TRI GLIDE SADDLEBAGS and BUMPER

[GARYD]

Does anyone have the Harley saddlebags? I'm curious on how they attach to the bike.

Are they worth the money and what do you use them for?
They don't look like they hold very much.

Also, has anyone installed the rear bumper themselves and how hard was it?

Thanks for any and all help.

 

[trikermutha]

Does anyone have the Harley saddlebags? I'm curious on how they attach to the bike.

Are they worth the money and what do you use them for?
They don't look like they hold very much.

Also, has anyone installed the rear bumper themselves and how hard was it?

Thanks for any and all help.

I think those side saddle bags bolt to the rear body

4 bolts for the bumper not hard at all just need basic tools

 

[GARYD]

I was looking under the trunk to see where it bolts to, but couldn't see anything.

 

[trikermutha]

I was looking under the trunk to see where it bolts to, but couldn't see anything.

Which part the bumper or the bags??

If its the bumper they are under the bike on the left and right sides of the bike.

 

[GARYD]

Someone just sent me the instruction sheets for both. Now I know what's involved. Doesn't look too complicated.

Now I have to decide if the bags are big enough (useful) to justify $350.

 

[trikermutha]

on the bags do you have to drill into the rear to install??

 

[JohnC]

Yes, you have to drill into the body, making the installation of the bags a permanent mod.

 

[NemoPHD]

I have installed the bags...I think they suck.

 

[trikermutha]

I have installed the bags...I think they suck.

Can you give us a better idea why they suck...I am sure there is something you didnt like about them and would give us a better idea on why not to purchase them.

 

[41inWV]

As I recall....the bumper install is simple, I think you have to remove the trunk liner and the four bolts in the trunk holding the body to the frame. Real simple, and about the best most functional body mod you can make.

 

[Ol' Man]

We have the saddlebags installed on our Trike. Had them installed before we picked it up. We think they are very handy for a lot of small items that normally roll around in the tour pack. On the right side we keep a small soft cooler with three water bottles in it. Wife can get one out going down the road with no problem. Left side holds, camera, sun screen, ink pins, mints, and my chew. Very satisfied and like the way they look....ThumbUp

 

[Roundabout]

I have both the saddlebags and rear bumper.
Saddlebags - much more expensive than they should be. Quality is not the best and yes you do have to drill 3 holes into the body between the trunk and each fender. However there are redeeming factors. They are incredibly convenient, especially for road trips for which you can never have too much storage. Keep in mind they do not lock but they are easily removable. Each bag is more than twice the capacity of a fairing lower compartment and can hold maps, small items, and a couple of drinks. The bags are accessible to the rider without getting off the trike. I use them on every ride. My wife loves them - great for all the little things she likes to take with her. In the heat of the summer you'll probably want to have the fairing lowers removed anyway. Check out the removal kit for the lowers -it's worth it. Will knock 10-15 deg. off your oil temp.
Bumper - glad I added this. Installation is simple, just have to remove the trunk liner to access the 4 bolts. The liner comes out easily. Not only is the bumper functional but it really enhances the looks of the trunk. Should have been part of the original factory package in my opinion.

 

[GARYD]

OK, I guess you all have convinced me to get them. Would like to know the problem that Nemo had.
Can't remove the lowers because I have the HogTunes 7" woofers there. Something I'll have to live with if I want my tunes.

 

[JohnC]

For those of you folks that have the saddlebags, would you mind posting pics of them installed on your bike? The photos from Harley are limited and only show so much.

 

[Roundabout]

Hope this link works. If so, it should give you a pretty good idea of what the saddlebags look like.
Saddlebags

 

[Bikerbozo]

Those bags don't actually look too bad. I would be concerned about my wifes leg being in way (she's short). And for the cost, you would think there would be some locks on them. I think I will stick to bungy cords for a while.

 

[Roundabout]

I thought the leg room would be an issue too but it isn't. Both of us are fairly short ,I'm 5'8 & she's 5'6 and my legs are about 1" shorter than hers. Both of us can sit on the passenger's seat without any issues. The real concerns are the cost of the bags and more importantly - since you have to drill into the body you better like them once installed cause there's no going back. Those are the decisions everyone has to make for themselves. I was actually more concerned my wife wouldn't like the bags. That turned out to be silly since she loves them.

 

[Motor Trike]

Just a quick plug here

We don't have bumpers but we offer light bars!

You can see all our Tri Glide accessories here: Motor Trike®

 

[GARYD]

Great pics. Just what I was lookin gfor.
Did you do the install? If so I assume you have to take the wheels off. Did you have to remove the fenders also?? How did you hold the bike up to do the work. I'm really interested in doing it myself, but don't have anything to raise the back end.

 

[trikermutha]

Just a quick plug here

We don't have bumpers but we offer light bars!

You can see all our Tri Glide accessories here: Motor Trike®

How about a picture of your hitch? Inquiring minds like to see.

 

[Roundabout]

Glad you liked the pics. The tires do not have to be removed and the fender wells are integral to the body and not removeable. Nevertheless you will need some means of lifting at least the rear of the Trike. Best method would be with a Trike lift like the Sockos' have. The most difficult part is aligning the template to make sure the holes are EXACTLY where you want them to be. Be sure to leave room to still use the parking brake and room for your passenger to put their hands around the rails. I mentioned before there are 3 holes on each side. There are actualy 5, three of them are used to hold the bags on. Obviously you don't want to make any mistakes. I chose to have someone with a lift and considerable more experience than myself to install the bags.

 

[Motor Trike]

trikermutha - here you go!

 

[trikermutha]

Looks like if I did buy something like that I would have them recovered by my leather guy.

 

[trikermutha]

trikermutha - here you go!

cool thanks does it have a bracket to install a electrical connector for the lighting. I would need one that has a round hole to fit a 6 pin connector

 

[Motor Trike]

cool thanks does it have a bracket to install a electrical connector for the lighting. I would need one that has a round hole to fit a 6 pin connector

I'm afraid we do not have those brackets here - however, one can be purchased through any auto parts store and mounted to work.

 

[trikermutha]

I'm afraid we do not have those brackets here - however, one can be purchased through any auto parts store and mounted to work.

Yea I have that now and dont work to well .. It needs to be a ridgid bracket and I dont want to mount to my trike body. The stuff they sell are cheap tin ..

 

[Motor Trike]

Yea I have that now and dont work to well .. It needs to be a ridgid bracket and I dont want to mount to my trike body. The stuff they sell are cheap tin ..

Well, the ones we would get wouldn't be any different. Sorry!

 

[trikermutha]

Well, the ones we would get wouldn't be any different. Sorry!

Yea I was hoping you had a ridgid electrical bracket already welded to your hitch. well thanks for your help

 

[GARYD]

ROUNDABOUT, did you have a dealer install the bags or an independant?
I ask because my dealer installed mine the other night and they look like $hit. They are crooked and not parallel with the fender, like yours look. Another poster on another forum said his were crooked too. I'd like to get as many posts as I can to see if the dealer screwed up or if they are correct.
If I had seen my bags look like this, I would never had bought them - especially for $350

I even switched the bags from one side to the other after I got home - still were crooked, but better. They even put the bags on the wrong side.

I would like to get as many pictures as I can to take to the dealer and show them that they are mounted incorrectly. Even the catalog shows them parallel.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Roundabout]

Sorry to hear about your apparent bad installation from the dealer. I had the bags installed by an independent (Harley certified). Not because I didn't trust my dealer but because the independent is 12 miles away and my dealer is over 100 miles away. The independent is a former dealership wrench and highly respected. There is a dealer other then the one I use that is closer to me but quite frankly I've never had a good feeling about them.

There is definitely a right and left saddlebag. Sounds like your dealer got them reversed since what you describe is what they would look like if the templates were reversed. Unfortunately it is the templates that will determine the final look, so just reversing the bags themselves won't really correct the installation.

Even when the bags are installed correctly with respect to right and left they are not exactly parallel to the body. They tend to bow out at a very slight angle but so do the wheel wells on which they are installed so this is unavoidable. Look at the bags while standing in front of your trike. If the bags are installed correctly the top rear of the bag on your right should angle slightly up and to your right and the top rear of the bag on your left should angle slightly up and to the left. Again, sorry to hear you are not happy with the installation.