Cheap Hard Cases or Saddlesbags?

I just picked up a 1982 Maxim 750 with 9k miles for $700 in great running condition and am prepping for some long summer rides. Anybody know of CHEAP hard cases or saddlebags that work well on the Maxim and aren't too hard to install? Thanks a lot guys!

 

check jc whitney, i got a set of throw over hard leather saddle bags. enough room for rain gear and my lunch.

 

another option is leatherup.com they have some decently priced bags.

 

Check out www.mutazu.com....some fairly decently priced hardcases and trunks

 

Thanks a lot for the help guys! What should I look for when trying to figure out which will mount best to my bike? Also, what are the basic steps for mounting? I really appreciate all the help!

 

Tom and jerry,
If your look at this pic, it don't get much cheaper or rugged. These are 20mm ammo cans that can be picked up at your local army/navy store for less than 20 bucks apiece. That along with a little inginuity in mounting they make great water proof, dust proof storage.

 

Tom
I can find my close up pics and send them to you. they show how I mounted them. If your interested let me know. You may be able to do a search "ammocans" and find the thread that shows those pics.

 

I'd be interested in those pics too. I am trying to figure out some nice waterproof and rugged bags that I could mount up.

Would love to see how you attached them.

thanks!

 

Just found the old thread, Here it is.
http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=9 ... =ammo.html

 

If you are thinking of long trips, I just picked up a RevPack Tourpack for my '82 Maxim 750. I was having a hard time deciding on saddlebags given the exhaust and the seat configuration. I also picked up a RevPack junior tank bag that fits nicely and is a good size.

The Tourpack fits great on the seat. I filled it with winter coats just to try it out, but haven't tried it with a full load. The worksmanship is superb.

It is a big bag, however, and I'm not sure how it would do if it wasn't filled up.

 

Thanks for the link, I like how you did them. Do they interfere w/ passenger?

 

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Item ... 0000346517

It says it can hold one full face helmet, but it has the same dimensions as others I have seen claiming two. I don't think they changed the writeup or photo between the medium and the larg

 

I'm digging the ammo cans, the one thing that I would want to do though is figure out a way to build a 'quick release' type of configuration for them.

I found this which might start someones creative juices running


Ammo Can Mounting Brackets

 

Ok, I'm on a roll w/ this idea ;-)

So the problem w/ ammo cans are the weight, what about plastic ammo cans? The military has them and you can find them on ebay and a lot of outdoor shops have them cheap as well like here

 

I just checked that link out. I have been thinking about something a little more exotic to mount them too. That is a cool idea.

As for interfearing with the passenger, not at all.

As for the tourpack, I have one similar to that that I put across my seat and cases. When I go touring I camp 9 out of 10 nights. If your hotel hopping that alone would do good. If your camping however, it is not. Its amazing the amount of stuff these cans will swollow.

Some have voiced concern if you have the stock exhaust that kind of points up. They are concerned it would get the cans hot. I mounted these when I had the stock exhaust was still on the bike. NO issues.

The present attatchment system is far from perfect. Several have commented of the use of wingnuts(nuckle busters). I left it this way to afford quick removal. It take a pair of pliers and about 5 minutes to remove them. I've had no trouble with them coming loose.

Now that I've seen that post on that SWEET BMW, I have a project for tomorrow. I'll keep you posted.

 

Check this link out:
http://www.ghostbrackets.com/

If there was a way to easily fabricate a similar mounting bracket w/ locking mechanism - that would seem to be the way to go.

Definitely keep us posted. I already looking at ebay for some cases, and thinking of ways to mod them so they look a bit better and can do what we need ;-)

 

Dude,
Go to your army/navy surplus store, that way you won't pay the extreme shipping charge. It will cost more to ship each one them it it would to buy it.

 

Thanks for the links and photos for the ammo cans! I gotta look into it! I also really appreciate the seat bag, def a simple way to get some storage on my bike. Did you purchase your sissy bar or make it yourself may I ask? If you bought it, where'd you pick it up? Also, thanks for the rear hard case, the universal mounting bracket is a huge plus. Man do I have a lot to think about now....

 

Well I took my cases off today and decided that at this time I'm going to keep my set up the same. I'm just not in the mood for fabricating right now and the set works as is. I did however repaint the cases. I went from black to silver last fall but know I'm back to black using undercoat.. I also started a list of parts I need from Chacal. Will finish that up tomorrow.

If anyone else finds a better way, and I've seen several, I'd like to see them.

The Buff

 

I am working on a simple, no weld, bracket for some ammo cans.

Here is a very rough sketch

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qq ... directlink


Fab starts tomorrow.

 

keep me updated on your no-weld idea! I'd love to see how it turns out and seems like the best option for me. Some ammo-boxes on no-weld brackets would be the cheapest, easiest and best set-up I could hope for. Thanks a ton to everybody for all your help!

 

yeah, let us know! I can't weld, don't have a welder, and don't want to ask my welding friends for a favor ;-)

 

I just bungee one on my rack when I need storage.
They are pretty economical.
Throw over bags if they fit would be good. Not much room between the seat and the tailpipe.
I like the 20mm ammo can approach the best.

 

Yeah i bungee some bags on there now as needed, but I wanted something that I can put on there and not worry about someone just stealing it (happened to a buddy of mine, took three bags he had stacked and bungee'd)

 

I'd be up for a rack, but haven't found one for my 82 Maxim XJ750. Did you fab that yourself or buy it somewhere?

 

I have an '82 Maxim 750 as well and made my own rack with no welding. It just took some angle aluminum a drill, a hacksaw and some other misc parts. If you look in my gallery you'll see the end result. I did cut off the backrest to mount a $70 trunk I got off of ebay. I love it. Not only does it hold all my stuff, it also has a built in brake light!

mikeg

 

Ammo cans are a GREAT Idea.. The whole mounting thing has me stumped though.. Hopefully when people are done they'll post their how tos and we can benefit. Till then I'm brainstorming
-SLKid

 

After HOURS and HOURS of prototyping and drawing I have yet to come up with something I like. I have decided to try a different method. I see two options right now.

Originally I had planned on having what looked like a handle on the side of the ammo can. This 'handle' would slide into two grooves or notches on a plate bolted to the bike using the same bolts as my sissy bar. One notch would be cut at a 45deg angle and the other at a 90deg angle. This would allow the ammo can to be slid backwards into place and dropping down into the final position. This would help prevent rattle and provide a locking mechanism. I also wanted to add a pin to lock the 'handle' in such a way that it could still move without being able to come out. That mechanism was to also have a keylock. I got close, but there is not enough space to do what I wanted.

Now: I am thinking about using existing bolt holes (but not sissy bar bolts) to mount a plate or grill or simply a bar (minimalistic is good) that will keep the ammo can from hitting the shocks/wheels. Then simply using leather straps or rock climbing webbing and a few eyelets bolted to the ammo cans to let them hang from the grab bar. I am not as excited about this prospect, but I see few options.

 

You might want to look at Pelican 1430 and 1440 cases. They seem like the best alternative i have found so far. Still not the dimensions I would like but pretty danged close. It'd be nice if they were another 4-5 inches longer.

 

I can't remember if we talked about this previously:
Link
Also, check out that ghost bracket link I posted - I think that does what we want, just expensive. Maybe we can mimic its functionality one way or another.

--josh