New to me Hard Bags

I hope so too that they go on easy. It is going to be cold and raining starting tomorrow for few days. I might just start disassembling the grab rails and loosen up the fender. Once I get the bags on Tuesday, I hope I don't have to scream as much by attempting to do everything on the same day.

Incase anyone need instructions with better images, here is one that I found on VFRD. They will make it a lot easier.

6th Gen OEM Luggage Installation Guide - Luggage - VFR Discussion

 

Don't go crazy removing a whole pile of stuff on advance of getting the bags unless you have some project specific instructions. There really isn't a lot to remove and that only takes moments. You do not need to remove the fender unless of course, that is what you want to do.. I think part of the problems I encountered had more to do with a possible bent passenger foot rest bracket more than anything else.

 

Not the entire fender. I think there are 4 bolts under the rear seat cowl that needs to be loosened/removed and also the licence plate holder for the bracket that needs to go under the fender.

Ok, I will wait till I get the bags and then start removing the parts. Thanks for the advice.

 

Seems every time I start to work on something a neighbour would come over to talk. I would put something like a bolt somewhere and forget where I put the damned thing.

 

I am impressed with the commitment you have towards your VFR. After 100K miles, you are investing more(to get the hard bags). I would be very happy if I can keep my bike till it gets to 25K miles. Kudos to you and hope you get many many more miles of the VFR and awesome trips...

 

If I had stayed working in the city some 50 miles away, I would have considered a new bike. This one, my first and only, has served me well for sure. At this stage of the game, I would not likely get much for it on re-sale so with that in mind, I think I will drive it until it stops. No one here or anywhere else I have checked, seems to know how long these things last. So now that I am retired, for now anyways, and I don't put the mileage on that I used to, this thing could very well be left to someone in my will. I "USE" my vehicles, but also look after them, fix what needs fix'n and try to keep them clean. My first car was a 71 Le Mans convertible that I drove for 22 years or so and sold for $150.00 more than I paid for it, back in 1973. So Yeah. I am still interested in keeping it moving along and try to make it look good in the process. Maybe if the bike looks good, I won't look so bad.

Thanks for the compliment.

 

I just reviewed that thread. Wished I had seen it a couple days ago. Nice job.

 

The best advice I can give for the hard case installation is to first read the directions, then lay out all of your parts before jumping into it. Randy's advice to loosen connecting bolts is a good one as I had to do the same thing on my bike. If anyone is looking for the OEM installation instructions, then let me know as I have them in PDF format.

 

So today I raped my bike of the hard bags and dropped them off at the body shop for painting. They quoted me $450 but we agreed on $400. Too bad I could not easily separate the cover from the back. I could probably have shaved off another 50 bucks if I could, but to remove them, I would have had to drill out an end of the hinge and punch the pin out. That would have left the hinge compromised from its original design.

Having ridden the bike a bit with them on though, I am sure I am going to get some of that clear Plastidip for the top area of the bags. I seem to kick it a lot throwing a foot over the bags. This getting old and stiff really sucks the big kahoona.

They are busy there at the moment so they won't be done for a couple weeks but that is fine. I will post up ow they look when those beauties come back to pappa.

 

Can't wait to see the pictures...

 

Those bags look good and that's a great price for them. Waiting to see them painted and on the bike. :nod:

 

The red does look good, I'd keep it. And yes, the OEM bags are a bitch to put on. Took me about 3 hours to do it.

 

I wish. But like I said, my passenger foot peg bracket appeared to be bent ever so slightly which knocked everything out of kilter.

 

Randy, I started the installation process and have a quick question. Is it required to drill the holes in the fender to put the small collars or can I just leave them behind metal bracket A and the fender? Thanks,

 

I drilled mine and put the spacers in. I don't know what the consequences are not to drill the holes larger and putting in the spacers, but I suggest that to do as you say, would put a piece of plastic between two metal parts that are supposed to be secured very tight. This is all part of the attachments that keep the bags secure. Skip one step could compromise something elsewhere on the system.

You need to take all this stuff apart anyways and you are just using a 12mm drill bit to enlarge the holes in a thin plastic fender. This takes all of about 1 minute to do and is really simple. By doing so you will have metal on metal attachment that will not slip and slide like a metal on plastic application.

Make sense?

 

I had to drill mine too. I couldn't get the collars to fit otherwise. It only took a minute.

 

Thanks Randy. I don't have a drill/drill bits and don't want to buy one just for this. I guess. for time being I will go ahead and put the collars between the metal bracket and the fender and when I take the bike in for service later in the year, I will ask them to drill a hole to put those in the correct way..

 

You don't have a drill!? I have three or four new ones and seem to replace them every five years or so. I think I got my first drill when mamma took my soother away from me. Mind you, that was just 10 years ago!

 

Nope, no drill. I bought my first 'proper' tool set few months ago. I don't try to work on my cars/motorcycles. I have broken many things while attempting to replace something. I couldn't find a 15/32 drill bit at the local sears store or home depot. I was able to pick up a universal type drill bit(one bit with various sizes, the diameter increases from top to bottom). I will ask the apartment maintenance guy to help me drill with it(he did not have 15/32)