Saddlebag Top Rails

[jamiep24]

Man, wish I had read this thread before I won my bidding war for the rails tonight at $107.50. Thought that was real good considering the vendor was wanting $175 to buy outright and they were $230 to $260 everywhere else on e-bay. I outbid them at the last second, read my thread on "adrenaline or heart attack". Strobe hooked me up to this thread. I learned the hard way, the first time I ever bid on anything. Also bought a chrome "Nomad" emblem to go on the front fender, it should look cool, too. thanks. Jamie

[lw]

Finally got my courage up enough to drill the bags and Lucille's now sporting the top rail bling. This chrome thing is addictive. . .

[strobe]

Originally Posted by LW

Finally got my courage up enough to drill the bags and Lucille's now sporting the top rail bling. This chrome thing is addictive. . .

And there is no treatment for the addiction...just keeps getting worse. Starts with top rails, then you need the side rails, then the radiator cover looks too black, then switch covers, then......pretty soon you can't sleep at night, surfing the net for the best deals.... I wish I could say I was recovering, but I am too busy surfing the net for the next deal to find a treatment

[abbo]

jamiep24- We must have been bidding against each other! I bid a max of $105 earlier in the day and went away. Glad someone from here got them. Maybe I'll try another time or not! ::) Would be nice to get a set but if not I'll still be able to ride! :) Dennis

[lw]

Today was the day when planning and gumption came together in the installation of Lucille's top rails.
(Yes, in prime redneck fashion, that is the kitchen/breakfast table doing duty as a workbench.

I multiplied the "measure twice" part of the measure twice-cut once adage by several magnitudes until I was absolutely sure I had it right, then went for it.



I taped it all up, then went back and cut the tape from between the bags because it prevented me from seeing the inner wall of the bag. Placing a framing square on the saddlebag top bracket gave me a good holder that was the same on both bags to measure against for positioning the rails.



Installation complete. all that remains is separating the bags and bolting them back in their rightfull place. Oh, in case you were wondering, I went with the 1/4" faucet washers.



Not a bad job for a bearcub wearing boxing gloves. . .




Ready to ride!

[strobe]

Nice job! I will have to get busy and do mine soon. I like the way to set them up.

[jamiep24]

Sorry I sniped ya, Dennis.......I sure appreciate all this info, as soon as mine come in I'm mounting those suckers.

[dkdixie]

Good job LW.....has anybody be able to determine the manufacture of these rails?

[strobe]

Originally Posted by "dk dixie"

Good job LW.....has anybody be able to determine the manufacture of these rails?

Not here, mine came in plastic bags with no instructions, no part numbers, and no labels.

[trosco]

I may be missing something about these rails? I bought a set for my '07 right out of J&P's catalog in Jan for $112.95 Shipping would have been extra and they only had them in stock in their Anamosa IA store but they sent them to the Daytona store for free. I picked up there.
Install was time consuming and my bag's walls were to thick to use the rubber grooved spacer but a little work with razor blade and some old faucet washers and the job got done.

[strobe]

Originally Posted by trosco

I may be missing something about these rails? I bought a set for my '07 right out of J&P's catalog in Jan for $112.95 Shipping would have been extra and they only had them in stock in their Anamosa IA store but they sent them to the Daytona store for free. I picked up there.
Install was time consuming and my bag's walls were to thick to use the rubber grooved spacer but a little work with razor blade and some old faucet washers and the job got done.

I am guessing you got ones like these:

http://www.jpcycles.com/Search/Produ...results=10&No=

J&P used to sell these for around $120, but looks like they now are $170+. Personally I was not fond of the little flip up at the end and preferred the Fire and Steel ones. The ones on eBay and the Fire and Steel ones (assuming the ones on eBay aren't F&S) have 4 rails and are longer, quite different than the MC ones.

[dkdixie]

Ya'll that have purchased these rails.....are you satisfied with the quality? As good as Kaw rails?

[rhunt4]

I bought a set and they are nice rails but not as good as fire and ice's. these are off just a little in the bends and are solid stainless instead of tublar with a chrome cover some people might like that better though. Over all they are nice rails though

[lw]

Originally Posted by "dk dixie"

Ya'll that have purchased these rails.....are you satisfied with the quality? As good as Kaw rails?

The quality could have been a bit better, but they are ok for the price. The bend radius of the two inner rails of one unit was a bit shallow, putting those two bars closer to the bag top than I would have liked; but otherwise they are ok.

[strobe]

+1 to both the previous posts. The bends are not great, but for the price, the best thing I have seen. I would expect the Fire and Steel ones to be 'perfect' for the price they want for them though.