it, or not.
Honestly, as much as we love DIY and wrenching, if you search this thread you'll see one guy destroyed his belt going 60 mph creating his own kit. And as others point out, you are indeed spending 40 bucks on the parts already, unless you have them laying around.
Then there's the time to go to the hardware store, measure, paint some hardware black if you want etc. And as Dead Creek points out, correctly, it still won't be as clean as their kit.
I did it myself. Pleased with it. But if the Dead Creek kit were like 60 bucks, even 70 (because it's a forum sponsor with a 5 buck discount) I would have bought that and been just as happy.
Whatever I lost paying for the kit, I'd make up in time I could spend doing other things besides going to the hardware store. That's a half hour more riding. haha.
Anyway. I didn't buy the kit. You dun have to either. But cut the guy some slack. Damn.
I gotta say the sponsor here retaliated in a terrible manner, so let me repeat what Burrito said ..
ANY ONE with some extra time on their hand, in a cold winter night or rainy day, can spend a couple of hours getting the parts , simply measure the bag from the back on a piece of paper, take it to any metal shop near you to get the plate.
With your drill at home, drill the holes you want, use the parts as indicated by many of our members from any hardware store. and save your self 60-70$ or so. in a rainy day where you are not riding anyways, beats watching TV and buying over priced parts.
I DO NOT SEE HOW THIS IS CONSIDERED BASHING !. if I say something is OVERPRICED, I can simply state so, and repeat so, without ever being a basher. I have nothing against deadcreek, I do not know them, but their reaction was really terrible, this is how sponsors lose business on this forum.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 7,882
Likes: 5
From: So California
I was told by one guy that was checking mine out, I should make a mounting kit to sell.
The diamond plate/chrome spacers/polished stainless hardware wouldn't leave much profit priced at a kit most would be willing to pay for.
So there is a market for a kit.
I bought my tank lift kit while many make their own and advise everyone do the same.
I preferred the finished look of the "Chopper Style" tank lift kit over the look of most of the DIY look and many tank lift "kits" I've seen posted.
The market will decide whether the product is considered a value or not.
The diamond plate/chrome spacers/polished stainless hardware wouldn't leave much profit priced at a kit most would be willing to pay for.
So there is a market for a kit.
I bought my tank lift kit while many make their own and advise everyone do the same.
I preferred the finished look of the "Chopper Style" tank lift kit over the look of most of the DIY look and many tank lift "kits" I've seen posted.
The market will decide whether the product is considered a value or not.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,719
Likes: 60
From: Los Angeles
"ANY ONE with some extra time on their hand, in a cold winter night or rainy day, can spend a couple of hours getting the parts , simply measure the bag from the back on a piece of paper, take it to any metal shop near you to get the plate.
With your drill at home, drill the holes you want, use the parts as indicated by many of our members from any hardware store. and save your self 60-70$ or so. in a rainy day where you are not riding anyways, beats watching TV and buying over priced parts."
I'm gonna break down what you say here. Nothing personal. I'm just making a point.
1. Extra time on your hands can always be spent in other ways than wrenching your bike. As much as I'd LOVE to be in the garage WITH MY SCOOT, I have family that needs me out of there to spend time with them.
2. A couple of hours getting the parts alone? Now we're admitting that it ain't a 10 minute trip to your local hardware store. If you don't have em laying around 2 hours on a weekend day is burned. That's no small amount of time to me. I don't think it is to most people who work long work weeks.
3. So you simply measure the back of your bag to get the dimensions for the plate? Fair enough. But we already have one forum bro asking for a template for the drill holes to line up perfectly. That's the trick. And one forum bro already had trouble with that apparently, snapping his belt in the process at 60 mph.
4. Get the hardware outlined in this thread. Fair enough, but if you want it to look decent you have to paint that hardware black. The kit goes further than that. It's powdered black.
5. Save yourself 60 or 70 bucks? Possibly. But if you are buying hardware, getting paint (maybe you have black laying around maybe you don't) and paying a metal shop to fab you a plate, that you are also buying (assuming they will even do it in a day cuz they got nothing else on their hands) I doubt you are really into it for only 30 bucks. At that point, you're into it for about 40 to 50.
6. And none of the above, unless you have the tools and the talent, will look as good as the kit.
So yup, I agree, THE KIT IS OVERPRICED. But if it were around 60 to 70 bucks, it would totally be worth it. Even on a rainy day if you have other things you need to do on that rainy day.
Get where I'm coming from? That's why I don't think it's necessary to be harsh on Dead Creek. Lots of moto stuff is overpriced, and the worst offender is Harley itself, honestly.
With your drill at home, drill the holes you want, use the parts as indicated by many of our members from any hardware store. and save your self 60-70$ or so. in a rainy day where you are not riding anyways, beats watching TV and buying over priced parts."
I'm gonna break down what you say here. Nothing personal. I'm just making a point.
1. Extra time on your hands can always be spent in other ways than wrenching your bike. As much as I'd LOVE to be in the garage WITH MY SCOOT, I have family that needs me out of there to spend time with them.
2. A couple of hours getting the parts alone? Now we're admitting that it ain't a 10 minute trip to your local hardware store. If you don't have em laying around 2 hours on a weekend day is burned. That's no small amount of time to me. I don't think it is to most people who work long work weeks.
3. So you simply measure the back of your bag to get the dimensions for the plate? Fair enough. But we already have one forum bro asking for a template for the drill holes to line up perfectly. That's the trick. And one forum bro already had trouble with that apparently, snapping his belt in the process at 60 mph.
4. Get the hardware outlined in this thread. Fair enough, but if you want it to look decent you have to paint that hardware black. The kit goes further than that. It's powdered black.
5. Save yourself 60 or 70 bucks? Possibly. But if you are buying hardware, getting paint (maybe you have black laying around maybe you don't) and paying a metal shop to fab you a plate, that you are also buying (assuming they will even do it in a day cuz they got nothing else on their hands) I doubt you are really into it for only 30 bucks. At that point, you're into it for about 40 to 50.
6. And none of the above, unless you have the tools and the talent, will look as good as the kit.
So yup, I agree, THE KIT IS OVERPRICED. But if it were around 60 to 70 bucks, it would totally be worth it. Even on a rainy day if you have other things you need to do on that rainy day.
Get where I'm coming from? That's why I don't think it's necessary to be harsh on Dead Creek. Lots of moto stuff is overpriced, and the worst offender is Harley itself, honestly.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 66,948
Likes: 4,573
From: TOAK western branch
"ANY ONE with some extra time on their hand, in a cold winter night or rainy day, can spend a couple of hours getting the parts , simply measure the bag from the back on a piece of paper, take it to any metal shop near you to get the plate.
With your drill at home, drill the holes you want, use the parts as indicated by many of our members from any hardware store. and save your self 60-70$ or so. in a rainy day where you are not riding anyways, beats watching TV and buying over priced parts."
I'm gonna break down what you say here. Nothing personal. I'm just making a point.
1. Extra time on your hands can always be spent in other ways than wrenching your bike. As much as I'd LOVE to be in the garage WITH MY SCOOT, I have family that needs me out of there to spend time with them.
2. A couple of hours getting the parts alone? Now we're admitting that it ain't a 10 minute trip to your local hardware store. If you don't have em laying around 2 hours on a weekend day is burned. That's no small amount of time to me. I don't think it is to most people who work long work weeks.
3. So you simply measure the back of your bag to get the dimensions for the plate? Fair enough. But we already have one forum bro asking for a template for the drill holes to line up perfectly. That's the trick. And one forum bro already had trouble with that apparently, snapping his belt in the process at 60 mph.
4. Get the hardware outlined in this thread. Fair enough, but if you want it to look decent you have to paint that hardware black. The kit goes further than that. It's powdered black.
5. Save yourself 60 or 70 bucks? Possibly. But if you are buying hardware, getting paint (maybe you have black laying around maybe you don't) and paying a metal shop to fab you a plate, that you are also buying (assuming they will even do it in a day cuz they got nothing else on their hands) I doubt you are really into it for only 30 bucks. At that point, you're into it for about 40 to 50.
6. And none of the above, unless you have the tools and the talent, will look as good as the kit.
So yup, I agree, THE KIT IS OVERPRICED. But if it were around 60 to 70 bucks, it would totally be worth it. Even on a rainy day if you have other things you need to do on that rainy day.
Get where I'm coming from? That's why I don't think it's necessary to be harsh on Dead Creek. Lots of moto stuff is overpriced, and the worst offender is Harley itself, honestly.
With your drill at home, drill the holes you want, use the parts as indicated by many of our members from any hardware store. and save your self 60-70$ or so. in a rainy day where you are not riding anyways, beats watching TV and buying over priced parts."
I'm gonna break down what you say here. Nothing personal. I'm just making a point.
1. Extra time on your hands can always be spent in other ways than wrenching your bike. As much as I'd LOVE to be in the garage WITH MY SCOOT, I have family that needs me out of there to spend time with them.
2. A couple of hours getting the parts alone? Now we're admitting that it ain't a 10 minute trip to your local hardware store. If you don't have em laying around 2 hours on a weekend day is burned. That's no small amount of time to me. I don't think it is to most people who work long work weeks.
3. So you simply measure the back of your bag to get the dimensions for the plate? Fair enough. But we already have one forum bro asking for a template for the drill holes to line up perfectly. That's the trick. And one forum bro already had trouble with that apparently, snapping his belt in the process at 60 mph.
4. Get the hardware outlined in this thread. Fair enough, but if you want it to look decent you have to paint that hardware black. The kit goes further than that. It's powdered black.
5. Save yourself 60 or 70 bucks? Possibly. But if you are buying hardware, getting paint (maybe you have black laying around maybe you don't) and paying a metal shop to fab you a plate, that you are also buying (assuming they will even do it in a day cuz they got nothing else on their hands) I doubt you are really into it for only 30 bucks. At that point, you're into it for about 40 to 50.
6. And none of the above, unless you have the tools and the talent, will look as good as the kit.
So yup, I agree, THE KIT IS OVERPRICED. But if it were around 60 to 70 bucks, it would totally be worth it. Even on a rainy day if you have other things you need to do on that rainy day.
Get where I'm coming from? That's why I don't think it's necessary to be harsh on Dead Creek. Lots of moto stuff is overpriced, and the worst offender is Harley itself, honestly.
This seems to be becoming a bigger thing than it actually is. Let me try to set the record straight by saying, as I said already, I have nothing against Burrito whatsoever. And he is entitled to his opinion, just like everyone is. This world would probably be pretty boring if we all had the same opinion. Its all good, no hard feelings man. What I took offense to was:
Its not saying that you feel its overpriced as much as maybe the way it is being said.
Perhaps I need to get a thicker skin and maybe I took it a little too personally, but we were recently pretty devastated by hurricane Sandy, almost to the point of being forced out of business completely, so we are still trying to recover fully and with the state of the economy these days, its not easy.
Personally, whenever possible, I always try to buy products from local businesses and prefer to buy things that are USA made. In most cases, I expect to pay more than I would for something made overseas, and Im ok with that. But these days, money isnt easy to come by either so I understand anyone trying to spend as little of their hard earned money as possible. I just wanted to explain that the reason the kit is the price that it is is because of the expensive components and process it takes to make it. In all honesty, there is not much profit there. After reading some of the comments made, we will certainly take another look at a way to maybe make it less expensive without sacrificing any quality. If it is possible, we will certainly do it. So, thanks for the feedback on the pricing in that regard.
As for the post by Soft02, asking about the measurements, sorry it took some time to get the files with the measurements. Im all for helping out a fellow rider. Were not just a parts company, were bikers too, so if it helps anyone out to make their own by my providing some dimensions, Im happy to do it. Like SoCal said, it did take a lot of time and trial and error to get it right. Ill post that up in a few minutes.
Perhaps I need to get a thicker skin and maybe I took it a little too personally, but we were recently pretty devastated by hurricane Sandy, almost to the point of being forced out of business completely, so we are still trying to recover fully and with the state of the economy these days, its not easy.
Personally, whenever possible, I always try to buy products from local businesses and prefer to buy things that are USA made. In most cases, I expect to pay more than I would for something made overseas, and Im ok with that. But these days, money isnt easy to come by either so I understand anyone trying to spend as little of their hard earned money as possible. I just wanted to explain that the reason the kit is the price that it is is because of the expensive components and process it takes to make it. In all honesty, there is not much profit there. After reading some of the comments made, we will certainly take another look at a way to maybe make it less expensive without sacrificing any quality. If it is possible, we will certainly do it. So, thanks for the feedback on the pricing in that regard.
As for the post by Soft02, asking about the measurements, sorry it took some time to get the files with the measurements. Im all for helping out a fellow rider. Were not just a parts company, were bikers too, so if it helps anyone out to make their own by my providing some dimensions, Im happy to do it. Like SoCal said, it did take a lot of time and trial and error to get it right. Ill post that up in a few minutes.
Here it is. Please keep in mind that these are rough measurements that were done when we first fabbed the plate, so measure your swingarm mounting holes to make sure they line up, but they should. Sorry, the image isn't very fancy, but it's the only thing I have in a postable image. It should give you a good starting point. If you need more info, please let me know.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 66,948
Likes: 4,573
From: TOAK western branch
Here it is. Please keep in mind that these are rough measurements that were done when we first fabbed the plate, so measure your swingarm mounting holes to make sure they line up, but they should. Sorry, the image isn't very fancy, but it's the only thing I have in a postable image. It should give you a good starting point. If you need more info, please let me know.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 66,948
Likes: 4,573
From: TOAK western branch
No prob. Ill make this plate and TIG it to the box.