Mounting Saddle Bag Panniers

Discussion in 'Gear & Accessories' started by Vfourer, Mar 7, 2014.

  1. Vfourer

    Vfourer New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2012
    Messages:
    67
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Southerner
    Hi all,
    Just brought some Oxford X50 panniers. Has anyone made/brought a pair of brackets for sturdy mounting and to avoid contact with exhaust and paint work etc?.


    oxford_x50_panniers_detail.jpg
     
  2. drewl

    drewl Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2007
    Messages:
    5,760
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Virginia Beach, Va
    Map
    Member Marrib used aluminum tubing bolted to his grab handles and bent around the fairing.
     
  3. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2007
    Messages:
    13,741
    Likes Received:
    1,557
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Location:
    Chilliwack, BC Canada
    Map
    I have the photos he used for reference for tbat install on bis 6th gen somewhere on my computer. Got them from lg001 who initially came up with the plan. I will look for them and post when I get back to my desktop.
     
  4. Vfourer

    Vfourer New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2012
    Messages:
    67
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Southerner
    Thanks, got a few ideas to work on but a few photos would great cheers
     
  5. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2007
    Messages:
    15,047
    Likes Received:
    52
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Try "Ventura" who make all sorts of rack and mounting hardware, luggage ect. Not familiar with your new panniers but it looks like you are looking for standoffs. Specifically the Ventura L brackets might be good,

    When using soft panniers aka saddlebags on my bikes I use a "saddle blanket" made from a doubled over and stitched length of Polarfleece.
     
  6. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2007
    Messages:
    13,741
    Likes Received:
    1,557
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Location:
    Chilliwack, BC Canada
    Map
    I used soft Cortech saddle and trunk bags for a few years on my 6th gen and had not problems with scratching. This included three very long trips, one of which was 5 weeks and 7K miles. I did not use the bar set up I am forwarding to you but can also send a couple pix of that set up as well.

    1.jpg 2.jpg 3.jpg 4.jpg 5.jpg
     
  7. Vfourer

    Vfourer New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2012
    Messages:
    67
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Southerner
    You knock the nail right on the head there Randy. I should probably explain my current setup.

    I machined up a aluminum rack at work and had it powder coated, I cant take credit for the idea, copied the idea from Kanadian Kens solo rack from the VFRD forums. I use the rack to carry my tank bag and it wraps around the plate firmly. So the idea is to hang the saddle bags straps over the plate and use the tank bag secure the straps.
    018.jpg 022.jpg 021.jpg 023.jpg

    I will copy Randys idea and bend up some tubing and connect it to my rack rather than over the bike.
    019a.jpg
     
  8. Vfourer

    Vfourer New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2012
    Messages:
    67
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Southerner
    Thanks for the tips this is what I ended up making.
    DSC02227.jpg DSC02229.jpg

    All set and ready for a 3000km trip from Adelaide to Perth across the Nullabor :) can`t wait.
    001 (1).jpg
     
  9. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2007
    Messages:
    13,741
    Likes Received:
    1,557
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Location:
    Chilliwack, BC Canada
    Map
    Very nicely done there Goldy.

    I am rethinking my method of carrying the huge baggage I do on my longer trips. As it is, I get pretty loaded down and though I am comfortable riding like this, there should be a better way.

    IMGP1023.jpg

    I may see if I can design a platform similar to yours, but maybe wider. I now have hard bags and so long as nothing sticks out farther than those, I should be fine. Once I have a platform, I am sure I can come up with something to attach to that to carry belongings.

    Does that platform detach easily should you need to get under your seat?
     
  10. Vfourer

    Vfourer New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2012
    Messages:
    67
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Southerner
  11. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2007
    Messages:
    13,741
    Likes Received:
    1,557
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Location:
    Chilliwack, BC Canada
    Map
    If you don't mind, how high did you make the side braces to allow the seat removal? With your benifit of hindsite, would you have made them higher and if so, by how much? I am going to head out this afternoon to a local metal fabricator and see what it will cost me to have a variation of what you made made up for me. What do you think about having the lower portion, where the bolts go to attach to the grab handles, reversed so that the side barcket would be on the outside of the bolts, thereby giving you a little more clearance for seat removal? If you considered that, and discounted the idea, why was that.?

    I don't have any metal fabrication tools at my disposal or I would try this myself. I have considered acrylic which I can do at home, but have not convinced myself that this would be the way to go.

    Thanks a lot?
     
  12. Vfourer

    Vfourer New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2012
    Messages:
    67
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Southerner
    Just got home from a 3500km trip, the set up worked well. The height of the side brace is 75mm (3 inchs) out of aluminum C channel, a little more height would of been nice for getting your hands under the plate and strapping gear, probably another 3/4 of inch extra height would allow easy seat removal without bending it. I wasn't originally going to have saddle bags that idea was a latter addition.
    [​IMG]
     
Related Topics

Share This Page