| Author | Message | ||
     Mikef5000 |
I just found these cell pictures I took in the spring and thought I'd post them.    They are the Happy Trails 9" Teton Panniers factory finished in hammer-tone black. The factory premounted holes for the 08+ KLR650 were pretty close to fitting on the OEM Uly racks. They could easily be made to fit, although I would order them not predrilled, to drill my own holes exactly where I wanted them. The signals would need bumped back about an inch or two. This is the medium model; 9", carrying 33L each. They also make a 10.5" model that holds something like 45L, but I think they'd be overkill. These 39L models easily hold more than our 42L Jouney bags, simply due to the top loading. Speaking of which, when opening the top, they were close, but did not make contact with the grab handle! Perfect! These are on my short list of final Uly mods. They might be a next spring purchase. $600 hurts though. Plus I'd really like the matching top box... but OUCH! There's another $300. | ||
| Od_cleaver |
Mike, I once had Happy Trail bags on my '07. Happy Trail racks did not line up to the Uly's mounting points and required a fair amount of reforming. So, using the Buell OEM racks is a good thing. My problem with Happy Trail is the mounting system and the sharp corner leading edges of the bag. In the event of a crash (such as a slow speed muddy road crash) the bag will not break free. The bag will deform and it will bend the supporting rack. If as the bag's sharp leading edge digs into the mud it finds solid road, the force could break the Uly's sub frame. This sort of rack damage is not isolated to Happy Trail. On the ADV site post 3039 shows the type of rack damage I am taking about >> http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34 180&page=203 I think that these aluminum bags are a fashion statement. There are better functional options out there. If I still haven't discouraged you, I have a Happy Trail top box and right side saddle bag (aluminum color) for sale. I might be even willing to swap them for your OEM top box. My old left side bad should be made into beer cans by now. | ||
| Mikef5000 |
I'd be interested in hearing your 'better functional options'. BTW: I'm not trying to sound douchey, I legitimately am curious about other options. Clam shells are simply inconvenient. Plastic top-loaders are generally double walled, and therefor have significantly less interior space. That leaves me with aluminum bags. Oh, and PM sent about your boxes. (Message edited by mikef5000 on July 20, 2010) | ||
| Ghostrider |
There's a guy on ADVrider who makes the panniers himself and they're less expensive than some of the Happy Trails and others. I heard he was getting someone in his area to lend a Uly to be used for fabricating mounts. Check it out: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1211 0265&postcount=1 | ||
| Mikef5000 |
Another post from that thread:  And here's his latest revision:  They look perfect! And $325 per set (plus shipping) is much more reasonable. The guy does custom stuff. I'm tempted to email him a picture of how our top boxes mount (with the latch on the bottom and the block on the back) and see if he could make a box that mounts the same. The latches could be sourced from H&B I would think. | ||
| Mikef5000 |
It's this one right?  Ouch, I wasn't expecting $50 for just the latch. | ||
| Ghostrider |
Yeah, that looks like it. I'd start shopping junk yards, if I were you. Surely there are some wrecked Ulys out there that can either spare the boxes or the box is mostly broken, latch busted, or something. Maybe you could pull a used mounting latch off something like that? | ||
| Metaldude |
I'm VERY happy with my Ep!c panniers. And yes, they did snap my frame when I laid down the bike. When I designed my custom mount scheme, I thought about the possibility of them digging into the road on a slide and thought about making a mounting system that would tear away in that event. But then I was worried about the bags falling off at high speeds and killing someone (especially if I weighed them down too much with gear or fuel) so I opted to go with the super strong mount instead. After the accident, I'm not sure if it was simply the force of hitting the ground that broke the frame and I'm not sure if a more rounded edge would have made a difference. Heck, maybe having such a rigidly mounted system protected my legs and hips from injury. I'd rather the bags and frame take the brunt versus me! BTW the Ep!c panniers stood up beautifully to the force. I will also agree completely that aluminum bags are a fashion statement. I love how they look! | ||
| Ghostrider |
So, when you say broke your frame, are you referring to the subframe that supports the seat and bags or are you referring to the actual 'fuel in frame' frame? Because the latter sounds pretty serious. Got any pics? | ||
| Metaldude |
Yes, the subframe supports for the seats broke. They're only $130 retail, so I can break quite a few of 'em before I reach what i would have paid for a pair of Outdoorsman cases! Thanks Ep!c  To me, it looks like those subframe supports were meant to break in a crash and prevent force from being transfered to the actual "fuel in frame" frame. The (relatively) low price suggests that function too. | ||
| Slyuly |
Just placed my order for a set from Ep!c. Metaldude any pics of your custom mounting scheme you would like to share? | ||
| Uly_dude |
Hey Slyuly, does Ep!c have a web site to order from? When I try to contact him via the advrider site, I don't get very far. | ||
| Slyuly |
I tried sending him an email from one of the threads before and never got an answer from that I had to register on adrider and send him a PM, got a reply same day from the PM. Good Luck. (Message edited by slyuly on July 22, 2010) | ||
| Towpro |
There is another guy doing the same thing. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48 0867 He is in NJ, which for me I could run over and pick them up if I bought them. | ||
| Ghostrider |
Yeah, I saw those too. The lock/latch bit on those is pretty snazzy. Towpro, I had to look up Honey Brook, PA. Nice area. I lived in Conshohocken for awhile growing up. | ||
| Metaldude |
Uly_dude, let me know if you Ep!c doesn't respond to the PM. That's how I got a hold of him too, but I also have his cell around here somewhere... Sly_uly, I hope to get my bike back next week and I'll post some pics on how I mounted the boxes. But it was really simple with the Fehling / Twisted Throttle racks as they already had four holes in them. $5 worth of bolts and wingnuts + 15 minutes to drill the cases and I was all done. | ||
| Slyuly |
MetalDude, If you could find that number, I would appreciate it. He told me he could have a set in the mail the next week, but it's been two and he never acknowledged the PMT or is answering my PM's or web posting asking about a tracking number or even to give me a status. Hope he's Okay just would like to know whats up and if I should start the paper work to get my payment back. |
