Saddleman saddlebags and Easy Brackets....opinion on either

[Bisley]

Greetings all, any opinions on the Easy Bracket OR Saddlemanman Drifters bags....I have the bags....need brackets for VTX 1800 R....any views on them? Thanx, Bisleyblackhawk

I have the easybrackets - they are great. If you have a Honda Deluxe Backrest / Rack / Mounts they have a special model with longer mounting bolts...

[hawk590]

I can only agree about the easy brackets. I have them on my 2005 1300R Retro. They are really nice when you have a short ride and don't want the bags on. Two turns of a key and they are both off. If you have the hondaline backrest ensure that you do get the right ones. They have a little different bolts as was said before. One suggestion is to use the bags to make a cardboard cutout of the bags and take your time getting them aligned. The old measure twice cut once analogy. I did this and got them straight on the first try. I have heard horror stories of people putting a few extra holes in their bags trying to get them straight.

Good luck in your choice.

Hawk

[Bisley]

Greetings all, thanks for the replys, I am going to order the brackets tonight. Good idea on the cardboard templet. Thanks again Bisley

How did the easybrackets work for you....?

[Bisley]

Greetings all, haven't gott'en them yet....they are being drop shipped from the manufacturer with 10MM longer bolts for the Retro. I should have them by Fri. Bisley

[revreed]

I don't have the Easy Brackets but I really like the Saddlemen Jumbo Drifter Slants

[Bisley]

Greetings revreed, the bags DO look great on the VTX (and blurple does look good....wish my dealer had one in stock when I bought mine), am looking foward to hanging mine on the Retro. They fit the bike without making it look "unbalanced" and will carry enough for weekend trips. Ride safe and enjoy what God has blessed us with...Bisley :D :D :D

[Bisley]

Greetings again revreed, I just noticed the backrest on your bike...looks like factory seating (I may be wrong). If it is factory fill me in on the information about it and if it 's not tell me about the seat and if you like it. The factory seat is OK for me and my butt dosen't get numb but a back rest would be VERY nice! Bisley

[revreed]

Yes I think there are only a very few saddle bags that "fit" the retro look. And I am very pleased with the look.

Also, the seat is stock and I agree about the numb butt UNTIL I got this backrest. Now I can ride all day and not have any problems.

It bolts under the rear stock seat. It is made by a guy that posts here on this site, WILLYBRUNO. He lives in Memphis, TN.

Here is the thread with some of my pics http://www.vtxoa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10867&highlight=

And a better pic with the bags
http://bigbikeriders.com/photopost/data/500/817Picture_0055small.JPG

[Bisley]

Greetings revreed, thanks for the backrest info...it will probably be my Christmas gift....i'll start dropping the hints ASAP! Good pics. Bisley

[SUPERMAAN]

Do Easy Brackets hold the saddlebag out past the shock? Thanks, Ted

[Bisley]

Hello Supermaan, The brackets arrived today and I have only sort of put them where they will go (I will mount them in the morning...the bolts are still too short and I will buy longer ones at ACE hardware...COBRA sissy bar/luggage rack) and they look like they will position the bags well outside the shocks. The Saddleman bags are "swept" so they follow the slant of the shock anyway....but "square" bags should not come in contact with the shocks if my first impressions are true. I will post a reply after they are mounted. Me thinks I will like these brackets. Bisleyblackhawk

[SUPERMAAN]

Thanks Bizley. I've got a set of Berthas made by Pak-It that are big slants(24 1/2x13x7) and unless they hang out past the shock and or turn signals I'll have to go to plan B. You have me hopeful now as I wait for my Easy Brackets to arrive. Thanks Hawk for the cardboard template idea. I'll use it.

Ted

[Bisley]

Supermaan, on another post...somewhere, I can't remember where or who, someone said they made 1in. spacers for their brackets to get the bags out further away from the shocks....I can't remember where I saw the post or even if it was for a VTX, but it might be something to think about if need be. A real dense rigid foam board was what he used cut to the same shape as the bag side of the bracket and positioned between bag and bracket if I remember correctly. I really think the brackets will place the bag out far enough. Bisleyblackhawk

[SUPERMAAN]

I'll keep that in mind.

[Bisley]

Hello Ted, I just finished installing the EZ brackets and using a straight edge the flat inside of the saddleman bag would sit 3/4 inch out from the shock if it extended past the shock itself. They sit the bags out quite a bit. I like these brackets BUT if you have a Retro with a Cobra backrest or luggage rack you will need longer bolts to mount the EZ brackets....1/2 inch longer will work. EZ brackets were supposed to send these but were not sent. I bought black hex bolts (8 and 10 MM 1.25 thread pitch about 2 7/8" long) to temp. install the brackets and will contact EZ to request the longer SS cap bolts needed. Hope this helped, Bisley

[SUPERMAAN]

How'd your install go? Did they come out good? From what your saying I probably will need to shim bags out a little as I don't have a sissy bar which would push the bags out 1/2" more. Sounds like I would be 1/4" out past the shock without any shimming and with deflection I may be touching the shock. I should know in a few days. That hard foam idea is starting to look good. I'll bet you got plenty of ride time left in TN. Wife & I went to the HOOT last year/had a ball! Safe ridin'...

[Bisley]

Hello Ted, you will probably need to see for yourself where the EZ brackets place your bags in relation to the shocks....I cleared mine but my bags were "south" (clear of the shocks) due to the shape of the bags with the Cobra stuff and all. I hope these clearances work well for you....mine were OK...but each application will be different. However I think if I had used my wife's old Willy and Max Warrior bags rather than the Saddleman bags I just bought, I may be close to the shocks due to the shape....but I feel I would still clear IMHO. Bisley

[SUPERMAAN]

Got the Easy Brackets installed & all went well. Had to readjust one bag as my cardboard template must have slipped without me knowing it while I was traceing it. Pipeside bag was tilted up in the back. One Bracket is tight & one is a hair loose. They hold the bags JUST outside the shock & turn signal. So far I like them. Hope they support bags good enough without me babying them. Now waiting on my Ultimate Bigboy seat!

[Bisley]

Hello Ted, don't worry about one being looser than the other...mine did the same thing untill I put them on and off a few times, I think the powdercoat may have been a little thicker on one. Now they slip in and out easily from the "studs". I contacted EasyBrackets and the QUICKLY sent the longer SS bolts needed with the COBRA mounts. When using COBRA sissy bar/luggage rack you need 8MM and 10MM cap bolts 80MM in length, the ones included with the Retro brackets are 70MM in length. As info, EasyBrackets told me when placing my order with CruiserCustomizing to indicate the longer bolts and they would be included. Somehow they were not but when I told them they shipped the longer bolts in 4 days. They are good people to deal with...very helpful. I highly recommend their product. Bisley

[doc_cj]

I had the Ghost Brackets originally and turned them in to get the Easy Brackets instead. Both are good products, but the Easy Brackets seemed to fit my needs better.

Here are a couple links of pictures of my scoot with the bags mounted using the Easy Brackets. The first one is from toward the front with a back angle where you can see the slanted bags and the shock in front.

http://www.infowest.com/personal/c/cfranklin/bags.jpg

This second shot is a bit clearer and closer to the bags. It's just a short of the back end with the bags and shocks.

http://www.infowest.com/personal/c/cfranklin/bags01.jpg

This last shot is of the front of the motorcycle looking toward the back along the right side (your left as you are looking). This gives you an idea of how far the bags stick out to the side.

http://www.infowest.com/personal/c/cfranklin/bags02.jpg

They do stick out more than bags mounted straight to the fender, but that's the price you pay to have removable brackets/bags.

To be honest, I'm not sure I'd want leather bags without either a lock system or the ability to remove them. I've taken these bags off several times when I'm on a trip, and the Easy Brackets are GREAT for that.



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