Saddlebag swap
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Clarksville Tennessee
RE: Saddlebag swap
Apeking,
When I first got my bags and did a dry fit I noticed I had a extra spacer on the back bag mounting brackets which would cause a alignment issue. I removed them. I thought but could be wrong that spacers came with the detachable mounting hardware for the rear backrest to give clearance room for opening the bags and getting to the release latch for the backrest. Perhaps they come on all RK Customs.... My bags fit in with no issues after I took them out. None of the other touring bikes I looked at had them in at the dealership.
Apeking, after seeing your bike with the bags a while back is what made me put them on mine and I am glad I did.
Neil
When I first got my bags and did a dry fit I noticed I had a extra spacer on the back bag mounting brackets which would cause a alignment issue. I removed them. I thought but could be wrong that spacers came with the detachable mounting hardware for the rear backrest to give clearance room for opening the bags and getting to the release latch for the backrest. Perhaps they come on all RK Customs.... My bags fit in with no issues after I took them out. None of the other touring bikes I looked at had them in at the dealership.
Apeking, after seeing your bike with the bags a while back is what made me put them on mine and I am glad I did.
Neil
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 701
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
RE: Saddlebag swap
Have you guys thought of adding the paint matched saddlebag filler strips? The catalog says they won't fit the Custom, I guess because of a different shape. But with the added hard bags, maybe they would work??
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,449
Likes: 46
From: Roswell, GA
RE: Saddlebag swap
My buddy is putting painted cop bags on his RK Custom; I am putting flush mount pushbutton latches in the bags; allows one hand operation when stopped at traffic lights, etc. They fit fine.
I put his docking hardware on his bike and I believe the saddlebag brackets on the Custom are different from those used on the other touring bikes: they seem to create a closer fit to the fender--they do not project out, away from the fender as much as those on my EG. This doen's effect mounting bags, only how far away the bags will be from the fender and will effect what seats can be used on the RK Custom.
I am going to check the parts book to see if the RK custom mounting brackets carry different part numbers from the other touring models.
I put his docking hardware on his bike and I believe the saddlebag brackets on the Custom are different from those used on the other touring bikes: they seem to create a closer fit to the fender--they do not project out, away from the fender as much as those on my EG. This doen's effect mounting bags, only how far away the bags will be from the fender and will effect what seats can be used on the RK Custom.
I am going to check the parts book to see if the RK custom mounting brackets carry different part numbers from the other touring models.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 4
From:
RE: Saddlebag swap
ORIGINAL: MDMYMD
Have you guys thought of adding the paint matched saddlebag filler strips? The catalog says they won't fit the Custom, I guess because of a different shape. But with the added hard bags, maybe they would work??
Have you guys thought of adding the paint matched saddlebag filler strips? The catalog says they won't fit the Custom, I guess because of a different shape. But with the added hard bags, maybe they would work??
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 435
Likes: 1
From: champaign illinois
RE: Saddlebag swap
i have a set of the road king custom leather bags, they are in perfect condition, only rode em for 6 months, on an 06. pm me with any interest.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 4
From:
RE: Saddlebag swap
I took my spacers out. The bags are now nice and snug at the top. The pass. backrest is more dificult to install now but not impossible. Also the front inboard lid corner is under the back of the rider's seat now so it takes some maneuvering when opening the bag. Again not impossible and cool counts for a lot so......
Ill take pics soon. wish I had thought to get before & after but too late .
Ill take pics soon. wish I had thought to get before & after but too late .
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 447
Likes: 2
From: Sooner Central
RE: Saddlebag swap
Along a similar track, I fabricated rear saddlebag brackets that have 1/2" less depth for my bag swap. These old-style leather bags really stuck out at the top with the standard rear brackets. The -1/2" brackets pull the bags right up to the detachable's docking points and, of course, there's no lid opening clearance problem with this style of bag. Wrinkle black paint on the brackets helps to hide the ugliness - if you look just over the top of the rearmost docking point you can see the brackets in this photo taken in mid-day sunshine:
[IMG]local://upfiles/14935/35E73C743EE24F6895CB5B788D7FC9E9.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/14935/FDEB5C0309684D76BB44C5FC8D472222.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/14935/35E73C743EE24F6895CB5B788D7FC9E9.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/14935/FDEB5C0309684D76BB44C5FC8D472222.jpg[/IMG]
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