Saddle Bags for the 450

Anyone have suggestions for Saddle bags for the 450? Any brands that fit without any or little mods? Likes/Dislikes? Brackets that need to be used?

Thanks In Advanced

Snorebaby, here's a link for you that tells you were to order & how to install saddlebags.

http://www.willieandmax.com/installation.html

Chopper Rick

Thanks Chopper Rick!

It is a great link and I like the bags. Their reference when you get the bags is to have them over the seat. I would like to have mine under the seat. I guess I could modify the yoke to get the same fit with them under the seat.

Thanks Again!!

Your very welcome Snorebaby, glad i could help.

Chopper Rick

Haven't shopped for aftermarket bags in the U.S., as we have access to cheaper ones from Mexico ($40-$50 depending on size/style. There's more expensive & larger ones down there for the larger cruisers but I've never been interested in those)

As for brackets, they are desirable to keep the bags clear of the frame. Have seen fancy chromed aftermarket brackets for $60, but I'm sure the prices can vary.

I've made 2 sets of saddlebag brackets using flat plate & each set cost me roughly $12 + time invested doing the work.

1" x 1/8" aluminum flat plate (two 3 ft. lengths of flat plate should be enough to do the job if I'm remembering correctly). Measure from top of fender strut above the fender mount bolt to near the bottom of bag & add 1" to that measure to include the "angle-out" for clearance. I use the 2 inner stock fender mounting bolts to mount the s/b brackets.

There's 2 right angle bends that must be made. First bend is 1" down from top of fender strut. That bend extends outwards for 1" for the needed clearance & then another right angle bend going downwards. Then measure the distance for the cross-piece on the bottom between the 2 "down" pieces. (These brackets are 3-piece)(Edit: On the 2 angle bends, just mark the flat plate 1" from the end & another mark on the flat plate 1" again beyond that. These 2 scribe marks are where the angles will be made. For the 1st bend, place the flat plate in a vice with the scribe mark closest to the end of the flat plate clamped even with top of vice jaws. Take your BFH & smack that 1" length down to a right angle. Remove from vice, then line up 2nd scribe mark to top of vice jaws. Now you'll have the 1st bend & actual end of flat plate facing sideways. Using your BFH, gently "smack"....hehehe...the actual end/tip of the flat plate backwards to form the 2nd right angle. Minor use of BFH on flat surface after making the right angle bends may or may not be necessary to get the flat plate bends as close to right angles as possible, tho' it doesn't have to be exactly spot on)

Drill holes at the tops to run the stock fender mount bolts thru.(Edit: On the 250, I remember drilling thru one fender strut hole & the fender itself (one each side needed to be enlarged) to accommodate for the mounting hardware. On the 450, no drilling in this area was needed, but the stock mounting hardware might need to be replaced with stainless hardware just a tad longer due to the addition of the bracket width, maybe 1/4" longer bolts ? The only other thing to watch for is that the new hardware doesn't extend too far inside the fender well to avoid touching the actual tire). For the cross-piece, one hole each end thru cross-piece & "down" piece, 1/4" nut & bolt to secure the cross-piece.

Couple coats of rattle-can & bingo! 6 pieces of flat plate, 12 holes to drill & the aftermarket doesn't get $60, LMAO!

The edges of the cuts can be buffed smooth to eliminate the jagged edges. Tie bottoms of bags to the bottom cross-piece with 2 pieces of leather strip, 2 cable ties or 2 shoestrings, LMAO! (I use leather/suede strips)

Once installed, just check the brackets for clearance of the swingarm & bottom shock mounts. If more clearance is needed, simply grab the bottom cross-piece & gently pull the bracket out a bit to achieve the proper clearance.

IMPORTANT EDIT: Please insure that you've got proper clearance between bags & turn signals. I did this mod WITHOUT turn signals, but have learned that the stock turn signals would have presented some bracket/bag positioning issues. Yo, Snorey! :D LMAO!

Finally figured out some fancy-schmancy computer stuff today, LMAO!

Here's a pic of brackets for slant bags:


(alt+p)

You sure are handy with that BFH!! Looks great!!

hehehe.......thanx, Snorey! I doubt you'd find any BFH's over at OCC, ROTFLMAO! "Primitive" builds here :wink:

A little more on the cross-piece of the brackets. When I was installing 'em, I had to loosen the cross-piece bolts to pivot the bracket to get a bettter fitment, which is why the ends extend/overlap. Those ends can be cleaned up by marking the overlap with a pencil & then just grind 'em down & buff for smoothness.

At the time, I figured they'd not be seen behind the saddlebags (which they aren't) & just ran with 'em as is.

(Sorry about the large image, will have the OL log into the photo hosting service & make the image smaller as soon as possible)

Snorey, there's a set of saddle bag brackets for the 250 & 450 listed on ebay as of now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HONDA...84147QQitemZ46 22859167QQrdZ1