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I've got a really nice and strong Big Flag setup for Parades, PGR Missions, etc, but for those times when we need to reach highway speeds, one of the things I've always worried about, was a grommet ripping out of the Flag material.
I buy the best Flags I can get (Tough Tex by Annin) and I've never had a problem, but it's always in the back of my mind when I'm doing 65mph on the highway.
I came up with a solution that eases my mind a bit.
I got to thinking, instead of just a grommet at the top and bottom of the flag, why not add a couple more just for the extra strength and peace of mind.
Got this from Amazon, they are the same size grommets as are currently on my Flag, 1/2" hole, 1" overall diameter, heavy brass.
The kit comes with the grommets and all the tools to install them.
Decided to add 3 additional grommets.
I still have to go the store, I'm gonna get the heavy duty 3/8" Zip Ties and attach to the pole at each new grommet location. So, the Flag will actually be attached to the pole at five locations instead of just two.
Some will say this is overkill, and maybe it is, but it's worth it to me for the peace of mind on a windy day at 70 mph.
My setup is part Rivco, and part my own Fab. I also added the Luggage Rack strengtheners from Pro Pad, and the Risers from Show Chrome Accessories, because I use my Luggage Rack with a heavy duty Bungee Cord as the upper attachment point for the Flag Pole.
I think even though you added the stiffeners to your tour pack rack it's still going to put a lot of stress on the tour pack lid and potentially tear it off.
My mount is different than yours, but to your comment about the extra grommets...they are well worth it and pay dividends. I have yet to completely pull out a grommet, however I have had one rip the material a little when traveling at sustained high speeds. And by that I mean sustained north of 60 mph.
Of course it all depends upon the flag and pole quality. I use the double-woven polyester flags rated for high-wind service. You can get them at some Walmarts for around $35 for the 3x5 model and they are all over the internet. The cheap, thin nylon flags are light duty and worthless on a bike in my opinion. I use a 6' steel chromed closet rod as my flag pole (available from Home Depot, Lowes, Ace, etc.) You can also buy a grommet kit similar to the one in your pics at Walmart. They sell them in the same area where they sell the tarps.
Back to topic, I found, in my case, that adding just one additional grommet, in the middle, distributed the forces enough to prevent any future grommet stress (which usually happened at the bottom hole) at just about any speed I need to travel.
You may just be passing on what you have "heard" or "read", but I call a big fat BULL **** on that one!
Not what I heard, it's what I read on this forum. There was quite a discussion about it. It didn't happen to me so really I don't know for sure. Your opinion on the matter means nothing to me because I'm sure you real don't know if it happened either. For the op, once again, it's what I read on this forum.
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