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M109R with factory saddlebags

10121 Views 26 Replies 13 Participants Last post by  Trogdor
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It took me a while to find it but this is a photo I took at the Indy Dealer Show in February. It is a stock M109 with the Suzuki Factory saddlebags. Unfortunately I did not take a photo from the back as it seemed like the bike was 8 feet wide with them on it. The bike is very wide to begin with, then add the large bracket that they made, then add the width of the bags and the look didn't appeal to me. It kind of looked like an elephant with saddlebags. So I guess its just not for me. But it may be all that we have for a while.

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P.S. After looking at that photo again I realized that Suzuki is also trying to let the bags work with a passenger on the bike. And the high exhaust pipes are why they made it so short.
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I'm not sure but they might look better color keyed to the bike. I'd like to see them on the black bike.
I'm seriously considering Tourmaster's cordura sport bags. These are a throw them on and take them off sort of arrangement that works for me, and they sure don't stick out the way you say Suzuki's do.

http://www.motoemporium.com/tourmaster/tmsportsaddlebag.htm

Now I'm just looking for a way to protect my finish, maybe a small universal 3 chrome bar rack whose mounting holes would be no longer than about eight inches and no wider than about five inches. This would fit nicely on my seat replacement cowl section, leave me something to throw the bags over, and add a little brightness to the rear of the bike.
I'm pretty sure that would displace the weight enough that the cowl would handle it nicely and it could fill in as a place to bungee the occasional item of clothing when i"m layering or uncovering as the weather dictates.
Jerbear
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I'd like to have some that are quick on and off..just dont care for the look,,but do need something on longer trips,,That are planned....
gradona said:
I'm not sure but they might look better color keyed to the bike. I'd like to see them on the black bike.
At the Cleveland show, there was an M109R displayed with color-matched hard bags. There is a pic around here somewhere.

I agree, I don't much care for these leather ones, but if they are quickee-on quickee-off, I could probably live with them.
i know how handy saddlebags are, but i just don't think they are gonna look good on this bike (don't think it looks good with the 2 up seat on it either). gonna stick with a backpack when i need to carry something.
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I thought about that also... ;D..still have one from the ol crouch rocket days.... ;D
The lines of this bike don't really lend itself to being a Bagger, but everybody at some time or another is gonna need to carry something on it. So, I got four Bungee Nuts from here:

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/...wse/s-10101/Ntk-AllTextSearchGroup?Ntt=bungey

and used them on the back where the allen bolts are.

The rear 2 were simply a matter of unscrewing the allen bolts, removing the nuts that are on the inside and mounting the allen screws from the inside out so the bungee nuts have something to grab onto.Â

The front 2 took a little more thought. Since the inner nuts are welded to the subframe, the allen bolts can't be used since they are too short when threaded from the inside. Good luck finding M8 x 1.25 metric bolts that are long enough. Yes, they have to be that size since (1) the bungee nuts are that size, and (2) the original inner fender nut is welded to the subframe. Don't bother with the home improvement center down the road or the auto parts store. All of them carry the right size, but nowhere near long enough. I ended up finding some M8 x 1.25 x 100 here:

http://www.grainger.com/production/info/granger-industrial-supply.htm

Hex Head Cap Screw, A4 Stainless Steel (Comparable to 316 Stainless Steel), Plain Finish, Thread Size M8X1.25mm, Thread Type Metric, Length Under Head 100mm, Head Height 5.3mm, Head Width 13mm, Fully Threaded, Right Hand Thread Direction, Thread Class 6g, Tensile Strength 101,500 PSI, Meets/Exceeds DIN 933, Package 5 Grainger Item # 6BB48
Price (pk.) $7.99
Brand APPROVED VENDOR
Mfr. Model # 6BB48
Ship Qty.  1
Sell Qty. (Will-Call)Â Â 1
Ship Weight (lbs.) 0.42
Usually Ships  1-3 DaysÂ
Catalog Page No. 2861Â

The catch is, they are a B to B seller ONLY. (Had to create an account and a business to buy from them)Â

Got'em; cut them down to the right length, and they work great for attaching bungee's to, they look like they came with the bike and they don't interfere with a passanger.Â

WARNING*** If you bungee/strap simething to the back on the rear seat cowl, it WILL scratch it. (Voice of experience speaking here) Wal-mart sells rubber shelf liners thatg can be cut to size and protect the finish just fine.

Best of all, rubber mat and bungee net store under the seat with no problems and I always have them there!

Yes, yes, I know, "This post is worthless without pictures", but this "technology" stuff still has me baffled. I'm still amused by running water and that piece of plastic on the wall that makes it bright in here...
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phaed said:
i know how handy saddlebags are, but i just don't think they are gonna look good on this bike (don't think it looks good with the 2 up seat on it either). gonna stick with a backpack when i need to carry something.
To each his own, I guess, but I think knapsacks are kind of a squid thing. They aren't safe. And God help you if you should ever dump while wearing one.

I dunno, but I'm just one of those guys who's grown accustomed to having a functioning spinal column, and would like to keep it that way. But you know, that's just how I roll. ;D
maybe someone will come up with some bags that are easilly removable, and don't leave any visual signs of a brace behind.
Since most of us aren't riding two-up, another idea would be to sacrafice the pillion seat to develop a pop-on pop-off
bag that's attatched to the pillion. I'm tempted to order an extra pillion, just so I could bolt a bag to it.
I don't know, I think the bags are kinda nice. Sure beats alot of them with all the frillies and chrome beads with tassles. It would be strictly for long hauls on mine then they'd be off. I see that bike has the windshield to.
My wife read the post above where HalGreenlee said they make the bike look like an elephant. She laughed , then said, "The bike looks like an elephant, even without the bags, so just get them." ;D
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That was what hit me when I saw the bags on the bike. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. LOL.
VZR1800 said:
Since most of us aren't riding two-up, another idea would be to sacrafice the pillion seat to develop a pop-on pop-off
bag that's attatched to the pillion. I'm tempted to order an extra pillion, just so I could bolt a bag to it.
They make sport tailbags that do exactly that... you affix a velcro base to the pillion or tail section, and the bag just sits on top. You can just rip it right off when you don't need it. Not too secure, but motorcycle luggage isn't really very secure by nature anyway.
Those look pretty nice considering they don't hide the sweet rear styling of the bike to much. How does one purchase these?
They look pretty nice! Anyone notice the wind shield on it? Looks nice :D
I'm shocked I'm saying this, but I acutally think those bags look pretty good. I wouldnt' leave them on, but on a trip that sure wouldn't bother me a bit. And that windshield looks trick too. This is coming from a guy who would rather be beat to death by the wind than have a windshield on most bikes.
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