Hard Case Saddlebag on Rigid Frame

[FredoTwoWheels]

I want to mount a Pelican case on my panhead frame for work commute, where I need a laptop and small book of tools. Has anyone ever mounted a hard case to a frame like this? I was thinking of buying a pelican and drilling some mounting holes through it then using some super low profile risers to clamp to the frame with, screwing them onto the case from the inside but I feel like this will stick the case out to far. Any better ideas?

[rhysmort]

Also need to consider vibration! I'd want it rubber mounted or over time it's going to pull through. I've never seen hard case bags on any of the old bikes. Should work just mounting it to have some flex will be crucial!

[VonWegener]

Harley's hard case bubble bags were available since their 1954 introduction on rigid frame Hydra Glides. I don't see why fitting a hard bag would be a problem.
I don't know what a pelican bag is though.

[rhysmort]

Originally Posted by VonWegener

Harley's hard case bubble bags were available since their 1954 introduction on rigid frame Hydra Glides. I don't see why fitting a hard bag would be a problem.
I don't know what a pelican bag is though.

Peli's from my understanding are like the square military boxes? that's why I suggested rubber mounting, they work on soft tailed bikes but not sure how they'd fair on a rigid!

[joe49]

http://www.bbreproductions.com/prices.htm
Brackets and bags.

[HD48FL]

Originally Posted by joe49

http://www.bbreproductions.com/prices.htm
Brackets and bags.

Those are some really nice bags and they have the brackets made for your frame. They're not cheap, but they're Made in the USA and look to be very well made.

[Just Passin' Thru...]

^^Mike, Pelican cases are water tight, used alot for travel, audio / video or whatever you want...

[Ratso]

Under $600 a pair for the fanciest version? Seems a really good price. I've seen plain BMW hard bags, the deep '70s/'80s factory version, go for c. $500 -- used. Those Pelicans look excellent too.

Not to state the obvious (in my own experience, anyway), but the "traditional" soft leather concho-covered bags are a pain to use, day to day.

[joe49]

I'm a hard bag user. Like Ratso said, the soft bags are more trouble. My left bags always leak, from the holes I drill to let the water out from the ice melting that's cooling the beer. I have never had water get into stock HD bags, other then as mentioned.

[VonWegener]

Originally Posted by joe49

My left bags always leak, from the holes I drill to let the water out from the ice melting that's cooling the beer.

HaHa Joe. That's what bags are for. I have a friend who also cools the beer in his but also has a petcock installed in his hard bag in case you needed ice water for your whiskey.....

[VonWegener]

My memory may be foggy but I thought on BMW you could get stylish looking hardbags that doubled as attache cases when taken off the bike. I think the brand was Krauser. Black with silver alloy trim If I recall correctly.


HaHa Google was my friend.

These things are cool. 1973 style Krauser on a restored '73 R75/5.


Reproductions are available here:
https://www.motorcycleadventure.com....er-set-30-30lt

[Ratso]

Yes, those are plenty tidy-looking, maybe even a bit, uh, prim. Their latching apparatus isn't as good or as permanent as the BMW bags' is.* And the BM bag will accommodate a full-coverage helmet (a good thing if passersby in your neighborhood like to piss in total strangers' helmets) apiece, or two sacks of groceries.

* Strictly my personal experience, of course.

[joe49]

Originally Posted by VonWegener

HaHa Joe. That's what bags are for. I have a friend who also cools the beer in his but also has a petcock installed in his hard bag in case you needed ice water for your whiskey.....

The Bourbon goes neat.

[joe49]

Originally Posted by Ratso

Yes, those are plenty tidy-looking, maybe even a bit, uh, prim. Their latching apparatus isn't as good or as permanent as the BMW bags' is.* And the BM bag will accommodate a full-coverage helmet (a good thing if passersby in your neighborhood like to piss in total strangers' helmets) apiece, or two sacks of groceries.

* Strictly my personal experience, of course.

One more reason in the discussion against helmet laws.

[JAWS]

OEM Hard bags will hold a 12 pack with a small bag of ice...Maybe even a case. I havent done it or had hard bags in a long time.

[Ratso]

[QUOTE=JAWS. I havent done it or had hard bags in a long time.[/QUOTE]

It's hell to get old, isn't it?

[JAWS]

Eyesight was the first to go..... or was it the mind... what was I typing?

[FredoTwoWheels]

Thanks for the info guys. After thinking about it a bit, I may just get some frame P clamps like the ones in the photo below. I think I could probably use a piece of sheet metal on the inside of the case to help support the bumps and such by drilling the mounting holes through a large square piece of sheet metal on the inside. So the mounting bolts would go inside the case, through the metal, through the case, into the frame clamps. You think this would help spread the pressures around enough to avoid cracking the case or is this a waste of time? Photos below of the clamps and the case.

[joe49]

/_ One of these just hold a case and some ice.
\

[karl wolf]

Originally Posted by Ratso

It's hell to get old, isn't it?

Just wait... These are the good days... It Will get worse.

Karl