I put sadle bags on my reb under the pillion, didn't use bag guards. I made a pair of guards, just never put them on. I've been running mine like that for almost two thousand miles. The bags are below the chain, etc. Actually they hang about an inch and a half below the axle nut. I have them secured to the tail with a small loose bungee, keeps them from flopping around. The only draw back is that they rubbed the numbers off the stickers on the shocks. They are hard bags, that my make a difference in needing to use a guard.

Bippie