Saddlebags

[rdb]

First I want a big Thank You to our fellow forum member Ian. When I first saw his work I was quite impressed, and sent him a PM with a few questions. He responded quickly, and with tons more info than I had asked for. In essence he sent me the tutorial he posted, early. I really appreciate his effort.

I have been commissioned to make a pair of saddlebags, a tool bag, and a luggage rack bag, by a lady rider with a Dyna. She had seen my version of a toolbag at the Motorrcycle shop (I had posted the bag here on the forum), and she liked it enough to hire me. Hey, I'm an old guy, the only saddlebags I ever made were the "tandy type". In the 70s that's what they wanted. Now is completely different. It's an art form, I'm not familiar with...lol.

So, armed with Ian's info, I plunged in....

11 oz skirting leather, neoprene back ( my rubber/abs samples didn't come soon enough, had to use what I could get).

saddlesoaped, and sno-pruffed.

SS spots.

I'm still getting used to the toro 3000, so the sewing ain't that great, but it's definitely stitched together. I made the corners too tight...next time a little rounder for easier stitching.

I'm waiting for the EZ brackets, and light extension kit, then I'll install. I have no idea what shape the luggage rack bag will look like.

Edited April 19, 2008 by rdb

[K-Man]

Nice job, rdb. I have the very same bike. Do you have a pattern for the bags? If you would care to share, it would help me quite a bit.

Edited April 19, 2008 by K-Man

[rdb]

Thanx K-man. Nice bike and bags there.

No pattern, man. Just fitted the bag to the lights and shocks angle, and made a 6" gusset. Like I said, my front angle is ok, but the back angle was to severe. It made it hard, had to have 3 arms to do it, and I only got 2...lol

[Roger]

nice clean looking bags! good job rdb

[Luke Hatley]

R D B.......... and not black.......good looking bags.

[rdb]

Thanx beeza and luke. It means a lot coming from you guys.

She actually wanted the bags to match her seat, and when she saw the natural toolbag aways back, she thought they matched good enough. I actually tried matching to the corbin seat, but couldn't come up with that caramel color, so they stayed natural.

[Ian]

Dave, Excellent job on the bags - really nice and clean looking. I think you're going to have a happy customer.

[rdb]

Thanx Ian!

Only 500 more, and I might know what I'm doing.....lol

[TomSwede]

Sweet and clean bags RDB! They look great in natural and I'm surprised how well the chrome rivets go with natural. Those type rivets (and many others too) seem to always end up on black items for some reason.

The lady will be very pleased with you!

Can we see the set together once finished please, it will be so good.

Tom

[rdb]

Thanx Tom. Yeh I planned to photo the whole set when it's done later in the week.

The stainless steel spots look good on natural, I agree, but I wished they would make the spots with a chicago screw. There would be less snag issues down the line, plus the center hole instead of the little prong holes that show if you don't get them just right.