Building saddlebags?

[double_entendre]

I did some Googling with no effect, so I'm gonna poke at the communal brain trust. (Insert Bustanut/odot humor here as applicable...... )

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has built fibreglass or carbon fiber saddlebags for the FJR that use the factory mounting system. Gotta admit that is one slick mount set up and I've never had a problem with a bag falling off.

(I did have a problem with not latching a bag and consequently dragging the lid down the freeway for a few miles, but that was me being a moron, not a bike flaw.)

Any thoughts on how best to do this? Buy a couple of scrapped bags and adapt from there? Kinda cut and paste? What's the availability and pricing for bags that have been damaged? If the lid is wrecked it's not a problem for me.

Thinking aloud here, but looking forward to hearing what y'all think. Even bustanut and odot.

Rancho

 

[madmike2]

Is your plan to make "narrower" panniers by building smaller lids?

IIRC, there is that option in Europe, perhaps you could find pictures on the internet as a model for you own solution.

 

[Rogue]

Personally I hate the FJR bags & all "Clam-Shell" bags.

If I had the $$ I'd work out mounting the aluminum top loading bags they put on dual-sports.

They would not look anywhere as good as the stock bags but IMHO they would work much better.

 

[rocketdoc]

Mike is right, there are narrower bags in Europe, assuming for filtering through traffic. If you are thinking larger than life bags perhaps some sort of telescoping item like the BMW bags that slide out when needed but the black inner portion of the bags contain the levered locking mechanism, so you'd have to be real good to McGuiver those for extra capacity.

So....what do you want?

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Personally I hate the FJR bags & all "Clam-Shell" bags.If I had the $$ I'd work out mounting the aluminum top loading bags they put on dual-sports.

They would not look anywhere as good as the stock bags but IMHO they would work much better.

Funny, I was thinking the same thing. Between aluminum bags and sliders, who cares about a tipover? I bet a welder could weld the necessary mounting tabs on the back of them to fit an FJR, then buy the rubber pads and glue them in place. There's a guy on a dual-sport forum making a pair of aluminum bags for $350 if I remember correctly. Different but unique and functional idea (read fugly but pretty in its functionality).

 

[Aasland]

top loading bags

oster_stupid:

 

[Fred W]

Some folks have posted their fiberglass efforts at luggage making, but usually it has been aimed at some sort of a "smuggler" type sport trunk. I can't recall anyone making different saddle bags, though a few folks have replaced with Givi.

Double entendre: What would the objective(s) be of designing and making these custom saddlebags?

 

[fljab]

top loading bags

oster_stupid:

I agree; HD's are farm machinery, but their saddlebags are very easy to use compared to the FJR's. Only example I can think of right now, but you get the idea.

 

[double_entendre]

Some folks have posted their fiberglass efforts at luggage making, but usually it has been aimed at some sort of a "smuggler" type sport trunk. I can't recall anyone making different saddle bags, though a few folks have replaced with Givi.

Double entendre: What would the objective(s) be of designing and making these custom saddlebags?

Funny. It never even occurred to me that someone would want smaller saddlebags. Never even thought about that. I don't have any troubles splitting lanes with the factory bags, though. The FZ1 mirrors are great guides--just a smidge wider than the bags, so if the mirrors fit.....

Anyway, I'm trying to gain space. I imagine that if I was to go the aluminum route I could try to shape the metal to make them more aesthetically pleasing rather than the big ol' Jesse boxes and the like. If I had a KTM or GS I wouldn't care, but the boxes on an FJR would look silly. I'd have to paint 'em to match--or powdercoat.

I wanted to take a welding class someday anyway. I was looking at the bike last night and there's really not much room to expand the bags "in" (towards the rear fender) nor down towards the muffler. That leaves up, which could be an issue for the passenger and out. Hmmmmmm.

Rancho

 

[madmike2]

Anyway, I'm trying to gain space. I imagine that if I was to go the aluminum route I could try to shape the metal to make them more aesthetically pleasing rather than the big ol' Jesse boxes and the like. If I had a KTM or GS I wouldn't care, but the boxes on an FJR would look silly. I'd have to paint 'em to match--or powdercoat.

There's always a trailer...... :huh:

 

[Mcgyver74]

Why not just get some Pelican cases and fab a mount to use the FJR's mounts?

 

[double_entendre]

Why not just get some Pelican cases and fab a mount to use the FJR's mounts?

If the economy wasn't in the tank I might, but for the foreseeable future I'm counting my pennies. Besides, it's more fun to DIY something than to just buy it, eh?

Rancho

P.S. Madmike2 - Two people, two week camping trip. Two saddlebags plus the Givi might not be enough.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Obviously, you aren't one of us KLRistas, where an ammo can can be perfection !!!

Google KLR650 ammo can

(Too high end for mine )

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Obviously, you aren't one of us KLRistas, where an ammo can can be perfection !!! Google KLR650 ammo can

(Too high end for mine )

Very cheap: I like it. I see you spent $ for the rear brake master cylinder protector and the $17 Walmart TV pad for your buns.

Probably as much $ as the ammo box. Very nice setup!

 

[SnowAviation]

Obviously, you aren't one of us KLRistas, where an ammo can can be perfection !!! Google KLR650 ammo can

(Too high end for mine )

Very cheap: I like it. I see you spent $ for the rear brake master cylinder protector and the $17 Walmart TV pad for your buns.

Probably as much $ as the ammo box. Very nice setup!

Oh geez, you start talking homemade and motorcycle and you wake up the KLR crowd.

Personally I like the soft sided Dirtbagz™ for a slim and trim look.

If you wack a car lanesplitting with those puppies, no harm and no foul. however I'd be hesitant to run soft sided bage above

100mph so maybe fiberglass is a better material.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

<snippage>...start talking homemade and motorcycle and you wake up the KLR crowd....no harm and no foul.

however I'd be hesitant to run soft sided bags above 100mph so maybe fiberglass is a better material.

Just how much above 100mph will those KilLeRs go...?!

 

[wfooshee]

I don't know if such exists for the FJR, but I've seen frames built to mount top cases as side cases. Yeah, you have to yank them off to open them, but you get monstrous carrying capacity, and slightly more "stylish" (but not much) than aluminum rectangular prisms. Coupla 40s on the sides and a 55 on top, a 12-liter tank bag, and you're all set!

EDIT: Did a quick little Google and found that Givi doesn't have anything to adapt their cases to the FJR as side cases, but Shad does. both make cases specifically as side cases (including a Givi top-load,) in significanty larger capacities than the factory cases.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

<snippage>...start talking homemade and motorcycle and you wake up the KLR crowd....no harm and no foul.

however I'd be hesitant to run soft sided bags above 100mph so maybe fiberglass is a better material.

Just how much above 100mph will those KilLeRs go...?!

Downhill off the Rockies with a 40 mph tailwind and a few farts as afterburners..... maybe 101 on a good day. :lol:

 

[kulwen]

Last weekend I purchased the needed supplies to create a new trunk. I am going to create the trunk that will mount on the Givi rack I have installed. If all goes well, I will create thinner saddle bags.