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metal touring boxes or saddlebags which rig to get?

Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 7:25 pm
by Ross Lindberg
Attachments :

    Sorry about the small size of this picture.  I used this kit from Happy Trails to mount the cans to the racks.  The way we did it was to cut a piece of cardboard the same size as the pannier.  I held the bike in the riding position with a motorcycle jack and sat on the bike as if riding it.  My father then moved the cardboard around until we found a mounting position that we were both happy with.  There are two threaded holes in the top rail of the SU rack.  He pushed a pencil through the holes in the rack, making a mark on the cardboard.  We then transferred the marks to the panniers using the cardboard.  This method is a lot easier than measuring and laying out the mounting holes, and the accuracy is better; less room for mistakes.

     

    Once the holes in the panniers were marked and drilled, I hung the panniers on the rack using the threaded knobs in the picture.  The next step is to layout and install the Plastic L-brackets.  These brackets hold much of the weight of the loaded panniers and also keep them from swinging outwards.  Lay the brackets on the lower rail of the mount and mark the holes on the panniers.  Remove the panniers, drill the holes and then loosely install the brackets.  Reinstall the panniers using the threaded knobs, and then tighten the mounting bolts on the lower brackets.  This will guarantee that the threaded knobs will line up with their respective holes when mounting and dismounting the panniers.

     

    Ross Lindberg

    Fertile, MN