|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
FXDWG Rear Directional Relocation Using Stock Parts
|
|
10/04/2003
|
Let me start off by saying this has been a roller coaster ride. My quest for putting a cool looking set of bags on my scoot has put me through the ringer.
Let me explain. I dig everything about my Wide Glide but there is one thing I miss from my ACE and that is saddlebags. I like being able to stop at Wawa and carry
my coffee home in my bag or carry rain gear when I am going on long trips, you get the point. Due to the setup on the DWG, bag options are limited.
I found a set listed of ebay that seemed like they would be prefect. The operative word here is "seemed". Sometimes things on the web look very different in person.
I bought the bags for $300 smackers from this fella. The first thing I noticed whe I received them is that they were quite large. The quality was fantastic, but they were BIG.
They came with brackets, but I wanted the "Ghost" brackets. They allow you to easily remove the bags from the bike via a barrell lock. I found a set of brackets on ebay
for $100, I bought them. Make a long and boring story short, I finally got the brackets almost a month after I ordered them. Next thing I needed was relocation brackets for the turn signals.
This is because the stock location is using the same mounting hole that the bracket needs to use. I got a set of relocation brackets from HD for around $40.
OK, I finally got all the parts ready to assemble:
Saddlebags - $300.00
Ghost Brackets - $100.00
HD Relocation Kit - $40.00
Not too bad, $440.00 for a killer bag setup! WRONG!!!! Let me explain.
The Ghost brackets came with the wrong key. Only one bracket worksk, the other cannot not be unlocked. UGHHHH... I email the
fella who sold them to me, he is extremely fast in replying and says hell send a new set out Monday. So I figure no biggie, I can still install the
mounting harware minus the actual bracket.
Looking at the Ghost bracket installed on the bike, I couldnt help but notice how far away from the bike the bags will be mounted. The distance from bike to bag is
2+ inches! EEEKSSSS... NOT the look I am going after. Id rather not have bags at all, but I will compromise for the benifit they give, BUT I dont want my rear end to
be 10 feet wide! Did I mention the bags are 8 inches wide! Remeber, I mentioned they are BIG.
On top of everything that is wrong thus far, even with the HD relocation brackets installed, the bags will have to be mounted just so or they will hit the signals.
I am not diggin this at all.
OK, it was time to rethink this matter. I came to a conclusion. I can have bags on my scooter, but they will have to be on the small side. This is fine
by me, cause I dont like the big ones one bit! I had an old junky set of Willie and Max slant bags laying around that I put up to the bike to just get an idea of the
the size I will be looking at. They look fine, but here is the next issue. The ghost brackets are too big for the small bags. The metal on the bracket protrudes beyond the
simulated leather bag. Oye... what next.
I call my buddy at the local bike store and he tells me he has a set of "Custom Chrome" supports in stock if I want them.
I decide to go with them. One thing at this point definately bothered me though and that was the HD relocation brackets. I felt they looked really cheesy
compared to the stick signal mounts.
The thing is that I couldnt use the stock ones and have saddlebags together. Well almost. I was looking at the bike and noticed there is a thick plastic piece right below the
back of the fender that also mounts the license plate. I thought to myself why not mount the stock ones there? I could find no reason not too. The plastic was at least 1/4" thick so there
should be no issue with strength. It would solve all of my signal problems with bags and best of all I get to have the look of the stock signals over the cheesy relocation brackets.
Heres where the modding starts. I decided to make a template so that both sides would be identically mounted. Making the template took a little scientific trial and error, not on my bike of course.
Eventually I came up with something that looked like this:
I cut the pieces of paper along the lines and taped them to the bike. Here is what that looked like:
First step was to drill a pilot hole using a small bit, then to drill the big hole for the bolt to go through.
Here are the large holes drilled.
The hardest part thus far was creating the templates. Drilling the holes took about 10 minutes, 5 of which was getting up the nerve
to do this. Next was to mount the lights. Here are some pictures of the final product.
I am extremely pleased with the look of the relocated signals even though it wasnt totally neccessary since I am getting a set of smaller bags. This took me close to a day to do but it was a fun project. I am thinking of writing up directions along with a printable template for others to do this. I may ask for a donation of $5.00 if someone wants this. I havent decided but its been a long day and its time for me to get some rest. Tommorow I will be installing 12" apes on my wifes ACE. Runnning the wires inside the bars, should be lots of fun! If you took the time to read this article, let me know what you think about it!
Later,
Joe
PS - Know anyone who wants to buy a set of bags? or Ghost brackets? or HD relocation brackets? lol...
|
|
| If you want to use this article or its images somewhere else on the net please notify me, thanks. |
| By: Joseph Kohler aKa: c0d3wr1t3r |
why can't i copy this page??
|
|
|
|
©2002,2003,2004,2005,2006 Joseph M. Kohler - Interactive Media Developer.
All Rights Reserved. If you even right click
and download an image from this site I will personally track you down
and sit on you! |
|
|
|
