Mounting Wixom Saddle Bags

[Jschara]

I just picked up a pair of Wixom bags that I would like to mount on my 1979 R65.  I still need to find the mounting brackets.  I had a 1971 R75 SWB with them on.  That year came with SWB and the long wheel base. Has anyone done this and if they have, would either of those line up for mounting.  Or, am I going to have to fab up something myself.

Jim

[wilcom]

am I going to have to fab up something myself.

I am in the midst of doing the same thing. I have the bags and the LWB brackets. The Brackets do not line up with anything. But looks like a easy fab to make them work. I have contacted a fellow that has a set of SWB brackets and we are trying to come to a deal. When they arrive I will see if they are any closer to fitting than the LWB brackets.


I will post some pics of the tentative set up. An issue I already see is the retention of the turn signals.

I am mounting these for pure style and want the bags to visually blend in  with the ducktail on the seat. So even if the SWB brackets will work, they may not position the bags where I want them for the effect that I am trying to achieve. I don't want to destroy any of the LS lines so paint scheme is something I will have to work out. I'm no Hans Muth so that will remain to be seen. Might turn out that it doesn't work for me.

Functionally the stock bags are head and shoulders
above the Wixoms. The stockers will swallow a helmut,  a gallon of milk and a whole ham on jaunts to the store. The Wixoms only win if you wanted to ice down some beer

[wilcom]

The Brackets do not line up with anything. But looks like a easy fab to make them work.

Nothing like a new day and a fresh cup of coffee to make things brighter. This morning I held the mounts up to the bike and everything lines up to where I will have to only drill two holes.


I mocked up the mounts to the main mounting point at the shocks and tightened them down. Like that, I will need to drill a hole at the 2nd upper mounting point and another at the muffler mount tab. The mounts that I have( been in a box for 20 years)I believe to be for a LWB bike. I put a tape on one pic and showed the dimension from the rear mounting pin to the end of the down strut and it was 19 7/8 in. If you look at a set of mounts use that dimension to see if they are the same as mine.


Good news, minimum fab work(4 holes) to get them to work
Good news I can retain the turn signals
Bad news, I can retain the turn signals

I don't like the signals sticking out in the middle like that. I may change the light fixture on the bag to dual filament(led?) bulbs and eliminate the stalks.  so far so good , but along way to go.

[wilcom]

mo pics

[Jschara]

wilcom,

Thanks for all the information.  The pictures are a great help.  Now that I know it can be done I will have to get going on my bags.  Found them locally and are in really rough shape.  That will give me time to find a set of brackets.  If any one out there knows of any please let me know.

Thanks again,
Jim

[tiggum]

This is a nice option, with the BMW bags and mounts so hard to find.  Thanks for this thread.

[Jschara]

I like the idea of eliminating the turn signal stalks.  Only problem with that is the bags will have to stay on all the time. (as I'm sure you know).   If you do go that way don't throw anything away.  I went from a quarter fairing to a full fairing at one point in my bikes life and had to cut off the front stalks.  Saved everything so that 30 yrs. later I could run without a fairing.

[wilcom]

Only problem with that is the bags will have to stay on all the time.

Good observation. That does make it restrictive/ If I go that route I willl make plugs in the tale light so I can plug the old set up back in. Too many "re-wires" in the taillight and it will become a rats nest in a hurry. I also have my trailer light adapter in there ,so it's very busy already.


Thanks for the heads up I always catch that stuff at the tail end and go "oh shit"

[wilcom]

Has anyone done this

I'm up and running!

[marcmax]

Very, VERY nice!

[tiggum]

100% agreement with Markmax.........beautiful job!

[Jschara]

Fantastic!  I love the two tone color.  Looks like they were original to the bike.

[wilcom]

Looks like they were original to the bike.

Thanks for your kind words. Very meaningful to me as aesthetics is not my long suit, I've mostly been a hammer and mace sorta guy.