i'm nervous...

[nomad]

got my new saddlebag rails in today and they look great! i must have laid them on the bag a dozen times and measured....just can't bring myself to drill the holes!!! man, what a nerve wracker........i've been to gadget's site. any other tips before i go at it? ;)

[paul]

Measure twice, (three, four....) times cut once. Seen tape suggested to protect the edges. Personally, I would buy a brand new bulit point bit, and pilot the hole with a very small bit first. Not possible to have too sharp an instrument. Maybe a heavy tape on the inside and go slow to prevent break-out.

Good luck. Oh, and beer in the freezer for afterwards.
Just had a brain-fart. Haven't done this mod, so this is just hypothetical, but how would it work using the semi-soft rubber hole gromets that you push into the hole and they are hollow. Usually used for running electronics through?

[Netnorske]

Mine are due to arrive soon as well. I remember a thread about this awhile back but can't find it now. I do remember macmac (where's he been anyways...?) had some good advice about mounting them.

If I remember what he said...do use the tape to cover where you are gonna drill....don't use the seals they send, but rather use the rubber seals you would find on roofing screws (much longer life)....and measure your holes with the seals in place under the rack for a truer hole placement. Other than that....be sure....be very sure...!

I am going to take the plunge soon as well....but am rather caught up in researching a trunk and rack for the time being! Best of luck and let us know how it turns out... ;)!

Cheers...Kris

[rksaw]

Nomad,
I haven't done that mod yet, but even within the last 3 months there has had to have been 3 or 4 others who have had your same concern and each were glad when they finally took the plunge. I'm sure you'll do a great job, and we all will be waiting for the pictures when you get it done.
Rich

[aj]

Good luck man, I get nervous using a soft cloth on the duco!

[fish]

I would be too

[ridemslow]

Use masking tape, measure, mark and just lay the rails on top of the tape to get an idea of how it looks and where to do the drilling. Thats what I did. Used blue painters tape, so it didnt leave gummy glue behind. Once holes are drilled, you can't undo it easily, so be careful to be right.

[phenrichs]

+1 on the painters tape. That is how the dealer would do it.

[nomad]

ditto on the painters tape...and good advice on the washers too. i guess i will be doing this later on today. i'll let you all know how it went....

[superduty]

I just did this two weeks ago. I took the bags off the bike and bolted them together back to back on my workbench. Covered the area with blue painters tape as others suggested. I used a brad-point wood bit and it worked well. Once I got one installed, having the bags bolted together allowed me to get the second one lined up with the first.

[bigdog]

Good luck, I had the dealer do mine when I bought the bike, so I don't have any good tips for you other than maybe putting some liquid paper on the rail stand-off's to mark the bags where you want to drill.

[blowndodge]

Leave your gun in the house in case you f*ck up!

[refugio]

Be carefull.........You only get one try to get it right...

[nomad]

Originally Posted by superduty

I just did this two weeks ago. I took the bags off the bike and bolted them together back to back on my workbench. Covered the area with blue painters tape as others suggested. I used a brad-point wood bit and it worked well. Once I got one installed, having the bags bolted together allowed me to get the second one lined up with the first.

thats a good idea...think i might try this. thanks!

[nomad]

Originally Posted by Blowndodge "Darksider"

Leave your gun in the house in case you f*ck up!