Today's work...

[rieckena]

Originally Posted by MikeAstringer

Thanks. I love my Mustang seat and don't see changing it. My wife didn't ride with me at all last year but swears she is going to this year. If she doesn't that sissy bar is coming off!

As far as the pipes those V&H pipes are brand new - at a cost of over $500 for pipes and jet kit. I'm stuck with the decision I made. I'll say though that the bike had stock pipes when I bought it. Those V&H pipes sound *****AWESOME*****

Ah, I didn't know that was a Mustang. I'm keeping my eyes open on ebay for either a corbin or a mustang myself. Funny thing is I feel the need for it less and less the more I ride! Honda's seats aren't known for being comfortable but I guess I'm just getting used to it.

[MikeAstringer]

I think that when you find one you'll wonder how you lived without it! My prior bike had a stock Honda seat. I found myself stopping every hour and a half or so to give my back and butt a break. With the Mustang on this bike I can ride all day (or until I need a fuel stop) without being sore. I'm planning on some long distance riding this year. Trips to Boston, maybe a trip to Florida and perhaps a ride to see OCC in NY. I don't think I could pull that off with the seat I had on my prior bike - or at least not without a lot of stops.

[SuperboyX]

Originally Posted by MikeAstringer

Thanks I appreciate it. I actually got my hands dirty yesterday!

There is a few inches between the right bag and the pipe. That is the one thing I'm feeling uneasy about. I don't want to melt a $950 bag! My friend who's working on the bike with me thinks it will be O.K. but as a safety measure is going to put some sort of heat resistant material he has on the bottom of the bag.

My biggest disappointment continues to be that I had to put that sissy bar back on. Without the trunk I would have gone for a look that was much more like the back of your bike.

A few inches Mike. Mine are only an inch away and are fine. I'd reinstall them, accept the fact you have more holes and install that trunk you want. 1cm is less that 1/2 inch, I have 1" and would not worry at all. Small price to pay for getting the result you really want. You do have a one year warranty on those bags, and if you want e-mail TSUKAYU and confirm the clearance.

This came from the TSUKAYU site.
Bike specific bags fit with stock pipe, and will be positioned very close to the stock pipes (as close as 1cm spacing); normal bags (non-bike specific bags) can fit with aftermarket pipes, you can install the bags wherever you want.

Here's mine:

[gat803]

Originally Posted by SuperboyX

A few inches Mike. Mine are only an inch away and are fine. I'd reinstall them, accept the fact you have more holes and install that trunk you want.

Agreed. My factory bags are ABS, and they are exactly one inch from the mufflers.

[craig s.]

man that bike looks good..install the trunk.

[MikeAstringer]

Thanks guys. Unfortunately I would need more than the inch or two I'd gain by lowering the bags. With the rounded top of the hard bags and how low the luggage rack sits I need several inches to make it work (see below). Or a different luggage rack. We talked about putting various shims under the trunk to make it work but I thought that would look like hell.

The more I look at the bike with the hard bags and luggage rack the more I like it vs. using the trunk. If only I could get rid of that damn sissy bar!!

I just threw the tunk on Craigslist for $75. I paid $119 plus shipping.

P.S. Craig I threw those bags in my car on Saturday. I'll get to UPS soon. Again, sorry it's taken so long.

[craig s.]

Originally Posted by MikeAstringer

Thanks guys. Unfortunately I would need more than the inch or two I'd gain by lowering the bags. With the rounded top of the hard bags and how low the luggage rack sits I need several inches to make it work (see below). Or a different luggage rack. We talked about putting various shims under the trunk to make it work but I thought that would look like hell.

The more I look at the bike with the hard bags and luggage rack the more I like it vs. using the trunk. If only I could get rid of that damn sissy bar!!

I just threw the tunk on Craigslist for $75. I paid $119 plus shipping.

P.S. Craig I threw those bags in my car on Saturday. I'll get to UPS soon. Again, sorry it's taken so long.

hey,as long as you can live with the trunk not being on there thats what matters..it wouldve fit the look as you said you were going for,but if its not possible then thats understandable..it looks good this way too,me personally i think it looks better with the sissy bar left on,although i do like the looks of the h.d baggers without a sissy bar.
ok,,no problem..thanks.

[Coop]

You could always lower the bags that 1+ inch and raise the trunk with a spacer. I have a friend that just installed a trunk and mounted it on a covered 2x10 it sits up right at 2" and looks good. You could mount it and have the look you wanted and not have the sissy bar! Mount the trunk back on the rack some, it will give your wife more room and get her off your back a little more.
Coop

[Dcocch]

Originally Posted by gat803

by the time your rear rider sinks into the seat a little those racks may wind up digging her in the thighs

Sounds like a good reason to get a skinnier rear rider!!

[MikeAstringer]

Originally Posted by Dcocch

Sounds like a good reason to get a skinnier rear rider!!

If my wife saw this I might be banned from this forum!!!