Seattle_Chris
February 18th, 2010, 04:47 AM
Super brief version:
Saddle bags roughly 2.5 inches above the muffler. Think it'll melt?
Long Version:
Ok, so I got my saddlebags the other day, and their kinda wonky at best. Their fieldsheer expandables. REALLY nice bags in construction and features and everything! Their only a wonky FIT on our bike. Ninjettes don't seem to lend themselves to saddlebags. And I lean MUCH more towards SportTourer, than SuperSportster. The Ninjette is one of the few sport looking bikes I actually like. PLUS it's short enough for me stock. :) ANYWAY.
I was taking off my lowers becouse my proton flush mounts are due to arrive in a few hours, and it occured to me to take off my tail covers for a slimmer fit of the saddlebags. And sure enough they fit MUCH better, and theirs space under the seat (front and back) for the double velcro straps to sit and be secured. It was too thick to sit under the passenger seat before. I had to unscrew the blinkers and angle them up which I actually rather like. Especially since I also have bikemonkey itegrated lights coming, I think I'll use BOTH blinkers. :) (Yep, already did the relay, and I have diodes enroute, though I may not have to use the diodes if I keep the old lights too I think)
Anyway, In the first pic here you'll see a stick holding out the saddle bags a bit. I'm thinking to get some mild steel stock, maybe like 2" and bend it into a "U" to hold the bags out from the frame enough to raise up the bottom. WIthout that I only have like a 1" clearance between bag and muffler. I might do little feet on the bottom of the "U" too, as weight supports UNDER the bags.
So, do ya'll think it's enough clearance to keep 'em from melting? I've never paid much mind to how hot the exhaust gets, and I'd prefer not to figure it out using my only saddle bags. :D
Also, do you have any better ideas for DIY supports for 'em? If I end up really likeing the bags, I may go hard case and permenant mounts, but for now I wan't something that if I decide it's just not for me, that I can take off without TOO much work or money invested. :)
Lets hope I can figure out the img insertion without restorting to the help forums. :) Sorry if the images are too big or dark.
http://www.whitedevillabs.com/media/Motorcycle/2-18-2010/P1110014.JPG
http://www.whitedevillabs.com/media/Motorcycle/2-18-2010/P1110011.JPG
http://www.whitedevillabs.com/media/Motorcycle/2-18-2010/P1110010.JPG
Saddle bags roughly 2.5 inches above the muffler. Think it'll melt?
Long Version:
Ok, so I got my saddlebags the other day, and their kinda wonky at best. Their fieldsheer expandables. REALLY nice bags in construction and features and everything! Their only a wonky FIT on our bike. Ninjettes don't seem to lend themselves to saddlebags. And I lean MUCH more towards SportTourer, than SuperSportster. The Ninjette is one of the few sport looking bikes I actually like. PLUS it's short enough for me stock. :) ANYWAY.
I was taking off my lowers becouse my proton flush mounts are due to arrive in a few hours, and it occured to me to take off my tail covers for a slimmer fit of the saddlebags. And sure enough they fit MUCH better, and theirs space under the seat (front and back) for the double velcro straps to sit and be secured. It was too thick to sit under the passenger seat before. I had to unscrew the blinkers and angle them up which I actually rather like. Especially since I also have bikemonkey itegrated lights coming, I think I'll use BOTH blinkers. :) (Yep, already did the relay, and I have diodes enroute, though I may not have to use the diodes if I keep the old lights too I think)
Anyway, In the first pic here you'll see a stick holding out the saddle bags a bit. I'm thinking to get some mild steel stock, maybe like 2" and bend it into a "U" to hold the bags out from the frame enough to raise up the bottom. WIthout that I only have like a 1" clearance between bag and muffler. I might do little feet on the bottom of the "U" too, as weight supports UNDER the bags.
So, do ya'll think it's enough clearance to keep 'em from melting? I've never paid much mind to how hot the exhaust gets, and I'd prefer not to figure it out using my only saddle bags. :D
Also, do you have any better ideas for DIY supports for 'em? If I end up really likeing the bags, I may go hard case and permenant mounts, but for now I wan't something that if I decide it's just not for me, that I can take off without TOO much work or money invested. :)
Lets hope I can figure out the img insertion without restorting to the help forums. :) Sorry if the images are too big or dark.
http://www.whitedevillabs.com/media/Motorcycle/2-18-2010/P1110014.JPG
http://www.whitedevillabs.com/media/Motorcycle/2-18-2010/P1110011.JPG
http://www.whitedevillabs.com/media/Motorcycle/2-18-2010/P1110010.JPG