Triumphrat

bonniesaltrat · 01-04-2007

Brothers and sisters of the Bonneville: What's the low down on Easy Brackets or Ghost Brackets? I'm thinking about getting rid of my Triumph leather panniers and replacing them with these bags from Leatherworks.com. (As I recall, these are the bags that fatrat had on his infamously sweet black bonnie.) Does anyone have any experience with these brackets, either good or bad? It'd be nice to have an easy on/easy off saddle bag that is lockable and leaves Bonnie looking stock when I ain't usin' em. Please advise.

RoundSlide · 01-05-2007

I've been very happy with the easy brackets. I leave my saddlebags on the speedmaster all the time, but the locking mechanisms have never given me any probs for lack of usage. Don't have any personal knowledge or experience with the ghost brackets, sorry.

Silverado57 · 01-05-2007

The Easy Brackets are a nice quality product that makes your bags secure yet easily removable. My Saddlemen bags are only on the bike when needed, then I can take them off to retain the great lines of the Speedmaster.

I had some initial fitment problems with the Easy Brackets but it was due to a slight misalignment on the bike, not the brackets. It was easily (no pun intended) fixed with a thin shim washer. Other than that minor glitch, they're great!

The Leatherworks bags are nice!
With the Saddlemen, I found it necessary to reinforce the bag with a sheet metal plate on the inside to keep it rigid against the Easy Bracket. Not sure about the Leatherworks.

D9 · 01-05-2007

Bonniesaltrat-

These bracket systems look cool - I've spend time staring at both - fyi, as far
as I know, these systems are for cruisers, neither system will work on the T100 without modification...

I've talked to the Easy Brackets guys before - nice folks - they suggested looking
at their Deuce brackets, which I did, and these look like they have great potential to
work on the T100 - I still don't think it's plug & play yet however, unless there's something new, but modding the Deuce bracket looks doable - and would be soooo nice and low profile!

Cheers,

D9

Normandy · 01-05-2007

I like the easy brackets as well but had to insert aluminum into the bags to keep them off the bike .

ggRAT · 01-05-2007

I had the Easy Brackets on my '03 Speedmaster and was quite satisfied with their operation and the "look" when the bags were off. (I've since sold the bike.)

FOR SALE: one set of slightly used Easy Brackets $75 (includes shipping). E-mail me at ggRAT@ggolly.us if interested.

It will take some fabricating to make any of the Easy or Duece Brackets work on a Bonneville. The trick will be to find a way to secure the "docking posts." Easy Brackets and a seat cowl won't work together nor will they work with relocated rear turn signals.

bonniesaltrat · 01-05-2007

Thanks for all the feedback. I called the nice folks at Motoleather in Phoenix. They make a model specifically for the Bonneville, so it sounds like I'll need to go that route. Unfortunately, Ghost Brackets is retooling their factory, or some such, and probably won't be available for another couple of months. Figure I'll order some and wait it out.

ggRAT · 01-05-2007

I'd be very suspicious about "claims" that the Ghost Brackets or the Easy Brackets will fit a Bonneville.

I can understand how either brand would fit an America/Speedmaster becasue both of those models have fender struts. But to fit a "true" Bonneville/T100, I think the brackets would have to attach to the seat rails, and I just don't think either make such a mount.

If your research confirms that they know the difference between a Bonneville and a Bonneville America or Bonneville Speedmaster AND that they have a special bracket SPECIFIC for the standard Bonneville, THEN I'd order.

P.S. I sold the used set of Speedmaster Easy Brackets I had about an hour ago.

[ This message was edited by: ggRAT on 2007-01-05 13:29 ]

bonniesaltrat · 01-09-2007

ggRAT,

You are correct, sir. I did some more due diligence and it doesn't appear the standard ghost brackets will work on the standard Bonnie. I am posting a new thread on this topic. If anyone's interested in a quick release bag mount that maintains the stock appearance of the bike when the bags aren't on it, please post here.

[ This message was edited by: bonniesaltrat on 2007-01-09 16:35 ]

Bryan · 01-10-2007

I had to make my own when I bought my America. Click here to see how I did it.