Triumphrat

Ridge · 05-06-2007

As anybody with the Triumph grabrail and sisybar will tell
you there aren't many options for saddle bag support rails -
especially if you have already relocated your rear turn
signals. I wanted supports that could be removed quickly,
looked good and didn't cost a fortune. This idea came from
our ole buddy Copper's use of the Drag Specialties saddle
bag support rail. Copper found out the rails needed some
help in order to get them to stay put, but being an
obsessive sort, I would never feel comfortable about that
open-sided bolt hole. I was planning on cutting it up and
having a friend weld a new piece of angle iron on but it
turned out to be unnecessary.

So here's a quick and easy upgrade to Copper's solution.

Copper's pic of the Drag Specialties saddle bag rail part number DS110854.
(I bought mine at Dennis Kirk for $52.95 a pair).

Make a guide mark to help you find your side-to-side
position the bracket. You don't want the hole too close to
the edges.

Remove the front bolt and washer from the Triumph
sissybar/grabrail and also loosen the rear bolt slightly. Then
slide the support all the way up (between the dresser bar
and the grabrail/sissybar) until the horizontal part of the
bracket hits the bottom of the dresser rail. Make sure your
initial mark is centered in the hole and then mark the center
of the hole itself on the bracket.

Remove the bracket and use a center punch to make an
indentation on your mark.

You will need to drill a 5/16" hole. Start buy using a very
small bit to make enough of hole to keep the bigger bits
from traveling. I used a 3/32 then a 1/8, then a 1/4 and
finally a 5/16. No need to drill all the way through for the
first two bits. Use a alternating pressure while drilling.

Then just slide 'er in, replace the front bolt (sans front washer)
and tighten both front and rear bolts. Done!

You can add or remove them in under a minute!

A nice tight fit against the dresser rail ensures that the
support will not swing back and forth.

Here she is ready for an expedition this summer!

Thanks to Redbird and Curefan for the info on the Cortech
bags. I love em! I ended up finding the lowest price from a
mailorder house just a few miles from me. They let me come
in and throw different bags on bike to see how I liked them.
Excellent service! www.motogearoutlet.com

[ This message was edited by: Ridge on 2007-05-06 22:00 ]

oldguymx · 05-06-2007

Which model bag is that? I like the look and size on the bike. I have been looking for a bit now and always think I'll find one tommorow that I can really put next to the bike to look at

BTW your bike and garage are just to darn spotless :razz:

[ This message was edited by: oldguymx on 2007-05-06 20:58 ]

Ridge · 05-06-2007

The bags are Coretech Tribag saddlebags and the Coretech Tribag tailbag.

oldguymx · 05-06-2007

Thank you sir
Now to find them somewhere tonight

5bassman · 05-06-2007

Nice Ridge! I had the same brackets and did that mod on a Renntec Rack. Worked great! Brackets can be bent at the bolt a little without hardly any damage to chrome if needed. I liked the idea of not having to remove the bolt and it stayed in place fine but this will work too.

oldguymx · 05-06-2007

Ridge are those the bags that lay over the seat or the strap goes under and the bags can be taken off? I think I found them listed as Tourmaster-coretech
http://store.bobscycle.com/browse.cfm/4,10824.htm
not sure tho

gerryo · 05-07-2007

Hey Bassman, do you have any photos of your mods on the Rentac Rack?

Ridge · 05-07-2007

Yup, that's them, Oldguy.

Each bag has a front and rear Velcro strap permanently attached. You can separate the bags from one another but not from the straps themselves.

I found that over the seat was the best configuration. If you have a passenger you will definitely want them over the seat. Placing them under forces the bags forward and blocks full access to the rear pegs.

sweatmachine · 05-07-2007

Good Post Ridge!!!

I nominate this for a Wiki!!!

Keef?

Ridge · 05-07-2007

Aw, shucks...it was nothin'. :blush: