So I finally got out and took some pics today, not great pics cos we put some miles in today, and it was possibly the warmest day of the year, and everywhere we went was hectic, but you can get an idea.
So I'll start by telling what it is I've done.
After quite a lot of deliberation I went with the Deadcentercycles Batwing fairing, Reason I went with this one over the many others out there was several reviews all commenting on the quality. it's a real expensive item but this thing rocks, the quality of it right out of the box was outstanding, it comes in black gelcoat, and if your bike was black you could probably get away without painting it.
It's a quick detach item, but I found that with having wide thick Beach bars, that the stainless bracket that it mounts with, fouls the bars stopping it sliding down into position, so although it's supposed to detach in about 20 seconds, in my case I have to remove the 2 top bolts of the quick detach hardware and bolt them through the bracketry, I timed it and it takes 3 mins to attach or detach the Batwing.
Comes with a Sony headunit and basic Polk speakers, the sound is very good and clear even at highway speeds, but I want more power so I've already ordered an amp and better speakers.
Onto the Bags.
I was lucky and bought the bags, lids and hardware, ie, the latches and hinges etc from a dude on ebay that had bought them for his ride and never got round to fitting them. they were all brand new.
The bags and lids are made by Vtwin mfg, and they're real quality, my painter said that that's the difference between good and bad, the prep time needed can be massively different, all the hardware was oem Harley stuff,
and I had my painter colour code the latches and I bought some Drag Spec inserts, instead of the reflectors.
The bags came back to me unassembled and all I had was a box of bits and no clue as to how they went together.
My dealer built them up for me at a super reasonable price.
They are mounted with Cyclevisions Baggertail brackets in chrome.
I went with these over some of the others available because not only do I believe them to be the best, but also they have the bracing piece between the 2 sides at the back, making it a more solid installation.
Downsides to whole installation, are that I had to remove my Spinger rear guards and also my Phantom chrome axle covers.
I would have been a lot happier had the bolts they supply to you for this, were chrome or SS instead of the zinc crap they came with.

So some pics










First Impressions, after a ride of about 200 miles today, were that it rides real good, sitting behind the fairing was real different, I was really impressed. I've kept an open mind over the fairing right from the start. I really liked the undressed Socal theme I had before so was of the opinion that I may hardly use it, but I think the pro's outweigh the cons, for me anyways. especially having some tunes to listen to as well.

The bags are real difference in the look of the bike, pro points, are obviously, that you can carry stuff, and I really like the look, I may look at lowering the bags a couple of inches, I dont think it would be too hard to do this, but we'll see.
Downsides upto now seems to be that I'm frightened of scratching them as they make the bike seem wider, also you have to be very deliberate when cocking your leg over the bike.
I've also had a chopped tourpak painted at the same time as all this stuff, which will be mounted to a quick detach solo rack, which mounts in place of the pillion., no hurry to fit this, it was bought on whim, maybe if I do some touring.

So there you have it. The whole bagger thing came about because, I was considering a Streetglide, but with so much cash in the Deluxe I thought that by keeping it, and doing this I could have the best of both.
I can go from dressed to totally undressed in about 20 mins.
If I left the Baggertail brackets on I can do it in less than 5 mins

Not everyone's taste I know, but we're all different. And obviously the most important thing is that I like it.

 

Awesome man, most of the benefits of a bagger but the ability to strip down. Best of both worlds! Oh and the split red/blue paint is great! Love the bike, enjoy the good weather, ours seems to be MIA the last couple weeks!

 

I am considering the hard bags and fairing down the road too. Looks good. Yeah the paint is different. Had me thrown till I scrolled on down, thought it was two bikes.

 

Awesome Mark! The maestro does it again! All that hard work fully justified.

Not where I want to go, but the concept is faultless.

Congrats!!!

 

Sweet ride!! Looks bad ***.

 

This is exactly, minus the paint and beech bars, where I am headed. I do, however, Love the paint. I really thought I was being had until I saw the tail shot. Nice work.

 

Very nice job! ...though I think the beach bars look a bit out of place with the batwing. JMO.

 

Different for sure... Though not hard to find when mixed in a with a bunch of other bikes..



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Great looking ride, a couple of questions; who is the manufacturer of the rocker covers? Are they from Covington? Were they a direct bolt on? Any issues with leaks? And why do the bags sit so high? I would have thought they would wrap around your dual exhaust. I am considering hard bags for my ride.

 

dam ive been thinking about a bagger very hard latley i should just do this , very nice job , i agree with you on dropping the bags a couple of inches